TVOT March 4 Meeting and Dinner; Who Won $100? Teachers' Timetables; Prep Periods; Question about T4 slips; Sign the Petition

Join us for a March Membership Meeting and Dinner at London's Lamplighter Inn on March 4, 2026 from 4:30pm to 7:00pm.

The menu includes:

- Mixed green salad and vegetable crudites with dip

- Italian pasta salad, couscous salad, beet salad and potato salad

- Slow roasted Ontario top sirloin beef au jus

- Tortellini in pesto cream with butternut squash, tomatoes and peas

- Seasonal fruit and assorted sweets

- Coffee, teas and soft drinks

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

There will be door prizes and those who register and attend will receive $15 gas money. We also hope to have the Red 4 Ed t-shirts ready for distribution at the meeting.

Check last week's Blog for the proposed constitutional amendments and we will look forward to meeting you!

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Thank you to everyone who completed our TVOT Membership Survey. 

The five lucky members who won $100 gift cards are:

- Ashley Brooks

- Dylan Di Girolamo 

- Linh Doan

- Eva Marcinowski

- Nancy Mathias

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- Daily OTs follow the timetable of the absent permanent Teacher, including no first duty on the first day of an assignment. In other words, swapping duties because there is an OT today is not allowed. Each time a member relinquishes this right it becomes more difficult for those OTs who follow. There is nothing wrong with responding that your Union will not allow you to accept alterations to the timetable. 

- If  you are asked by Administration to give up your prep period, note the date, school and number of minutes lost so that you can claim financial compensation in June.

- Members who taught in full year LTOs in 2023-2024 and again in 2024-2025 are surprised that their T4s for 2025 reflect less salary than their T4s for 2024. That is because of the Kaplan salary award retro-pay that was paid to members during the 2024 calendar year. Here is a link to that information: https://www.etfo.ca/news-publications/media-releases/arbitration-award-decision-issued-on-compensation-for-etfo-teachers,-occasional-teachers

- Did you know that the Thames Valley Board has lost $3,052.56 per student in funding since 2018? That's $1.48 million no longer available to support students at Old North PS. The students at East Oxford in Woodstock have lost more than $1 million and the students at Pierre Elliott Trudeau PS have lost $1.2 million. To see how funding cuts have hurt other schools in TVDSB click on https://www.buildingbetterschools.ca/education_cuts_tracker

- Daily OTs and LTOs should contact the ETFO Steward in the schools that they are in to sign the provincial Petition in Support of Smaller Class Sizes.

- Your TVOT Local has ordered Red 4 Ed T-shirts for our members so please let us know if you are interested by emailing us with your shirt size at mail@etfotvot.com.

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Your Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan/OTPP is one of your most important financial assets. 

Here is the link to two virtual webinars to help you either find out about being a member of the plan or how to prepare for retirement: 

https://www.otpp.com/en-ca/members/news/plan-updates-and-news/upcoming-webinars/

Each session is 1.5 hours in length, has a a Q&A session and is being offered on several dates.

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Does auto insurance cover belongings damaged in an accident?

If you get into an accident, you probably think first about making a claim, repairing your vehicle, or potential medical bills. But there’s something else that often gets overlooked: the fate of your personal belongings inside your vehicle. Items like your phone, laptop, or sports equipment can get damaged or destroyed in an accident. So, does your auto insurance cover these items, or will you have to pay for them yourself? Understanding what your policy covers can help you avoid unexpected expenses and make more informed decisions about your insurance needs.

Read more at www.otip.com/article200. #OTIPUpdate

 Need a cure for the winter blues? We’ve got you covered.

Get a car, home or leisure insurance quote in February or March for your chance to win $1,000 cash! PLUS: receive a $20 gift card of your choice when you get a quote!

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Still Time to Win $100! Free Red for Ed T-Shirts; Proposed Amendments to TVOT Constitution; Rescheduled Paid PD Event

 

Only 5 minutes for a chance to win $100!

 Five lucky members who complete the TVOT Membership Survey will win a $100 gift card so take a few minutes before noon on February 17th to let us know how to best serve you. Here is the survey -  http://www.surveyshare.com/s/AYAWNEC 

Good Luck!

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They are FREE! 

Let us know if you are interested in a "Red 4 Ed"  t-shirt as you will be seeing more permanent Teachers wearing these on Mondays at school. Contact us with your size (S - 6X) at mail@etfotvot.com as the Local is ready to submit an order.

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Paid PD - Registration is open in the TVDSB Employee Portal for a few remaining spots at the paid PD event and dinner being hosted after school by the Local on February 19/26 at the BMO Centre. Details about each session can be found on the registration page of the Portal.

1) Using Abstract Art Expression to Include All Learners: An Indigenous Perspective

2) Exploring Elements of Design through Ceramic Painting

When - Thursday, February 19, 2026 (4:30 - 7:30 PM)

Where - BMO Centre, 295 Rectory Street, London (parking on site)

A buffet dinner is provided. Please direct any dietary concerns to mail@etfotvot.com

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Our TVOT Constitution requires that the Executive publish proposed amendments to the Local Constitution, at least 14 days in advance of the general meeting at which the amendments will be considered. 

Attached are the amendments (in highlights) to be be presented to members who attend our General Meeting and Dinner at the Lamplighter Inn, March 4/26 from 4:30 - 7:00 PM. 

To register, email us at mail@etfotvot.com or call 519-641-3936. 

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March Membership Meeting; Membership Survey; Red 4 Ed T-shirts; Fifth Disease; ETFO Scholarships and Bursaries

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The date is set - March 4, 2026 from 4:30pm to 7:00pm.

Join us for a March Membership Meeting and dinner at the Lamplighter Inn in London.

To register, email us at mail@etfotvot.com or call the office at 519-641-3936.

There will be door prizes and those who register and attend will receive $15 gas money. We also hope to have the Red 4 Ed t-shirts ready for distribution at the meeting.

Next week's Blog will contain the proposed constitutional amendments and menu.

We look forward to meeting you!

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You Can Win! 

Five lucky members who complete our Local's Membership Survey will each win a $100 gift card.  

The survey closes February 17/26 at noon so 

click here to participate - http://www.surveyshare.com/s/AYAWNEC

We value your input and participation!

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Free Red for Ed T-Shirts

The response has been great from both the Teacher and Occasional Teachers' Locals. If you are interested in wearing a "Red for Education" on Mondays alongside the permanent Teachers of Thames Valley, please let us know so that we can order accordingly.

The T-shirts are 100% cotton and unisex. 

If you are interested in receiving a shirt, please contact us at mail@etfotvot.com and indicate your preference as sizes range from S - 6XL. 

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Are you Immune to Fifth Disease?

The TVOT Local urges members who may become pregnant to check in advance to see if they have immunity to Fifth Disease as women in the first half of their pregnancy are most vulnerable to complications if they become infected.

Schools with outbreaks should post notices at the school and on TVARRIS but the disease is contagious well before symptoms become apparent. In TVDSB, employee absences due to an outbreak of Fifth Disease are deducted from your sick leave entitlement. 

For more information about the TVDSB policy related to Fifth Disease go to http://www.tvdsb.ca/files/filesystem/FifthDiseaseIP.pdf

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ETFO Provincial's Scholarship and Bursary Programme offers financial assistance to members and non-members entering faculties of education; members studying at the graduate level and members upgrading their qualifications at publicly funded universities/institutions in Ontario. This includes bursaries for members of designated groups, including Black and Indigenous educators and bursaries for children of ETFO members.

The application deadline is April 30th. For more information and application details, click on https://www.etfo.ca/about-us/awards-scholarships/etfo-scholarships-and-bursaries

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The International Day of Pink is Wednesday, April 8/26 and this year's theme is "Solidarity in Every Shade".

ETFO Provincial is offering pink T-shirts to commemorate this day. The deadline to order is February 27/27 and here is the link https://shop.etfo.ca/collections/clothing

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For 50 years, Educators Financial Group has been offering financial planning and a wide selection of investing and lending products and services exclusively to education members and their families. It is this strong history that has enabled them to become the education community’s financial specialist — empowering educators to achieve their financial goals.

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Win $100 with the TVOT Survey; Red 4 Ed shirt? Additional Membership Meeting March 4/26; Smaller Class Size Petition;

 

You Could Win!

Your TVOT Local is holding a random draw from those members who complete our Membership Survey. 

Five lucky members will each win a $100 gift card so please take a few minutes to help us better meet your needs. 

The survey closes February 17/26 at noon. Winners will be announced and contacted later that same day. 

Click on this link to participate - http://www.surveyshare.com/s/AYAWNEC

System only accepts one survey per member.

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Free T Shirt  - Are You Interested?

Your TVOT Local is considering purchasing these T-shirts with our logo added, for members who would like to wear "Red for Education" on Mondays alongside the permanent Teachers of Thames Valley.

These unisex shirts are 100% cotton with compacted yarn to minimize shrinkage. If you are interested in receiving a shirt, please contact us at mail@etfotvot.com and indicate your preference as sizes range from S - 6XL. We will notify members if there is enough interest to proceed with the order.

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NOTICE: 
Additional Membership Meeting and Dinner on Wednesday, March 4/26

After a detailed review of our Local's Constitution, the TVOT Executive has decided to hold an after school membership meeting on March 4, 2026 to present these amendments to the membership. 

We invite TVOT members to enjoy a lovely dinner, meet other Occasional Teachers and bring forward their concerns.

The meeting will begin at 4:30 PM at the Lamplighter Inn in London. Look for further details and notice of the amendments in our Wednesday Blog next week.

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ETFO Provincial has begun their petition campaign for smaller class sizes. ETFO Teacher stewards will have copies available at school for OTs to add their signature (Queens Park does not accept electronic petitions) so don't miss this chance to affect the change we need in our schools. 

Did you know that Clara Brenton PS has lost $3,052.56 per student in funding since 2018. That's more than a $2 million dollars no longer available to support students at Clara Brenton. To see how funding cuts have hurt the schools in TVDSB click on https://www.buildingbetterschools.ca/education_cuts_tracker

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