Phase 3 of teachers' work-to-rule strike begins Monday

The ETFO has directed teachers to escalate their work-to-rule/strike activity starting Monday.

CTV news has the details on what this means. In a nutshell: no meetings with parents unless there's a specific concern; no blogs, websites or newsletters; no changes to IEPs after the initial deadline; no report card comments; no extra-curriculars on Wednesdays.

The TDSB posted this information for parents about the labour negotiations.

The union is threatening rotating strikes in October if no agreement has been reached by then.

Curriculum Night Sept 19

Looking forward to seeing you all at Curriculum Night on September 19. This is a great way to meet the teachers and find out what happens in your child's classroom. The official program begins at 6pm but the school is hosting a barbecue starting at 5pm. See details on the school blog.

There will be signup sheets for anyone who wants to volunteer at school events!

A Storied Gift

In case anyone is looking for gift ideas... here's a thought. 

It's over!

Great news! The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario has "suspended its advice regarding participation in voluntary / extracurricular activities." Read their media statement here. 

I'm pretty sure this means extracurriculars are coming back to Ontario's elementary schools. At least, that's how the Globe and Mail is reporting it. Hooray! 

Teachers to continue protest

Members of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario today voted to continue their protest against the contracts imposed by the Ontario government.

This report is from People for Education:

Elementary teachers decide to continue protest On Thursday afternoon, the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) announced that the union would continue their protest against imposed contracts. While ETFO acknowledged that the talks are progressing, they felt that a better "tone" was not enough. In a press release, ETFO President Sam Hammond said, “While we have experienced a marked and welcome change in the Wynne government’s approach to addressing its relationship with teachers, this has yet to translate into real change,” said . “In these circumstances, ETFO’s advice regarding voluntary/ extra-curricular activities remains unchanged.” To read more about extracurricular activities, click here.

For more information:

• The Toronto Star's news report
• CBC News
• ETFO's news release
• The official response from Minister of Education Liz Sandals
• Latest labour information from TDSB (nothing new there yet, but presumably they will update it eventually)

Safe arrival today

Despite the fact that buses are not running today, my understanding is that the school's safe-arrival procedures still apply. I'm sure that the school will appreciate a call (416-396-6165) as usual if your children are going to be absent.

CORRECTION - School is open today Friday Jan 11

According to news reports and the TDSB web site, the decision has been reversed and schools will in fact be open today, Friday January 11.

There will be no bus service.

Details on the TDSB web site and twitter page: http://www.tdsb.on.ca/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=10639&menuid=41024&pageid=34390 

Teachers to strike again on Friday

The elementary teachers' union has announced a "one-day political protest" this Friday January 11. Schools will be closed on Friday. This letter was emailed to parents today.

Welcome back!

Welcome back from what I hope was a restful holiday for all the Clairlea families and staff. Happy new year!

As you will have seen in the news last week, the Ontario government has imposed a contract on the Ontario elementary school teachers. It expires on August 2014. The government has also said it will appeal the controversial Bill 115 which gave it the power to impose a contract and prevent further strikes. According to this Globe and Mail article, ETFO president Sam Hammond has said that it will not be "business as usual" when classes resume today. I'm not sure exactly what this means, but it will no doubt be discussed at the next school council meeting, on Wednesday January 16.*

*Unfortunately I am not able to attend the January meeting due to business travel. -Catharine

Teachers to strike Tuesday December 18 - school will close

Elementary teachers in Toronto will stage a one-day strike on Tuesday December 18. School will be closed.

More information in this Globe and Mail article and on the TDSB web site.

No more field trips, excursions or extra-curricular activities

A letter from the Toronto District School Board went home in backpacks today, explaining that the elementary teachers are now in a legal strike position and have called an end to all field trips, play days (what is a play day? I don't know), excursions, extra-curricular activities, volunteer activities and parent interviews outside of the instructional day.

A one-day strike is expected in Toronto but we still don't know when. We will have 72 hours notice. The school will be closed on that day. Check tdsb.on.ca/labour for information.

Update on teachers' job action (updated)

According to the CBC, elementary teachers will stage one-day strikes in every Ontario school district between now and the Christmas holidays.

It seems that for us there will be school as normal on Monday Dec 10: ETFO will target two other school districts for that day (Avon Maitland and Ontario North East). 

Did you know that the union can fine teachers $500 refusing to comply with a strike? (Updated: or maybe not. I'm not sure.)

Keep watching the news for when Toronto will be affected. You can also watch TDSB's twitter feed (not that there has been much information there so far) and, if there's time, letters will be sent home home when the date that we'll be affected is known. Teachers won't get any more notice than we will.  

People for Education on the labour dispute

People for Education has prepared this analysis of the labour dispute, including a Q&A on what happens next. I'm not sure how balanced this information is - it may be biased to one side or another - but it might make for interesting reading all the same. Keep watching the papers, folks.

Teachers to strike? (updated)

Anyone who follows the news will be aware that there is talk of a teachers strike. This is Catharine writing, and I don't know anything you don't know, but I thought it might be useful to provide links to a few different news sources with some commentary from various sides on this issue.

Toronto elementary teachers will be in a legal strike position on December 10. They have pledged to provide 72 hours notice if they strike. Education minister Laurel Broten emphasizes that there is still time to negotiate local agreements, but has pledged to legislate an end to any strike (potentially using the tools created with Bill 115). According to the Globe and Mail, the plan is to stage rotating one-day strikes. The Globe writes: "In Toronto, where elementary school teachers will be in a legal strike position around Dec. 10, teachers were notified by e-mail that there will be a one-day strike before Dec. 21."

Recent news reports & interviews:

- Nov 28 Toronto Star: Ontario elementary teachers plan to strike in December
- Nov 28 CBC Radio: Sam Hammond on Here and Now
- Nov 29 Toronto Star: Teachers will be ordered back to work if they strike
- Nov 29 CBC News
- Nov 29 CBC Radio: Sam Hammond, head of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario interviewed on Metro Morning
- Nov 30 Globe and Mail: Ontario elementary teachers set to stage one-day strikes
- Nov 30 CBC Radio: Education Minister Laurel Broten on Metro Morning

Keep watching the news... according to our school board trustee Elizabeth Moyer, that is the best and latest source of information.

UPDATED: New since first posted -
- Dec 2 Globe and Mail: Ontario elementary school teachers vote on holding one-day walkouts

Final Assembly

The the final assembly on the last year of school, academic awards and Panthers awards were handed out to Clairlea students. Congratulations to all the winners for their hard work! I'm not sure exactly what a Panthers award is, but it seems to be for the one girl and one boy in each class who exhibited all-round awesomeness throughout the year.

There was a very impressive circus performance from one of the classes, and the teachers surprised the kids with a fantastic flash mob performance. I caught it on video...


It was a great way to end the school year. Happy summer, everyone!

Curriculum Night

It was great to see so many people at Curriculum Night. I know we all appreciated meeting Mr. McGilvray and Ms. Harroun in person and being introduced/re-introduced to the teachers.

Thanks to:

- the volunteers who organized the BBQ

- Laura, who organized the Kleenex fundraiser

- the book fair folks

- all the teachers who gave their evenings so that we could get to know them and their classrooms

- everyone who signed up to help with a School Council event or fundraiser. The response was terrific! Someone will be in touch with those who signed up, about next steps. Or better yet, come to the School Council meeting next Wednesday (Sept 21) at 7pm to learn more. 

Have a great weekend everyone.

A teacher who believes

“The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called ‘truth’.”

 

-Dan Rather

A great teacher can change a person's life. Thank you to all the wonderful teachers at Clairlea who work so hard  for our children and our future.

See you tonight at School Council. Don't forget to bring a friend!

Teacher Appreciation Lunch - cooks needed!

On March 10, the parents of Clairlea will be hosting lunch for the staff as thanks for all the extra things they do to create a happy, fun and supportive place for our children to be! 


We need your help! Please join us in a thank you for the Sports teams, Clubs, Homework groups and activities that are offered to our students. If you can make a dish for this potluck and drop it off that morning please call or email Ginnie. 416-522-8174 scatoule@rogers.com

Split-grade classes

Is your child in a split-grade class? One of mine is. By my count, Clairlea has 15 of these "combined classrooms," including every French-immersion class higher than grade 1.

Many parents wonder how combined classrooms work, how the class assignments are made, and how the teachers can possibly teach both curricula simultaneously.

In answer to these and other questions about split grades, the marvellous Mme. Dungo found this Ministry of Education pamphlet on combined classrooms and posted the link on her blog. I found it quite reassuring. Although split-grade classes must surely be more challenging for teachers, they seem to present some real opportunities for the students. Perhaps combined classrooms even offer greater scope for differentiated learning, which is a key element of the Toronto District School Board's "Vision of Hope."

Calling all shovels!

The after-school gardening club needs your help - and your shovels! If you have one to lend or give, please contact Ms. Hawkins via the Clairlea Green blog.