Provincial ETFO Bargaining Survey; 2 TVDSB Subsidies for AQs; Treaties Recognition Week; Brightspace and Google Classroom Resources

ETFO Provincial wants to hear from you! 

ETFO Collective Agreements expire in August 2022 but the goal setting process is already in the works. Member input is a vital part of this process so please take this opportunity to participate in ETFO Provincial's Goal Setting Survey. For more information visit ETFO Provincial Survey 

The deadline is November 2, 2021. 

(Please look for our Local membership survey in November for your chance to win a $100 gift certificate.) 

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Two New AQ Subsidies from TVDSB

1) French AQ Funding or Occasional Teachers Only:

TVDSB is offering a $200 reimbursement to active OTs who work at least 20 days this school year, for those who complete their French AQ course no later than July 31, 2022. Contact Terri Manning in Staff Development for further details.

2) Math AQ Funding:

TVDSB Teachers are eligible for up to $650 upon successful completion of any of the following AQ courses between Sept. 1/21 and Aug. 31/22:

- Mathematics, Primary and Junior, Part 1 or Part 2 or Part 3

- Mathematics, Grades 7 and 8

- Mathematics, Senior ABQ

- Mathematics, Honours Specialist

Further details are available in TVDSB's Outlook email from Jessica Grison Roeder of October 6, 2021 found in the Occasional Teacher folder.

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Roundabouts don’t have to be scary

 October usually brings images of ghosts, goblins, skeletons and other classic “spooky season” frights. If driving through a roundabout is on your list of “spooky” things, read on.

While roundabouts have become increasingly popular in Canada over the years, they still make up only a small fraction of the country’s intersections and continue to leave many Canadian drivers apprehensive. But navigating a roundabout doesn’t have to be scary! 

Learn more at https://www.otipinsurance.com/article125.

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Treaties Recognition Week 

November 1-7, 2021

For more information click on Interactive information on Treaties or Ontario Government resources for Indigenous Week

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Brightspace and Google Classroom Resources for OTs:  

Want to become more familiar with starting your day in Brightspace and Google Classroom? Here is a link to TVDSB's Sharepoint where you can check  this self-guided resource at your convenience - TVDSB digital resources

Please contact Terri Manning in System Staff Development if you have any questions.  N.B. This is not paid PD.

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Benefits for LTOs; Access to Employee Assistance; Resources for the Early Years; ETFO Women's Health Conference;

Benefits for LTOs

If you are in a 1.0 FTE assignment with a posted end date, then your benefits will begin immediately and participation in the plan is mandatory. If your 1.0 assignment has no posted end date, then you will be covered after the 90th calendar day with benefits retroactive to the first day of the assignment.

That being said, there is a lag time for the Board to send documenation to OTIP so keep any receipts and look for an email in your Outlook account that will provide you with further details once OTIP has been notified. 

For questions related to benefits for LTOS, click  ELHT Benefits

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Access to the Board's Employee Family Assistance Program

Occasional Teachers have access to confidential professional counselling and wellness services designed to provide support for those times when a little extra help is needed. 

Assistance can be provided to those with family issues, workplace concerns including stress and work-life balance, financial and legal difficulties, alcohol and drug dependencies or addictions such as gambling, depression or anxiety, anger management, bereavement and grief etc. 

For more information or to access these supports, log into the Employee Portal and click on "View My Employee Assistance Program" under "Personal Information". you do not need to suffer in silence.

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Dear teachers and education workers, OTF is conducting an evaluation to explore the current and future implications of online/virtual teaching and learning in the K-12 educational context in Ontario. The Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) commissioned this external evaluation and will support its implementation at arm’s length.

In phase one of the project, we facilitated focus groups with educators who shared their experiences and insights. We used this invaluable information to design a survey that reflects respondents’ collective experiences especially in relation to pedagogy and well-being.

Now, in phase two of the project, we are circulating the survey widely across Ontario and inviting you to share your lived experiences, perspectives and insights by participating in the online survey. Your responses to the survey as an educator will help us gather further meaningful data about the implications of online/virtual teaching and learning.

The survey takes approximately 45 minutes to complete, depending on the length of your open-ended responses.

Please note that the deadline for completion of the survey is November 8, 2021.

Please also note the following:

• Your participation is completely voluntary.
• You may elect to end your participation at any time.
• You may elect to skip ANY question that you prefer not to answer.
• One or more questions may trigger an emotional response or resurface a difficult experience. If you require counselling or support, connect with a medical professional or your union or with the Employee Assistance Program should an EAP be available to you.
• All of your responses will remain anonymous.
• Any identifying information will be removed from the completed surveys.
• The data will only be accessible to the research team.

To participate in the survey, please check your email for your OTF Communications <communications@otffeo.on.ca> specific survey link.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Lisa Bayrami (lead researcher) via email info@lisabayrami.com or phone (416) 722-9050. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and for considering the invitation to participate.

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Prepare Now For Winter!

OTIP wants you to know about 5 things you can do now to prepare your home for winter.  

Now that fall is officially here, many Canadians are busy enjoying all that the season has to offer. Between admiring the colour-changing leaves on a cool evening stroll and baking pies made with freshly picked apples, prepping for winter may be at the bottom of your fall to-do list. However, using the last of the year’s warmer weather to prepare your home for winter cold could spare you a lot of trouble once the weather starts to turn. Here are five things you can do in the fall to get your home ready for winter.

Learn more at https://www.otipinsurance.com/article126.

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ETFO Website for teaching in the early years - 

Did you know that Provincial ETFO has a website that provides videos, facilitator guides, photo galleries and classroom tours for early years educators? Check out Professional Learning in the Early Years for supports.

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 More Paid PD Options to Earn While You Learn 

TVDSB has just added three half-day paid PD options on Special Education to the "Elementary Occasional Teacher PD 2021-2022" section in "Conference Session Registrations" section of the Empoyee Portal. (These sessions have been offered previously so click on "My Professiona Development" in the Portal to ensure that you have not already taken them.)

For more information about Elementary Occasional Teacher PD contact Terri Manning in Staff Development or click on Staff Development Elementary PD

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ETFO's Visions Program

This three session programme is for women in their first 5 years of membership in ETFO. Sessions highlight union renewal, activism and developing a feminist network.

Program dates are November 24-25, January 17-18 and April 4-5. 

The deadline to register is October 18th so for more information click on ETFO Visions 

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The 50 Day Re-employment Rule for Retired Members

Due to many inquiries, the Ontario Teachers' Federation wishes to clarify the re-employment rules for retired members. The current rule is 50 days, which means that a retiree can work to the end of the month in which they exceed their 50 day limit while drawing both employment income and their pension. If they choose to work beyond that month, their pension is simply suspended until they stop working or until the following September 1st, whichever occurs first. Each new school year provides a brand new 50-day limit for all retirees. 

OTF recommends that retired members keep track of their days worked and reach out to a Pension Benefit Specialist at the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan with any inquiries about how re-employment rules apply to them or to confirm details of their re-employment. 

For some great resources and scenarios, follow these links to Re-employment FAQs and Re-employment overview

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When it comes to the climate crisis what's at stake and how do pensions fit in?

Join the Ontario Federation of Labour for a free virtual conference that will address the role of pensions in working towards environmental justice.

Guest speakers will include:

- Eriel Tchekwie Deranger from Indigenous Climate Action

- Noam Chomsky, philosopher, linguist, scientist, political activist

- Simon Donner, Professor and Climate Scientist at University of British Columbia

- Seth Klein, author of "A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency"

Plus a "Pensions Panel Discussion" featuring economist Jim Stanford, Murray Gold from Koskie Minsky, Chris Roberts from the Canadian Labour Congress, Emily Niles from CUPE and Randy Marie Sloat from OPTrust.

The Conference is from Friday, October 15 7pm - 8:30pm and Saturday, October 15 from 10am to 2pm. Register at Take Action

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What's behind the increased cost of auto insurance claims?  With the average cost of auto insurance claims on the rise, many drivers are wondering what's behind the increase and if there's any relief in sight. Here's the breakdown of two key factors that are behind the rising cost of auto insurance claims in recent years. Learn more at https://www.otipinsurance.com/article124

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Cyber Awareness Month  October is internationally recognized as cyber security awareness month. This year as part of the Cyber Protection Strategy pilot initiative, the Ministry of Education has developed resources to mitigate the impact of cyber threats on students, educators and school boards.

You may wish to check out the two following resources: Cyber Awareness Month 2021 provides resource tailored for the needs of K-12 students and was developed by Board and the Educational Computing Network of Ontario/ECNO. The Cyber Awareness Calendar presents monthly themes and weekly prompts to support a year-round focus on improving safety, protection of privace and cyber security.

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Your 2021 - 2022 Pocket Calendar is late but be assured that we will mail these to members, along with the Fall Newsletter, just as soon as they are back from the printers!

Board issues PPE; Virtual Assignments; ETFO AQ courses; Racialized Members Conference

Board Issued PPE

Just a reminder to TVOT members that refusing to follow the employer's directions around wearing Board-issued personal protective equipment/PPE and more specifically, masks, may be viewed by the Board as insubordination and could result in discipline. 

Though we all recognize the superiority of certified N95 masks, at present, this is not alternative. The Centre for Disease Control suggests that the effectiveness of masks may be improved by adding an external mask fitter/brace or by knotting the ear loop of the mask where it joins, then tucking any extra material under the edges, or by double-masking.   Members who have medical concerns about the Board's masks may contact the TVDSB Abilities and Wellness department to see about any alternatives that might be available.

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Virtual Assignments in Thames Valley

This year there are no virtual schools in TVDSB which means that when an TVOT member accepts a virtual assignment,  the OT must report to the absent Teacher's school where they will follow that Teacher's schedule, including supervision duties and prep provisions. At this time, there is no method for an OT to select only virtual assignments so it is important to listen to the description of each job to determine whether or not it is a virtual assignment. 

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ETFO AQ Courses As a large AQ provider, ETFO is proud to provide courses taught by Teachers with practical hands-on experience so ETFO-AQ courses fill up quickly. Registration for Winter AQ courses opens November 1st so we encourage members to explore the sessions such as those below being offered at ETFO AQ - 

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All members are encouraged to subscribe for the ETFO Provincial  newsletters so take a minute to do so at ETFO Newsletter

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NEW Conference offered by Provincial ETFO - 

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Opportunities from OTIP -