Secondary educators from across the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board gathered at Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School on Friday, April 17 for the PA Day Conference, Guiding the Journey.
The conference brought together staff for a day of learning and collaboration, with a focus on strengthening instructional practice, deepening student engagement, and supporting pathway planning for all learners.
“This PA Day was designed to honour the complexity of educators’ work while offering practical, hope-filled learning they could take back to their classrooms," said Sarah Bereziuk, Secondary Student Success Consultant. "Seeing educators collaborate, reflect, and engage so deeply reinforced the power of professional learning grounded in purpose, faith, and human connection.”
The keynote address was delivered by Joel Hilchey, CEO of Beanstalk Creative, who brought a dynamic and engaging approach to the day’s learning.
Acknowledging both the challenges and the impact of teaching in today’s world, Hilchey opened with a message of appreciation for educators.
“There’s a lot going on in the world… and I just want to tip my hat to you for showing up every day,” he shared.
Drawing on his experience as an educator and speaker, Hilchey used humour, storytelling, and interactive demonstrations to encourage staff to reflect on how meaningful learning is often shaped by the moments students remember most. His keynote, Creating Memorable Moments as a Teacher in the Age of AI, invited educators to consider how schools can continue to foster connection, purpose, and engagement in a rapidly changing world. While curriculum and content remain important, it is the experiences created in classrooms, those that are engaging, purposeful, and human-centred, that leave a lasting impact.
A central theme of the presentation focused on balancing engagement and purpose in teaching and learning.
“If you do things that are only meaningful, life can feel heavy… If you do things that are only fun, it can feel empty. But there’s something powerful in the middle, when things are both fun and meaningful.”
The session also explored the evolving role of educators in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), and its growing presence in classrooms and the workplace. Educators shared practical ways they are already using AI tools to support instruction, while also considering how to prepare students for a future that will require adaptability, creativity, and strong interpersonal skills.
Throughout the day, educators participated in a wide range of interactive workshops designed to support both student success and staff well-being.
Sessions included a focus on staff well-being and resilience, where participants explored practical strategies grounded in positive psychology to support connection and balance in their daily work. Faith formation and student development were also central, with a session on fostering discernment and vocation, encouraging educators to help students reflect on purpose and direction as they prepare for life beyond secondary school.
In the area of literacy, educators explored strategies to build strong connections between the classroom and school library, with a focus on fostering a love of reading and engaging all learners. Supporting diverse learners remained a key priority, with sessions on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) offering practical tools to enhance student voice and participation.
Educators also engaged in sessions focused on innovative instructional practices, including hands-on strategies for creating thinking classrooms in science, where students are actively involved in problem-solving and inquiry-based learning. Reflecting the evolving landscape of education, workshops such as An AI-Ready Approach to Assessment provided practical frameworks to support assessment in the age of generative AI.
Additional sessions explored topics such as equity and inclusive classroom environments, pathway planning through dual credits, and experiential learning opportunities that connect students to future careers.
The keynote concluded with a message that helped frame the day’s learning:
“If you want to make an impact… you have to create an experience—a moment that sticks.”
HWCDSB Professional Activity Days are guided by the Ministry of Education’s revised Policy/Program Memorandum 151, which outlines board responsibilities in aligning professional learning with provincial education priorities. As part of our Catholic identity, each PA Day begins with staff coming together in prayer, grounding the day in faith as a Catholic Professional Learning Community.
Elementary educators across the board also participated in professional learning aligned with these priorities, engaging in sessions focused on curriculum, equity, and instructional innovation.
The Guiding the Journey PA Day Conference provided valuable time for educators to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and return to their schools with practical strategies, new insights, and renewed energy for the important work they do each day.
