Professional Activity Days

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. 

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:

• The new de-streamed Grade 9 Geography course;
• Grades 9-10 Business Studies curriculum;
• Grades 9-10 Technological Education curriculum; and
• Mental health literacy updates to the Grade 10 Career Studies course

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.

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: 

• Building Community: Staff will be provided with faith formation experiences to deepen their connection to the Catholic faith. In addition, they will engage in learning to build relationships and strengthen the professional learning community within their school.
• Staff will be provided with spiritual faith activities and learning around the board spiritual theme, Living in Hope, that will enable educators to embed the spiritual theme across all curricula.

Topic 2: PM - Mental Health and Well-Being

• Self and co-regulation
• Bullying Prevention and Intervention
• Prevention of Human Trafficking

Location: In-person at home based schools

Presenters/Facilitators: School Administrators

Audience: All Educators

Description:

• Educator teams will hear a keynote address from Dr. Diane Cook to deepen the learning of DCDSB staff. Previously, staff have participated in learning around Dr. Bruce Perry’s framework, and the “Three Rs” of trauma informed care (i.e. Regulate, Relate and Reason). Dr. Cook will build on this foundational learning to examine brain science with a focus on the ‘Funnel of Optimal Functioning’, and how this relates to supporting students with the skills needed to address bullying prevention and intervention.
• Educators will also examine resources from the Exploitation Education Institute to equip educators with the knowledge to extend student learning about anti-human trafficking, in order to safeguard students against human trafficking.

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.

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.

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.

Date: Thursday, August 31, 2023

Length: Full Day

Topic 1: AM - Creating the Conditions for Learning

Location: In-person at schools

Presenter/Facilitators: School administration

Description: Topics will include information on mental health and well-being, including the Indigenous wellness and mental health framework, operational procedures, and the spiritual theme for the year of Speaking With the Heart. This learning will involve discussion on student activities for the transition into school to build strong connections and community within the classrooms.

Topic 2: PM – please see the table below for differentiation of learning information.

Date: Friday, October 6, 2023

Length: Full Day

Topic 1: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Creating the Conditions for Learning

Location: In-person at schools

Presenter/Facilitators: School Administration

Description: Educators will learn about brain theory, how the brain seeks out conditions for safety, and how culture influences how the brain responds. Educators will also be provided with School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) resources and practical strategies from The Regulated Classroom (Daniels, 2022) to focus on creating the conditions for learning that students need. The focus will be on theoretical information and practical strategies to promote inclusion in the classroom, as a Tier 1 strategy for all learners.

Topic 2: Please see the tables below for differentiation of learning information.

Morning PA Day Sessions

Afternoon PA Day Sessions

Date: Friday, November 17, 2023

Length: Full Day

Morning: Safe Schools

Location: In-person at schools

Presenter/Facilitators: Kevin Cameron and School Administration

Description: Professional Development topics will include:

• Supporting safe spaces for students using trauma informed approaches;
• Using connecting and settling activities to support the mental health of students;
• Safe Schools Reporting Tools for Students and Staff; and
• Grade 7 and Grade 8 Mental Health Literacy Modules

Afternoon: Please see the tables below for differentiation of learning information.

Date: Friday, January 26, 2024

Length: Full Day

Topic: Assessment and Evaluation

Location: In-person at schools

Presenter/Facilitators: School Administration

Description: The professional development day will be focused on the topic of assessment and evaluation. Using the Ministry of Education document Growing Success to guide their activities, educators will be engaged in school-based professional tasks in preparation for the first term reporting period. Educational Assistants will participate in a variety of learning modules, including student safety training, assistive technology, first aid training and structured systems training. 

Date: Monday, April 8, 2024

Length: Full Day

Morning: Faith

Location: In-person at home based schools

Facilitators: Facilitated by staff at each school

Description: Through professional learning, liturgical services, and/or Mass, educators will engage in faith formation activities for their students and themselves. Areas of focus may include Catholic Social Teachings, the Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations, Living in Faith and Speaking through the Heart.

Date: Friday, June 7, 2024

Length: Full Day

Topic: Assessment and Evaluation

Location: In-person at schools

Presenter/Facilitators: School Administration

Description: The professional development day on Friday, June 7, will be focused on the topic of assessment and evaluation. Using the Ministry of Education document Growing Success to guide their activities, educators will be engaged in school-based professional tasks in preparation for the Second Term reporting period.

Date: Friday, June 28, 2024
Length: Full Day

Topic: Health and Safety and Year-End Transition Support
Location: In-person at schools
Presenter/Facilitators: School Administration
Description: Elementary educators will be involved in end of year transition activities and self-directed professional activities on the topic of health and safety.

Date: Thursday, August 31, 2023

Length: Full Day

Topic 1: AM - Creating the Conditions for Learning

Location: In-person at schools

Presenter/Facilitators: School administration

Description: Topics may include information on mental health and well-being, including the Indigenous wellness and mental health framework, operational procedures, and the spiritual theme for the year of Speaking with the Heart. This learning will involve discussion on student activities for the transition into school to build strong connections and community within the classrooms.

Topic 2: PM - staff will be engaged in learning using the agenda below.

Location: In-person at schools

Presenter/Facilitators: School administration, Guidance staff and Department Chairs

Agenda:

1.    Unpacking New curriculum Documents

Staff will review and unpack revised curriculums for 2023:

• English De-streaming Grade 9 (ENL1W)
• Computer Studies Grade 10 Course Digital Technology and Innovations

2.    Digital Student Portfolios

All departments will learn about the purpose of digital student portfolios in EDSBY. They will review student portfolios for incoming Grade 9 students and engage in discussions as to how these can be used to create the conditions for learning for students in our de-streamed classrooms.

Educational Assistants will prepare for student entry of students with special needs in the afternoon following the direction of school administration.

Date: Friday, October 6, 2023

Length: Full Day

Topic 1: AM - Creating the Conditions for Learning

Location: In-person at schools

Presenter/Facilitators: School administration

Description: Educators will learn about brain theory, how the brain seeks out conditions for safety, and how culture influences how the brain responds. Educators will also be provided with School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) resources and practical strategies from The Regulated Classroom (Daniels, 2022) to focus on creating the conditions for learning that students need. The focus will be on theoretical information and practical strategies to promote inclusion in the classroom, as a Tier 1 strategy for all learners.
 

Topic 2: PM - staff will be engaged in learning using the agenda below.

Location: In-person at schools

Presenter/Facilitators: School Administration and Curriculum Chairs

Afternoon Agenda

Using Assessment and Evaluation to Support Student Improvement - Part 1:
Using the Growing Success document, the focus of the learning will be on the triangulation of data and how educators can be intentional in gathering evidence of student learning, in de-streamed courses and beyond, through observation and conversations with students, rather than relying on products only. They will work collaboratively to create tasks which can capture this student learning. Additionally, educators will begin to think about the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how this might impact their evaluation practices.

Using Assessment and Evaluation to Support Student Improvement - Part 2:
Educators will be working in their departments to create new assessments based on the "Thinking" category in their course. This will involve agreeing on key indicators that can be used to measure where students are in their thinking and what feedback they need to improve. They will determine tools and processes on how observations and conversations can be used in assessment to counter the use of artificial intelligence in products.

Date: Friday, November 17, 2023

Length: Full Day

Topic 1: AM - Safe Schools

Location: In-person at schools

Presenter/Facilitators: Kevin Cameron and School Administration

Description: Professional Development topics will include:

• Supporting safe spaces for students using trauma informed approaches;
• Using connecting and settling activities to support the mental health of students; and
• Safe Schools Reporting Tools for Students and Staff.

Topic 2: PM - Assessment and Evaluation

Location: In-person at schools

Presenter/Facilitators: School Administration

Description: Educators will continue to explore assessment and evaluation practices. Professional Development topics will include:

• Sharing strategies for gathering evidence;
• Developing common success criteria that students could use to self-assess their own work; and
• Role of Artificial Intelligence and how it intersects assessment and teaching practices.

Date: Friday, February 16, 2024

Length: Full Day

Topic 1: AM - Artificial Intelligence and Academic Honesty

Location: Home Based Schools

Presenter/Facilitators: Principals and Vice Principals

Description: Educators will examine the Board’s revised Academic Honesty Guidelines for Students and then, in departments, will discuss ways to explicitly teach students to cite research appropriately and use AI ethically and responsibly. Educators will also explore ways in which they themselves might be able to use AI as a teacher resource to increase student engagement.

Topic 2: PM - Assessment and Evaluation through an Equity Lens

Location: Home Based Schools

Presenter/Facilitators: Department Chairs

Description: In departments, educators will examine assessment practices to ensure alignment with Growing Success, culturally responsive practices and updated curriculum documents, specifically within de-streamed courses.

Topic 3: PM - Classroom Management and Student Engagement

Location: TBD

Presenter/Facilitators: Facilitated in collaboration with OECTA Professional Development

Description: Select teachers will engage in professional learning surrounding topics in classroom management and optimizing safe and caring conditions for learning.

Date: Monday, April 8, 2024

Length: Full Day

Morning: Faith

Location: In-person at home based schools

Facilitators: Facilitated by staff at each school

Description: Through professional learning, liturgical services, and/or Mass, educators will engage in faith formation activities for their students and themselves. Areas of focus may include Catholic Social Teachings, the Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations, Living in Faith and Speaking through the Heart.

Afternoon: Curriculum Support

Location: In-person at home based schools

Facilitators: Principals, Chairs and Educators

Description: In departments, educators will examine curriculum and assessment practices to ensure alignment with Growing Success, culturally responsive practices and updated curriculum documents.

Date: Thursday, June 27, 2024
Length: Full Day

Topic: Supporting the Year-End Transition
Location: In-person at schools
Presenter/Facilitators: School Administration
Description: Secondary Educators will be involved in end of year transition activities, including supporting graduating students.

Date: Friday, June 28, 2024
Length: Full Day

Topic: Health and Safety and Year-End Transition Support
Location: In-person at schools
Presenter/Facilitators: School Administration
Description: Secondary educators will be involved in end of year transition activities and self-directed professional activities on the topic of health and safety.