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OSSTF District 11- Thames Valley
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District 11 Office |
District Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 2: November 6, 2002
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Click on any of the titles below to go directly to that article. |
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Police Checks and
Offence Declarations
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Letters of
Professional Concern Campaign
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Police Checks and Offence Declarations
See the print copy distributed to Members at workplaces for this information.
Have You Moved? Or Changed Your Name?
If you change your name or address, PLEASE fax your new information to the District Office at 659-2421 and state which Bargaining Unit you belong to: Teachers, Occasionals, PSSP, or Continuing Education Instructors.
You should also notify:
 | OTG Financial Inc. (1-800-263-9541) so that you continue to receive your OTG RRSP statement slips | ||||
| the Pension Plan you belong to:
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Marion Drysdale Contest Reminder
Branches and workplaces are reminded that the deadline for entries to reach the District Office is Friday November 22.
Each branch or workplace may send ONE winning entry for each of the 9 categories to the District level of the contest, therefore judging may have to be done at the school level first of you receive more than one entry in any given category.
Contest details were sent to Branch Presidents in September.
United Way Reminder
The organizations which receive funding from the United Way are worthy organizations which need our support–they too have been hit hard by the mean-spiritedness of the present tory government. As people in public service, we see the effects of the tory cuts to education every day–we are living them–and so we know first hand how it feels to be providing a service with inadequate support from our elected government. The OSSTF, along with the other unions and employee groups in the TVDSB, is whole-heartedly supporting this worthy cause.
There are several options that you may choose from: a one-time donation (attach a cheque to the donation form), payroll deduction donations (your total donation will appear on your T4 slip), pre-authorized chequing donations (attach a void cheque to your donation form) or credit card donations. These last few options are perfect for making a substantial donation but spreading it out over a period of time.
Remember also that you will receive a receipt for your charitable donation that you can submit with your annual tax return for a tax credit!
Please take some time and submit your pledge form to your United Way school or workplace rep today.
ETFO Work to Rule
See the print copy distributed to Members at workplaces for this information.
Letters of Professional Concern Campaign
Thank you to all those who responded to the request sent through Branch Presidents to write and submit a "letter of professional concern" regarding the Literacy Test. Packages containing copies of these letters and a covering letter from District 11 President Don Rowdon were passed on to every trustee of the TVDSB, to Elizabeth Witmer, and the two opposition education critics: Gerard Kennedy and Rosario Marchese.
Use of Board Computers and E-mail
See the print copy distributed to Members at workplaces for this information.
District Committees Need Members
District 11 has several committees which need representation from all of the bargaining units. Please consider joining one of the following committees.
| Political Action Committee: This committee organizes activities to mobilize political action among the membership. The major thrust of this committee this year will be election readiness. One of the Provincial and District priorities is to defeat the present tory government and to elect a new government which will be more responsive to the needs of public education. If you want to help accomplish this very important task, please join this committee. The next meeting is Thursday November 21 at 4:30 at the District Office. |
| Educational Services Committee: This committee plans professional development activities for members. The committee meets approximately monthly. The next meeting is Tuesday November 26, at 4:30 at the District Office. |
| Communication and Excellence in Education Committee: This committee plans and produces a District Magazine–this year it will be an online publication in order to save on paper and duplicating costs–and it organizes and carries out projects and awards related to Excellence in Education, such as the Marion Drysdale Contest and the Bishop Townshend Awards of Educator Excellence. The next meeting will be a dinner meeting and will include the judging of school level winning entries to the Marion Drsydale Contest. It will take place on Thursday November 28, 2002 at 4:15 at the District Office. |
| Human Rights and Status of Women Committee: This committee promotes policies of OSSTF and greater awareness among its members of issues relating to Human Rights and the Status of Women. The next meeting is on Thursday December 5, 2002 at 4:00 at the District Office. |
Teachers and Students, Oil and Water
"Never touch a student." How often have you heard that? But the truth is, you put yourself at considerable risk every time you touch or cause an object to touch a student. A tap of the finger on a shoulder, a nudge of the elbow, a tap on the head with a rolled up piece of paper. Any of these actions can be interpreted by a student as having a wide range of intentions.
When administrators hear of such incidents, they are required to investigate. When the student is under 16 years of age, Children’s Aid must be involved if the action could be considered to be abuse. Contacting a child can, in many circumstances, be considered abusive. In the city of London, that can often mean an interview with a CAS worker and a police officer.
We are, by nature, caring individuals who know that personal contact defines us as humans. But in today’s Ontario, it simply is not worth the potential risk to your job and your personal life to demonstrate your caring through physical contact with students, no matter what your intent may be.
The Edvantage Discounts Program
The Edvantage Discounts Program is a special benefit provided to you free of charge. Edvantage provides exclusive discounts and special deals with different retail partners throughout the province of Ontario and around the world. The Edvantage Discounts Program is exclusive to education employees in Ontario.
Visit the Edvantage website to see what kinds of discounts are available.
