What's happening in D3 this month:

March 8th: International Women's Day 
March 13 - March 17:  Spring Break! 
March 21st:  Equity/Human Rights Committee meeting - 4:30 pm
March 22nd:  T/OT Executive meeting - 4:30 pm
March 23rd:  Health & Safety Committee meeting - 4:30 pm
March 27th:  ESSU Executive meeting - 4:30 pm
March 27th:  Status of Women Committee meeting - 4:30 pm
April 5th:  District Executive meeting - 4:30 pm
 

 

With Spring Break around the corner, the opportunity for a much-needed pause can’t come fast enough for both students and staff. While many of you will be enjoying your downtime or taking in a variety of activities at a hot or cold destination, a small delegation of members will be representing District 3 at OSSTF’s Annual Meeting of the Provincial Assembly in Toronto. This will be the first in person AMPA meeting in three years and it is also an election year for the Provincial Executive.

 

By the time you read this, Ministry of Labour inspectors will have completed a compliance inspection of three RDSB worksites focusing on workplace violence procedures and processes. Members of the Joint Health & Safety Committee participated in these inspections and the final report will be discussed at the committee’s June meeting. Any orders issued by the MOL will be posted.

 

It is disappointing but not surprising that the Ford conservatives amended the Education Act recently, to mandate the length of education sector contracts to four years while engaged in central bargaining. As the last Bargaining Bulletin referenced, OSSTF is looking at potential legal options and next steps. Stay tuned on that front.

 

Finally, the Communications and Political Action Committee (CPAC) will be hosting its Ponderings & Potations social event at The Daventry on Regent Street, March 31st - between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

This will be an opportunity for all members to kick back and decompress at the end of the month. Until then, enjoy your Spring Break.
 

PLEASE NOTE: As there will be light refreshments, please sign up HERE if you plan to join the CPAC Committee on March 31st at the Daventry between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

All members from all BUs are welcome! 

And did we mention there will be a door prize as well??  

Regards,

Eric Laberge

District President

 

I think we can all agree that the longer days are a welcome sign that spring is on the way. A little more sunshine and vitamin D is a much need remedy to the winter blues.
 
In the absence of sunshine,  and in the midst of those long winter days, the Status of Women Committee managed to get us out and forget about the cold. Their Porketta Bingo Fundraiser was a massive success.  They sold 160 tickets, sliced up numerous pounds of tasty porketta and gave away hundreds of dollars in door prizes and draws. But the most fabulous part of this was the money raised for the Women’s Centre of Sudbury. When it was all said and done and the final calculations were made, OSSTF was able to present a cheque in the amount of $4628.00 to the Women’s centre!
 

A special shout out to Sherri Winsa, our Status of Women Officer, who brainstormed this idea and set the ball in motion; to Karissa LoRegio, who worked tirelessly to obtain the license and coordinate with the Beef and Bird, and to the rest of the committee who promoted the event and helped the night run smoothly. I would also like to recognize the sponsors of this event who donated gift cards for our door prizes.

                                             
The OSSTF District 3 - Citizenship Bursaries
There will be 5 Bursaries of $500.00 each presented annually to children of OSSTF District 3 members.  The bursaries are for students who have demonstrated exemplary citizenship within their school and possibly in the wider community.
Eligibility 
Recipients of the OSSTF District 3 Bursary must meet the following criteria:

• At least one parent/legal guardian is a member of one of the OSSTF District 3 Bargaining Units
• The student is graduating from Secondary School and going into a post-secondary program. (Proof of acceptance must be provided prior to the issuing of the award)
• Two letters of Reference are required: 
  • One of the letters must be from a teacher or administrator from the school from which the applicant will be graduating
  • The second letter may come from someone in the community who will vouch for the attributes of good citizenship

• The students must write a cover letter which will include the name of the parent who is a District 3 member, the school from which he/she is graduating and the program they will be attending in September.  Most important the students will explain  why they should be the recipient of a Citizenship Bursary
• All eligible entries will be entered into a draw to determine Bursary recipients.  Draw to take place at the Annual District Meeting in May each year.
• Completed applications should be sent to the attention of the OSSTF District Officer by email (katrina.ross@d03.osstf.ca), through Board Mail to the OSSTF office, or by mail to OSSTF D3, P.O. Box 3456, Lively, ON P3Y 1M6.  Applications can also be sent by fax to 705-692-0154.   Deadline for entry is April 14^th.

 
$500.00 TECHNICAL AWARD   (2 awards)
The purpose of the O.S.S.T.F. Technical Award is to identify two outstanding Senior Division Technical Students in the Rainbow District School Board.
 
The following criteria has been established for choosing the two (2) outstanding technical students for this award:
 

• The student must be graduating and he/ she must have excelled in technical subjects.  Please give his/her grades in all technical courses from Grade 9 on.  Consideration is also given to the student’s future plans in this field and to his/her involvement in related extracurricular activities. OYAP and /or related Coop placements may also be considered and noted in the application form.
• The nomination process should involve both the Student Services Program Leaders and the Technical Teachers.  A letter of support is required.

If you have technical students who you feel would be eligible for the Technical Award, please submit their names and the required information to the OSSTF District 3 Office no later than WEDNESDAY, May 10, 2023.  
 
You may fax this info to the office at 705-692-0154 or you may submit the required documentation via email to Katrina Ross:
 
katrina.ross@d03.osstf.ca


Katrina Ross,
District Officer

 

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Planning for retirement but don’t know where to start? You’re not alone. Here are some action items you can take as your retirement date draws closer.
 
Read more at www.otip.com/article160.
 

3 ways to prevent your credit cards from taking control of your finances



As inflation continues to put a strain on many people’s budgets, a vast majority of Canadians are turning to their credit cards for large and small purchases. However, before you tap your card on your next purchase, here are 3 ways to keep those cards from taking control of your finances: http://bit.ly/3tMbtaW. Brought to you by Educators Financial Group.

 

                                                     

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International Women’s Day is a global event focusing on women’s rights and gender equality, but it originated as part of the labour and voting rights movements.
 
In 1910, Clara Zetkin, a German communist/socialist and women’s rights activist, proposed the idea of an international day at a conference. The 100 women present, who represented 17 countries, all agreed.
 
The first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany. It wasn’t until 1977 that the United Nations adopted March 8th as a global holiday. 
 
International Women's Day is celebrated annually on March 8th as a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.
 
This day pays tribute to the historical, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day is also observed in support of taking action against gender inequality around the world.
 
Organizations large and small come together to show women just how valuable they are in today’s society.

The Government of Canada's theme for International Women's Day (IWD) 2023 is Every Woman Counts.

It's a reminder that all women, from all ages and walks of life, have a place in every aspect of Canadian society, including in the economic, social and democratic spheres.
                                   

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