Updated: Nov. 9, 2023
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.
聽under the聽贰诲耻肠补迟颈辞苍听础肠迟聽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.
Throughout the upcoming school year, we will be providing families with more information about the Professional Activity (PA) Days on our 2023-2024 School Year Calendar.
Here is a list of all PA Days for the 2023-2024 school year.
- Aug. 31, 2023
- Sept. 29, 2023聽
- Nov. 3, 2023
- Nov. 24, 2023 (secondary only)
- Feb. 2, 2024
- April 8, 2024
- June 7, 204 (elementary only)
- June 28, 2024
Details about upcoming PA Days will be posted to this site 14 days prior to each day. Below you will find a detailed summary for the Nov. 24, 2023 PA Day.聽
Date: Nov. 24, 2023聽
Participating Schools: All Secondary 成人直播 Catholic Secondary Schools聽
Topic 1: Dr. David Tranter – The Third Path
Length:聽 3 hours (a.m.)
Participating: Secondary Support Staff and Secondary Teachers from designated departments.
Entity Hosting: Special Education Services Department at the Catholic Education Centre
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Special Education Services Central Staff
Description / Goal: Dr. Tranter will present in-person to provide key learnings from his text The Third Path including: the many paths of childhood; the protective and transformative power of school; creating conditions for safety; considering the stressed student and the impact of co-regulation; the need for belonging; the power of positivity; supporting engagement; removing barriers; considering mastery in education; and, how to engage and unify well-being and academic achievement.
Topic 2: Prepare, Prevent, Respond
Length:聽 3 hours聽
Participating: Secondary Support Staff
Entity Hosting: Special Education Services Department at the Catholic Education Centre
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s):聽 Special Education Services Central Staff
Description/Goal: This program is a suicide prevention/life promotion program. The purpose is to provide information that is designed to equip staff in the important role of school-based suicide prevention. The goal is to increase knowledge and confidence so that staff can support a student when a circumstance arises whereby they share that they are experiencing thoughts of suicide. This program will assist in providing the tools to best support and transition the student to a mental health professional who will be able to provide the next level of support and safety planning with the student.
Topic 3: New French Teacher Self-Directed PD
Length:聽 3 hours (p.m.)
Participating: French Teachers New to Their Role in Last Three (3) Years
Entity Hosting: Self Directed
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s):聽 Self Directed
Description/Goal: All French teachers who are new to their role in the last three (3) years have half of the day to engage in self directed professional development that will focus on French.
Topic 4: E-Learning Teachers
Length:聽 3 hours (p.m.)
Participating: All E-Learning Teachers
Entity Hosting: 成人直播
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s):聽 Frank Bradica
Description/Goal: All e-learning teachers will work with Frank to become more confident in the use of D2L and PRISM to support teaching, learning assessment and evaluation.
Topic 5: Student Injury Prevention
5a) Technological Education聽
Length:聽 Full Day
Participating: All Technological Education Teachers
Entity Hosting: 成人直播
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s):聽 Alex Duketow, Consultant / Project Leads (Applied Technology Equipment Audit) / Asta Hairstyling School (Esthetics Teachers) / Personal Touch Catering (Culinary Arts Teachers)
Description/Goal: All relevant staff will contribute to the completion of the Applied Technology Equipment Audit for Construction, Manufacturing, and Transportation labs. Hairstyling, Culinary, and Robotics/Technological Design Teachers will gather at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School to further develop Student Injury Prevention resources. These teachers will meet in their respective technology labs. A portion of the day for hairstyling and culinary teachers will be professional development with local industry.
5b) Science Education
Length:聽 Full Day
Participating: All Science Teachers
Entity Hosting: 成人直播
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s):聽 Science Curriculum Chairs
Description/Goal: Science educators will be provided with time to thoroughly inspect all lab spaces. They will also review mandatory chemical storage procedures and engage in cabinet maintenance of chemical and material organization and storage as outlined within the Science Safety Guidelines.
5c) Physical and Health Education
Length: Full Day
Participating: Physical and Health Education Teachers / Coaches (as required)
Entity Hosting: Peterborough Red Cross/成人直播
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s):聽 Red Cross CPR and Emergency First Aid Trainers
Description/Goal: 30 staff will be engaging in CPR and Emergency First Aid training at two sites – Red Cross, Peterborough and St. Mary Catholic Secondary school, Cobourg.
Physical and Health Education staff not involved in the above will review all gymnasium equipment and fitness room equipment, as well as review and restock first aid kits as outlined in the 成人直播 Catholic Health and Physical Education Safety Guidelines document.
5d) Creative Arts Education
Length:聽 Half Day
Participating: All Creative Arts Teachers
Entity Hosting: 成人直播
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Melissa Featherstone, Occupational Health & Safety Officer / Pottery Supply House
Description/Goal: Creative Arts teachers will engage in differentiated professional learning as outlined below:
Pottery Wheel/Kiln Maintenance/Q&A
Staff will engage in professional learning related to pottery wheel/kiln maintenance and will have the opportunity to ask questions of experts in the field from the Pottery Supply House.聽
Creative Arts Safety Data Sheet Review (and questions with the Health and Safety Officer)
Melissa Featherstone, Health and Safety Officer will join Creative Arts teachers in a Google Meet to review safety data sheets and answer questions teachers may have in regards to safety data sheets and safe handling of chemicals.
In addition, staff are asked to take this opportunity to assess their relevant arts spaces by utilizing the following safety checklists available within the 成人直播 Creative Arts Safety Guidelines document:
ES21 Chemical Use for Musical Instruments聽
Staff will review safety data sheets as well as chemical use and storage.