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PA Day Agendas

On Professional Activity (PA) days, staff engage in professional development. Our school, along with all schools in the Halton District School Board (HDSB) 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. ​ ​

To learn about what schools across the HDSB are focusing on during each PA Day, visit HDSB PA Days.

Timing/Format

Full-day, in-person

Facilitators

Learning will be led by principals and vice principals and school based subject specific leaders.

Description

School staff will focus their learning on Cyber Security and Generative AI. Staff will attend sessions dedicated to exploring AI as a teaching and learning tool and will understand how the use of AI must be in line with the Board's and Ministry's policies related to cyber security, privacy issues and the responsible use of technology. Staff will also explore how to effectively and safely use the Board's approved AI tools in their classes. 

Learning/Delivery Method

This learning will be presented using a combination of full staff learning and small group sessions. Some small group sessions will be arranged in department groupings while others will be arranged according to teacher learning goals.

Topic: Provincial and Local Education Priorities
This professional learning day is designed to strengthen alignment between school practices and identified provincial and local education priorities that promote continuous improvement and student achievement.

Format:
The learning will be delivered in person over a full day, providing dedicated time for collaboration, professional dialogue, and collaborative planning among staff.

Description:
School teams will participate in professional learning focused on the three priority areas outlined in the OTHS School Improvement Plan: learning and achievement, student mental health and well-being, and student engagement. Educators will examine current school data and work collaboratively to plan instructional and assessment strategies that support improvement goals for the remainder of the school year.

The Content Includes:
Learning will be informed by provincial and local priorities, the HDSB Multi-Year Plan, relevant OTHS data, and the school’s improvement goals and action plans. These components will support staff in deepening their understanding of priorities, identifying opportunities for growth, and ensuring classroom practices align with school-wide goals.

Facilitators:
The learning will be facilitated by school administrators and school-based staff. Facilitators will draw on board and school data, school improvement planning documents, and provided resources to guide professional learning and collaborative planning.

Learning/Delivery Method:
The day will include a blend of whole-group learning and small-group collaborative activities, offering opportunities for shared understanding, professional discussion, and practical planning to support next steps.

Topic: Provincial and Local Education Priorities
This professional learning day focuses on aligning school practices with key provincial and local education priorities that support continuous improvement and student success.

Format:
The session will take place in person over a full day, allowing for collaborative learning, discussion, and planning among staff.

Description:
School teams will engage in professional learning centered on the three areas of focus identified in the OTHS School Improvement Plan: learning and achievement, student mental health and well-being, and student engagement. Staff will review current school data and collaboratively plan instructional and assessment practices that support school improvement goals as the school prepares for Semester 2.

The Content Includes:
Learning will incorporate provincial and local areas of focus, the HDSB Multi-Year Plan, relevant OTHS data, and the school’s improvement goals and action plans. These elements will support staff in understanding priorities, identifying areas for growth, and aligning classroom practices with school-wide goals.

Facilitators:
Learning will be led by school principals, vice-principals, and school-based staff, with support from central board departments. Facilitators will use board and school data, school improvement plans, and provided materials to guide learning and planning.

Learning/Delivery Method:
The day will include a combination of whole-group presentations and small-group collaborative work, providing opportunities for shared understanding, discussion, and actionable planning.

Timing/Format

  • Full instructional ay of learning 8:00am - 2:50pm
  • Small and large group discussion
  • Course team discussion and planning

Facilitators

Learning will be led by school board staff, supported with materials and guidance from central departments including Student Mental Health and Well-Being, Secondary School Programs and Special Education.

Description

Subject-specific learning focused on improving student learning and achievement through building belonging, cultivating curiosity and strengthening skills.

Areas of focus for subject specific learning include:

  • High impact instructional strategies

  • On-going implementation of recently revised curriculum 

  • Experiential learning

  • Mental health literacy 

  • Assessment and evaluation

  • Career readiness and regional and post-secondary exploration

  • Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI)

Learning Materials

  • Materials created by Secondary School Program staff, Ministry of Education curruculum documents, Assessment and Evaluation Policy,School Mental Health Ontario resources, HDSB Well-Being resources, etc. 

Topic: Provincial Education Priorities - Tackling Racism & Keeping Schools Safe 

 

Format: 

  • Full-day, in-person

Description: School teams will engage in learning focused on how to create supportive classrooms and schools free from discrimination in any form. There will be a particular focus on antisemitism, anti-Black racism, Islamophobia and racism towards Indigenous communities. Learning will equip educators to uphold human rights, as required by the Ontario Human Rights Code. The Ontario curriculum program planning information on the instruction of Human Rights, Equity and Inclusive Education, which is applicable to all grades and disciplines, will be reviewed.

School teams will review practices, policies/procedures and resources to support Student and School Safety using resources prepared by central departments.

The content includes: Provincial Code of Conduct, violence prevention, bullying prevention and intervention, duty to report children in need of protection to the Children’s Aid Society, progressive discipline, violent incident reporting, gender-based violence, sex trafficking, the Provincial Model for a local Police/School Board Protocol, information about child sexual abuse prevention and reporting and the School Resource Officer program.

Facilitators: Learning will be led by principals and vice-principals and school-based staff, supported with materials and guidance from central departments including Indigenous Rights and Education and Human Rights, Equity and Inclusive Education departments.

Learning/Delivery Method: Whole group presentations and small group work 

Timing/Format

  • Full Instructional Day of learning 8:00am - 2:35pm
  • Small and large group discussion
  • Department-based discussion 

Facilitators

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.

Description

School teams will review policy requirements and supports for safe schools regarding the Provincial Code of Conduct, violence prevention, violent incident reporting and debriefing, gender-based violence and the Provincial Model for a Local Police/School Board Protocol. The content will include the role of police in providing high-quality, age-appropriate educational public safety presentations to students on subjects such as cybercrime, human trafficking, road safety and more. Information will be provided about the role of police in the school community, to support trust building between educators, policing services, students and parents/guardians. For schools currently in the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, a summary of the program's structure and objectives will be reviewed. Suicide prevention and intervention will also be reviewed. 

Learning Materials

  • Board-provided information on the HDSB Code of Conduct, violent incident reporting, Police/School Board Protocol, School Resource Offier program and the HDSB Suicide Prevention Protocol