Smaller classes mean more time for every child - visit website

The ETFO eNewsletter Vol. 10 No. 1 | September 10, 2015

FEDERAL ELECTION 2015

October 19, 2015 is the federal election voting day and the campaign is heating up to be a three-way race.

The Fair Elections Act, 2014 introduced more stringent requirements in terms of voter identification. Make sure you are on the federal Voter Registry accessible through the Elections Canada website: www.elections.ca. You can register and update personal information on-line.

When you vote you'll need to bring identification that includes both a photo and home address, i.e. an Ontario driver's license, or two pieces of identification - one with your name and one with both your name and address.

For more information about key federal election issues, check the ETFO website.

LEARNING FROM LABOUR - FREE INTERMEDIATE LESSON PLANS

The resource Learning from Labour: Lesson Plans for Intermediate Learning Based on the Ontario Curriculum delves into a diverse range of topics highlighting the history of workers and the labour movement in Canada. It was written to complement the existing curriculum.

Some of the topics include women and labour, child labour, immigration and the racialization of work. The resource explores Labour Day, considers workers' rights in terms of human rights, and also provides an opportunity to consider the future of the labour movement in Canada.

You can download the resource for free from the ETFO website.

HEART AND ART BLOG FOR BEGINNING TEACHERS (and others)

More posts from our bloggers:

Why My Facebook Profile is Private (A Cautionary Tale) by Shawna Rothgeb-Bird
Keeping that Balance in Life by Mike Beetham
This is not a drill. We are live. by Will Gourley

If you are a new member, be sure to check out The Heart and Art of Teaching and Learning: Practical Ideas and Resources for Beginning Teachers - a free download from your Federation!

NEW SCHOOL YEAR, NEW OFFERS FROM EDVANTAGE

With the new school year upon us, it's never too early to start planning for your next winter trip. Edvantage members can save big with exclusive offers on flights, VIA Rail, Park 'N Fly, rental cars and hotels.

Coming soon this fall! Edvantage is launching an online portal where you can conveniently manage purchases and renewals with GoodLife Fitness, update your personal profile and set communication preferences all in one place. Stay tuned to the Edvantage home page for more information coming soon.

CALL FOR WORKSHOP PRESENTERS: NEW LGBTQ VIDEO

ETFO is seeking workshop presenters for the new LGBTQ Inclusive SchoolPlace Starts Here video and resource guide. The successful workshop presenters will present a new workshop on the video during the 2015-2016 school year.

This flyer (PDF | RTF) includes detailed information about the application process. For more information, please contact Adam Peer, extension 2239, [email protected] at the provincial office.

ANNUAL MEETING 2015

Once again this summer over 800 members travelled to Toronto to act as delegates at ETFO's Annual Meeting. They set policies and directions for the Federation for the coming school year and elected the provincial Executive for the 2015-2017 term. Visit www.annualmeeting.ca to access:

lists of resolutions debated and passed at the meeting;
videos of President Hammond's opening and closing addresses in which he reviews the year at ETFO and makes an announcement about Phase 2 of ETFO's work-to-rule strike action;
video of Social Justice Speaker Wab Kinew - an Aboriginal leader, writer and urban activist;
photo albums of the various business sessions and the Annual Dinner; and
media releases on award winners and the new Provincial Executive.

PROJECT OVERSEAS 2016

An application form is now available on the ETFO website for Project Overseas 2016. ETFO sponsors 14 members every year to participate in the program. Educators volunteer their time in the summer to lead professional learning opportunities for colleagues in developing countries.

In the summer of 2015, ETFO's 14 Project Overseas participants travelled to 9 different countries including Barbados, Dominica, Ghana, Guyana, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, and Uganda.

For more information about Project Overseas including frequently asked questions, visit the Project Overseas page on the ETFO website.

OPPORTUNITIES FROM OUR PARTNERS

The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity is proud to present The Ontario Educators' Conference: Let's talk about Trans youth - educators - families. Join educators, administrators and youth service workers from across the province on Friday, November 13, 2015 at Toronto City Hall. Conference participants will be given hands-on tools from educational professionals, lawyers, LGBTQ advocates and academics to understand and take advantage of Bill 13 (the Accepting Schools Act). For more information please visit www.ccgsd-ccdgs.org/educators.
PLAY! A Symposium is a two-day event that will begin the World Festival of Children's Theatre in Stratford June 5-14, 2016. The Symposium is for festival theatre practitioners, educators and students--anyone eager to explore play either through the lens of children's theatre or as a significant human activity. ETFO will be there! Organizers have posted a "Call for Proposals" due November 1st. For more information, click on the word "HERE" at - http://worldfestivalofchildrenstheatre.com/get-involved/participate/.