President's message week 12

Letters of Employment

If you require a letter of employment for any reason, please sent your request to Lange Frosst in payroll. These letter requests will be completed on Fridays. DO NOT send these requests to Maureen Cunningham.

If you have questions you may contact:

Lange Frosst – Payroll Clerk lange.frosst@ugdsb.on.ca

Fall PD Institute 2020 - Free for EAs and ECEs

The Educational Services department is hosting another PD Institute. Webinars created and delivered by members will be offered at various times between November 23rd and November 28th. Webinars include:

 Cultiver la résilience

 Modelling Calmness

 Remote Learning Options for the Early Learning Support teams

 The Science of Learning

 Anti-racist Education Online

 The Power of Podcasting

Members can register to participate at www.cvent.com/d/77qt2g.

The registration deadline is Friday, November 20, 2020, at 12:00 P.M. This event has been advertised through the OSSTF/FEESO social media channels.

Member Survey: Addressing Systemic Racism in Ontario Schools

On the basis of feedback received from the OSSTF/FEESO Human Rights Committee, the Provincial Executive has decided to temporarily pause the Member Survey: Addressing Systemic Racism in Ontario Schools to make some revisions to the survey. This will also allow time to receive additional input from OSSTF/FEESO Equity Advisory Workgroup, the First Nations, Métis, Inuit Advisory Work Group, and the Human Rights Committee. The revised survey will be moved to the OSSTF/FEESO member protected website (myOSSTF) and it will be reactivated on November 20, 2020.

We want to thank members who have already completed the survey and have offered their input so far. The data will be considered along with the data that will be collected once the survey is reposted.

We also want to take this opportunity to assure members that this survey is just one tool for us to gather information and is in no way intended to be a referendum on OSSTF/FEESO policy. The Provincial Executive will be considering the responses to the survey and will seek further advice from the Equity Advisory Work Group, the Human Rights Committee, the First Nations, Métis, Inuit Advisory Work Group, and the soon to be formed Black and Persons of Colour Advisory Work Group in addressing systemic racism in Ontario schools generally and anti-Black racism specifically.

Upper Grand Employee Assistance Program

If you are finding yourself or a family member or a colleague is needing additional support or resources please refer to the board's employee and family assistance program. This service is free and confidential. The board is not given the names of members who are using the service. It has been a challenging year with COVID and many of us are dealing with other challenges unrelated to COVID. This resource may be of help to members who need it.

Access the Upper Grand District School Board’s Employee & Family Assistance Program 24/7 by phone, web or mobile app 1-800-387-4765 | www.workhealthlife.com