Save the date Oct. 28th; Education Act; TVARRIS job numbers; NTIP and LTOs; Job Integrity and Re-assignment; Bill 33

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Lamplighter Inn, London

4:30 - 7 PM (dinner included)

"We've Got Your Back" is an evening for TVOT members to enjoy a lovely dinner, meet other OT colleagues, pick up a free copy of your Collective Agreement and learn about some of its provisions.

There will be draws for $100 gift cards including one specifically from participants in their first 5 years of teaching.

The Local is offering lots of swag including a free copy of the our "Flourish with French" - a resource designed for Occasional Teachers accepting daily assignments in French classrooms.

All those who register and attend will receive a $15 gas allowance. 

Register at mail@etfotvot.com or 519-641-3936

We are looking forward to meeting you!

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1) The Education Act requires all Teachers to "...be present in the classroom or teaching area and ensure that the teaching area is ready for the reception of pupils at least 15 minutes before the commencement of classes in the school in the morning and where applicable, 5 minutes before the commencement of classes in the school in the afternoon."

2) If more than one Occasional Teacher shows up for an absence, it is always the OT with the TVARRIS job number who will be paid, so if you are pre-booked, be sure that the absent Teacher enters your job into the system. 

3) Being a member of ETFO means you never have to stand alone! Your TVOT Local is here to support you and to advocate for you. Contact us with questions or concerns at 519-641-3936 or by email at mail@etfotvot.com .

4) Article L16.07 states that a daily OT who accepts a non-classroom job can be re-assigned if there is a vacant classroom position at the school. However, this same article provides that in all other cases, TVOT members are guaranteed of the job they accept and can only be re-assigned by mutual agreement.

5) LTOs who are participating in NTIP, do not participate in the Teacher Performance Appraisal elements of the program, submitting long-range plans, observations etc., as these requirements are only for permanent Teachers.

2) 

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About Daily OTs and LTOs; Leave of Absence from the OT List; Apple iPhone Upgrade; Legal Assistance for TVOT members.

 

As a TVOT Daily OT did you know?

• You can accept TVARRIS daily assignments outside of your qualifications, e.g. French, Intermediate etc.
• -        Morning half-day assignments shall end no later than 20 minutes after the end of class instructional time and afternoon assignments shall begin no earlier than 20 minutes before class instructional time.
• -        Occasional Teachers shall not be assigned supervisory duties prior to the commencement of class on the first morning of an assignment or prior to the commencement of the afternoon class on the first day if it is a half-day afternoon assignment.
• -   An Occasional Teacher who accepts and reports for an assignment shall be placed in that assignment unless otherwise mutually agreed. However, where there is a vacant classroom assignment, reassignment of the Occasional Teacher from a non-classroom assignment may be necessary at the discretion of the Principal to address student needs.
• -   The timetable for an Occasional Teacher shall be the same as the timetable as the Teacher they are replacing. This includes prep periods and supervisory duties.
• -   Members need to keep track of times when they do not receive their prep periods as they will receive compensation for the loss of this valuable time at the end of the school year

 

 As an LTO, did you know...

• -        You have access to 11 days of sick leave at 100% of salary for those in a full year, 1.0 FTE assignment, and then 120 short-term disability days (STLDP) at 90% of salary (STLDP often requires medical documentation) 
• -        Sick leave days are pro-rated for less than a full year assignment or less than a full time position. 
• -        LTOs who are in full-time and part time positions are expected to attend Professional Activity days at their schools according to their teaching complement/FTE. That is to say a half time / .5 LTO participates in half of the PD Days and will be paid at the LTO rate to attend.
• -        Long-Term Occasional Teachers should always check the LTO form when hired to verify that the information contained therein is accurate.
• -        Long-Term Occasional Teachers’ salaries are based on the salary grid. The yearly salary for an LTO and a permanent teacher are the same for the identical years of experience and grid placement. However, the LTO’s annual pay is divided by the 194 teaching days in the school calendar for a per diem.
• - To be eligible for benefits, LTOs must be in an assignment of 90 calendar days or longer.
• -        LTOs in the NTIP program are exempt from the evaluation component of the program.

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- Full Year Leaves: Daily TVOT members have until December 30th to request a full year, retroactive leave of absence from TVDSB's elementary Occasional Teacher List. This leave per Article L10.16, would release them from the requirement to teach 10 days in the 2024 - 2025 school year.

- Part of a Year Leaves: Daily TVOT members can request a leave of absence at any time, however the number of days they are required to teach would be pro-rated to 1 day per each  month they were active on the elementary list that school year.

Contact your TVOT Local for further details at 519-641-3936 or etfotvot@gmail.com

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You may have missed TVDSB's notice regarding Apple's upcoming iOS 26 upgrade which has 2 new features (screen unkown senders and screen unknown callers) that could impact your ability to receive TVARRIS calls. To ensure that you do not miss out on phone calls or texts from TVARRIS, you should add the Board phone number: 1 888 209 3162 to your cellphone contacts. For more information contact tvarrishelp@tvdsb.ca

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Food banks across Ontario have partnered with ETFO Provincial to launch the second annual CBC School Challenge as part of their Make the Season kind campaign. The challenge provides activities to learn about the growing issue of poverty and food insecurity. The deadline for this year's challenge is November 7/25 so visit this link for more information -  https://www.dailybread.ca/make-the-season-kind/school-challenge/ 

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First Paid PD Opportunities of the Year; Access to Employee Assistance Program; Health and Safety Tips for OTs; ETFO Provincial Development for Members;

TVOT members have the opportunity to be paid for participating in professional development on PA days when there are no teaching opportunities. Participation in such sessions counts for all purposes as teaching time. TVDSB has opened registration for the following in-person sessions to be held on Friday, October 10th at Prince Charles Public School. To register, log into the Employee Portal and go to Conference/Session Registrations > Elementary/Dual Occasional Teacher PD 2025-2026. N.B., participants must submit a separate Reflection Survey for each half-day session.

To be repeated as AM and PM sessions:

• Lesson Planning with Generative AI
• How to Start the Day Off Right! Working with Students to Create a Successful Day

Also, Principals can approved O.T. participation in PD being held at their schools as paid PD. Go to the System Staff Development SharePoint site or the Brightspace classroom for more information or contact Terri Manning at t.manning@tvdsb.ca for assistance.

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Health & Safety Reminders from David Griffith, TVOT Health and Safety Officer

As we step into the fall season, here are some important reminders to help keep you and your students safe:

✅ Start Your Day Right

●      Sign in at the office upon arrival.

●      Collect your room key, safety plans, and any other essential information (e.g., student medical needs, allergies, or behaviour plans).

✅ Know the Safety Plans

●      Review any student safety or behaviour plans provided. These plans are designed to protect everyone - please follow the Do’s and Don’ts outlined.

●      If you’re unsure about a plan, ask the school administrator for clarification.

✅ Work Collaboratively with EAs

●      Remember, Educational Assistants are BMS-trained to manage a variety of student behaviours.

●      Avoid physically intervening with escalated students or removing items unless there is imminent risk of harm.

●      Call the office for assistance - this ensures safety and allows trained staff to respond appropriately.

✅ Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

●      Watch out for slip, trip, and fall hazards, and be mindful of activities like gym or recess where stray balls can cause injuries.

●      Familiarize yourself with school safety routines (fire drills, lockdowns, etc.).

✅ When in Doubt, Ask

●      The school administrator is your go-to resource for any questions or concerns.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Benjamin Franklin

Thank you for your professionalism and commitment to creating a safe and positive learning environment for all!

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All TVOT Occasional Teachers have confidential access to the TVDSB Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) / the Telus Employee Health Employee Family Assistance Program.

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 Did you know that many ETFO Provincial workshops include payment for lost teaching time (release time), travel (including train) , meal expenses and accommodations? 

Here are some sessions that are now accepting applications - 

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Personal Email Addresses; Some provisions of your Collective Agreement; ETFO's Class Size Campaign; TVDSB Occasional Teacher SharePoint Page; Upcoming Provincial Workshops

 

Just a reminder that the TVDSB Outlook email is not for private correspondence. Please use a personal email address when you are setting up your TVOT account or when you are contacting the TVOT Local so that we may respond. Never hesitate to contact the Local as all communications are confidential.  We will not use a member's name when addressing matters with the Board, without that member's knowledge. Our contact information is etfotvot@gmail.com or 519-641-3936. We look forward to working with you for a successful school year.  

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Article L7.03 Remuneration paid to Occasional Teachers will be pro-rated for assignments to positions on less than a full-time basis, but in no circumstances will a Short-Term

Occasional Teacher be paid for less than one-half (1/2) day. For the purposes of this article, one hundred and fifty (150) minutes equal one-half

(1/2) day.

Article L6.08 Removal from the List: An Occasional Teacher's name shall be removed from the List for the following reasons:

a) The Occasional Teacher requests, in writing, to have their name removed from the list.

b) The Occasional Teacher is removed in accordance with the provisions of Article L5.06. (termination)

c) The Occasional Teacher has had qualifications revoked by the Ontario College of Teachers.

d) The Occasional Teacher has not taught ten (10) elementary teaching days in the previous school year unless such Occasional Teacher has been granted an extended leave in accordance with the provisions of Article L10. 

e) The Occasional Teacher has failed to provide the Board with the information required under the provisions of Article L6.05. (changes of name address, telephone or number)

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ETFO Provincial is eager to hear your stories about large class sizes. Visit https://etfocb.ca/tell-us-your-class-size-story/ to have your say.

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TVDSB's SharePoint Page for Occasional Teachers

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OTF's Ici on parle français program  Our Ici on parle français program is back this year! Once again, participants can partner with other FSL teachers in a collaborative learning team of two to four teachers or apply for an individual grant. For those working in a team, the maximum grant is $500 per team member (maximum $2,000 per team), and for those working individually, the maximum grant is $250. You can use your PD grant to participate in a French as a Second Language (FSL) professional learning program/activity of your choosing or to purchase teacher/educator resources to support your own FSL proficiency and teaching.   You may also choose to use your PD grant to participate in the FSL Experiential Learning Resources for Educators and Students provincial program, which supports educators in connecting French language learning to STEM opportunities.   The deadline for applying for a grant is 5:00 pm on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Successful applicants will be notified by mid-November 2025   Find out more about the Ici on parle français 2025-26 grant program and apply.

The programs listed below are being offered to members by ETFO Provincial - expenses and release time for OTs/LTOs is be covered.

Please visit etfo.ca in the secure member area to view flyers and registration details for all upcoming events.

Visions Program 2025-2026 

From October 07, 2025 to October 08, 2025

This exciting program for women education workers (DECE, ESP, or PSP) highlights union involvement and focuses on developing an anti-oppressive and feminist framework.

Registration closes Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.

There is a $75 registration fee.

For more information, contact Catherine Inglis at cinglis@etfo.org.

 

Peer Learning for Inclusive Classrooms (WP) 

From October 07, 2025 to October 08, 2025

Registration closes September 18, 2025.

Women members who are actively working in classrooms are invited to apply to this exciting program, delivered in partnership with Gender at Work.

For more information, contact Punita Bhardwaj at pbhardwaj@etfo.org.

There is a $75 registration fee.

 

Building Allyship for Gender Justice 

October 07, 2025

 ETFO invites all members to join in this program that will enable teachers to build their practice as allies in the quest for gender justice.

Registration closes on September 18, 2025,1:00 p.m.

Registration fee is $75. 

For more information, please contact Mandisa Bromfield at mbromfield@etfo.org.

 

Indigenous Women’s Mentorship Program 2025-2026 

From October 23, 2025 to October 24, 2025

ETFO’s Indigenous Women’s Mentorship Program is now accepting applications for both mentors and mentees.

Registration closes on September 19, 2025.

Be sure to select the “mentee” option or the "mentor" option. 

For more information, please contact Kyla King, kking@etfo.org.

 

Code Black: Leaders with Purpose and Conviction 

From November 12, 2025 to November 13, 2025

ETFO is proud to offer CODE BLACK: Leaders with Purpose and Conviction in 2025-26. This program is open to all ETFO members who identify as Black.

Registration closes on September 23 at 12 noon.

Successful applicants will be notified by September 25.

For more information, please contact Sonia Ellis-Seguin, sellisseguin@etfo.org or Matthew Sinclair, msinclair@etfo.org.

 

Women's Health and Safety Conference: Labour Activist Training 

From November 03, 2025 to November 07, 2025

Become a health and safety activist! Women are underrepresented in occupational health and safety but face unique health and safety hazards.

Registration opens on September 18 and closes on September 29 at 5:00 p.m.

A $75 registration fee applies.

For more information, please contact Elizabeth Mitchell at emitchell@etfo.org

 

Facing Management 

November 01, 2025

Are you interested in learning how to engage with management and promote and defend your collective agreement rights at the school level?

To register, visit events.etfo.org by September 29

A $25 registration fee applies.

For more information, contact Heather Aggus, haggus@etfo.org

Todd Rimmington, trimmington@etfo.org or Mark Butt, mbutt@etfo.org.

 

Think on Your Feet 

From October 23, 2025 to October 24, 2025

 Members are invited to register for the Think on Your Feet women’s program, which is designed to transform how you think, write, speak, and lead.

Registration opens at 9 a.m. on September 18 and closes at 5 p.m. on September 29, 2025.

Registration fee is $50.

For more information, please contact Izida Zorde at izorde@etfo.org.

 

Union school 2025-2026 

From November 04, 2025 to November 06, 2025

 Join us for a year-long program to enhance your leadership skills, deepen your knowledge of ETFO, and gather new tools with Union School!

Session Dates:

November 4-6, 2025

February 4-6, 2026

April 30 - May 1, 2026

Registration opens on September 17 and closes on October 1, 2025.

There is a $75 registration fee, which will be refunded to those not selected.

For more information, contact Kelly Hayes, khayes@etfo.org.

 

WOMEN’S COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ISSUES Level 1

November 18-19, 2025

Are you interested in learning more about the collective bargaining process?

Do you want to get involved but aren’t sure how?

Visit events.etfo.org to register by October 14

For more information, please contact Heather Aggus, haggus@etfo.org; Toby Molouba, tmolouba@etfo.org; or Tui-Sem Won, tswon@etfo.org

 

Racialized Members Conference 

From November 18, 2025 to November 19, 2025

This two-day leadership conference is for racialized members who are committed to becoming involved in their union and creating a just society.

Registration opens October 2 and closes on October 14, 2025.

For more information, contact Matthew Sinclair at msinclair@etfo.org.

 

Building Labour Power 

From November 14, 2025 to November 15, 2025

Join us for presentations, workshops, and small-group discussions with guest speakers actively involved in labour and community organizing.

Registration opens on October 2 and closes on October 14, 2025. 

There is a registration fee of $50. 

For more information, contact: Denise Hammond dhammond@etfo.org or Kelly Hayes khayes@etfo.org.

 

Native Language Gathering 

From November 13, 2025 to November 14, 2025

Members who are actively working in classrooms and currently teaching Native Languages are invited to apply to this re-designed and engaging professional learning program.

Registration opens October 2 and closes on October 14, 2025.
For more information, please contact Kyla King, kking@etfo.org.ctober 2 to 14 at events.etfo.org

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To celebrate 50 years of serving Ontario’s education community, (please tag @Educators Financial Group on Facebook or @EducatorsFG on X/Instagram) is giving away 50 prizes of $500* to education heroes across the province! Nominate your hero today at https://bit.ly/41GaQRq. #EFGtips

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