PRS Matters Bulletins and ETFO Takes Action on Violence in Schools

PRS Matters Bulletins are written by Professional Relations Services Staff and are designed to keep members informed on a variety of important legal and professional issues impacting on education workers. Some of the Bulletins available to you include:

Allegations involving CAS and or Police
Workplace Harassment and Sexual Harassment
A Members Duty to Report - under the Child and Family Services Act
Professionalism - Advice to Members
Member Mental Health

You will find a complete listing of the Bulletins available to you by clicking on the following link:

https://securemail.webnames.ca/Redirect/1AB7BB05/Anchor/%2F/www.etfo.ca/supportingmembers/employees/pages/prsmattersbulletins.aspx

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ETFO has produced a three-part video series for members dealing with workplace violence.

We will be including each one in our weekly blog beginning today.

Please take a few minutes to view these for yourself or someone you may know.

April 27th paid PD Sessions,ETFO's Annual First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education Symposium - Innuit 101 and ETFO's new micro-site : Connected Communities!

The following April 27th paid PD sessions have been confirmed.  Check out the Employee Portal for Details and Registration -

Title:  Using the Principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in the class - Full Day
Location:  Stoneridge Inn - Ball Room    Time: 09:00 - 15:30 (FULL DAY)
- Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a scientific approach to understanding and dealing with student behaviour.

Title:  Brian Aspinall - 21st Century Learning - April 27 Full Day
Location:  Louise Arbour French Immersion P.S. - Cefetorium    Time:  09:00 - 15:30  (FULL DAY)
- Twenty first century learning requires students to create, collaborate and think critically. *A laptop is required to fully participate in the session.*

Title: Health and Physical Education for OTs - Choice of: April 27 AM session  or  PM session
Location: Louise Arbour French Immersion - Gym
- Engage in games/activities and learn strategies, tools and the curriculum expectations.

Title: Making Math Happen! - ETFO - April 27 Full Day
Location:  Lamplighter Inn    Time:  09:00 - 15:30 (FULL DAY)
- An opportunity to access effective, classroom-proven instructional strategies and mathematical activities for their daily assignments.

Title:  No Daybook, No Problem: Reading Strategies and Activities to Promote Rich Conversation and Higher Level Thinking - April 27 PM
Location: Education Centre - Erie Room   Time: 13:00 - 15:30 (PM ONLY)
-Build a repertoire of effective and engaging strategies that can be used with students when responding to a variety of text types.

Title: The Junior Teachers Literacy Survival Kit - April 27 AM
Location: Education Centre - Erie Room      Time: 09:00 - 11:30 (AM ONLY)
- Learn specific literacy strategies to use when supporting Junior learners during the reading portion of their daily literacy block.

Title: Kindergarten, Here we Come! - April 27 AM
Location: Education Centre - Elgin Room     Time: 09:00 - 11:30  (AM ONLY)
- Build an understanding of the Kindergarten Program, and those team members that you may encounter throughout your day in a Kindergarten classroom.

Title:  Self-Directed PD - April 27 - with Principal Permission
Description:  This option is for PD that will be taking place on a PD day in a TVDSB site with the permission of a school administrator. Contact Staff Development with any questions. Steps required: - PRIOR to the PD day, complete and submit the Principal's Permission Request Form and submit it to System Staff Development. Submit a copy of the Reflection form to System Staff Development within 3 days after the PD has been completed since this is what drives the payment process, so it must be submitted in a timely manner.

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ETFO's Annual First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education Symposium - Inuit 101

ETFO will hold its third annual First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education Symposium at the provincial office on Saturday, April 7. The focus this year is Inuit 101 and 70 members will have an opportunity to learn from two inspiring Inuit teachers, who will teach about Inuit worldviews and traditional practices, current and historical relationship between Canada and Inuit. To register for this event, visit the ETFO Events Management System at https://events.etfo.org/upcoming-events/ and clcik on the FNMI Education Symposium tab.

For more details on this event visit our ETFO Professional Learning page at http://www.etfo.ca/SupportingMembers/ProfLearning/pages/upcomingpl.aspx .

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ETFO Connected Communities 
Check out ETFO's new micro-site!  Connected Communities features 16 webinars from the 2016 - 2017 school year on topics related to Mathematics, Kindergarten and technology-enabled learning. Check it out at http://www.etfoconnected.ca




  

How to get on LTO List? Collapsed Class Assignments; Not Sure of Where to go in the Thames Valley Community for Support

LTO List
Just a reminder to members who have worked for the Board for 10 months and taught at least 20 days, that there is only one way to get onto the LTO List and that is via the interview process.  Even if you are from the Roster but currently filling a LTO position, you will need to apply for an interview and that opportunity closes at the end of the month.  Log into the Employee Portal to apply and be sure to 1) Click the Submit button and 2) Print a copy for your records
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Classes Collapsed due to Inclement Weather?
Sometimes when buses are cancelled, schools experience a decline in attendance and so classes are collapsed.  In these situations, the OT who was called in, is to follow the timetable of the Teacher they were called to replace. That means we honour the supervisory duties and receive the scheduled prep period on that timetable - no loading of duties etc.  If you have any questions in this regard, please call the Local OT Office at 519-641-3936.
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Please take note of the following COMMUNITY RESOURCES contact information when/if needed:

New to Canada - www.settlement.org

Health/Medical
HEALTH UNIT  ~  519-663-5317

POISON CONTROL  ~ 1-800-268-9017

PARENT HELP LINE  ~  1-888-603-9100

WALK-IN CLINICS  ~  519-668-2400  ~ 519-641-6668  ~  519-963-0232

MENTAL HEALTH ADDICTION  ~  519-434-9191  ~  519-433-2023

COMMUNITY CARE / DISABILITIES  ~  1-800-811-5146  ~  1-800-265-6235  ~  519-473-2222  ~ 519-245-3233

WOMENS CRISIS SERVICES  ~  519-642-3003 

SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE  ~  519-438-2272

TELEHEALTH ONTARIO (free confidential health info and advice)   ~  1-866-797-000

Food/Nutrition
FOOD BANKS  ~ 519-659-4045  ~

MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM  ~  519-660-1430

CLOTHING  ~  519-645-1454  ~  519-438-7071

Housing/Shelter
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES  ~ 519-455-9000  ~  519-439-9696

HOUSING-SHELTER  ~ 519-434-2765  ~  519-433-2807  ~  519-673-4114

LANDLORD AND TENANT BOARD  ~ 1-888-332-3234

LEGAL SUPPORT  ~ 519-433-8179  ~ 519-633-2638  ~ 1-866-611-2311

Financial Support
ONTARIO WORKS  ~ 519-661-5304  ~ 519-661-5906

EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE  ~  1-800-206-7218

CREDIT COUNSELLING  ~ 519-433-0159

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES  ~ 519-661-5304


Education/Recreation

PUBLIC LIBRARY  ~  519-661-4600

AQUATIC SERVICES   ~  519-661-2523

NORTH LONDON OPTIMIST RECREATION ~  519-661-5198

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Thank you to all who attended yesterday's Professional Development at the Stoneridge Inn and Conference Centre.  Stay tuned for information regarding our next PD Event on March 7th.

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TVOT February 13, PD Event, the new 365 Black Curriculum resource and Retirement Planning Workshop

Join us on Feb 13th for our Professional Development Event at the Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre, from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm.  Meal included for all ETFO-TVOT Members.

Registration and details at www.etfotvot.com
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#ETFO helps elementary educators move past Eurocentric curriculum with new 365 Black Curriculum resource for all elementary divisions etfo.ca/SupportingMemb...pic.twitter.com/C1l6eH0tVU

Check out the link for more information
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All Thames Valley Occasional Teachers have been invited to join the District 8 RTO/ERO on Saturday, April 14, 2018 for a Retirement Planning Workshop at the Hellenic Community Centre in London. Registration is on their web site www.rto-ero.org
The registration price includes pension and benefits presentations, all materials, morning refreshments and a hot & cold buffet lunch.

When:  10:30 am to 2:00 pm, Sat. Apr 14, 2018
             Registration/refreshments start at 10:00 am
Where: Hellenic Centre  133 Southdale Rd. W, London, ON  N6J 2J2
Questions:  Lorna Wilson, 519 859-4888
                   wdoonie@rogers.com
Register:    www.rto-ero.org/rpw-schedule-list
Cost:          $15 per person, $25 per couple

Interested in getting onto the LTO List? Privatization Alert! ETFO Violence in our Schools Survey; Iranian Teacher advocate back in Jail

LTO List Interviews

All Occasional Teachers interested in getting onto the LTO List, need to apply for an interview via the TVDSB Employee Portal during the month of February.  Regulation 274 stipulates that OTs must have taught with the Board for ten months (and at least 20 days), so only those hired on or before February 1st, 2017 are eligible.  

Please note that the interview process is the only route to the LTO List so those Occasional Teachers currently teaching in LTO positions still need to apply.

Click on the Elem LTO List (new) and be sure to hit the "Submit" button.  It is advised that you print off a screen shot after you have submitted since HR does not send our confirmations. 

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Privatization Alert!

The recent bankruptcy of "Carillion", the multi-national corportaion given the contract to maintain Ontario highways (formerly kept up by public sector workers), is just the latest example of the true costs of privatization.

Join OPSEU President Smokey Thomas, Peggy Sattler MPP, Ken Lewenza and others for a discussion on privatization and how to stop its erosion of our jobs and our communities.
The meeting will be held Thursday, February 1st from 7 - 9 pm at the Wolfe Performance Hall of the London Public Library, 251 Dundas Street.  Stand up for public services. 
Register at https://www.weownit.ca/london_privatization_panel?utm_campaign=london_panel&utm_medium=email&utm_source=weownit

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ETFO Violence in our Schools Survey

The recently released results of ETFO's all member survey conducted by Stratcom, show no surprises - the number and severity of violent incidents in our schools is increasing. Violence negatively impacts our teaching and classroom management, causes mental strain and injury of our members.  Three-quarters of us feel that actions taken by schools are ineffective in preventing recurrences.  These issues must be addressed by the Provincial Government and ministries and the funding of special education must reflect the needs of the system.  For more information about the current funding shortfall, check out http://www.etfo.ca/AboutETFO/Publications/PositionPapers/PositionPapersDocuments/Shortchanging%20Ontario%20Students%20-%20An%20overview%20and%20assessment%20of%20education%20funding%20in%20Ontario.pdf


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Ailing Iranian Teacher Union Leader Esmail Abdi has been sent back to jail for his union activism and his campaign for teachers rights and free public education.  He has committed no crime. 
Please join other Teachers from around the world and take time to petition for his release at 
https://www.labourstartcampaigns.net/show_campaign.cgi?c=3688

ETFO Survey results on Violence in our Schools; OTF Connects 2018; Validation Stickers

The November Survey results on Violence in our Schools have been compiled:

- 70% of ETFO members report having personally experienced or witnessing violence in our schools

- more than a third of ETFO members report suffering mental stress, physical injury or illness from violent school incidents

- 80% of our members report this is having a negative impact on their teaching and classroom management practices

- an entire generation is having their learning disrupted on a consistent basis with violence becoming normalized in the classroom

President Sam Hammond says, "Our members report that the number and severity of violent incidents is increasing and front line supports are lacking for students with high risk behaviours."

Thank you to the hundreds of TVOT members who responded. With these facts in hand, it is now time to hold the government and school boards accountable.

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Overcome the January Blues with OTF Connects! Check out the #OTFConnects 2018 Winter Program. Check out their full catalogue of rich professional learning opportunities at https://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/learning/otf-connects/

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ETFO ID Card/Edvantage 2018 validation stickers were mailed to members with their recent "Voice" magazine. Members who lost theirs may contact our office for a replacement.
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Phys. Ed and Brain Breaks !!! Upcoming TVOT - PD Event and OTF Webinar Opportunities

Join us for a nice hot dinner and an early evening of PD on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the BMO Centre, 295 Rectory Street in London from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm.  Our January PD traditionally centers around physical activity and well-being.  Workshops this year include:

1) Brain Breaks in the Mindful Classroom,
2) Simple Can Be Fun!  Daily Physical Activity and Physical Education Strategies for the Occasional Teacher  (On the soccer field, bring your running shoes),
3) Physical Education for All:  Engagement and skill Development for all your Students.

There are still spots available in each workshop.

Please go to www.etfotvot.com for further descriptions and registration

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Start the new year off with OTF Connects from the Ontario Teachers' Federation! The 2018 Winter Program is full of rich professional learning opportunities on topics such as Media Literacy, Kindergarten Learning, Using Digital Tools. Register now for these worthwhile FREE evening courses - http://ow.ly/2dQ330hlg35