Hamilton-Wentworth Designated Early Childhood Educator Local

06/04/2026

Hamilton-Wentworth DECE Members!!! Check your email for the June Social Justice and Equity newsletter to see how you can win this copy of Guinea Pigs Don't Wear Pants, written by Chris Paul Rainbows and purchased at King W. Books in Westdale!

06/01/2026

June is Pride Month!

To mark the start of Pride Month, our union the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) expresses solidarity with the 2SLGBTQ+ community and reaffirms its commitment to creating learning and working environments where 2SLGBTQ+ members, students, families, and allies feel safe, respected, and fully supported.

Amidst a social landscape where some politicians and voices in the media seek to normalize homophobia and transphobia, ETFO members from the 2SLGBTQ+ continue to support students and work in learning communities that may not always be safe for them. Pride and Solidarity represents our union’s continued commitment to advocating for members, students, and communities.

The erasure of 2SLGBTQ+ communities in jurisdictions across Canada through regressive policies and legislation continues to be deeply troubling. Every person deserves to feel valued, respected, and supported for who they are, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. ETFO is proud to engage in this work within communities throughout the year and to support all ETFO locals in doing the same.

06/01/2026

On June 1, we join with labour and social justice organizations from across Ontario to recognize Injured Workers’ Day. In thinking about the 1000s of workers who have died or been injured on the job, we renew our commitment to safety at work and demand action from employers and the government.

Workplace hazards can be anywhere! ETFO members learn more about health and safety and your workplace rights at etfohealthandsafety.ca

05/17/2026

On May 17, we mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, a global moment of solidarity and resistance for LGBTQIA+ communities.

There is no single way to show up and be an ally, but we need you to do your part!

Speak up. Speak out. Act.

Collective action, awareness, solidarity, and visibility are necessary to end hate, discrimination and isolation of LGBTQIA+ people around the world.

05/11/2026

🧸

May 10th honours Jordan River Anderson and the promise of Jordan’s Principle: that First Nations children receive the products, supports and services they need, for health, education, and social well-being. In Ontario, stricter rules and backlogs are impacting children and their caregivers.

Spirit Bear represents the 165,000 First Nations children involved in the case at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Educators can access free PDF books and teaching guides on the First Nations Child and Caring Society website to learn more and share Jordan’s story. Learn more about Jordan’s Principle and Spirit Bear by visiting the First Nations & Child and Family Caring Society https://fncaringsociety.com

05/07/2026

It's Education Week, and we want to recognize and applaud the incredible work of designated early childhood educators (DECE)!

For over 15 years, ETFO early childhood educators have transformed early learning in Ontario, and they continue to play a vital role in the public education system. Today, we honour the expertise, care, and countless contributions of our DECE members, who create inclusive, play-based classrooms that nurture every aspect of a child’s development.

05/07/2026

In a joint letter with the Ontario School Board Council of Unions () and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation ( ), we called on the Minister of Education to reaffirm its commitment to the play-based learning model in Ontario’s Kindergarten program and to recognize and strengthen the role of designated early childhood educators as experts in early learning.

We know and have witnessed the critical importance of play-based learning in the early years and the essential role of DECEs as pedagogical leaders within Ontario’s Kindergarten program.

Play-based learning is a foundational and evidence-based approach that supports the holistic development of young children. Decades of research demonstrate that younger learners learn best through exploration, inquiry, and meaningful engagement driven by their natural curiosity.

Through play, children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, creativity and imagination, as well as the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive capacities necessary for long-term success.

Central to this approach is the professional expertise of DECEs. Their specialized knowledge of early childhood development supports the design of responsive, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate learning environments that honour children’s agency and support diverse learning needs. Working collaboratively with teachers, DECEs strengthen the overall quality and effectiveness of the Kindergarten program and are indispensable to its success.

While the 2026 Kindergarten Curriculum continues to reference play-based learning, it does not reflect the same depth of research, context, and pedagogical grounding found in earlier versions of the program. This approach risks diminishing the importance of play-based learning and may inadvertently undermine the integrity of Ontario’s early years framework. specialized and essential role that DECEs play in supporting children’s learning and wellbeing.

Ontario’s publicly funded education system has long been recognized for the strength of its early years programming. Maintaining this standard requires continued investment in, and commitment to, evidence-based practices and the professionals who deliver them.

We welcome the opportunity to work with the Minister to ensure that Ontario’s Kindergarten program continues to meet the developmental needs of all children.

04/24/2026

Don't forget to "Button Up" and wear red on Wednesday!! Please reach out at [email protected] if you have not received your buttons yet.

04/22/2026

Keep and eye on your email for the registration link! Coming soon!!

📣📣📣 URGENT ETFO MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT

As we approach the end of the school year and the expiry of the collective agreement, ETFO is holding all-member meetings across Ontario. Meetings start on April 22 and go until June!

It is vital that every member attend the meeting for their area to learn about the bargaining plan and the strike vote process. Find your meeting date and details at https://etfocb.ca/accordions/all-member-meetings/.

04/13/2026

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is rejecting the provincial government’s proposed education bill, the Putting Student Achievement First Act, which unnecessarily restructures school board governance and leadership roles, limits the core responsibilities of trustees, and unilaterally interferes with central and local bargaining.

“While the Ford government ultimately rejected Minister Calandra’s initial plan to eliminate all democratically elected trustees — a reversal achieved through months of sustained advocacy by ETFO and its education partners — this legislation removes the essential powers trustees need to genuinely represent families and students,” says ETFO President David Mastin. “Retaining trustees, except for some in the Toronto District School Board, is just another example of Premier Ford’s unhealthy obsession with Toronto. This government should focus on what is in the best interests of students and not on political manoeuvres that weaken democratic oversight.”

The proposed legislation removes trustees from the central bargaining tables and shifts local bargaining away from trustees to chief executive officers (CEOs). This upends decades of established labour relations and eliminates a core democratic safeguard. Trustees have been central-table partners since 2014, when the School Boards’ Collective Bargaining Act created Ontario’s two-tier bargaining model, and have held a statutory role in local bargaining since 1975 under Bill 100. That’s decades of democratic responsibility and oversight now put at risk by the Ford government. ETFO will review the legislation to determine how these changes may impact central and local bargaining further.

In addition, by centralizing control over which learning resources can be used in classrooms and directing assessment practices, the Ford government is stripping educators of the professional judgement they rely on to meet students’ needs. Replacing evidence-based practice with ministerial directives imposes a business-style management structure on public education, eroding the professional expertise that drives high-quality instruction. Schools are not businesses.

Read entire release at https://www.etfo.ca/news-publications/media-releases/etfo-rejects-education-overhaul-as-an-unprecedented-rollback-of-local-democracy