Professional Activity Days

Elementary Schools

Key priorities will include supporting quality classroom instruction through consistent classroom delivery and new curriculum updates; Special Education and Individual Education Plans (IEPs); and through keeping schools safe.

Early Childhood Educators and Educational Assistants will participate in professional learning on these above-mentioned topics as well as some professional learning specific to their roles for a portion of the day.

Learning Outcomes:

• Educators will focus on keeping schools safe through cyber safety;
• Educators will continue to develop and monitor the School Improvement and Equity Plan focusing on instructional and assessment practices that improve student achievement in literacy and numeracy;
• Educators will focus on consistent curriculum delivery and new curriculum updates in support of improving student achievement outcomes;
• Educators will focus on Special Education and Individual Education Plans (IEPs) in support of improving student achievement outcomes.

Secondary Schools

Key priorities will include supporting quality classroom instruction through consistent classroom delivery and new curriculum updates; Special Education and Individual Education Plans (IEPs); and through keeping schools safe.

Educational Assistants will participate in the professional learning on the above-mentioned topics with their teacher colleagues.

Learning Outcomes:

• Educators will focus on keeping schools safe through cyber safety;
• Educators will focus on consistent curriculum delivery and new curriculum updates in support of improving student achievement outcomes;
• Educators will focus on Special Education and Individual Education Plans (IEPs) in support of improving student achievement outcomes;
• Educators will continue to develop and monitor the School Improvement and Equity Plan focusing on instructional and assessment practices that improve student achievement in literacy and numeracy.

Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers, Early Childhood Educators, and Educational Assistants

Educators will focus on keeping schools safe through community and culture building, consistent curriculum delivery and new curriculum updates. Additional areas of professional learning will include: assessment and evaluation, special education and Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and annual mandatory training. 

Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers, Early Childhood Educators, and Educational Assistants

Educators will focus on keeping schools safe through community and culture building, consistent curriculum delivery and new curriculum updates. Additional areas of professional learning will include: assessment and evaluation, special education and Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and annual mandatory training. 

Elementary Teachers, Early Childhood Educators, and Educational Assistants

Educators will participate in school-based professional learning about program planning for human rights, equity, and inclusive education.  Educators will also continue to monitor and assess the Safe and Inclusive Schools Plan and the School Improvement and Equity Plan focusing on instructional and assessment practices that improve student achievement in literacy and numeracy as they begin to plan for the upcoming school year.

Secondary Teachers

Educators will be engaged in a variety of assessment and evaluation practices to support student achievement.

Elementary Teachers and Early Childhood Educators

• Reporting Student Achievement
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education
• Reaching Every Learner: Differentiation and Inclusion in Secondary Classrooms
• Electric Vehicle Training for Transportation Teachers
• Skilled Trades Room Orientations for Construction, Manufacturing, Transportation, and Culinary Teachers
• Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) Connections and an Industry Partners for Co-operative Education Teachers

• Planning for Transitions
• Sensory Processing
• Trauma and Attachment
• Sensory Processing
• Visuals Make & Take
• Creating Social Stories/Visuals Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• Emotional Self-Care for Educational Assistants

Educational Assistants

Educational Assistants will participate in a variety of professional learning opportunities. These opportunities will be specific to individual and site needs. Some of the opportunities include:  

• Equity 
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder with Community Services Coordination Network
• Culturally Responsive Teaching
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing Learners in the Classroom
• iPad Training
• Building Relationships: Restorative Practices
• De-escalation
• Planning for Transitions
• Supporting Challenging Behaviour

Elementary and Secondary Teachers and Early Childhood Educators

Educators will be engaged in school-based professional learning focused on school safety as well as School Improvement and Equity planning with a focus on instructional and assessment practices that improve student achievement in literacy and numeracy.

Some of the opportunities include:  

• Erin’s Law
• Anti-sex-trafficking
• Gender-based violence
• Child sexual abuse prevention
• School Improvement and Equity Plan development and monitoring

Educational Assistants

Educational Assistants will be participating in a variety of professional learning opportunities.  These opportunities will be specific to individual and site needs. Some of the opportunities include: 

• Equity
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder with Community Services Coordination Network
• Making Breaks Meaningful
• Facilitating Inclusion and Independence
• Visual Supports, Data Collection and Prompt Fading to Build Skills
• iPad Training
• Sensory Diet

Elementary Teachers and Early Childhood Educators

Educators will be engaged in a variety of assessment and evaluation practices to support student achievement.

Secondary Teachers

Secondary Teachers will complete assessments and grade submissions for Semester One and prepare for the start of Semester Two.

Elementary Teachers and Early Childhood Educators 

Elementary educators will be engaging in parent/caregiver-teacher interviews. These interviews enable parents/caregivers to gain insights into their child's academic and social progress, strengthen the home-school connection, and collaborate with educators on strategies to support their child's success and well-being. For additional details, please contact your student’s school. 

Secondary Teachers

Educators will be engaged in school-based professional learning focused on Student Achievement/ School Improvement planning in identified areas of focus (for example: Numeracy/Literacy).

Educational Assistants

Educational Assistants will be participating in a variety of professional learning opportunities. These opportunities will be specific to individual and site needs. Some of the opportunities include: 

• iPad/Canva Training
• eKindergarten Program
• Practical Ideas: Supporting Students with Complex Communication Needs
• Talk it Up: Tools to Get Kids Talking!
• Essential Conditions for Learning/Restorative Practices
• Facilitating Inclusion and Independence
• Supporting Students who are Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing

Educational Assistants
Educational Assistants will be participating in a variety of professional learning opportunities. These opportunities will be specific to individual and site needs. Some of the opportunities include:

• Behaviour Management Systems (BMS)
• “Unflip Their Lids”
• All About Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)
• Practical Ideas: Supporting Students with Complex Communication Needs
• Talk it Up: Tools to Get Kids Talking!

Elementary and Secondary Teachers and Early Childhood Educators
Educators will be engaged in school-based professional learning focused on Student Achievement and Equity, Indigenous Education, and Artificial Intelligence.

Morning

• Building Positive School Culture and Climate
• Restorative Practices to Support Students
• Mental Health Strategy, Safe and Inclusive Schools Plans and School Improvement and Equity Planning

Afternoon

• Board and School Code of Conduct
• Progressive Discipline in Schools
• Supporting Students with Prevalent Medical Conditions
• Concussion Training

The professional learning provided to all staff in all schools across Thames Valley demonstrates Thames Valley's commitment to building positive school cultures, supporting student mental health and well-being and creating safe school environments for the 2025-2026 school year.