Below, you will find details on what staff will be learning for the 2023-24 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 2023-24

Tuesday, September 5, 2023 – Full Day Session

  • 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
  • Violence and Harassment in the Workplace Training
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
  • Workplace Violence Prevention Training

Friday, October 6, 2023 – Full Day Session

  • Focus:
    • Structured literacy
    • Unpacking the curriculum and curriculum implementation
    • School Learning and Improvement Plans
  • Formats: Online and In-Person
  • Learning delivery methods:
    • Live Stream video
    • Asynchronous video or slide deck
    • Workshop
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Schools Participating: All Elementary schools

Content of Staff Learning

  • Introduction to Acadience Early Reading Screener (Live Stream)
    • The What
    • The Why and the How
  • Unpacking the Language Curriculum with Emphasis on Strand B (Live Stream)
  • An overview of the multi-year plan and structured literacy approach (Live Stream)
  • Acadience Early Reading Screener (Year 2 Kindergarten)
  • Asynchronous learning opportunities (videos and/or slide decks) for specialized subjects like: French, Math, SciTech,
  • Physical Education, changes in social studies:
    • Holocaust Education expectations in Grade 6 and Indigenous Education expectations in Grades 1-3

Monday, November 13, 2023

  • Focus:
    • Curriculum implementation with a focus on:
      • Moving to one mark for Language
      • Unpacking Strands A, C, D of the new Language Curriculum
    • School Learning and Improvement Work
      • Differentiated by school and determined by each school’s improvement goal
    • Acadience Training
  • Formats: In-person
  • Learning delivery methods:
    • Facilitated discussions
    • Group activities
    • Hands-on training and workshops
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Schools Participating: All Elementary schools

Content of Staff Learning

  • Using a data informed approach to assess changes in student learning
  • Planning tier one instruction, focusing on instructional approaches listed in the revised 2023 Language curriculum, to support literacy learning across all subject areas.
  • Grade 1 and Grade 2 teachers who have applied will participate in Acadience training to support the implementation of a universal literacy screener

Friday, January 19, 2024

  • 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

Wednesday, April 10, 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, May 31, 2024

Detailed information will be available 14 days prior to this PD day.

Friday, June 28, 2024

Detailed information will be available 14 days prior to this PD day.

Secondary School PD Days for 2023-24

Tuesday, September 5, 2023 – Full Day Session

  • 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
  • Violence and Harassment in the Workplace Training
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
  • Workplace Violence Prevention Training

Friday, October 6, 2023 – Full Day Session

  • Focus:
    • Destreaming
    • School Learning and Improvement Plans
    • Experiential Learning
  • Format: In-person and Online
  • Learning delivery method:
    • Small team meetings
    • Whole staff sessions
    • Shared and customizable slide decks
    • Experiential learning with the Business Education Partnership
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Waterloo Region District School Board, Business Education Partnership
  • Schools Participating: All Secondary schools

Content of Staff Learning

  • School Learning and Improvement Plan connected learning
  • Destreaming with a focus on Tier 1 supports for students
    • Universal Design for Learning, Differentiation, Literacy Development
  • Trades-based Professional Development for guidance counselors offered by the Business Education Partnership in concert with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada and Conestoga College

Monday, November 13, 2023

  • Focus:
    • English curriculum implementation
    • Assessment and evaluation
    • De-streaming with a focus on literacy and numeracy
    • School Learning and Improvement Work:
      • Differentiated by school and determined by each school’s improvement goal
  • Format: In-person
  • Learning delivery method:
    • Facilitated discussions
    • Small and large group activities
  • Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Schools Participating: All Secondary schools

Content of Staff Learning

  • Unpacking the new English curriculum
  • Planning assessments aligned with a de-streamed approach
  • Continuing to implement tiered intervention approaches designed to engage all learners in de-streamed classrooms

Thursday, February 1, 2024 – 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

Wednesday, April 10, 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

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Detailed information will be available 14 days prior to this PD day.

Friday, June 28, 2024

Detailed information will be available 14 days prior to this PD day.

Extended Day Program Closures

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

  • Tuesday, September 5, 2023
  • Friday, October 6, 2023
  • Monday, November 13, 2023
  • Wednesday, April 10, 2024
  • Friday, June 28, 2024

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