The District PD day had found a different allocation in the board calendar next year. The board has changed the date this year again, and it is set for October 18, 2010. This means that there is a lot of work to do for the committee over then next several months to be prepare for this massive undertaking.

Members wishing to formally make suggestions for workshops to be held on October 18 2010 can fill out this form:

Workshop Application Form

New slideshows have been made available to help teachers better understand the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan through a new website: FundingYourPension.com.

The content was developed by a committee made up of representatives of L'Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA), Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), Ontario Teachers' Federation (OTF), Ontario Government and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.

The website hosts five separate slideshows:

• Funding Your Pension
• Conditional Inflation Protection
• Plan Maturity
• What is Smoothing?
• Where Assumptions Fit In

The slideshows are from four to 15 minutes long and each are accompanied by audio narration. The presentations explain how the pension plan works and the challenges that it faces. The website also provides a FAQ section as well email form that allows you to pose questions of your own.

The Provincial Executive is seeking to fill an upcoming vacancy on the OSSTF/FEESO Provincial Scholarship Committee, created by the retirement of a teacher member, to commence with the 2010-2011 school year.

The other three serving members of the four person Committee are comprised of two teacher members and a support staff member.  The Committee meets two times per year, in mid February and in late May, for two days each meeting. The February meeting considers applications from members for OSSTF/FEESO scholarships and the May meeting considers applications from children of members for Federation Family Bursaries.

Meetings are held during school days and release time will be arranged for Committee members, if required. Members are required to review a considerable number of applications on their own time prior to meeting dates.  The Committee reports to the Provincial Executive.

Interested members should email, mail or fax a letter of application, with an accompanying resumé and letter of reference from their Bargaining Unit President to William Reith, Director of Educational Services, OSSTF/FEESO, 60 Mobile Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M4A 2P3 by April 30, 2010.

The Northern Chapter of Teachers for Kids will be holding their Auction on Friday April 30th at Trentwinds.  Earlier this year OSSTF District 14 endorsed TFK as our charity of choice.  This is the charity that supports our students in our schools.   As the major fundraiser for the organization, we will be there!  Auction items will be advertized on this website nearer to the event, but right now the committee is still in the process of collecting items.

Right now the organizing committee is collecting items to use for the Auction.  If you want to regift that extra Slapchop, Abdominizer or new HDTV received at Christmas Jane Kelly will be glad to take the selected item off your hands.   If your staff is not flush with items worthy of auction, perhaps there is a group of you that can offer a service?  Your imagination is your only limit.    

Donation forms will be in your schools very soon, but you can email Jane Kelly directly and share your ideas or concept gift.  The more teachers we have involved in the event, the more students we will eventually be able to support here in our community.

No role too small! 

TFK welcomes all teachers that wish to get involved with the work of organizing this event, and others throughout the year.  If you are interested in guaranteeing success for this event, please call or email Jane Kelly  (743 7373 ext 132), or contact the District Office. (705 748 3444)

It has come to our attention that the furniture maker Sklar Peppler has been involved in unfriendly practices directed to their workers. We encourage all of our members that are furniture shopping this spring to consider boycotting this furniture maker.

We were informed by CLC President, Ken Georgetti, that the CLC has endorsed a National Consumer Boycott against Sklar Peppler, Alan White branded furniture, and its manufacturer, AW Manufacturing. The boycott is at the request of the United Steelworkers (USW) and is in support of approximately 100 members who lost their jobs and severance pay when Sklar Peppler filed bankruptcy in August 2008. In late 2008, Sklar Peppler bought the company’s assets out of bankruptcy, closed the facility and bought AW Manufacturing Inc. and now uses product from that plant to sell to Sklar’s customer.

The Provincial Educational Services Committee is hosting its next biennial conference – “Tools & Toys…Technology in Education"  The 2010 Conference will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton-Toronto Airport, 655 Dixon Road, Toronto, Ontario from Wednesday, October 27- Friday, October 29, 2010. It will focus on the varied impact of technology upon educational settings in Ontario.

We are currently seeking proposals for workshops, highlighting new and innovative processes, technologies, techniques, and tools. All educational workers and related professionals are invited to submit a workshop application form relating to the theme of the conference. Suggested topics with respect to technology include:

• educating students;
• providing professional development for effective technology use;
• social networking;
• technology in the workplace;
• technology to improve student achievement;
• assistive technologies;
• wonders of technology in education;
• the use & abuse of technology;
• understanding terminology.

 If you have a workshop topic which you believe would be appropriate for consideration, please submit / fax your fully completed APPLICATION FORM no later than May 14, 2010 to:

Anne Marie Sutton, Conference Secretary, 60 Mobile Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M4A 2P3;  (Tel) 416-751-8300, ext. 326 or 1-800-267-7867 / (Fax) 416-751-7079

As advertised in our latest edition of our "One For All" newsletter, OSSTF District 14 will be hosting another Retirement Workshop, presented by Ruth Kirkham from OSSTF Provincial Office.  The workshop will take place on Monday, April 26 at 5:00pm at OSSTF District 14 Office.  Only TWO spaces are left for the workshop (as of April 1st)

Ruth will give a slightly shorter version of her workshop that she has presented at past OSSTF Professional Development Days here in our District.  This workshop is ideal for anyone who may be retiring in the next year or sometime in the next ten years, or even beyond.  It's never too late to prepare.

Space is limited.  Call District Office or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to reserve you spot today.  Spouses are also invited to attend.  Light refreshments will also be available at the workshop.  The workshop is free of charge.

The District 14 Political Action / Excellence in Education Committee would like to announce that they are now accepting nominations for Excellence in Education Awards, and is offering funding for Special Projects done by our members in their schools.

The Excellence in Education Awards are aimed to recognize adults in our education community who normally would not receive recognition.  These include Teachers, Support Staff and Community Members.  Students are not eligible for this award.  Nomination Forms need to be completed and submitted District Office by April 20, 2010.  Award criteria and nomination forms are available on our website or from your Branch President.  Awards will be handed out at the Annual General Meeting on May 11, 2010.

The PAC / EiE Special Project Fund is available to members to help support a special, one time event that enhances the school community.  These projects may include art festivals, anniversary event, production of a CD or book, bringing in a special guest speaker, or any other similar activities which OSSTF District 14 members make a contribution to.  Application Forms are available on this website or from your Branch President.  Forms are due to District Office by April 15, 2010.