Your Member News
January 25, 2023
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Words of Inspiration
As we all settle into 2023, the ETFO President, Karen Brown, shared a message of what is keeping her hopeful this year. Listen to what the President said and share your inspirations with us too! Email communications@etfo.org with your message.
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COMING SOON!
ETFO’s 2023 All-Member Violence Survey
Your experience matters. Make your voice heard!
ETFO’s 2023 All-Member Violence Survey is an opportunity to share your experience with violence in schools. The survey will be open from February 8 to March 8, 2023. You will receive an email on or after February 8 with a link to the survey.
It’s vital that every member participates in our 2023 All-Member Violence Survey.
To ensure you receive a survey link, please update your contact information by Tuesday, January 31 here or by emailing Member Records at memberrecords@etfo.org.
Please include your ETFO Member ID number in your email, if possible.
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Research Poll Spreads Misinformation
During bargaining, it is common to see public opinion polls that test support for a conservative agenda that would attack educators and their working conditions. These surveys often include leading questions intended to skew results so that the data collected can be used to misinform the public.
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ETFO Calls for Action to Address Racism
Following the release of People for Education’s Progress Report on Anti-Racism Policy Across Canada, ETFO is once again calling for urgent action and real change. The Federation remains committed to working with governments, school boards, and community partners to protect and support the rights of individuals and communities who continue to be discriminated against, underserved, and marginalized.
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International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 27 is an international memorial day that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide enacted by Nazi Germany between 1941 and 1945. As stated on the UN website, “The violence of exclusion began with disinformation and hate speech that lent support to systemic injustice and discrimination, and marginalization and ended with genocidal killing.”
Links to classroom resources are available here.
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After the Violent Incident Report
Is your principal responding to the violent incident reports you are filing? If not, this risk re-assessment checklist shows several possible strategies that the principal should be considering after significant incidents of violence.
Contact your health and safety representative or your local ETFO office if you have questions.
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#BlackGirlMagic
The 2023 ETFO Black History Month poster is a visual representation of the beauty that lies within Black features: specifically, hair, nose, and lips, that have been historically criminalized and degraded by white beauty standards. The sisterhood and solidarity on display speaks to the relationships and mentoring that are crucial in the Black community and can be more widespread in classrooms with more Black educators.
Our two subjects are a living representation of Black girl magic, the ability for Black love and joy to be found and celebrated in a world that often does not love them back.
View the PDF of the 2023 poster here.
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Talking About Workplace Violence
In the latest episode of the ETFO podcast Elementary, a discussion on workplace violence. What is it, and what is its impact in schools?
Two experts who have been studying workplace violence in the education sector, and addressing what must be done to support safe, peaceful environments for learning and teaching talk about what workplace violence means for teachers and education workers, and what can be done to support safe, peaceful environments for learning. Listen here.
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Professional Learning Events in 2023
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March 1-2
This Professional Relations Services conference focuses on rights and responsibilities related to professionalism and employment. This year’s theme is human rights and the associated rights and responsibilities of educators and features a keynote, workshops, and opportunities to network with other women members from across Ontario. There is a $50.00 registration fee.
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March 4
Learn about the nuts and bolts of community organizing at ETFO’s day-long workshop. Participants will consider the following:
- What makes our organizing effective and sustainable?
- What can we learn from others?
- How can we be effective allies?
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March 8–9
This exciting program will provide members who identify as women with the opportunity to explore concepts such as identity and positionality, privilege and marginalization, intersectional identities, and allyship. There is a $50.00 registration fee. Learn more here.
Registration opens February 1 and closes on February 15.
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Course Leaders Needed
ETFO is seeking course leaders for the 2023 ETFO Summer Academy.
Each Summer Academy course runs for three consecutive days between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. EDT from July 4 to August 25 in various locations across the province. Full application details can be found here.
Interested applicants should apply by March at 9:00 a.m. EST.
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Committee Vacancies to Fill
Members are needed to fill immediate vacancies for the 2022-2024 term on the following provincial Standing Committees:
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Poll Clerks Needed
Members are encouraged to apply for appointed duties during the Annual Meeting that will take place at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel on August 14-17, 2023. Selected candidates must attend a training on Sunday afternoon, August 13, and plan to be available for every session of the Annual Meeting.
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OTIP Rates
OTIP long-term disability plan benefit rates will not increase in the 2023 year for ETFO teachers and any education worker members participating in the OTIP Plan. This is the fourth year that rates have not increased! The 2023 OTIP LTD plan benefit also remains the same.
Some of the support programs included in monthly contributions are the following: Carepath, FeelingBetterNow®, Starling Minds, and ALAViDA. For more information about accessing these services, click the links above or contact OTIP at 1-800-267-6847.
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Awards Deadline!
The nomination deadline for all ETFO awards is less than a week away on February 1.
Nominate yourself or another educator for their contribution to public education. There are a variety of award categories to acknowledge achievements.
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ETFO AQ Spring Updates
Register early at etfo-aq.ca, as courses fill up quickly. Spring registration opens on February 6.
ETFO AQ is proud to offer two new courses for the spring session:
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Addressing Anti-Black Racism to Change Pedagogy and Practice, Part 1
ETFO is one of three providers to offer this course to support educators as they become leaders in anti-Black racism in Ontario. This AQ course was developed collaboratively through community consultation and will assist educators in addressing challenges faced by learners who identify as members of the Black community. It takes the whole community to dismantle discrimination and encourage transformational change.
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First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples: Understanding Traditional Teachings, Histories, Current Issues, and Cultures, Part 2
ETFO is one of five providers to offer this course to support educators as they earn qualifications to teach Indigenous focussed content across various curricula. Check with your board to inquire about what subsidies might be available for AQ courses as you learn to integrate Indigenous knowledge across various curricula.
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ETFO AQ Fees
Since 2010, ETFO's fees for our AQ courses have remained the same. In the last few years, there have been significant increases in expenses for administering the ETFO AQ program. Effective February 6, 2023, course fees will increase from $650.00 to $685.00.
ETFO continues to have one of Ontario's lowest AQ course fees compared to other course providers. We believe in and continue to support ETFO's quality educational programming instructed by teachers like you.
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Five Things for Your Financial To-Do List
It’s a new year—and while you might be sorting out whether or not an old acquaintance should be forgotten, there is a list of money-related things you shouldn’t forget if you want to start this year on the right financial foot.
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Mindfulness Workshop
Starling Minds will be hosting a one-hour four-week Mindfulness Workshop on Tuesdays from February 21 to March 14 to help you learn techniques for better mental clarity, presence of mind, calmness through the power of breath, meditation, and more.
This workshop will include strategies to help you:
- expand your window of tolerance to stay calm under stress;
- understand the impacts of your thoughts and change your internal dialogue;
- become more compassionate and kind towards yourself and others; and
- live a more easeful and peaceful life with mindfulness.
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Help Protect the Greenbelt
The Ford Conservatives blocked Ontarians from having a say about the Greenbelt at the Bill 23 committee hearings. You are invited to add your voice and have your say about the Greenbelt with an important survey on the environment, housing, and Ontario public policy, which SPR Associates are conducting.
Survey results will aid a position paper supporting environmental organizations on the issue of repealing the legislation in 2023.
Your voice is essential and can make a difference in protecting Ontario’s Greenbelt lands and promoting more affordable housing. Complete the survey here by February 15.
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Here are a few of the recent opinion pieces from members. You can see more on the Heart and Art of Teaching and Learning website at heartandart.ca.
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In Teaching to Transgress, Iyanuolwa Akinrinola asks, do students see themselves reflected meaningfully in their learning?
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Teaching is a challenging career and Kelly McLaughlin reminds us, Teachers, YOU ROCK!
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As an ESL teacher, Diane Kim shares how multilingual learners bring new perspectives and unique interpretations in Winter Gifts (Part 2).
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The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
represents 83,000 teachers and education workers.
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