PA Day Agendas
On Professional Activity (PA) days, staff engage in professional development. Our school, along with all schools in the Halton District School Board (HDSB) have several Professional Activity (PA) Days throughout the school year. The purpose of these days is to enhance student success. Staff focus on professional development activities, participate in training or planning sessions. There are no classes for students on these days.
To learn about what schools across the HDSB are focusing on during each PA Day, visit HDSB PA Days 2024-2025
For a detailed description of what our school will be focusing on please see the following information.
Tuesday, September 3, 2024: GDHS PD Day
Provincial Education Priorities
Welcome/Announcements:
Department introductions and welcome
Thank the Land:
Land Acknowledgement
School Programs Department Update:
New course outlines
Category weightings
Start Up Rotation 1
Emergency Response Planning
Safe School Incident Reporting
Anti-Sex Trafficking
Start Up Rotation 2
Bullying Prevention
Plans of Care & Opioids
Vaping & Cell Phones
Lunch
Department Time
Safety and Behaviour Plans
New teacher orientation
Markbook set up / learning
Other
Friday, October 11, 2024 GDHS PD Day
Asset Based Assessment and The Removal of Category Weightings
Asset Based Assessment Concept Circle Discussion Activity
Grappling with complexity: Asset-based Assessment
Objective:
To provide an opportunity for staff to engage in discourse about asset-based assessment tied to the 8-pedagogical approaches in order to grapple with change and complexity across the curriculum.
Ministry/ HDSB Goals Addressed:
Balanced category weightings
Asset-based assessment
Anti-colonial, anti-racist, anti-oppressive practices
Address disproportionate outcomes for students
School wide learning
Making connections to skilled trades, transferable skills and apprenticeship.
Guidance and career education, making connections between guidance counselors and local employers/labor market with a focus on high-demand economic sectors.
Small Group Discussion
Department Time
Further discussion and course specific planning in departments.
Friday, November 29, 2024 GDHS PD Day
Asset Based Assessment
Combined with staff at Acton District School
Location: Acton District School
Timing/Format
Full Instructional day of learning 9:00am-3:20pm
Whole group and academic department learning
Facilitators:
Chelsea Franolla, Steven Ramlal, Teachers
Learning Materials:
Artifacts featuring examples of subject-embedded asset-based assessment
Whole group instruction, gallery walk, table top activities, subject-specific group activities