School Team 1 - Final Round: Full Schedule

ECSD Elementary School Teams: Embracing Joy in Learning
Welcome to the fourth and final round of School Teams for this year! Our theme for this round is JOY. Deep learning, facing challenges, and tackling new concepts can all be filled with joy. This is not about Edu-tainment but about taking learning and making it come to life in the classroom!
Join us as we explore how joy can transform the educational experience, making it more engaging and impactful for both educators and students. This round will feature 12 inspiring sessions designed to empower K-6 teachers, instructional leaders, and coaches. We will delve into new curriculum subject areas, providing you with strategies to support joyful and effective teaching and learning.
Together, we will foster collaboration, build skills, and create a joyful learning environment that sets the stage for excellence in every classroom. Dive into the schedule below to find sessions, resources, and tools that will help you and your team succeed. Let’s embrace joy and empower our educators and students to reach new heights!

arrow_back View All Dates

8:00am MDT

Registration and Check in (all participants please register for this session)

Tuesday April 1, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am MDT

Tuesday April 1, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am MDT
3A

All Participants

8:30am MDT

The JOY of Learning

Tuesday April 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am MDT

Join us for an enlightening session on "The Joy of Learning," where we will explore how joy can transform the educational experience for both teachers and students. In this session, you will discover how joy enhances learning, memory, engagement, and overall wellness. We will delve into the principles of the UDL 3.0 framework and demonstrate how joy can be seamlessly integrated into your teaching practices.
Through engaging discussions and practical examples, we will show you how to bring joy to life in the classroom, making learning a more vibrant and impactful experience. This session is designed to inspire and equip you with the tools and strategies needed to foster a joyful learning environment that promotes excellence and well-being.
Come and learn how to infuse your teaching with joy, and see the positive impact it can have on your students' success and your own professional fulfillment. Let's embrace the joy of learning together and create a brighter future for our classrooms!

Speakers

Trish Roffey

Manager of Elementary Curriculum, Edmonton Catholic Schools

Trish Roffey is the Manager of Elementary Curriculum for Edmonton Catholic Schools. She is an urban hippy with backyard chickens and bees, loves to build computers, and uses way too many exclamation points in emails!!!

Tuesday April 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am MDT
3A

All Participants

9:30am MDT

Embracing Joy in EAL

Tuesday April 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Session Materials

Join us for a session designed to support teachers to balance joy and rigour in English as an Additional Language (EAL) learning. Discover instructional strategies that encourage risk-taking and enhance language acquisition. Learn how to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable making mistakes, cultures are celebrated, and students learn from one another.

Speakers

Devin Austin

Elementary EAL Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Devin Austin, a forward-thinking K-12 Elementary EAL consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools, sharing his skills in diverse capacities since 2011. He loves globe-trotting, keeping abreast of the newest tech innovations, and moments with his family. Devin is deeply committed to enhancing... Read More →

Anna Deligianis

EAL and Languages, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Anna Deligianis is an Elementary English as an Additional Language Consultant with Edmonton Catholic School Division. She previously worked as an elementary classroom teacher in Alberta and Mexico for many years. Anna graduated from her Masters in Educational Leadership with a focus... Read More →

Tuesday April 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT
3A

K-6

11:00am MDT

Mathematizing Children Literature LIMITED

Tuesday April 1, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Session Materials

Join us for a professional development session based on Mathematizing Children's Literature by Allison Hintz and Antony T. Smith. We'll explore ways to integrate mathematics into read-aloud sessions, fostering a love for both math and literature. Learn about selecting picture books that align with mathematical goals and three styles of read-aloud discussions: Open Notice and Wonder, Focused Reads, and Idea Investigations. Gain practical strategies for interactive read-alouds to extend learning beyond the book. You will walk away with numerous strategies, resources, and new books!

Speakers

Brandi Clark

English Language Arts Consultant (K-6), Edmonton Catholic School Division

I have been working in the division for 25 years. I have a Masters in Elementary Language Arts. My passions are reading and writing across a variety of genres and topics. I live in a house of artists and writers, specifically, my husband, two adult kids, a pug and two cats. I look... Read More →

Venessa Chalifoux

Elementary English Language Arts and Literacy Consultant

Venessa Chalifoux is one of the Elementary English Language Arts Consultants. She has been teaching for 20 years in grades 1-6 with experience as English as an Additional Language Designate. She has a passion for making learning engaging and fun for students and is an avid reader... Read More →

Caroline Lepps

Math Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Caroline Lepps is 1/5 of the Elementary Mathematics Consultant team with Edmonton Catholic Schools. When she is not playing with mathematics, she enjoys an ever-changing list of hobbies that currently include experimenting with fun foodie recipes, minimalist art, perplexing puzzles... Read More →

Tuesday April 1, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
3A

K-3

1:00pm MDT

Natural Connections LIMITED

Tuesday April 1, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm MDT

Session Materials

Join us for Natural Connections, an interactive session that brings Alberta's English Language Arts and Physical Education and Wellness curriculums to life through Indigenous-focused knowledge. This experience fosters a deeper connection to Indigenous cultures and the natural word. You will walk away with numerous strategies, tools and new books!

Speakers

Venessa Chalifoux

Elementary English Language Arts and Literacy Consultant

Jacqueline Koval

Physical Education and Wellness Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Jackie is a Physical Education and Wellness consultant with Edmonton Catholic schools. She is an elementary trained teacher who has taught both in Edmonton and internationally. Over a twenty-year career, Jackie has taught preschool through to grade six. Her greatest pleasure when... Read More →

Tuesday April 1, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm MDT
3A

K-3

2:30pm MDT

Verse and Vibes: Poetry Fun for the K-6 Classroom LIMITED

Tuesday April 1, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT

Session Materials

Join us for "Verse and Vibes: Poetry Fun for the K-6 Classroom," where we'll explore the joy and learning that poetry brings to young students. This session focuses on making poetry accessible and exciting through hands-on activities that you can use in your classroom right away. You'll discover fun ways to use sound, rhythm, and imagery to make poetry come alive, and you'll leave with a toolkit of ready-to-use activities that encourage creativity and self-expression. We'll also show you how to incorporate both contemporary spoken word and classic poems into your lessons, and how poetry can enhance both reading and writing. Get ready to bring the magic of poetry into your classroom tomorrow!

Speakers

Venessa Chalifoux

Elementary English Language Arts and Literacy Consultant

Tuesday April 1, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT
3A

K-6

School Team 1 - Final Round