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The June 9 Professional Activity Day is for elementary schools only and will be used for assessment and evaluation.

The January 31 Professional Activity Day is for assessment and evaluation (elementary schools) and semester change activities (secondary schools).

Topic 1: Artificial Intelligence

Length: 1/3 Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ Teaching and Learning Department, ÐßÐßÊÓƵ Information and Communication Department, ÐßÐßÊÓƵ Educators and School Administrators

Description:

Key professional learning topics include: guiding principles, overview, assessment and evaluation, ethics and equity, privacy and security, and tools.

Topic 2: Curriculum Implementation

Length: 2/3 Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ Educators and School Administrators

Description:

Opportunities for cross-school and subject-alike sharing/learning in support of Ministry of Education curriculum implementation. ÌýKey professional learning may include one or more of the following topics: creating classroom culture that supports learning, addressing gaps in learning, supporting students with IEPs, integrating equity and CRRP, connecting learning to the world, health and safety, destreaming, curriculum review (new/revised), assessment and evaluation, and background knowledge and vocabulary.

Topic 1: Mental Health in Elementary and Secondary Schools

Length: ¼ Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Equity, Diversity & Inclusion/Mental Health Department and ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

School staff will explore social emotional learning.

Topic 2a: Math (Numeracy) in Elementary Schools

Length: ¼ Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Teaching & Learning Department & ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

School teams will further their learning in the areas of social emotional learning, composing/decomposing numbers, and assessment for learning.

Topic 2b: Secondary School Assessment and Evaluation

Length: ¼ Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Teaching & Learning Department and ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

School staff will further their learning in the areas of culturally relevant and responsive assessment and evaluation, review ÐßÐßÊÓƵ exam/culminating task guidelines, and further explore social emotional learning.

Topic 3: Secondary Code of Conduct

Length: ½ Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

School teams will engage in school improvement planning.

Topic 1a: Elementary Literacy

Length: ¼ Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Teaching & Learning Department and ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

School staff will explore strand integration with the Language (2023) curriculum and using ongoing Assessment for Learning to inform instruction.

Topic 1b: Secondary Literacy

Length: ¼ Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Teaching & Learning Department & ÐßÐßÊÓƵDS School Administrators

Description:

This literacy learning emphasizes the importance of literacy across all subject areas in secondary education.Ìý Educators will gain strategies to explicitly teach reading skills and incorporate literacy techniques into all subjects.

Topic 2a: Elementary Math

Length: ¼ Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Teaching & Learning Department and ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

School teams will learn about building effective conditions in the math classrooms to support social emotional learning and using ongoing Assessment for Learning to inform instruction.

Topic 2b: Secondary Code of Conduct

Length: ¼ Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Safe & Caring Schools Department and ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

School staff will be reviewing the implementation of the revised Code of Conduct with a specific focus on the new cell phone guidelines and electronic cigarette awareness.Ìý Staff will collaborate in learning related to social media and cell phones, and will engage with resources addressing the dangers of vaping and vaping cessation.Ìý Feedback on the implementation process will also be collected from schools.

Topic 3: School Improvement Planning

Length: ½ Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

School teams will engage in improvement planning, with a focus on Board Action Plan system action SA-EL1:Ìý provide evidence-based instruction in literacy and math, informed by ongoing assessment, to tailor differentiated and intensive supports for student success.

Topic 1: Workplace Violence Awareness

Length: ½ Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators & Staff (Special Education, Human Resources)

Description:

• Schools will review incident reporting and notification of risk.Ìý
• School teams will engage in professional learning that focuses on understanding behaviour and its risks.

Topic 2: Health & Safety

Length: ¼ Day

Host: ÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

• Schools will engage in professional learning that focuses on the following areas: Emergency Preparedness, Anti-Sex Trafficking, Positive School Climate Teams, Suicide Prevention Protocol, Staff Mental Health Supports, Child in Need of Protection – Duty to Report, Supporting Students with Prevalent Medical Conditions, and Concussion Management.

The June 28 PA Day (elementary and secondary) will focus on:

• School Improvement Planning – Reflections, and
• School Directed, Year-End Tasks.

The June 7 Professional Activity Day is for assessment and evaluation (elementary schools only).Ìý

ÌýThe April 8 Professional Activity (PA) Day will focus on the following areas:

Topic 1: School Improvement Planning - Monitoring

Presenters/Facilitators: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

ÌýThis session will provide school teams:

Topic 2: Mental Health:Trauma Informed Education - Belonging

Presenters/Facilitators: ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Mental Health Staff

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ÌýThis session will explore the following:

• How trauma informed education is connected to Mentally Healthy School Communities.
• Exploration of the 5 pillars of trauma informed education.
• Benefits of trauma informed education.
• Frequently asked questions.

The February 2 Professional Activity Day is for assessment and evaluation (elementary schools) and semester change activities (secondary schools).

The November 24th Professional Activity (PA) Day for Secondary Schools Only focused on the following areas:

Topic 1:ÌýIdentity Affirming Resource Selection

Presenters/Facilitators:ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators (with support from K-12 Teaching & Learning Department, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Department, and Indigenous Education Department)

Description:

• Support educators with identify affirming resource selection.ÌýÌý
• Explore various tools/resources to support culturally relevant and responsive practices.Ìý

Topic 2a: Grade 10 Pathway Planning

Presenters/Facilitators:ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

• Review the ÐßÐßÊÓƵ Grade 10 Pathway Planning resource.

Topic 2b: School Improvement Planning

Presenters/Facilitators:ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

• Review the plan, act, and observe stages of the school improvement plan.Ìý
• Collaboratively identify supporting actions to help strengthen the school improvement process.Ìý

The November 3rd Professional Activity (PA) Day will focus on the following areas:

November 3ÌýTopic 1a (Elementary Schools, K-6ÌýStaff): Early Literacy

Presenters/Facilitators:ÌýÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB K-12 TeachingÌý&²¹³¾±è;ÌýLearning Department and ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSBÌýSchool Administrators

Description:

• Refine learning and build shared understanding of the Language (2023) curriculum, namely strand B, Foundations of Language.ÌýÌý
• Staff will focus on one of two pathways:Ìý
  • Phonics, WordÌýReadingÌýand SpellingÌý
  • Using Morphology to Strengthen Reading ComprehensionÌý

November 3ÌýTopicÌý1bÌý(Elementary Schools, Gr. 7/8 Staff):ÌýMental Health Literacy

Presenters/Facilitators:ÌýÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators (with support from School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO))

Description:

• Educator orientation to the Mental Health Literacy Modules for Grades 7 and 8.Ìý

November 3ÌýTopicÌý1cÌý(Secondary Schools):ÌýInstruction,ÌýAssessment and Evaluation

Presenters/Facilitators:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School AdministratorsÌý(supported by theÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSBÌýTeaching &²¹³¾±è;ÌýLearningÌýand Equity, DiversityÌý&ÌýInclusionÌýdepartments).

Description:

• Exploring Artificial Intelligence (AI) in secondary school classrooms with a focus on instruction,ÌýassessmentÌýand evaluation.ÌýÌýÌý
• Navigating culturally relevant and responsive resource selection.ÌýÌý

November 3ÌýTopicÌý2: School Improvement PlanningÌý(all)

Presenters/Facilitators:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

• Explore ÐßÐßÊÓƵ resources thatÌýwillÌýsupport the school improvement process.ÌýÌý
• Collaboratively develop the plan, act, andÌýobserveÌýstagesÌýof the school improvement plan.ÌýÌýÌý

The September 29 Professional Activity (PA) Day focused on the following areas:

• Student Safety and Well-Being (Anti-Sex Trafficking, Cyber Security and Privacy Awareness) – 30 minutes
• Curriculum implementation – 90 minutes
  • Elementary – Literacy (Livestream)
  • Secondary – Literacy, Assessment and Evaluation

• School Improvement Planning – 90 minutes

September 29 Topic 1: Student Safety and Well-Being

Length:Ìý Ìý1/4 Day

Presenters/Facilitators: ÌýÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School AdministratorsÌý(supported by Safe & Caring Schools and Information, Communication & Technology Departments)

Description:

• Review the ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Anti-Sex Trafficking administrative regulation and applicable resources.
• Explore cyber security and online privacy awareness through various ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB and partner resources (e.g., ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Instructional Technology Plan, OPHEA Internet Safety Resources, Cyber Security Ontario).ÌýÌý

September 29 Topic 2a (Elementary Schools): Literacy

Length:Ìý Ìý1/2 Day

Presenters/Facilitators:ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Teaching & Learning DepartmentÌý

Description:

• Elementary schools will be engaging in learning about the new language curriculum through the lens of knowing our learners, considering the curriculum as continuum, and text selection.Ìý This learning will be done from a literacy perspective while intentionally considering culturally responsive and relevant pedagogy (CRRP) and Indigenous Education explicitly in this work.

September 29 Topic 2b (Secondary Schools): Curriculum Implementation

Length:Ìý 1/2 Day

Presenters/Facilitators:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School AdministratorsÌý(supported by the Teaching & Learning department).

Description:

• With a focus on the new de-streamed Grade 9 English curriculum, this professional learning will help build literacy skills across all curricular areas/grades.
• Secondary educators will collaborate in school teams to review ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB’s Assessment and Evaluation Policy and Administrative Regulation to support student success across all subject areas.Ìý

September 29 Topic 3: School Improvement Planning

Length:Ìý Ìý1/4 Day

Presenters/Facilitators:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSBÌýAdministrators

Description:

• School staff will analyze various types of student data (e.g., perceptual, demographic, achievement) in support of their school improvement efforts.Ìý
• Through this analysis, schools will collectively identify one are of focus (from the ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Board Action Plan) for their school improvement plans.Ìý

Staff at elementary and secondary schools engaged in a full day of learning during the August 31 PA Day.ÌýÌýAmong the areas of learning for staff on this day were:ÌýSchool Improvement Planning, Workplace Violence Awareness, Curriculum Implementation and Mental Health.Ìý

Topic 1: School Improvement Planning

Length:Ìý Ìý1/4 Day

Host:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters/Facilitators:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators

Description:

• Schools will explore various types of data that will support school improvement planning.
• School staff will review the ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Board Action Plan and applicable resources.Ìý Through this review, schools will begin the process of establishing school improvement goals

Topic 2: Workplace Violence Awareness

Length:Ìý Ìý1/2 Day

Host:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters/Facilitators:ÌýÌý ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators & Staff (Safe and Caring Schools, Special Education, Human Resources)

Description:

• Schools will review emergency response planning, incident reporting, and notification of risk.Ìý
• School teams will engage in professional learning that focuses on understanding behaviour and its risks.

Topic 3a (Secondary Schools): Curriculum Implementation

Length:Ìý 1/4 Day (with topic 4)

Host:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters/Facilitators:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB School Administrators Ìý

Description:

• School staff will review new/revised curriculum: ÌýGr. 9 English (De-Streamed) and Gr. 10 Computer Studies. In doing so, and with the Gr. 9 English curriculum, staff will explore literacy connections across the curriculum.
• Through this review, staff will reexamine a culturally relevant and responsive approach to instruction and assessment with a focus on knowing our learners.

Topic 3b (Elementary Schools): Curriculum Implementation & Mental Health

Length:Ìý Ìý1/4 Day

Host:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters/Facilitators:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Staff

Description:

• School staff will review the revised Gr. 1-8 Language curriculum.Ìý In doing so staff will reflect on the structure, content and intent of the curriculum for the purpose of effective planning, assessment and instruction.Ìý Schools will also make explicit connections between the new curriculum and ÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB literacy resources. Ìý
• Through this review, staff will reexamine a culturally relevant and responsive approach to instruction and assessment with a focus on knowing our learners. Ìý
• School Mental Health Ontario resources such as the Reflection Tool for Educators will be shared to help support mentally healthy identity affirming classrooms.Ìý

Topic 4 (Secondary Schools): Mental Health

Length:Ìý Ìý1/4 Day (with topic 3a)

Host:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵ

Presenters/Facilitators:Ìý ÌýÐßÐßÊÓƵDSB Staff (Mental Health)

Description:

• School staff will explore mental health literacy.Ìý This learning will be supported through mental health literacy lessons and resources that have been developed byÌýSchool Mental Health Ontario.Ìý
• Schools will also develop mental health literacy implementation plans that will focus on the teaching of social and emotional skills and mental health literacy using culturally relevant and responsive approaches.