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Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, boards of education in Ontario are required to post a detailed summary of Professional Activity (PA) days on our board or school websites. The requirements are outlined in Policy and Program Memorandum (PPM) 151.
We invite you to learn more about the Durham Catholic District School Board's PA day activities below. Summary information will be posted to this webpage 14 days in advance of each PA day. Please subscribe to this webpage to receive updates directly to your email.
If you have any questions about PA days, please contact your DCDSB home school.
We invite you to learn more about the Durham Catholic District School Board's PA day activities below. Summary information will be posted to this webpage 14 days in advance of each PA day. Please subscribe to this webpage to receive updates directly to your email.
If you have any questions about PA days, please contact your DCDSB home school.
Elementary PA Day Schedule
| Thursday, August 29, 2024 |
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Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 Length: Full Day
Topic 1: AM - Literacy: Universal Reading Screeners Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: Academic Services staff and Principals and Vice-Principals Audience: All Educators Description: Educators will receive a half day training in the administration of universal reading screeners and subtests to assess student foundational reading skills.
Topic 2: PM - Maintaining Healthy and Distraction-Free Learning Environments: (Cell Phone Policy and Vaping). Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: Principals Audience: All Educators Description: Educators will review new procedures and policies surrounding cell phone use and vaping. Educators will explore resources from the Board, Ministry of Education, and Durham Public Health to consider for use in educating students about the harms of vaping and excessive screen time.
Topic 3: PM - Guidance and Transitions: Creating Conditions for Learning Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: Self-facilitated by Educators Audience: All Educators Description: Educators will examine student information and data of incoming students. Discussion and learning in grade level groups will also focus on student well-being activities for the transition into school to build strong connections and community within the classrooms. |
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Friday, October 11, 2024 |
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Date: Friday, October 11, 2024 Length: Full Day
Topic 1: AM - Prevalent Medical Conditions Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: Teachers and DECEs Description: Staff will be provided training in responding to anaphylactic, asthma and other prevalent medical conditions relevant to the school.
Topic 2: AM - Workforce Census Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: Teachers and DECEs Description: Staff will be provided with an opportunity to review the value of a workforce census and will be provided with time to complete the survey.
Topic 3: AM - Mathematics Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: Teachers and DECEs Description: Staff will receive training on the use of MathUp to support high impact instructional practices. This will also include training in the use of the digital math tool for students.
Topic 4: PM - School Improvement Planning in Math and Literacy Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: Teachers and DECEs Description: Educator teams will examine school data and develop school and classroom-based goals to improve student learning. Time will be provided for staff to examine and deepen their understanding of literacy and numeracy resources, tools and evidence-based strategies to support the school achievement plan.
Educational Assistants: Educational Assistants will participate in the workforce census and have the option to complete training in a variety of topics including, Behaviour Management Systems recertification, Self-Regulation workshops, assistive technology training, and training in the use of math manipulatives to support student learning. Educational Assistants will also attend a training session for half day with Dr. Niigaan Sinclair and Father Diaz where they will examine four key moments from the Papal Visit to Canada in 2022 and reflect on our work in Catholic Education as we journey toward Truth and Reconciliation. |
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Friday, November 15, 2024 |
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Date: Friday, November 15, 2024 Length: Full Day
Topic 1: AM - Faith Formation: Living in Hope Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: All Educators Description:
Topic 2: PM - Mental Health and Well-Being
Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: All Educators Description:
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Friday, January 24, 2025 |
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Date: Friday, January 24, 2025 Length: Full Day Topic: Assessment and Evaluation Description:
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Monday, March 31, 2025 |
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Date: Monday, March 31, 2025 Length: Full Day Topics: Improving Student Achievement and Supporting Student Well Being Location: In-person at multiple school-based locations Presenters/Facilitators: Facilitated by various educators and community partners Description: Educators will participate in a Learning Symposium attending a variety of professional learning sessions and modules in support of the 2024/25 Student Achievement Plan as well as pillars within the DCDSB Inspire 2026 Strategic Plan. This symposium will offer educators learning in a variety of topics including literacy, numeracy, STEM, supporting students on IEP’s, Faith, and student wellbeing. This will also include time for educators to complete health and safety modules. |
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Friday, June 6, 2025 |
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Date: Friday, June 6, 2025 Length: Full Day Topics: Assessment and Evaluation (Reporting) Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: Self-facilitated Description: This professional development day will be dedicated to assessment and evaluation. Educators will engage in self-directed professional tasks surrounding the assessment and evaluation of student learning in preparation for the Second Term Reporting Period. Educational Assistants will be engaged in professional learning and transition activities in support of student learning. |
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Friday, June 27, 2025 |
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Date: Friday, June 27, 2025 Length: Full Day Topics: Health and Safety and Year-End Student Transition Location: In-person at home based schools Presenter/Facilitators: School Administrators Description: Elementary and secondary educators will be involved in end of year student transition activities and self-directed professional activities on the topic of health and safety compliance. |
Secondary PA Day Schedule
| Thursday, August 29, 2024 |
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Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 Length: Full Day
Topic 1: AM - Spiritual Theme for 2024 Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: Principals and Vice-Principals Audience: All Educators Description: Educators will examine the Board’s Spiritual Theme of Hope and explore how this can be integrated into faith formation of students and staff.
Topic 2: AM - Artificial Intelligence, Career Education and Digital Literacy Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: Facilitated remotely by Superintendent Mike O'Neill and Dwayne Matthews O.C.T. Audience: All Educators Description: Chief Innovation Evangelist, and Future of Education Strategist, Dwayne Matthews, will review how educators can understand artificial intelligence, the future of work and how to help prepare children to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital information driven world. Educators will also explore ways in which they themselves might use AI as a resource to increase student engagement. Additionally, the DCDSB Academic Integrity Statement for Students will also be reviewed.
Topic 3: PM - Maintaining Healthy and Distraction-Free Learning Environments: (Cell Phone Policy and Vaping) Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: Principals Audience: All Educators Description: Educators will review new procedures and policies surrounding cell phone use and vaping. Educators will explore resources from the Board, Ministry of Education, and Durham Public Health to consider for use in educating students about the harms of vaping and excessive screen time.
Topic 4: PM - Guidance and Transitions Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: Self-facilitated by Educators Audience: All Educators Description: In departments, educators will examine All About Me Portfolios created by the incoming Gr. 9 students, as well as other information in students’ OSRs to prepare for student success in destreamed, academic and applied classrooms. |
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Friday, October 11, 2024 |
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Topic 1: AM - Prevalent Medical Conditions Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: All Teachers Description: Staff will be provided training in responding to anaphylactic, asthma and other prevalent medical conditions relevant to the school.
Topic 2: AM - Workforce Census Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: All Teachers Description: Staff will be provided with an opportunity to review the value of a workforce census and will be provided with time to complete the survey.
Topic 3: AM - Assessment and Evaluation Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: All Teachers Description: Educators will receive training on the use of the Copyleaks platform to strengthen academic integrity in the submission of student assessments.
Topic 4: AM - Curriculum Implementation: Universal Design for Learning to Support Destreaming Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: All Teachers Description: Staff will continue to build capacity in the use of Universal Design for Learning and Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy. Principals will facilitate discussion on integrating UDL and CRRP when implementing curriculum and creating assessment activities, particularly in destreamed courses.
Topic 5: PM - School Improvement Planning Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: All Teachers Description: Educator teams will explore school data and develop school and subject-based goals to improve student learning.
Topic 6: PM - Curriculum Implementation Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: Self-facilitated professional learning in departments Audience: All Teachers Description: Departments will review updated and revised curriculum documents in the following courses:
Educational Assistants: Educational Assistants will participate in the workforce census and have the option to complete training in a variety of topics including, Behaviour Management Systems recertification, Self-Regulation workshops, assistive technology training, and training in the use of math manipulatives to support student learning. Educational Assistants will also attend a training session for half day with Dr. Niigaan Sinclair and Father Diaz where they will examine four key moments from the Papal Visit to Canada in 2022 and reflect on our work in Catholic Education as we journey toward Truth and Reconciliation. |
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Friday, November 15, 2024 |
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Date: Friday, November 15, 2024 Length: Full Day
Topic 1: AM - Faith Formation: Living in Hope Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: All Educators Description:
Topic 2: PM - Mental Health and Well-Being
Location: In-person at home based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators Audience: All Educators Description:
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Friday, February 14, 2025 |
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Date: Friday, February 14, 2025 Length: Full Day
Topic 1: AM - Assessment and Evaluation Location: In person at home-based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators and Teacher Leads Audience: All Educators Description: Staff will engage in discussions and professional learning surrounding assessment and evaluation with a particular focus on the purpose of homework as a means of reinforcement of learning.
Topic 2: AM - Equity Location: In person at home-based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators and Teacher Leads Audience: All Educators Description: Staff will engage in professional learning through an excerpt from the book "Grading with Equity" by Joe Feldman. Discussions will centre around case study analysis. Grade 9 educators will also participate in discussions of how this learning can be connected directly to teaching practices within destreamed courses.
Topic 3: PM - School Improvement Planning Location: In person at home-based schools Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators and Teacher Leads Audience: All Educators Description: Educator teams will engage in a mid-year review of school improvement plan goals, data from the first semester and strategic actions to monitor student learning.
Topic 4: PM - Curriculum Implementation Location: In person at home-based schools Presenters/Facilitators: Self-facilitated professional learning in departments Audience: All Educators Location: In person at home-based schools Description: Subject departments will engage in subject-specific discussions on improving student achievement, with a particular focus on analysis of course overviews. |
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Monday, March 31, 2025 |
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Date: Monday, March 31, 2025 Length: Full Day Topics: Improving Student Achievement and Supporting Student Well Being Location: In-person at multiple school-based locations Presenters/Facilitators: Facilitated by various educators and community partners Description: Educators will participate in a Learning Symposium attending a variety of professional learning sessions and modules in support of the 2024/25 Student Achievement Plan as well as pillars within the DCDSB Inspire 2026 Strategic Plan. This symposium will offer educators learning in a variety of topics including literacy, numeracy, STEM, supporting students on IEP’s, Faith, and student wellbeing. This will also include time for educators to complete health and safety modules. |
| Thursday, June 26, 2025 |
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Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
Length: Full Day
Topic: Supporting Student Transitions
Location: In-person at schools
Presenter/Facilitators: School Administrators
Description: Secondary educators will be involved in end of year transition activities, including supporting graduating students.
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Friday, June 27, 2025 |
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Date: Friday, June 27, 2025 Length: Full Day Topics: Health and Safety and Year-End Student Transition Location: In-person at schools Presenter/Facilitators: School Administrators Description: Elementary and secondary educators will be involved in end of year student transition activities and self-directed professional activities on the topic of health and safety compliance. |
2023-2024 School Year
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