The Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board (NPSC) is pleased to provide parents and guardians with details on our seven planned Professional Activity (PA) Days for the 2025-2026 school year, in accordance with O. Reg. 226/23 on School Year Calendars and Professional Activity Days.
We invite NPSC families to review the details in the chart below on the topics and learning/training activities in which staff will be engaged for the purpose of supporting your child(ren)'s learning and achievement, focused on the provincial educational priorities. Details for each PA Day will be shared at least 14 days in advance of each scheduled date.
Thursday, August 28, 2025 (Full Day)
Location: All NPSC schools
Topics: Keeping Schools Safe | School Resource Officer (SRO) Program
Description: School teams will review educational policies, health & safety training and requirements and supports for safe schools regarding the Provincial Code of Conduct, violence prevention, bullying prevention and intervention, duty to report children in need of protection to a children's aid society, progressive discipline, violent incident reporting, gender-based violence, sex trafficking, and the Local Police/School Board Protocol. In relation to the local police/board protocol, emphasis will be placed on the importance of the role of police in our schools as partners in education as they are valuable resources for school teams/educators in providing various educational opportunities for public-safety presentations to students on topics, such as cyber-bullying, human trafficking, and road safety.
Presenters/Facilitators: Principals
Friday, September 26, 2025 (Full Day)
Location: All NPSC schools
Topic of Focus (1): Tackling Racism
Description (1): School teams will focus attention on antisemitism, anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, and racism towards Indigenous communities. They will engage in discussion on the importance of creating supportive classrooms, free of discrimination in any form and learning that will equip educators with the knowledge they must have to promote and uphold human rights as required under the Ontario Human Rights Code and address discriminatory policies and practices. Staff will also review the Ontario curriculum program planning information on the instruction of Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusive Education, applicable to all subjects and disciplines in Grades 1 to 12, which will lead to discussion of mandatory curriculum learning opportunities related to anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and the promotion of inclusion.
Presenters/Facilitators: NPSC System Staff
Topic of Focus (2): Keeping Schools Safe
Description (2): Representatives from the school board's Student Support Services/Mental Health Team will host an information and learning session on culturally responsive trauma-informed principles to create a comprehensive approach to engaging and interacting with students in line with the National Centre for Trama-Informed Care's Six Guiding Principles. They will also provide information about child sexual abuse prevention and reporting, including available counselling and resources for children who are sexually abused, for all teachers and other staff in schools as outlined in section 170.0.1 of the Education Act. This will also lead to further understanding of educator and staff obligations and requirements under Erin's Law, in addition to existing requirements related to child sexual abuse prevention and reporting, including information on available counselling and resources for children who are sexually abused.
Presenters/Facilitators: NPSC Student Support Services Team
Monday, October 20, 2025 (Full Day)
Location: St. Joseph-Scollard Hall (system-wide)
Topic: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Description: NPSC and OECTA are hosting a joint, system-wide professional activity (PA) day at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall CSS. The day will include an opportunity for staff to participate in a variety of learning opportunities based on their areas of interest and role. We will begin the day by celebrating Mass together as a community of faith. Following that, educational staff will enjoy a keynote presentation on artificial intelligence (AI), and then participate in a variety of workshops that align to the safe use of technology, integrating technology into the classroom, and including artificial intelligence.
Presenters/Facilitators: Union Partners (OECTA, COPE), NPSC Educational and Support Staff, Community Partners
Friday, November 14, 2025 (Full Day)
Location: All NPSC schools
Topics of Focus: Reporting to Parents (Elementary) | Student Achievement and Well-Being (Secondary)
Description: Elementary educators will meet with parents/guardians to discuss evidence of student achievement and well-being, based on the Ministry of Education "Progress Report". Progress on the Learning Skills and academic progress in various subject areas are the key points of discussion in the conferences with parents/guardians and students.
Secondary educators will meet with administration and in their departments to review the “Student Achievement Plan”, where they will use data to reflect on progress to-date and plan focused next steps to support student achievement. Staff will continue to review key literacy and numeracy documents, curriculum updates, and effective pedagogical practices that support student achievement and well-being.
Presenters/Facilitators: Principals
Friday, January 30, 2026 (Full Day)
Location: All NPSC schools
Topics of Focus: Report Card Preparation | Reporting to Parents | Ongoing Communication
Description: Elementary educators will complete student report cards to accurately reflect and summarize student outcomes based on the overall curriculum expectations. This evaluation provides evidence of student achievement and is based on assessment of learning.
Secondary educators will complete student report cards to accurately reflect and summarize student outcomes based on the overall curriculum expectations. This evaluation provides evidence of student achievement and is based on assessment of learning for the First Semester.
Presenters/Facilitators: Principals/Educators
Friday, April 17, 2026 (Full Day)
Location: All NPSC schools
Topic of Focus: Literacy and Numeracy | School Achievement
Description: School teams will review key components of their school’s achievement plans and engage in monitoring activities to take stock of progress and next steps. School teams will also review literacy and numeracy blocks and co-create and collaboratively plan and integrate prioritized board resources. In order to continue to support student achievement and well-being, educators will continue to focus on the effective use of Artificial Intelligence, as well as, other digital tools that can be used across the curriculum, K-12, to improve outcomes for students.
Presenters/Facilitators: Principals/System Staff
Thursday, June 4, 2026 (Full Day)
Location: All NPSC schools
Topic of Focus: Faith Day
Description: This day is focused on faith-based professional development and is a day where NPSC staff will celebrate the gift of Catholic Education. On this day we will animate our board's vision of "Rooted in Faith, Alive in Spirit" along with our pastoral theme of "Faith".
Presenters/Facilitators: Father Joseph de Viveiros, C.R., NPSC Board Chaplain | Senior Administration | Principals