Staff Professional Development
The HDSB, along with all school boards in Ontario, have several Professional Activity (PA) Days throughout the school year. The purpose of these days is to enhance student success. Staff focus on professional development activities, participate in training or planning sessions. There are no classes for students on these days.
PA Day Topics and Activities
2023-2024 School Year
Friday, Feb. 02, 2024 - School Improvement Plan for Student Achievement (SIPSA)
Topic: School Improvement Plan for Student Achievement (SIPSA)
Format
Secondary only
Full-day, in person
Description
School teams will focus on School Improvement Plan for Student Achievement (SIPSA) work. The HDSB has district-wide goals that each school develops detailed SIPSA plans for. School teams will focus their attention on district and school data analysis, planning effective strategies (literacy, mathematics, assessment and evaluation, monitoring student achievement and student safety and well-being). They will engage in learning related to the SIPSA goals and identify effective strategies.
Learning/Delivery Method
Whole group presentations and small group learning and planning
Facilitators
School administrators and school staff
Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 - Assessment and Evaluation Activities
Topic: Assessment and Evaluation Activities
Format
Elementary only
Full day, in person or remotely
Description
Elementary educators will be engaged in assessment and evaluation activities including report card writing. This is time designated by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) collective agreement.
Learning/Delivery Method
Individual work time
Facilitators
Self-directed day for teachers
Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 - Student Growth, Progress Reports & Effective Strategies and Practices
Topic: Student Growth, Progress Reports & Effective Strategies and Practices
Format
Full-day
Elementary: In-person or remotely
Secondary: In-person
Description
Elementary school teams will engage in Student/Parent/Guardian/Teacher conferences focused on Student Growth and Progress Reports.
Secondary school educators will participate in a subject specific learning day hosted by the School Programs Department. The content will be focused on effective strategies and practices in various subject areas and educators will attend sessions that are related to their teaching assignments. There will be offerings related to Ministry priorities including Grade 10 Computer Studies-Digital Technology and Innovations in the Changing World, connections to skilled trades and apprenticeship and professional learning in math, science and technology.
Learning/Delivery Method
Elementary: Small group conferences with students and parents
Secondary: Whole group presentations and small group work
Facilitators
Elementary programming will be led by teachers
Secondary programming will be led by the School Programs Department and facilitators will include Instructional Program Leaders, System Principals and school-based educators
Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 - Learning and Growth: Student Literacy and Mathematics
Topic: Learning and Growth: Student Literacy and Mathematics
Format
Full-day, In person
Description
Elementary school teams will engage in learning related to effective practices and strategies for student literacy and mathematics learning and growth. Educators will review the new Language Curriculum and plan for implementation. They will also focus specifically on reading instruction strategies aligned with the new curriculum and recommendations in the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)’s Right to Read Inquiry Report. Educators will work collaboratively to develop a greater understanding of high impact instructional strategies for mathematics as detailed in the curriculum as well as the HDSB Math Plan.
Secondary school teams will focus on effective strategies for teaching literacy across the curriculum, teaching in one stream, reviewing the Grade 9 destreamed English curriculum, assessment for learning and monitoring effective student achievement practices across the curriculum.
Facilitators
The learning will be led by school administrators and school-based staff supported with materials and guidance from the School Programs Department.
Learning/Delivery Method
Whole group presentations and small group work
Tuesday Sept. 5, 2023 - Student and School Safety & Well-Being
Topic: Student and School Safety & Well-Being
Format
Full-day, In person
Description
School teams will review effective practices, policies/procedures and resources to support student and school safety using resources prepared by central departments aligned with the HDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan. The content includes mental health literacy and well-being strategies, bullying prevention and intervention protocols and strategies, review of board-wide SIPSA goals for student well-being, review of the mental health toolkit resource, emergency safe schools procedures, safe schools incident reporting, accident reporting and special education health and safety procedures.
Facilitators
The learning will be led by principals and vice-principals and school-based staff, supported with materials and guidance from central departments including Student Mental Health and Well-Being, Safe Schools and Special Education.
Learning/Delivery Method
Whole group presentations and small group work