Date: April 26, 2024

Secondary

Length: Full Day (AM - As outlined below, PM - Teacher Directed)

Topics: Curriculum Delivery, Implementation and Pathways

Location: Various schools and community locations

Presenters: A variety of presenters will be facilitating the sessions, based on subject disciplines. See more information below.

Description:

Modern Languages - The role of culture in the FSL Programs (Dr. Judith Sinanga-Ohlmann, University of Windsor; Jeremy Worth, University of Windsor)

The Arts - Interactive hands-on workshops in the areas of dance, drama, media arts, visual arts and music. (Kristen Siapas, University of Windsor; Julie Tucker, Art Windsor-Essex; John Spengemann, music producer and artist; Alexa Monaco, singer/songwriter; and Marco Cian, WECDSB educator and music producer)

Physical Education - Workshops and tours provided by faculty members of St. Clair College.

Math and Science - Making Sense of Math and Science (Annie Fetter - Math Education Specialist and Author)

Technology - Training sessions on the use of learning platforms and digital resources related to technological areas of study: manufacturing, transportation, technological design, hospitality and tourism, hairstyling and aesthetics, green industries, communications, engineering and construction (Rick Towend, Tomorrow Trades; Dayton Block, CWB Foundation)

Social Science - Workshop and walking tour highlighting local black history (Willow Key, Historian, MA Black History & Urban Renewal; Sydnie Moore, Graduation Coach for Black, African and Caribbean Students)

Catholic Studies - Catholic Studies - Presentation - Conversation in the Spirit: How to bring HOPE into our Catholic Schools & Classrooms through the Synodal Process (Presented by Linda Staudt)

Special Education - Community Partners Carousel (Developmental Services Ontario, Community Living Windsor & Essex, Windsor-Essex Brokerage for Personal Supports, Family Respite Services)

Business and Co-operative Education - Small Business Centre Workshop facilitated by WECDSB educators

English - Equitable Access Through Libraries (Windsor Public Library staff) and Talking About EDI Workshop (Janelle Abela - Diverse Solutions)

English as a Second Language - Supporting Newcomers (Bana Musharbash, WECDSB - Supervisor of Newcomer Services; Rebecca Saad, Multicultural Council (MCC) - Education Manager; YMCA Newcomer Information Centre)

Guidance and Student Success - Supporting student success and pathways - presentations by Windsor-Essex Counter Exploitation Network, Children's Aid Society and Youth Wellness Hub

Date: February 16, 2024

Elementary

Length: Full Day

Topics: Mathematics and Literacy - Ontario Human Rights

Location: All schools - In-person

Presenters: School Principals and Vice-Principals will be facilitating the sessions.

Description:

Topic 1:  Mathematics and Literacy

Teachers will explore the school's Math Action Plan and next steps  (FDK, Grades 1-8) as well as key strategies and approaches to plan an effective and inclusive language program (FDK, Grades 1-8).

Topic 2: Cross-Curricular and Integrated Learning

Teachers will identify key aspects of cross-curricular and integrated learning, explore considerations for planning an integrated program, and think about new approaches to enhance literacy skills in all subject areas.

Topic 2: Human Rights 101

Created for employees of the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, the Human Rights 101 Module is an interactive introduction to the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Date: February 16, 2024

Secondary

Length: Full Day

Topics: Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship - Mathematics, Science and Technology - Ontario Human Rights

Location: All schools - In-person

Presenters: School Principals and Vice-Principals will be facilitating the sessions.

Description:

Topic 1:  Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship - Mathematics, Science and Technology

Teachers will be introduced to the vast array of skilled trades and apprenticeship opportunities available to students and the ways in which the WECDSB is supporting students’ pathways to these potential careers.  Connections to the areas of mathematics, science and technology will be highlighted.  Teachers will hear from Dr. John Callegher, Skilled Trades Researcher, on the value of the skilled trades and their significance to the Windsor-Essex County area. 

Topic 2: Human Rights 101

Created for employees of the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, the Human Rights 101 Module is an interactive introduction to the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Date: February 2, 2024

Secondary:

Length: Full Day

Location: All schools - In-person (Secondary only)

Topics: Curriculum Development, Implementation and Review

Presenters: Not applicable

Description: 

In preparation for the second semester, secondary teachers will work within subject disciplines to review curriculum, as well as assessment and evaluation strategies.

Date: January 19, 2024

Elementary:

Length: Full Day

Location: All schools - In-person (Elementary only)

Topics: Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting

Presenters: Not applicable

Description: 

Elementary teachers will be engaged in Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting activities to complete Term 1 Report Cards.

Date: November 17, 2023

Elementary:

Length: Full Day

Location: All schools - In-person

Topics: Cybersecurity and Online Privacy Awareness, Assessment and Evaluation, Literacy and Mathematics, and Equity Action Plan - Data Collection

Presenters: School Principals and Vice-Principals will be facilitating the sessions.

Description: 

Topic 1: Cybersecurity and Online Privacy Awareness

Teachers will be provided with information on how to keep our students safe as it relates to Cybersecurity and Online Privacy Awareness.  The topics include: managing media balance and well-being, protecting privacy (passwords, personal information, etc.), digital footprints and combating inappropriate online behaviour.

Topic 2: Assessment and Evaluation - Literacy and Mathematics

Teachers will be engaged in a thorough review of the additions and revisions made to the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board’s Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting of Student Achievement Guidelines K-12, in alignment with Growing Success.  Teachers will review high impact instructional strategies in literacy and mathematics, as they explore the various ways in which to capture evidence of learning through the triangulation of data.

Topic 3: Equity Action Plan - Data Collection

Teachers will be provided an overview and opportunity to complete the WECDSB Voluntary Workplace Census. 

Secondary:

Length: Full Day

Location: All schools - In-person

Topics: Cybersecurity and Online Privacy Awareness, Assessment and Evaluation, Literacy and Mathematics, and Equity Action Plan - Data Collection 

Presenters: School Principals and Vice-Principals will be facilitating the sessions.

Description: 

Topic 1: Cybersecurity and Online Privacy Awareness

Teachers will be provided with information on how to keep our students safe as it relates to Cybersecurity and Online Privacy Awareness.  The topics include: managing media balance and well-being, protecting privacy (passwords, personal information, etc.), digital footprints and combating inappropriate online behaviour.

Topic 2: Assessment and Evaluation - Literacy and Mathematics

Teachers will be engaged in a thorough review of the additions and revisions made to the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board’s Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting of Student Achievement Guidelines K-12, in alignment with Growing Success.  Teachers will review high impact instructional strategies in literacy and mathematics, as they work in subject disciplines to explore triangulation of data and the creation of culminating assessments.

Special Education teachers will participate in a virtual session on Resources to Support Students with Learning Disabilities, led by Martin Smit, Educational Consultant at the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario and WECDSB Special Education Coordinators.

Topic 3: Equity Action Plan - Data Collection

Teachers will be provided an overview and the opportunity to complete the WECDSB Voluntary Workplace Census.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

English teachers will be engaged in professional learning to strengthen their understanding and practices around diversity, equity and inclusion as it relates to the implementation of the English language curriculum.  The session will be facilitated by Janelle Abela (PhD), of Diverse Solutions Strategy Firm.

Law teachers will participate in a morning session at the University of Windsor, organized by the Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN).  Current legal issues will be examined in collaboration with faculty members and lawyers.

Date: October 27, 2023

Elementary

Length: Full Day

Topics: Student Mental Health and Well-Being, Curriculum Implementation and Assessment and Evaluation

Location: All schools - In-person

Presenters: School Principals and Vice-Principals will be facilitating the sessions.

Description:

Topic 1:  Student Mental Health and Well-Being

Staff will participate in Mental Health literacy promotion through the review of the Ministry’s Policy Program Memorandum 169 - Student Mental Health and how this applies in the classroom setting. Board priorities from our Mental Health Action Plan will be shared with opportunities for discussion. Teachers will be able to review curriculum connections as well as mental health resources that are available to assist them in curriculum delivery.  There will also be a review of how to recognize and support students who require further mental health intervention.

Topic 2: Assessment and Evaluation

Teachers will be engaged in a thorough review of the additions and revisions made to the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board’s Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting of Student Achievement Guidelines K-12, in alignment with Growing Success and the Kindergarten Addendum.

Topic 3: Curriculum Implementation

Teachers will:

• explore the new Religious Education digital resource: Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ;
• explore the newly revised Social Studies curriculum, as it relates to Indigenous and Holocaust education (Grades 1-3, Grade 6);
• explore the new Language Curriculum (Grades 1-8);
• explore Knowledgehook, a new mathematics digital tool (Grades 3-8);
• explore various early literacy strategies to support the implementation of the new Language Curriculum (FDK, Grades 1-2) - these early literacy strategy sessions will be presented virtually.

Core French as a Second Language (FSL) teachers will participate in a session related to language skills at an alternate school location in the afternoon.

Educational Assistants and Child and Youth Workers will participate in virtual Behaviour Management Systems (BMS) training in the afternoon.

Secondary

Length: Full Day

Topics: Student Mental Health and Well-Being, Curriculum Implementation and Assessment and Evaluation

Location: All schools - In-person

Presenters: School Principals and Vice-Principals will be facilitating the sessions.

Description:

Topic 1:  Student Mental Health and Well-Being

Staff will participate in Mental Health literacy promotion through the review of the Ministry’s Policy Program Memorandum 169 - Student Mental Health and how this applies in the classroom setting. Board priorities from our Mental Health Action Plan will be shared with opportunities for discussion. Teachers will be able to review curriculum connections as well as Mental Health resources that are available to assist them in curriculum delivery.  There will also be a review of how to recognize and support students who require further mental health intervention.

Topic 2: Assessment and Evaluation

Teachers will be engaged in a thorough review of the additions and revisions made to the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board’s Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting of Student Achievement Guidelines K-12, in alignment with Growing Success.

Topic 3: Curriculum Implementation

Within their respective subject disciplines, teachers will explore and/or deepen their understanding of fair, transparent and equitable assessment and evaluation practices. Teachers will explore in more depth the achievement chart categories to develop rich assessment tasks.

The following curriculum/resources will be explored by the respective teachers responsible for their implementation:

• New de-streamed Grade 9 English curriculum;
• Grade 10 Computer Studies - Digital Technology and Innovations in the Changing World;
• Knowledgehook, a new mathematics digital tool for use in Grade 9.

Guidance and Student Success teachers will engage in pathways training at an alternative school location in the afternoon.

Special Education teachers will learn about and tour the Community Integration through Cooperative Education (CICE) Program at St. Clair College.

Educational Assistants and Child and Youth Workers will participate in virtual Behaviour Management Systems (BMS) training in the afternoon.