TVOT Fall General Meeting; Merrymount donations; Columbia Store invitations; Right to Disconnect; Violence Survey; ETFO Opportunities; TVOT Office Closed for Holidays

Thank you to all the TVOT members who joined us at the Stoneridge Inn for our Fall General Meeting. It was a lovely evening and certainly, a lovely meal. Being an Occasional Teacher can be isolating as we do not belong to any particular school. The Local urges members to take these free opportunities to meet your colleagues and exchange experiences. It will enrich your career.

Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre wishes to pass along their gratitude for the generosity of those who attended the Fall Meeting. Be assured that the donations shown below are greatly appreciated by the very children that we teach each day - 

The TVOT Local has donated $5,000 to assist Merrymount with its support of children and their families in the TVDSB community.

Here is more information about Merrymount - 

Just a reminder to TVOT members to check our Blog of December 13th for invitations for members and for their friends and families, to shop at the Columbia Sportswear Employee Store.

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The TVOT Collective Agreement provides that:

The Board and Occasional Teachers will be respectful of non-work hours. School Administrators and Occasional Teachers will make every reasonable effort to limit communication during the period beginning Friday at 6:00pm until Sunday at 6:00pm. 

Occasional Teachers have the right to not respond to any communication apart from the exceptional circumstances outlined below during this time. There will be no reprisal if an Occasional Teacher does not respond to a non-exceptional communication. Exceptions would include the following: TVARRIS being inoperative, inclement weather, emergency or urgent situations.

Enjoy Your Holidays!

Violence and Harassment Against Education Sector Workers
(2023 Survey)

Violence and harassment in schools are serious issues. ETFO Provincial asks members to assist with this survey in an effort to help address violence and harassment in schools. UOttawa researchers are looking for Teachers/education workers to complete this survey, especially women who may have unique experiences of violence and harassment. To participate in the survey which closes December 23rd, click on https://uottawapsy.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3kMOhVp9rd8l9no

ETFO Provincial is now accepting orders for the 2024 International Women’s Day (IWD) T-Shirt 2024! This year’s theme is “Rise Up for Gender Justice.”
Ordering is open now through Friday, January 12, 2024.  Deliveries will take place in late February. IWD is annually recognized on March 8.   https://shop.etfo.ca/collections/clothing

If you have any questions, kindly contact Catherine Inglis at cinglis@etfo.org.

Your TVOT Office will be closed during the TVDSB Winter Break and will re-open when school resumes January 8, 2024.

Voting closes Friday; Columbia Store Invitations; New Language Curriculum; Mental Health Support; LTOs and OCT Fees

IMPORTANT

Voting for ETFO's Tentative Teacher / Occasional Central Agreement closes at 8 PM on Friday, December 15th. Go to https://etfocb.ca/ for more information. 

Negotiations for our Local Collective Agreement, are scheduled to  resume in the New Year.

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ETFO Provincial is pleased to share member-developed resources to support the implementation of the new 2023 Language Curriculum.  A series of webcasts and sample lesson plans are available to provide an overview of the curriculum, with a focus on Strand B. They can be found by logging into ETFO secure https://members.etfo.ca/resources/classroom-resources/overview-of-the-2023-language-curriculum-webcasts.  They are also available on the ETFO Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/etfoprovincial. 

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TVOT members in a LTO assignment at the beginning of January, automatically have their Ontario College of Teachers' (OCT) fees deducted from their pay. Their paystub in the TVDSB Employee Portal will show this deduction. 

The annual membership fee of $200 is due January 1 of each year for all certified Teachers though OCT will maintain your good standing so long as payment is received before April 17th. Please note that OCT charges a late payment fee of $130 on top of the $200 annual fee should a Teacher miss the April deadline.

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#1 - Invitation for TVOT Members

#2 - Invitation for Friends and Family of TVOT Members

Support (including mental health support) is Provided by TVDSB to All Employees -

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Should you opt out of Direct Compensation Property Damage coverage?

Soon, Ontario drivers will have a new option to restrict coverage in the event of a collision - the option not to claim damages.

In December 2022, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) announced that Ontario Policy Change Form (OPCF) 49 will give drivers the choice to opt out of Direct Compensation Property Damage (DCPD) coverage.

Under OPCF 49, you can agree not to be compensated by your insurance company or anyone else, including anyone at fault for causing the damage or their insurance company. But what does that mean?

Read more at www.otip.com/article173. #OTIPUpdate

Ratification Vote and Town Hall on Tentative Central Agreement; Lost Prep Time; LTOs and Report Cards;

 

• December 11th will be your chance to hear the details of the tentative Central Teacher / Occasional Teacher Collective Agreement as Provincial ETFO will be holding evening telephone Town Halls. For more details go to https://etfocb.ca/teacher-occasional-teacher-tentative-central-agreement/teacher-occasional-teacher-tentative-central-agreement-frequently-asked-questions/
• Provincial ETFO is conducting a study on the needs and challenges experienced in their first five years. The Local encourages new members who receive the invitation from ETFO to participate in the Survey Monkey so that the provincial office can better support you in your new career. The survey closes at 9 AM on Monday, December 18th.
• Should an Administrator ask you to use your prep period to cover a class etc., the Local encourages members to keep track of the date, the school, the time of the scheduled prep period and the number of minutes that were lost. In previous years, the Local has negotiated payment for such lost time so we ask that members please advise the Local at etfotvot@gmail.com so we can track if the problem is systemic again this school year. Remember - a right gained, is never a right secured. We must all remain vigilant.
• If you are in a LTO assignment with an undetermined end, then you need to wait 90 calendar days in order to become eligible for benefits. For more information go to https://etfo-elhtbenefits.ca/faqs/
• Article L35.00(iii) states: When a long-term occasional teaching assignment is completed prior to the required date for report cards to be submitted, the Occasional Teacher may be assigned to assist with the completion of these report cards. In such an event, the Occasional Teacher shall be paid for the time to complete the report cards up to a maximum of one (1) day. The rate of pay shall be the rate the Occasional Teacher received during the long-term occasional teaching assignment.

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The top 8 things that should be on your ‘end of the year financial to-do’ list

If you hold any kind of investments, have children or grandchildren, or turned 71 this year, this is one list you might want to bookmark. While it may not be filled with elaborate gifts or delectable treats, taking care of the items on this list will provide you with the financial peace of mind to make you merry not only during the upcoming holiday season—but also in the years to come.

 Here are your top 8 financial ‘to-dos’ before the end of the year:

 #1: Consider making TFSA withdrawals by December 31st.

If you were thinking about withdrawing from your Tax-Free Savings Account in the next few months to pay for home renovations, car repairs, or other big-ticket items—you might want to consider taking that money out by December 31st. Otherwise, if you withdraw funds from your TFSA after January 1st, you wouldn’t be able to re-contribute that money until the following calendar year.

#2: Get those RESP contributions in by December 31st to maximize the CESG.

While you can contribute to a Registered Education Savings Plan anytime (within 31 years of opening it), maximizing your contributions before the end of each calendar year has one very specific benefit—getting the most from the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). That’s where the government chips in up to 20% over and above your annual contributions.

Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3QSUZsF

Brought to you by Educators Financial Group. Helping the education community, and their families, achieve their financial goals since 1975. Book your complimentary consultation today: https://bit.ly/3sWAWRW.

On December 6th, we remember - 

Join us next week! Upcoming Town Hall and Voting; Becoming a LTO;

 

Doorprizes include 3 Gift Cards of $100 each!

All members are invited to attend our upcoming Fall General Membership Meeting on December 6th at 4:30 PM.

Enjoy a lovely festive banquet dinner prepared by the chefs at the Stoneridge Inn, 6675 Burtwistle Lane in London. 

Take this opportunity to meet other Occasional Teachers as well as your Local TVOT Executive. 

Members attending will receive $15 as gas compensation!

Call 519-641-3936 or email us at mail@etfotvot.com to register.

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On Thursday, Nov.23rd, members received the documents for ETFO's 2022 - 2026 Tentative Central Agreement for Teachers/Occasional Teachers.  

ETFO Provincial will be hosting two Telephone Town Hall meetings on Monday, December 11th. The first begins at 6:30 PM and the second will begin at 8:00 PM.

The online vote to ratify this tentative Teacher/Occasional Teacher Central Agreement will open, following these meetings, at 9 PM on December 11th and close on Friday, December 15th at 8 PM.  

Vote results will be announced approximately an hour after the vote closes. 

If you are not receiving these communications from ETFO, then be sure that your contact information is up to date by emailing memberrecords@etfo.org

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• An assignment becomes a LTO on the 10th consecutive day of replacing the same absent Teacher in the same assignment.  
• As an LTO, you are eligible for salary that reflects your qualifications, however the onus is on you to provide the Board with a QECO / Qualifications Rating Statement or a card indicating your rating is in progress, prior to July 31st for retroactive adjustment.  Note that the process can take several weeks.
• To obtain a QECO Rating, follow the instructions at www.qeco.on.ca or call QECO at 1-800-385-1030 and request an application form.
• Your rating is personal so it is up to you to sent the results to TVDSB Staffing Officer, Jessica Grison Roeder - j.grisonroeder@tvdsb.ca before the July deadline or forward a copy of the green QECO confirmation card if your application is in progress but will not be available by the due date.
• You may also be eligible for credit for post-certification teaching outside of TVDSB. This includes working as a daily OT in Ontario. The same July 31^st deadline applies to proof of any post-certification teaching experience, outside of TVDSB so be sure to submit those documents to HR so  they will be considered when advancing you on the LTO salary grid.

For further details contact your ETFO TVOT Local  at etfotvot@gmail.com .  

TVOT Holiday Banquet; Merrymount Appeal; Tentative Deal Reached by ETFO Provincial; Upcoming Conferences for ETFO Members

It's our TVOT Holiday Banquet on December 6/23 from 4:30 - 7 PM at the Stoneridge Inn, 6675 Burtwistle Lane, London

You could win one of three $100 gift cards!

Enjoy a free dinner which includes - 

• Mixed green salad
• Roasted turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce
• Garden penne with tomato sauce
• Medley of seasonal vegetables
• Garlic mashed potatoes
• Assorted desserts and beverages

All members attending will receive $15 for gas compensation.

Please note that TVOT annually collects donations to Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre at this meeting. Merrymount is an accredited children's mental health centre supporting the wellbeing of the children we teach across Thames Valley.

This year's donation wish list includes:

• waterproof insulated gloves and mittens
• bubble bath, shampoo and conditioner
• brushes, combs, ponytail holders and toothbrushes
• pajamas and items for older children
• new or gently used winter jackets, boots
• snow sleds, boogie boards etc.

Register by email - mail@etfotvot.com

Register by phone - 519641-3936

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Still time to participate in the Ontario Survey about Harassment and Violence against Educators in Ontario. Here is the link -  https://uottawapsy.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3kMOhVp9rd8l9no

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Earn While You Learn - Nov. 17th Paid PA Day; ETFO's Winter 2024 Session of AQ Courses; Violence and Harassment Against Educators Survey and Anti-Bullying Week.

November 17th Paid PA Day 

Some spots are still available for Friday's sessions. For full details and to register, log into the Board's Employee Portal > Conference Session Registration > and then click on "Elementary Occasional Teacher PD".  Earn a half-day teaching salary on the November PA Day by participating in one of TVDSB's paid PD sessions.

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ETFO's Winter 2024 Session of AQ courses (developed by Teachers) begins in January. Visit https://etfo-aq.ca/ for the full catalogue of opportunities.

November 15th is Wear Purple Day. Help to raise awareness for abused women and girls, and let them know they are not alone. For more information about this campaign visit https://www.lawc.on.ca/shine-the-light-on-woman-abuse-campaign

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In Ontario, Anti-Bullying Week begins the third Sunday of November each year.