2025-26 PD Day Agendas

Topic: Assessment and Evaluation Activities

Length: Full-day

Format: 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.

Facilitators: Self-Directed Day for teachers

Learning/Delivery Method: Individual work time

Topic: Provincial Education Priorities - Artificial Intelligence

Format: 

• Full-day, in-person

• Elementary and secondary schools

Description: Elementary and Secondary school staff will engage in learning about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential as a teaching and learning tool within HDSB and Ministry of Education policies related to cyber security, responsible use of technology and protecting student privacy. Staff will engage in learning activities to become familiar with HDSB-approved AI tools and how to use them effectively and safely. They will explore mandatory learning in the Ontario curriculum on AI.

Facilitators: 

• School administrators and school-based staff supported with materials from various central departments.

Learning/Delivery Method: 

• Whole group presentations and small group work

Topic:

• School Improvement Goals and Effective Learning Strategies

Timing/Format

• Full-day, in-person

• Elementary and secondary schools

Description: 

• School teams will focus on school improvement work. School teams will focus their attention on district and school data analysis and planning effective strategies for student learning in literacy, mathematics, assessment and evaluation, monitoring student achievement and student safety and well-being. They will engage in learning related to the school improvement goals and effective learning strategies.

Facilitators: ​

• School adminstrators and school staff 

Learning/Delivery Method:

• Whole group presentations and small group learning/planning

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.

Timing/Format

• Full day, in-person or remotely

Facilitators: ​

• Self-Directed Day for teachers

Learning/Delivery Method:

• Individual work time

Topic

• Student-Led Conferences

Timing/Format

• Full day, in-person 8:15am-2:35pm

Facilitators: ​

• Elementary programming will be led by teachers

Description:

• Elementary school teams will engage in Student/Parent/Guardian/Teacher conferences focused on Student Growth and Progress Reports.

Topic

• Provincial Education Priorities - Tackling Racism and Keeping Schools Safe 

Timing/Format

• Full day, in-person 8:15am-2:35pm

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.

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.

Topic

• Provincial Education Priorities - Keeping Schools Safe and School Resource Officer Program

Timing/Format

• Full day, in-person 8:15am-2:35pm

Facilitators: ​

• Learing will be led by principals, 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.