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Professional Activity (PA) Days

The HDSB, along with all school boards in Ontario, 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. ​ ​

​PA Day Topics and Activities ​

 2025-2026 School Year

Throughout the year, the HDSB remains focused on fulfilling the Ontario Ministry of Education’s priorities, including keeping schools safe, tackling racism, artificial intelligence and the School Resource Officer Program. Details about the specific focus of each individual PA Day will be shared below at least two weeks in advance.

Topic: Provincial Education Priorities - Tackling Racism & Keeping Schools Safe

Format: 

  • Full-day, in-person

  • Elementary and secondary schools

Description:

School teams will engage in learning focused on how to create supportive classrooms and schools free from discrimination in any form. There will be a particular focus on antisemitism, anti-Black racism, Islamophobia and racism towards Indigenous communities. Learning will equip educators to uphold human rights, as required by the Ontario Human Rights Code. The Ontario curriculum program planning information on the instruction of Human Rights, Equity and Inclusive Education, which is applicable to all grades and disciplines, will be reviewed.

School teams will review practices, policies/procedures and resources to support Student and School Safety using resources prepared by central departments. The content includes: bullying prevention and intervention, duty to report children in need of protection to the Children’s Aid Society, information about child sexual abuse prevention and reporting.

Facilitators: Learning will be led by principals and vice-principals and school-based staff, supported with materials and guidance from central departments including Indigenous Rights and Education and Human Rights, Equity and Inclusive Education departments.


Learning/Delivery Method:
Whole group presentations and small group work

Topic

Provincial Education Priorities – Keeping Schools Safe and the School Resource Officer Program

Format

  • Full-day, in-person session
  • For elementary and secondary schools

Description: School teams will review policy requirements and supports related to safe schools, including the Provincial Code of Conduct, violence prevention, violent incident reporting and debriefing, gender-based violence, and the Provincial Model for a Local Police/School Board Protocol.

The session will also cover the role of police in providing high-quality, age-appropriate public safety presentations to students on topics such as cybercrime, human trafficking, and road safety. Participants will receive information on the role of police in schools to support trust building among educators, policing services, students, and parents/guardians.

For schools currently in the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, an overview of the program’s structure and objectives will be provided. Suicide prevention and intervention will also be addressed.

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