Workshops
All workshops are to be attended either in-person or during the scheduled time via Zoom. To attend via Zoom, use the link found here that corresponds to the room of your session.
Monday
August 28
Workshop #1
3:10 - 4:10pm
Monday, August 28
Workshop #1
3:10 - 4:10pm
What’s best for kids? And how do we keep this at the centre of what we do as educators. This session will examine philosophical and practical strategies to keep kids at the centre and innovate from there.
ChatGPT, Midjourney, and other Generative AI tools are transforming education right in front of our eyes. But they are often misunderstood. In this session, we’ll debunk common misconceptions about AI, providing a clear understanding of what it can and can’t do. We’ll explore what the actual implications for education are with neither too much hype nor too much doom and gloom.
Do you have families that are struggling to get you work samples, reply to your communications, or are dealing with challenging situations? These are some of the circumstances we find ourselves needing to work with as we go about supporting the education programs our families are working at carrying out. Join this session as a panel shares strategies and provides insights that can help get a struggling family back on track and what supports you have as their teacher when facing challenging situations with your families.
Tuesday
August 29
Learning Lab A
1:15 - 2:45pm
Tuesday, August 29
Learning Lab A
1:15 - 2:45pm
I believe that every single one of us was created for a life of honor that demands courage. There is a hero inside each of us waiting to be awakened.
Your most heroic life awaits you. Occasionally, you catch glimpses of the hero within you, but your dreams surpass your courage. You find yourself trapped by fear and making weak choices.
Now, let’s discuss what it means to have the courage to live your best life.
ChatGPT, Midjourney, and other Generative AI tools are transforming education right in front of our eyes. But they are often misunderstood. In this session, we’ll debunk common misconceptions about AI, providing a clear understanding of what it can and can’t do. We’ll explore what the actual implications for education are with neither too much hype nor too much doom and gloom.
Make these two key aspects of the K-9 Support Teacher’s role work for you by clarifying their purpose and learning new strategies. K-9 Regional Admin and Support Teachers will share on how they go about using Communications and Notes to benefit their practice and help support families, plan and get the most out of a home visit and apply approaches to make both of these tools useful additions to their work with families. Key takeaways will include how to build efficiencies and use practical tools related to Communications and Notes and Home Visits. Plan ahead by reflecting on your own practice and plan to join in small group discussions.
We are excited to invite you to a learning lab focused on Competency Based Individual Education Plans (CB-IEPs). It has been a year since full implementation of CB-IEPs and now it’s time to reflect on our progress and gather insights for moving foward. We will review CB-IEPs and share collective knowledge and experiences as we explore various examples, resources, tools, and best practices.
Through interactive discussions and activities, you will have the chance to work closely with colleagues, exchanging ideas and enhancing your understanding of CB-IEPs. You will gain valuable knowledge and skills, and leave with tangible progress made on your own IEPs. This hands-on approach ensures that you can immediately apply what you learn to your upcoming year.
We look forward to seeing you at this learning lab, where we can collectively celebrate our growth and accomplishments in implementing CB-IEPs. Let’s continue to provide the best possible education for our students by strengthening our understanding of this powerful tool.
Wednesday
August 30
Workshop #2
9:10 - 10:10am
Wednesday. August 30
Workshop #2
9:10 - 10:10am
While this term has become very controversial, there was a time when it was a diagnosed condition and, more importantly, successfully treated in specialized clinics. However, those clinics are now closed, and the term has been invalidated as harmful. Moreover, Canadian law forbids questioning a person’s declared gender. What should good Christians do in these challenging times? How can parents love and support their children?
This workshop will explore the reasons behind the change in thinking about gender. Furthermore, delegates will be encouraged to speak the truth in love to others on this topic. Ways in which Christians can remain faithful to people’s created purposes while being gentle and respectful towards others will be presented.
As students enter their upper middle school years, it can get tricky to determine work output and learning expectations for non-core courses like ADST, Career Education, Christian Studies, Physical and Health Education, and Arts Education. During this workshop, you will hear from a variety of HCOS teachers as they share tips and strategies for helping middle school students transition successfully to the Grad program with their non-core subjects. We will have Grad teachers share samples of work they are currently receiving and give suggestions on how middle school support teachers can build skills and competencies to prepare students for Grad level expectations. We will also hear from teachers at the middle school level who have successfully worked with Grade 7-9 students and have advice on how to navigate the sometimes confusing waters of teaching non-core subjects to this age group.
Panel #1: Grad Teachers
Mark Daley, Tara Klukas, Lesley Schrottner
Panel #2: Middle School Teachers
Sara-Lee Hamre, Mark Lamden, Rachael Rennie, Colin Wellum
Wednesday
August 30
Learning Lab B
1:45 - 3:15pm
Wednesday, August 30
Learning Lab B
1:45 - 3:15pm
Join us in this learning lab as we embark on an empowering journey of collaboration and exploration. Together, we will equip ourselves with the necessary tools and resources to initiate meaningful conversations about Indigenous topics. You can look forward to leaving this lab equipped with a plethora of teaching ideas, hands-on activities, and valuable resources that will enhance your teaching practice and inspire your students.
On a recent trip to Ottawa following time spent in Victoria, I met a number of political leaders with the intention of building relationships and influencing them to write just laws, especially in support of parental rights. Throughout my tenure in ACSI as the director, I have spent considerable time engaging with politics, hoping for positive outcomes for students and their families. I have enjoyed some unexpected positive results from both soft and hard lobbying efforts.
Most Canadians don’t have that level of access to decision-makers. More to the point, most Christians complain about the direction of our country while believing they have no power to alter it. My experience has taught me otherwise. The Bible calls us to be good citizens of our nations and to work for the good of the communities we live in.
In this workshop, delegates will be given biblical foundations for these responsibilities, and more importantly, specific directions on how to exercise their rights and responsibilities that help increase just and prosperous nations. We can’t achieve a perfect society until the return of Jesus, but we can make improvements. If enough believers accept that and work together, we can steadily eliminate specific injustices.
We are excited to offer Google Workspace accounts to our middle school students this fall to expand the use of Google tools across our HCOS community. You may be looking forward to increasing your use of Google Workspace tools with others, or you may be feeling overwhelmed and looking for ways to build your Google skills toolbox. This workshop is for Google users, presented by Google users, with the goal of giving you lots of practical tips and strategies for using Google tools in your practice. You will learn about tools like Google Drive, Docs, Slides, Forms, Sheets, and Jamboard. This session is built for office staff, administrators, support teachers, and course-specific teachers at any Google skill level. Whether you are new to these tools or have years of expertise under your belt, you will come away inspired by how you can use Google Workspace to connect with your others and empower them (and yourself) with digital literacy skills.
Ryan McGuire: Google Drive
Aimee Imbeau: Google Slides
Stephanie Martens: Jamboard
Paige Nichol: Google Docs
Karen Roeck: Google Forms
Have you noticed how some of the best answers and most valuable learning come in conversations with those who do the same work as you every day? We’re excited to introduce “IE Roundtables,” a unique opportunity for engaging discussions on a wide range of topics. Brief presentations will be followed by conversations led by administrators and teachers who are eager to delve into various subjects such as IE Grad, Seed and Seed grade 10, School Completion Certificates (SCCP), IEP courses, computer and tech purchases, Filemaker updates, and the EA Job board.
In this learning lab, you will find tips on working more effectively and valuable insights beyond your initial questions. You’ll be equipped with newfound knowledge and a network of colleagues to support your ongoing professional development.
Come be inspired by great ideas and quality answers to your professional practice questions!
Thursday
August 31
Workshop #3
10:45 - 11:45am
Thursday, August 31
Workshop #3
10:45 - 11:45am
Join us in this workshop designed to engage discussion and sharing around First Peoples within the Grad Program. This is a unique opportunity for you to not only gather and share ideas, but also to ask questions and explore innovative teaching strategies that promote reconciliation, engage your students, and provide an authentic learning experience for both you and your learners. We understand that as a Grad Teacher, you are preparing your students for their next stage in life. That’s why our focus is on creating impactful learning experiences that go beyond the traditional classroom setting. By incorporating authentic learning opportunities, you will not only inspire your students, but also enhance your own professional growth as an educator.
Join Pippa, Cynthia and Shandra as we discover simple solutions to your questions about successfully accessing the Learning Commons for all your family’s needs! We will show you navigation and searching tricks/shortcuts, easy ways to supplement various subjects with LC resources, how to borrow a cartful of resources that’ll ship to your door in just a few clicks and more!
Bring your competitive hat and win prizes!
Sara & Bri will review a number of practical strategies for classroom management including how to start the year strong in your classroom and how to carry that connection and culture throughout your school year.