PA Day Activities
The Superior-Greenstone District School Board is pleased to provide the details of our upcoming Professional Activity (PA) Days with families. Our schools have several PA Days during the school year. During these days, students do not attend school, but schools remain open, as school staff focus on professional development.
The Ministry of Education's regulation states that school boards must designate three (3) Ministry Directed PA days and may designate up to four (4) additional PA days per school year.
Below are the PA Day activities that are happening for the 2023-2024 school year. Details for each PA Day will be shared at least fourteen (14) days in advance of each scheduled date throughout the year.
For general information about Professional Activity Days in Ontario, please visit the Ministry of Education's website at https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r23226
Please consult the School Year Calendar to view all PA Days for the 2023-2024 school year. Staff can access their Professional Activity Day agendas through The Exchange (Intranet) or through email.
Date: April 19, 2024
Learning Delivery Methods:
In-Person School Teams/ Online delivery of learning, lectures/ independent learning & reflection
Length: AM
Topic of Focus:
Student Well-Being, Learning Recover Renewal through Indigenous Perspectives
Presenter/Facilitators: All schools, hosted by SGDSB, Guest Speakers
Description:
The activities of the PA Day will be devoted to deepening our understanding around how we can nurture belonging and a stronger connection through the exploration of an Indigenous approach to quality learning environments and relevant competencies and skills.
Length: PM
Presenter/Facilitators: All schools, hosted by SGDSB
Description:
The afternoon will be dedicated to school teams making the connection from the learning presented in the first portion of the day to their Student Achievement Plans, and to design next steps for implementation and monitoring.
Date: February 2, 2024
Learning Delivery Methods:
In-Person School Teams/ Online delivery of learning, lectures/ independent learning & reflection
Length: AM & PM
Topic of Focus:
Report Card preparation/ Reporting to Parents / Ongoing Communication
Presenter/Facilitators: School Administration
Description:
The activities of the PA Day will focus on assessment/ evaluation, report card preparation, reporting to parents and focus on student success/ school learning plans.
Secondary level will focus on student success initiatives and credit rescue and credit recovery.
Date: November 17, 2023
Learning Delivery Methods:
In-Person School Teams/ Online delivery of learning, lectures/ independent learning & reflection
Length: AM
Topic of Focus:
Student Well-Being and Academic Achievement: Nurturing Student Mental Health and Well-Being in the Learning Environment
Presenter/Facilitators: All Schools, hosted by SGDSB
Description:
The activities of the PA Day will be devoted to promoting mental health and well-being for staff and students in connection to the learning environment. The PA Day activities will be presented in a menu for educators to select from based on their connection to the content.
Length: PM
Topic of Focus:
Board/School improvement planning for student achievement and well-being.
Presenter/Facilitators: All Schools, hosted by SGDSB
Description:
The afternoon will be dedicated to school teams making the connection from the learning presented in the first portion of the day to their school learning plans, and to design next steps for implementation and monitoring. School learning plans are grounded in ensuring equitable outcomes for all students.
| Date | Timing | School(s) Participating | Topic of Focus | Learning Delivery Methods | Content Description |
| Thursday, August 31, 2023 | Full Day |
All Schools (Hosted by Superior-Greenstone District School Board) |
Morning: Learning Recovery - Early Reading, Curriculum Implementation, Inclusive Spaces
Afternoon: Learning Recovery - Effective assessment tools in reading and mathematics. Learning Recovery - Student Mental Health and Well-Being. |
In-Person School Teams/ Online delivery of learning, lectures/ independent learning & reflection |
School teams will focus on reviewing the Ontario Human Rights Commission's Right to Read inquiry report, PPM 168 and the connections to the revised Language, Grades 1-8 curriculum and the new de-streamed English, Grade 9 courses. Specifically, this session will require staff to make the connection between the Science and Reading, and how it connects to the revisions to the curriculum and the use of Universal Evidence Based Screening Tools. A portion of the morning will also include a focus on how CRRP and UDL approaches support the creation of literacy block in which all students feel a sense of belonging. This professional activity day will be facilitated and hosted by school board staff. High School Teams will focus on the use of student voice in the design of an Inclusive Classroom. The session will also have a focus on the use of UDL and CRT in the destreamed classroom as a means of improving the overall experience for all students. This professional learning session will be facilitated and hosted by School Board Staff. Grade 7/8 will work on mental health modules. |
| Friday, September 1, 2023 | Full Day | All Schools (Hosted by Superior-Greenstone District School Board) |
Morning: Student Well-being, School Safety and Violence Prevention
Afternoon: School Safety |
Lectures, hands-on exercise, group discussions and online independent work through WellNet |
School teams will be focused on student mental health, well-being, and violence prevention. This will include a focus on Occupational Health and Safety Training, centrally negotiated by the federations for violence prevention and violent incident reporting. This professional learning will be facilitated by System Staff and School Principals. In addition, Trendline, will lead School teams in a presentation on harassment in the workplace.
The PA day will be focused on staff completion of school safety and incident prevention modules as centrally negotiated by the federations. |