Below, you will find details on what staff will be learning for the 2024-25 professional development (PD) days.

What Are Professional Development (PD) Days?

PD days are held throughout the school year to provide learning opportunities for school-based staff. This professional learning focuses on providing educators and staff with the knowledge and skills needed to support and enhance student achievement and well being.

Elementary School PD Days for 2024-25

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

  • Focus: Mandatory Health, Safety and Awareness Training
  • Format: Online
  • Learning delivery method: Individual completion of online mandatory training modules
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Schools Participating: All Elementary and Secondary

Content of Staff Learning

Individual online mandatory training modules hosted on the Brightspace platform which includes videos, presentation slide decks and quizzes dedicated to the following topics:

  • Anti-Sex Trafficking
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Concussion Management
  • Cyber Security Awareness Training
  • Human Rights
  • Violence and Harassment in the Workplace Training
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
  • Workplace Violence Prevention Training

Friday, October 11, 2024

  • Focus: School Learning and Improvement Process with a focus on the implementation of the tiered instruction model
  • Format: In-Person and Online
  • Learning delivery method: Presentation group activities, and hands-on exercises
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Schools Participating: All Elementary

Content of Staff Learning

  • In connection to the WRDSB Multi-Year Structured Literacy Plan:
    • All Kindergarten to Grade 2 teachers will continue to develop their knowledge in connection to universal reading screening tools.
    • All Grade 3 to 8 educators will engage in online training for the implementation of the Oral Reading Fluency Assessment.
  • School Learning and Improvement Planning with a focus on:
    • Special Education
    • Math Achievement Action Plan (MAAP) and the tiered instruction model in mathematics

Friday, November 1, 2024

  • Focus: Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)-led
  • Formats: In-person
  • Learning delivery method: Self-directed
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
  • Schools Participating: All Elementary schools

Content of Staff Learning

  • Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) members will be engaging in self-directed learning and professional activities

Friday, January 17, 2025

  • Focus:
    • Assessment and evaluation in support of student well-being and achievement
  • Formats: In-person and online
  • Learning delivery methods:
    • Self-directed
    • Hands-on
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Schools Participating: All Elementary schools

Content of Staff Learning

  • Assessment and evaluation in support of student well-being and achievement
  • Behaviour Management Systems (BMS) System Training for applicable staff

Monday, March 31, 2025

  • Focus: School Learning and Improvement Process
  • Formats: In-person and online
  • Learning delivery method:
    • Small and large group discussions
    • Individual work
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Schools Participating: All Elementary and Secondary schools

Content of Staff Learning

  • Clevr Software Training
  • School Learning and Improvement Planning with a focus on:
    • Mathematics
    • Literacy
    • Special Education
  • Behaviour Management Systems (BMS) Training for applicable staff

Friday, May 30, 2025

  • Focus: Assessment and evaluation in support of student well-being and achievement  
  • Formats: In-Person
  • Learning delivery methods: 
    • Self-directed and independent 
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): None
  • Schools Participating: All Elementary schools

Content of Staff Learning

  • All elementary teachers will be engaged in assessment and evaluation activities for the full day in support of student achievement and well-being.

Friday, June 27, 2025

  • Detailed information will be available 14 days prior to the PD Day

Secondary School PD Days for 2024-25

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

  • Focus: Mandatory Health, Safety and Awareness Training
  • Format: Online
  • Learning delivery method: Individual completion of online mandatory training modules
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Schools Participating: All Elementary and Secondary

Content of Staff Learning

Individual online mandatory training modules hosted on the Brightspace platform which includes videos, presentation slide decks and quizzes dedicated to the following topics:

  • Anti-Sex Trafficking
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Concussion Management
  • Cyber Security Awareness Training
  • Human Rights
  • Violence and Harassment in the Workplace Training
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
  • Workplace Violence Prevention Training

Friday, October 11, 2024

  • Focus: School Learning and Improvement Process connected to destreaming
  • Format: In-Person and Online
  • Learning delivery method: Presentation, group activities, hands-on exercises
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Schools Participating: All Secondary

Content of Staff Learning

  • Tier 1 supports for students, including:
    • Universal Design for Learning
    • Differentiation
    • Literacy Development
  • Tier 2 supports in the secondary classroom

Friday, November 1, 2024

  • Focus:
    • Subject-based professional development
    • Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF)-sponsored Sessions
  • Format: In-person
  • Learning delivery method:
    • Presentations and lectures
    • Facilitated discussions
    • Small and large group activities
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF)
  • Schools Participating: All Secondary schools

Content of Staff Learning

  • Assessment and evaluation
  • Course planning and development
  • Experiential learning and community partnerships
  • Human rights responsibilities
  • Pathways and outcomes
  • Subject-specific teaching strategies
  • Teaching, technology and artificial intelligence

Friday, January 31, 2025 – Full Day Session

  • Focus:
    • School Learning and Improvement
    • Student Achievement
  • Formats: In-person
  • Learning delivery methods:
    • Small and large group discussions
    • Individual work
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Schools Participating: All Secondary schools

Content of Staff Learning

  • Professional learning in support of:
    • Student well-being and achievement
    • School learning and improvement goals

Monday, March 31, 2025

  • Focus: School Learning and Improvement Process
  • Formats: In-person and online
  • Learning delivery method:
    • Small and large group discussions
    • Individual work
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Schools Participating: All Elementary and Secondary schools

Content of Staff Learning

  • Clevr Software Training
  • School Learning and Improvement Planning with a focus on:
    • Mathematics
    • Literacy
    • Special Education
  • Behaviour Management Systems (BMS) Training for applicable staff

Thursday, June 26, and Friday, June 27, 2025

  • Detailed information will be available 14 days prior to the PD Day

Extended Day Program Closures

Extended Day Programs will be closed on the following PD days:

  • Tuesday, September 3, 2024
  • Friday, October 11, 2024
  • Friday, November 1, 2024
  • Monday, March 31, 2025
  • Friday, June 27, 2025

Extended Day Program closures are to allow for full staff participation in the learning opportunities.