New Paid PD and Dinner Sessions; Columbia Outlet Invitation; Police Record Checks; Mandatory Online Training; TVOT Office to Close for Spring Break

Additional Paid PD and Dinner Workshops: Your TVOT Local is pleased to host three new after-school paid PD sessions to be held at the Lamplighter Inn on Tuesday, March 31st at 4:30 PM. Registration opens in the TVDSB Employee Portal on Thursday morning at 8 AM and participation counts for all purposes as a half-day of teaching.

Full descriptions can found under "Elementary /Dual Occasional Teacher PD" in the Portal, but here is a snapshot of the workshops:

1) Proportional Reasoning, Grades 3 to 8: Explore the development of efficient mental math skills using visual representations to simplify thinking around multiplication, fractions etc.

2) Assessment and Evaluation with Digital Tools for Elementary Teachers: Find out how Google tools and extensions can help Teachers capture learning in action and strengthen everyday assessment practice

3) Empower Your Multilingual Learners Through Drama: This hands-on drama workshop equips Teachers with practical strategies to boost student engagement and accelerate language acquisition. 

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TVOT Members can bring up to 4 guests! March 20th to April 12th.

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Police Record Checks: TVDSB has now emailed notification to the first 900 employees whose deadline is April 30th for a police record check under the new Ontario legislation. If you received the email from the Board, and have additional questions about the process, please contact TVDSB at policechecks@tvdsb.ca

This is an enormous undertaking for all parties so employees are advised to wait until they receive official notification from the Board, before applying for a new police check.

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April Mandatory Online Training: Just a reminder that retirees must reserve a half-day to complete TVDSB's mandatory online training which will be posted in Mid-April. Those who do not complete the training by June 26th must complete it afterwards on unpaid time in order to remain on the OT List in September.  

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ETFO Provincial has developed a series of podcasts on issues of importance to educators in the public system. Recent topics include:

- Systemic changes and black  mental health

- Artificial Intelligence and climate justice

- How to improve Special Education in Ontario

- The importance of DECEs

Check out these podcasts at  https://www.etfo.ca/news-publications/publications/podcast-elementary

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Offer extended! Get $100* when you open and fund a new RRSP, TFSA, FHSA, or non-registered account with (please tag @Educators Financial Group on Facebook or @EducatorsFG on X/Instagram). This offer is live for a limited time. Lock in your $100 bonus today: https://bit.ly/4sjMvfj. #EFGtips

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Your TVOT Office will be closed after school on Friday, March 13th and will reopen when school resumes Monday, March 23rd.

Please take time to enjoy the break!

ETFO President and Your Collective Agreement; Learn About Your Teachers' Pension; Locking Classroom Doors; Talking Politics in the Workplace;

ETFO President Dave Mastin talks to Members about Bargaining 

https://youtu.be/Ybp8TbH28kg?si=CxgPlgsTJVnOzcqE

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1) Did you know that 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, with time for a Q&A .  Upcoming webinar dates are: March 5/26 at 6 PM; March 26/26 at 6 PM; March 31/26 at 5 PM; April 9/26 at 6 PM; April 21/26 at 5 PM; May 6/26 at 5 PM and May 13/26 at 6 PM.

2) Did you know that Occasional Teachers must have the ability to lock and unlock classroom doors? It's in the Central Collective Agreement so please let the TVOT office know if you find that a school does not provide you with a classroom key. Email: mail@etfotvot.com or call: 519-641-3936.

3) Were you aware that the minimum pay for a daily assignment as a TVDSB elementary Occasional Teacher is a half-day? After that, assignments can be pro-rated according to the FTE of the absent Teacher they are replacing.

4) Did you know that every TVOT Occasional Teacher can apply for the Local's $75 Resource Rebate? Application forms can be found in the Membership Area of www.etfotvot.com 

5) Want info on MOABs and SSIRs or need to know how to access TVDSB resources,? It's all there in our TVOT Handbook for Daily Occasional Teachers at www.etfotvot.com

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Want the truth? Rather than taking guidance from chatter in staff rooms, unauthorized Facebook groups or well-meaning friends and peers, call on your TVOT Local. We are the ones who have negotiated the terms and conditions of your working relationship with the Board. Your livelihood is too important to settle for incorrect interpretations so please never hesitate to contact the TVOT Office at 519-641-3936 or mail@etfotvot.com . 

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OTIP (the Ontario Teachers' Insurance Plan) offers four life insurance plan options, each with a range of coverage amounts and term lengths. Find the coverage that’s right for you.. Apply online: https://bit.ly/4tYmvrk  

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