Professional Activity (PA) Days are days set aside each school year when students do not attend school. PA Days are designated for activities that include professional development for educators and staff, evaluation of student progress, consultation with parents/guardians, curriculum and program evaluation and development.
under the Education Act states that school boards must designate three (3) PA days each school year that focus on provincial education priorities. School boards may also designate up to four additional PA days per school year.
Here is a list of the PA Days scheduled during the 2024-2025 school year:
- Tuesday, September 3, 2024 (All schools)
- Friday, October 11, 2024 (All schools)
- Friday, November 29, 2024 (All schools)
- Monday, January 27, 2025 (Elementary schools only)
- Friday, January 31, 2025 (Secondary schools only)
- Friday, February, 14, 2025 (All schools)
- Friday, April 4, 2025 (All schools)
- Friday, June 6, 2025 (Elementary schools only)
- Friday, June 27, 2025 (Secondary schools only)
See below for a detailed summary of the P.A. Day activities.
2024-2025 P.A. Day Summary of Activities
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
In our Catholic schools, we will continue into Year 3 of our Theological Theme: 鈥淲hat Does the Lord Ask of You? Do Justice, Love Kindness, and Walk Humbly with Your God鈥� (Micah 6:8).
This year, we will focus on 鈥淟ove Kindness鈥� alongside fostering a deeper understanding of our sacraments, the Church, and its role in the world. Educators will review classroom curricular programs and strengthen connections within their school communities by focusing on the Sacraments of Service. Through this, students will be encouraged to use the gifts they have received to serve others, prioritize others鈥� needs, and generously offer their time and talents.
Elementary
AM: Topic Mental Health
Entity Hosting: School
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): School Administrators and Educator Staff
Format: In Person
Description: All educators will receive professional learning: on supporting children and students with prevalent medical conditions in school, student safety and violent incident prevention, supporting positive school climate, bullying prevention/progressive discipline, violent incident reporting and policy requirements for safe schools.
AM: Topic: Cell phones and vaping
Student Engagement & Well-Being:
Entity Hosting: School
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): School Administrators and Educator Staff
Format: In Person
Description: Providing educators the skills needed to support all students, with emphasis on classroom management to remove distractions, increase student well-being and to ensure learning leads to higher graduation rates, higher learning and improved employment rates. Specific topics focus: cell phone, vaping and school safety.
PM: Topic: Literacy
Entity Hosting: School
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): School Administrators and Educator Staff
Format: In Person
Description: Professional learning focused on implementation of the revised 2023 language curriculum and on principals and requirements related to early reading screening as described in PPM 168.
PM: Topic: Mathematics
Entity Hosting: School
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): School Administrator and Educator Staff
Format: In Person
Description: Professional learning for Grades 3 through 6 educators focused on supporting student achievement in elementary mathematics with a focus on ensuring fidelity of curriculum implementation, strengthening mathematics content knowledge for teaching, knowing the mathematics learner and identifying and collecting key performance indicators.
Secondary
AM: Topic: Mental Health
Entity Hosting: Schools
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): School Administrators and Educator Staff
Format: In Person
Description: All educators will receive professional learning: on supporting children and students with prevalent medical conditions in school, student safety and violent incident prevention, supporting positive school climate, bullying prevention/progressive discipline, violent incident reporting and policy requirements for safe schools.
AM: Topic: Cell Phones and vaping
Entity Hosting: Schools
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): School Administrators and Educator Staff
Format: In Person
Description: Providing educators the skills needed to support all students, with emphasis on classroom management to remove distractions, increase student well-being and to ensure learning leads to higher graduation rates, higher learning and improved employment rates. Specific topics focus: cell phone, vaping and school safety.
PM: Topic: Curriculum and Student Achievement
Entity Hosting: Schools
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): School Administrators and Educator Staff
Format: In Person
Description: Professional learning focused on the 2023 de-streamed Gr. 9 English/French courses, the new de-streamed Gr. 9 geography course, Gr. 9 & 10 Business Studies and Technological Education curriculum, mental health literacy updates to the Gr. 10 career studies, ongoing implementation of recently revised curriculum, supporting ongoing implementation of de-streamed Gr. 9 courses and making connections to skilled trades, transferable skills and apprenticeship.
PM: Topic: Mathematics
Entity Hosting: Schools
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): School Administrators and Educator Staff
Format: In Person
Description: Professional learning focused on supporting student achievement in secondary mathematics with a focus on ensuring fidelity of curriculum implementation, strengthening mathematics content knowledge for teaching. Also focusing on intentional use of high impact instructional practices to support students in the de-streamed Gr. 9 math course.
Friday, October 11, 2024
| Date | Friday, October 11, 2024 |
| Length | Full Day |
| Entity Hosting | Catholic Education Centre (CEC) |
| Presenter(s)/ Facilitator(s) | System Chaplain, Gillian Federico |
| Format | In-person |
Description
We continue to explore our Theological Theme 鈥�What does the Lord Require of You? Do Justice, Love Kindness, and to Walk Humbly with Your God.鈥� (Micah 6:8) During Year Three of this theme, we are focusing on God鈥檚 call to us to 鈥�Love Kindness鈥�. Each school and staff group will organize their day independently around prayers, liturgies, games, activities and reflections that relate to this theme in the way they consider to best suit their staff, with packages prepared by Chaplaincy Leaders.
Resources
HCDSB Theological Theme 2022-2026 鈥淲hat Does the Lord Ask of You?鈥�鈥�&苍产蝉辫;