Decline in Work and TVARRIS; TVOT Fall General Meeting; If You Paid into OMERS; Personal Email Please; Smaller Class Sizes; New Members Meeting with ETFO Provincial;

 

 

Teacher Absences and TVARRIS - The TVOT Local continues to hear from members about the lack of work this school year. The Local has discussed this with TVDSB had have been told that permanent Teacher absences are down as there has been less illness and less PD being offered during the school day. We can report that the Board's use of uncertified instructors has also greatly diminished, though schools seem to be finding ways within the building, to cover absences.

The TVOT Local is also hearing many complaints about TVARRIS - the Thames Valley Absence Reporting and Replacement System. It seems members are experiencing fewer issues job-shopping when using a computer, than they find with the TVARRIS App. That being said, if members can send screenshots of any "glitches" or difficulties to us at etfotvot@gmail.com  that will assist us in our conversations with HR. Please note, that when job-shopping, you will only see jobs at schools that you have selected in your TVARRIS profile so members may want to select additional sites.  Remember that the majority of our membership live in one of the cities, so consider adding some rural schools - they are often a very pleasant change from the urban ones.

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It was nice to meet so many of  you at our "Got Your Back" event last week. We appreciate that you took time to meet colleagues, enjoy a lovely dinner and find out a bit about your Local and the Collective Agreement. Remember, that your Local is here to respond to your questions and provide support, so don't hesitate to contact us at 519-641-3936 or etfotvot@gmail.com.

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Registration is now open for the TVOT Fall General Meeting

mail@etfotvot.com / 519-641-3936

If you began as an Uncertified Instructor with TVDSB, you contributed to the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS). When you became certified, this changed and you began contributing to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP). To ensure that your OMERS contributions are not lost, newly certified members must contact OMERS directly https://www.omers.com/ and instruct them to transfer these previous contributions to OTPP. This does not happen automatically - you must apply for a transfer or you will lose these contributions.

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Be professional – Don’t use the TVDSB system for personal correspondence. There is no privacy when an employee uses the Board’s property whether it is a TVDSB computer or the Board’s Outlook email system (even from a home computer). All such usage must be appropriate and related to your employment with the Board.  Inappropriate use of such equipment could result in the Board limiting or revoking your access and possible discipline.

The Union asks members to please use a personal email address when contacting the Local.

Visit https://www.buildingbetterschools.ca/ 

Every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. But in Ontario, too many students are packed into overcrowded classrooms — and it’s hurting their ability to learn

Smaller classes would mean:

• More individual support for every child’s learning needs
• More space for teachers to identify and support learning challenges early
• Less classroom violence — and safer, calmer classrooms for our kids

The facts:

• Grades 4–8 have no cap on class sizes
• 10% of Kindergarten classrooms have upwards of 32 kids
• The Ford government has had seven years to fix these issues but they still haven’t acted

It doesn’t have to be this way. Together, we can demand smaller classes that give every student the chance to thrive.

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3 Ways to Celebrate Financial Literacy

 Month

   

November is Financial Literacy Month!

Talking about money is not easy but let’s normalize it. This November, we’re embracing the theme “Talk Money!” to help break the stigma around financial conversations. 

Whether you have debt on your mind, are budgeting for the future, or curious about different types of investments, Educators Financial Group can support you every step of the way. 

Here are three ways you can learn with Educators Financial Group this Finanacial Literacy month:

1.     Fast-track your financial literacy by signing up for a free 5-day mini course. In this 5-part email series, you’ll learn how to manage your debt, build a successful financial plan, maximize your money through tax-saving strategies, and more.

2.    Get your questions answered by an Educators Financial Advisor. Book a call with an Educators Financial Advisor to discuss your finances and create a plan that works for you.

3.     Attend one of our Financial Literacy Month webinars:

·         Financial Planning in your Early and Mid-Career on November 6, 2025, at 5:00pm

·         Investing - Empowering You to Make the Right Choices on November 12, 2025, at 5:00pm

·         Navigating Borrowing and Debt: Market Trends, Regulatory Updates, and Smart Strategies on November 18, 2025, at 5:00pm

Ready to take control of your finances? Book a call with an Educators Financial Advisor and get personalized advice tailored to your needs.

Let’s talk money!

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TVOT Hosted Paid PD; Timetable of the Absent Teacher; Pension Credit; Lost Prep Periods; Hours Reported to EI; More "Earn While You Learn" Opportunities; ETFO Town Hall for New Members; TVOT Fall General Meeting

 

Paid PD hosted by TVOT - Join us after school at the Lamplighter Inn on November 11th for your choice of one of the following paid PD workshops. These sessions include a free dinner and workshops fill quickly so register by logging into the TVDSB Employee Portal and click on Conference/Session Registrations. Each session counts as a half-day of teaching.

 Here are the options:

1) Your First LTO, Survive to Thrive - develop an effective program and learn how to communicate with parents, build report card comments, track your class feedback and much more. 

2) Multiplication and Division: Fact, Fluency Games and Visual Strategies - Research shows that increasing fact fluency makes for better young mathematicians and problem-solvers. This workshop will provide you with practical ideas, concrete and visual tools and fun games to help your learners become fact fluent. 

3) Coding Unplugged: Coding Without Computers - Learn how to lead simple, low-prep lessons that connect coding to math, literacy and science while fostering collaboration, creativity and problem-solving. 

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- Collective Agreements vary from Board to Board, and within a Board, secondasry and elementary panels have different provisions

- The Steward in a school represents the permanent Teachers. As an OT or LTO, your representation comes from the TVOT Office 519-641-3936 or etfotvot@gmail.com. We know your Collective Agreement - we negotiated it!

- The daily OT is expected to follow the timetable of the Teacher they are replacing. This means they follow the same supervision responsibilities and prep time periods as the absent Teacher would normally have.  

- To gain one qualifying year of pension credit, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan requires you to work more than 10 days, so teaching an extra day beyone the 10 needed as a TVOT member, could save you a full year of teaching at the end of your career. https://www.otpp.com/en-ca/members/life-events/learning-about-the-plan/working-less-than-full-time/

- If a school is unable to provide you with the scheduled prep period, then note the date, location and minutes lost so that you can be financially compensated at the end of the school year for this lost time.

- Occasional Teachers are not to administer medication, toilet children or transport students in the OT's personal vehicle.

- For purposes of Employment Insurance (EI), a day of work is reported as 8 hours, pro-rated for part-day assignments.

- All OTs  and LTOs have access to the TVDSB Employee Asssistance Program. Check out the "Telus Health Employee Family Assistance Program" on the Employee Portal login page, for more information. https://apps3.tvdsb.ca/employees/login/login.aspx?_mid_=827

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More Paid PD Options hosted by TVDSB - Here is another chance to earn salary on a day when OTs cannot normally work. There are still spaces available to participate in Paid PD on November 14th, and each session counts as a half day of salary. Log into the TVDSB Employee Portal and click on Conference/Session Registrations to see what is being offered as Elementary Dual Occasional Teacher PD. It's an opportunity to "Earn While You Learn"!

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OTF (Ontario Teachers' Federation) is drawing 10 tickets for members to attend the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, virtual  conference being held Saturday, November 22/25. Click https://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/ticket-giveaway-to-the-learning-disabilities-association-of-canada-conference/ for more information.

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ETFO Provincial's "Occasional Teacher Website" can now be found at https://members.etfo.ca/resources/occasional-teachers so visit it for quick access to ETFO's PRS Bulletins offering relevant advice for all Teachers, the A - Z of Being an OT and topics such as Addressing Hate and Discrimination; Mindfullness as an OT; The duty to Report to OCT and many assorted articles of interest.

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We've Got Your Back; Full-day Paid PD Opportunity with lunch; OTF Webinars; Bill 33 Statement; Leaders for Tomorrow

Just a few spots open -

Those who register and attend will receive $15 as a gas money allowance and have a chance to win a $100 gift card.  The dinner is free so take this opportunity to meet your OT colleagues - there are almost 2,000 of us. Register now as there are just a few spots remaining: mail@etfotvot.com or 519-641-3936.

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"You Got This! Classroom Management for the Occasional Teacher" - A full-day paid PD session hosted by TVOT on Friday, November 14th PA Day at the Lamplighter Inn, London, with lunch included. This practical workshop addresses the many daily challenges faced by Occasional Teachers when managing students, time, curriculum and resources. Discover a variety of strategies and activites to address behaviours. Learn how to establish rapport and routines, motivate and keep students on task, and minimize challenging behavours while addressing student needs. Registration in the TVDSB Employee Portal.

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OTF has just announced new additions to their OTF Connects webinars which provide free and effective PD opportunities for Teachers.

November topics include: 1) Expression Matters, Building Student Well-Being Through Drama and Dance on November 6. Click on this link to Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Lo2SIusDTMuLtSxSFKgKng#/registration and 2) Generative Artificial Intelligence, A Revolution in Action for Teachers On November 27. Here is the registration link https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zJO1CXqNTra4eQsIUrptuA#/registration

In December the webinar is: Enhancing Classroom Practices with Generative AI, Part 2 on December 2 and here is the registration link -https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZUan6ejrSiOEwYf2SyP5hg#/registration

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Looking for additional resources for Women's History Month? Go to https://www.etfo.ca/calendar/women-s-history-month

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The TVOT Fall General Meeting will be held at the Stoneridge Inn on November 26th. Registration will open in November so be sure to mark this on your calendar. We will look forward to meeting you there!

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We've Got your Back; NEW: TVOT Handbook for Daily OTs; ETFO Events and Release Time; Social Media Cautions; ETFO Podcasts; ETFO Websites of Interest

 

We are Looking Forward to Meeting You!

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Your TVOT Executive is proud to present our new TVOT Handbook for Daily Occasional Teachers. Click on www.etfotvot.com for lots of essential information, including useful hyperlinks.

While there, be sure to open a member account so that you receive our Wednesday Blog and have access to our PD Fund and Resource Rebate applications.

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What is ETFO "Release Time"? 

Daily OTs and LTOs are eligible to attend workshops and conferences hosted by ETFO Provincial in Toronto without losing income. If the event takes place during the week, ETFO  often asks if release time is required. Check "Yes" and ETFO will submit your participation to the Board as time worked as a daily OT.  If you are in a LTO assignment, then ETFO will cover the cost of the daily OT who replaces you. Please note that in many cases, ETFO will also cover travel expenses, shared accommodations and meals, in an effort make it easier for all members to take part in ETFO events.

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Social Media Perils 

It's part of our lives, however, Teachers must be particularly careful when using social media. The community, the Board and the College of Teachers all monitor our social media communications so recognize that your posts reflect on you and your professionalism.  Every year, members are held accountable for overlooking the fact that the Board and the OCT have strict expectations in this regard. Please become informed by checking out https://www.tvdsb.ca/en/our-board/resources/Orientation/Useful-Information/SocialMediaGuidelines.pdf

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"Elementary" is a podcast for members and anyone else who is interested in public education in Ontario. Recent podcast topics include:
- How to Improve Special Education in Ontario

- Indigenous Plants and Their Uses

- Education and Artificial Intelligence

- Talking Politics at Work

- The Value of Play Based Learning

Here is the link - https://sites.libsyn.com/400088

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 Navigate the changing mortgage landscape with expert guidance and competitive rates from (please tag @Educators Financial Group on Facebook or @EducatorsFG on X/Instagram). Plus, you could get up to $500 cash back*. Conditions apply. Speak to an Educators Mortgage Advisor today: https://bit.ly/42sKylY. #EFGtips

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For more information on how to keep kids and families safe visit:

- https://www.ecno.org/cyber-awareness/

- Cyber Security Ontario

- https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca

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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Complete insurance solutions for the Ontario education community. Get personalized service and exclusive discounts for all your insurance needs. Plus, get a $20 gift card of your choice when you get a car or home quote from (please tag @OTIP on Facebook, @OTIP_Insurance on X, or @otip_insurance on Instagram)! Get a quote: https://bit.ly/3KoI4Pv

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