OSSTF District 11- Thames Valley
Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation

680 Industrial Road, London, Ontario, N5V 1V1
Phone: (519) 659-6588; Fax: (519) 659-2421; Email: osstf11@execulink.com

OSSTF initiated Education Week in 1930 to highlight the achievements of public education and to promote public awareness of its importance. In 1999, OSSTF also introduced Support Staff Appreciation Day as an integral part of Education Week to ensure that the essential role played by all education workers was fully recognized. This year, Support Staff Appreciation Day is May 3.

OSSTF is proud of the contributions we collectively make to the success of our students and our school community. OSSTF believes in a full service education system that provides real opportunities for every student to learn and be successful. This requires a school team that goes beyond the classroom teachers to include office, technical and maintenance staff, education assistants, teacher librarians, social workers, psychologists, attendance counsellors and a wide range of other education workers. Each of us plays a valuable role in helping our schools run effectively and our students become the best they can be.

In District 11, OSSTF is proud of our two support staff bargaining units. The Professional Student Services Personnel bargaining unit provides high quality services to both elementary and secondary students within the Thames Valley District School Board. The Professional Student Services Personnel Bargaining Unit consists of members in Psychological Services, Speech Language Services, Research and Assessment Services, Attendance Counsellors, School Support Counsellors, Environmental Educators, Counselling and Support Workers, and First Nations Counsellors.

The second OSSTF support staff bargaining unit is the Continuing Education Instructors. This group provides English as a Second Language and Literacy and Basic Skills instruction to adult students, as well as drivers' education instruction (both in school and in car) to students in high schools, and non-credit International Languages instruction.

We also wish to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the four bargaining units which make up our CUPE 4222 colleagues:
Unit A: Custodians, Maintenance, Printing Services, Technicians, and Warehouse workers
Unit B: Clerical and Office workers
Unit C: Educational and Instructional Assistants
Unit D: Child Minders

To all of the support staff of District 11 and of the Thames Valley District School Board, we extend our congratulations for jobs well done and for contributing significantly to the well-being and education of the students in this board!