PDTCA 2025

Queering Mental Health in the Classroom: What you Need to Know about Supporting 2SLGBTQIAP+ Students

This session will discuss how teachers can foster supportive classroom environments for their 2SLGBTQIAP+ students. The classroom can often be one of the few spaces where children and teens can feel supported and able to be themselves. In addition, having one safe, affirming, and trustworthy adult can significantly improve a youth's mental health, meaning that teachers and school support staff can play a vital role in supporting their students. This session will review common terms and important language related to the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community as well as offer specific tips on how to foster a more queer-affirming classroom space. This session will also address the complex relationship between 2SLGBTQIAP+ identities in youth and mental health as well as offer several concrete strategies for how to support students to thrive personally, socially, and academically. This session is applicable for teachers, administrators, and school support staff who work with students of all ages and will offer suggestions relevant to any grade level. Whether you are a committed ally or just curious to learn more, this session will have something to offer you!

As educators, it is critical to consider how diversity, inclusion, and equitable our practices are. But how can we ensure that a curricular focus lives alongside a social-justice approach? Join ACEE staff to learn about climate justice, and how to include multiple perspectives when teaching about the climate and environment.
Learning Outcomes:

Understand that Climate change is a human rights issue, not just a global and scientific one

Understand how positionality impacts how we view and understand global issues

Gain tools on how to approach topics with students from a justice perspective

Understanding Islam to Better Support Your Muslim Students and Colleagues

This presentation will provide a foundational understanding of Islam and Muslims to support culturally sensitive spaces for diverse Muslim groups. Areas of discussion will include an overview of Islam and Muslims, emphasizing religious and cultural beliefs and practices that may impact life on campus or work, such as prayer and fasting. Participants will:

Learn about Muslim demographics in Alberta

Gain a better understanding of Islamic cultures and values.

Learn relevant aspects and considerations for the practice of Islam within public spaces, including prayer.

Be able to ask questions and engage in discussions around the support and needs of Muslim students within schools, or peers in the workplace.

Bullying remains a pervasive issue, but traditional methods of intervention often fall short. In this presentation, we’ll:

Explore the root causes of bullying, delving into the thought processes behind it—whether it’s habituation or adaptation.
Critically assess three common anti-bullying strategies and their shortcomings.
Introduce the innovative Dissolve Strategy, which targets the intangible causes of bullying and how to repair the harm caused by bullying.
Outline a path toward genuine resolution by leveraging insights into brain function and unconscious confrontations.
Discuss the transformative Admit and Repair approach, showing how both victims and bullies can achieve growth and generativity, creating a future where everyone comes out ahead.

Join us to learn how to break the cycle and foster a healthier, more compassionate environment.

Understanding and engaging with difficult teens can be challenging, but it’s essential for fostering their growth. This presentation will:

Uncover why teens exhibit challenging behaviors, exploring the impacts of synaptic pruning.
Delve into the critical importance of communication, highlighting common pitfalls and learning health communication strategies.
Examine the nature of conflict and identify the five primary causes, equipping you with tools to recognize and address these issues.
Explore how to use simple tools such as weed killing, unconscious confrontations, communication guidelines and understanding uniqueness to dissolve conflicts and help you understand what motivates your student intrinsically.

Join us to gain practical insights and techniques to transform your interactions with teens, promoting a positive and supportive environment for their development.

Who, what and why is a park? Three complex questions - one simple answer: US!

Humans lie at the heart of park purpose, pride, prejudice, and promise. So, come hike with us, Teacher humans! And together, we’ll trail-travel into the ‘peopled’ heart of Alberta’s protected and public wild spaces, from nation-building believing to Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas achieving.

With ecojustice as our compass, we will not only explore the intricate interactions and ecosystems our parks seek to protect, but also empower YOUR humanity to ‘make better’ Alberta’s parks for all!

OFF-SITE LOCATION, ADDRESS & INSTRUCTIONS:
Nose Hill Park – Calgary Winter Club Parking Lot: 4611 14 St NW, Calgary, T2K 1J7

Meet at the Nose Hill Park parking lot located behind the Calgary Winter Club. CPAWS will be on-site 30 minutes ahead of session start time to welcome and gather everyone together. You will need to arrange your own transportation. If you are late, lost, or cannot make it, please text or call Sheri at 403-921-2314.

WHAT TO BRING:
As detailed in the safety section below, please come prepared to be active outside for 3 hours – i.e., wearing appropriate clothing & footwear, and outfitted with water & snacks.

SAFETY:
Please consult local weather forecasts and come equipped with wind & temperature appropriate clothing and footwear, i.e., comfortable winter boots, ice cleats, gloves, mittens, hats, scarves and instant handwarmers/heat packs.

If there are any medical concerns (allergies/injuries) that CPAWS should be aware of, please be in-touch with Sheri via text @ 403-921-2314 in advance of the program’s start time. This will ensure that she can customize the route and activities for everyone’s needs.

All participants that require medical equipment/medication, such as an EpiPen and/or an inhaler, are expected to have these with them during the program in accordance with our risk management policy.

WAIVERS:
CPAWS has a master agreement with Rocky View Schools. So, if you are a Rocky View Schools teacher you DO NOT need to sign a waiver.

If you are NOT a Rocky View Schools employee, please download from this session's 'handout section' and bring along a completed CPAWS waiver. We will collect them at the start of our session. Extra blank waivers will be available on-site, just in case!

Looking forward to learning on the land with you!

This session has a participant fee of $10.50. ​Pre-Registration Link​​​