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 2024-2025
For a detailed description of what our school will be focusing on please see the following information.
Topic
Provincial Education Priorities – Tackling Racism, including a review of Ontario curriculum program planning information for Mathematics and Literacy on the instruction of Human Rights, Indigenous Rights, Equity, and Inclusive Education.
Format
Full-day, in-person session
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.
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
Topic
Provincial Education Priorities – Keeping Schools Safe and the School Resource Officer Program
Format
Full-day, in-person session
Description
School teams will review policy requirements and supports related to safe schools, including 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 session will also cover the role of police in providing high-quality, age-appropriate public safety presentations to students on topics such as cybercrime, human trafficking, and road safety. Participants will receive information on the role of police in schools to support trust building among educators, policing services, students, and parents/guardians. Suicide prevention and intervention will also be addressed.