Make & Take Event

Join your PL committee as well as Connie Zoet and George Taylor for an evening of excellent information and leave with a make and take calm down kit for your daily assignments.
Participants will hear Connie Zoet share her famous classroom management workshop for about 1 hour, then president George Taylor will speak about news that is important to the membership. This will also be a time for you to ask questions and receive answers about anything you wish to know. He will speak for about an hour, then for the last half hour will be the creation of the calm down kit. Choose from special cards that offer breathing techniques and other strategies as well as fidgets to allow students to borrow if you feel they are becoming agitated or need some time to themselves. You will be laminating and choosing your items for your kit. You will walk away with amazing knowledge and an amazing kit to help in your daily work. We look forward to sharing this special event with you.

Election 2026 Nominations

by Ann Webb

President: George Taylor
First VP: Ann Webb
Second VP: Tom Wall
Treasurer: Connie Zoet
Secretary: Edina Toth
Members-At-Large: Heather Gillette
                                Candice Holt
                                Harriet Hunt
                                Sirajunnisa (Ruby) Salim
                                Pav Vigneswarran

Since no position was contested, there is no need for an election. This slate is your acclaimed 2026-2028 Executive!

Congratulations to All!  Sue Whyte, Election Committee Chair

Day of Action – April 29, 2026

April 29, 2026

A Province-wide Day of Action by all education workers.

Wear RED for Ed. Wear your “Smaller Classes, Big Difference” buttons.

If you’re working that day, join in with your school. If you’re not working, join a school close to you (find out what their plan is), or go to your MPP’s office.

ETFO OT Conference

June 5, 6-9pm to June 6, 9:30-3:30pm

From Handbook to Classroom
Over this engaging two-day conference, occasional teacher (OT) members will gather to dive into the newly released ETFO resource The Occasional Teacher’s Handbook: Developing an Effective Classroom Environment and Culture. Participants will have the opportunity to share ideas and strategize on how to bring confidence, clarity, and calm to occasional teaching.

To apply, submit the application and registration form through events.etfo.org. Registration extended until May 4. There is a $50 registration fee.

Costs for release time, travel, meals, and accommodation are covered per ETFO provincial guidelines.

Google Gemini Notebook LM

Join Ryan as he teaches the Google Gemini Notebook LM. It’s perfect for researching and Ryan will share how it can be used to learn new curriculum expectations, teach new units, and how it fits well for teachers new to the profession or to a grade. We’ll also explore Gemini Live.
Come and join our resident tech presenter Ryan Tindale as he guides you through new technology from Google Gemini. Learn how it can be a powerful tool to make the lives of teachers easier.

When: Monday April 20, 2026

Where: Durham Occasional Teachers’ Local- 1077 Boundary Rd Oshawa, Unit 107

Time: 4:30- 6:30pm

There will be refreshments and a door prize as always. This workshop also counts towards the $100 gift card. Looking forward to this one.

Google Gemini Notebook LM

by Site Admin
Join Ryan as he teaches the Google Gemini Notebook LM. It’s perfect for researching and Ryan will share how it can be used to learn new curriculum expectations, teach new units, and how it fits well for teachers new to the profession or to a grade. We’ll also explore Gemini Live.
Come and join our resident tech presenter Ryan Tindale as he guides you through new technology from Google Gemini. Learn how it can be a powerful tool to make the lives of teachers easier.

When: Monday April 20, 2026

Where: Durham Occasional Teachers’ Local- 1077 Boundary Rd Oshawa, Unit 107

Time: 4:30- 6:30pm

There will be refreshments and a door prize as always. This workshop also counts towards the $100 gift card. Looking forward to this one.

Deadline to Submit Nomination

To run, complete the online nomination form under “Forms” on the website by April 10, 2026. (If needed, search “Elections” to locate the form.) Candidates may run for one position and, if unsuccessful, choose to run for another.

MLL with the DDSB

by Ann Webb

This session will introduce Occasional Teachers to practical ways of supporting Multilingual Language Learners (MLLs) using AI and a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach.

 This workshop is only 1 hour and is a REPEAT of the one held on November 12, 2025.

The workshop will still count towards the $100 gift card for attending 10 or more workshops.

Wednesday April 8, 2026

Time: 4:30 – 5:30pm

DDSB office meeting room 1D

MLL with the DDSB

This session will introduce Occasional Teachers to practical ways of supporting Multilingual Language Learners (MLLs) using AI and a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach.

March Break

All DDSB schools open on Monday, March 23rd, 2026.

Supporting Students with Behaviour Needs

by Ann Webb

Wondering how to recognize and support your students’ with behaviour needs? This workshop explores stress, behaviour, and trauma informed practices through both an anti-oppressive framework and health and safety legislation. Educators will leave with strategies and resources to support students with the exceptionality of behaviour in the regular classroom.

Register and join us on Mar 04, 2026 from 5:00pm – 6:30 pm at the Durham Local OT meeting room. 

Supporting Students with Behaviour Needs

Wondering how to recognize and support your students’ with behaviour needs? This workshop explores stress, behaviour, and trauma informed practices through both an anti-oppressive framework and health and safety legislation. Educators will leave with strategies and resources to support students with the exceptionality of behaviour in the regular classroom.

Living and Teaching with Energy, Ease and Flow

by Ann Webb

Learn to enhance well being from the wisdom of yogic science.
Are you feeling depleted at the end of the day? Stress, worry, fear, overwhelm, overwork taking your time and energy? Losing your sense of purpose and job satisfaction?
In this workshop we will explore strategies from the ancient tradition of yoga, current research and our collective experience in the classroom. This is an introductory session to powerful tools for enhancing physical, emotional and mental well being for occasional teachers.

Living and Teaching with Energy, Ease and Flow

Learn to enhance well being from the wisdom of yogic science.
Are you feeling depleted at the end of the day? Stress, worry, fear, overwhelm, overwork taking your time and energy? Losing your sense of purpose and job satisfaction?
In this workshop we will explore strategies from the ancient tradition of yoga, current research and our collective experience in the classroom. This is an introductory session to powerful tools for enhancing physical, emotional and mental well being for occasional teachers.

UFLI Part Two

UFLI Foundations, part of the science of reading

The DDSB has implemented the science of reading as the foundation of literacy programming. UFLI is an integral part of structured literacy in the classroom.

Please join your ETFO Durham OT local Professional Learning Committee in welcoming presenter, DDSB teacher Allison Theis for this super important workshop.

UFLI Foundations, part of the science of reading

by Ann Webb

The DDSB has implemented the science of reading as the foundation of literacy programming. UFLI is an integral part of structured literacy in the classroom.

Please join your ETFO Durham OT local Professional Learning Committee in welcoming presenter, DDSB teacher Allison Theis for this super important workshop.

Feb 17, 2026 4:30pm –  6:30pm

DOTL Meeting Room, 1077 Boundary Rd., Oshawa

AI in Education – Part 2

by Site Admin
Join Ryan as he shares part 2 of his original fall AI workshop. He will continue opening up ways to integrate the DDSB supported Gemini platform into your classroom. Bring a device and prepare to be excited!
Imagine being able to speak on a DDSB approved resource in an interview! Come to this workshop and leave with the knowledge to do exactly that. AI is the way of the future, come and learn how it can help make your professional life easier.

When: Tuesday February 10, 2026

Time: 4:30 to 6:30pm

Where: DOTL office- 1077 Boundary Rd, Unit 107, Oshawa

AI in Educ. p2

Join Ryan as he shares part 2 of his original fall AI workshop. He will continue opening up ways to integrate the DDSB supported Gemini platform into your classroom.

Bring a device and prepare to be excited!

Imagine being able to speak on a DDSB approved resource in an interview! Come to this workshop and leave with the knowledge to do exactly that.

 

 

Constitutional Amendments

by Ann Webb

Constitutional Amendments are read in, discussed and voted on at the February General Meeting.

The DOTL Constitution is available on this website under Member Info.

Any amendments must be entered, duly seconded, and submitted on the appropriate form (found under Forms on this website), and submitted no later than February 6th, 2026.

If you need help wording your amendment, please reach out to us at info@etfodotl.com.