PDTCA 2025: Full Schedule

The PDTCA Board hopes you have an amazing Convention 2025!
Emergency Procedures Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Emergency Procedures Hyatt
Human Rights Statement
Land Acknowledgement

CALGARY TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE (CTCC) and HYATT - address

Adding the session to your Sched schedule does not mean you are pre-registered.
Pre-Registration will OPEN February 1, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. and CLOSE February 16, 2025 AT 8:00 p.m.

How to pre-register - Check the infographic For Pre-Registered sessions please use the pre-registration link in the session description.

Reason to Create a Profile in Sched
You do not need to create a profile and log in to see sessions in Sched. However, if you want to add yourself to a session to create a schedule or evaluate a session you must be logged in.

Convention at a Glance Link

Professional Responsibility
“On the two school days of your assigned teachers’ convention, you have a legal and professional responsibility to attend convention. If you are not able to make it safely to your assigned convention, however, your collective agreement may include impassable roads or inclement weather clauses that you can access. If your collective agreement does not include language specific to road conditions or weather, you may make use of the personal leave clauses of your agreement in most cases. Please be aware that using any of these types of leave may require you to pay substitute costs, forego a portion of your salary and benefits, or report to your school or another work location in your district. Refer to your collective agreement for more information. Should you require any additional information or if you need assistance interpreting your collective agreement, please contact Teacher Employment Services at 1-800-232-7208 or 780-447-9400.”
This information is also found on the Frequently Asked Questions page on the www.ataconventions.ca website. If you have any further questions regarding this, please contact Daniel.Maas@ata.ab.ca.

09:00 MST

2025 UN Year of the Glacier: Lesson Plans for Your Classroom

Thursday February 20, 2025 09:00 - 10:00 MST

Imperial 7 - HYATT

Use the FREE Alberta Tomorrow platform to explore Alberta’s glaciers and watersheds through videos, interviews, 360 Tours and lesson plans on glacier loss, Climate Change, ice core analysis, isotopes analysis, persistent chemicals, glacier features, water quality, and more. Use the Climate Change Scenarios to explore 3 different future climate change scenarios and the impact they may have on the landscape, environmental, social and economic factors. View temperature and precipitation maps and experiment with management practices to see how they can impact our C02 emissions in the future.

Speakers

Jennifer Janzen

Executive Director, Alberta Tomorrow

With over 30 years of experience in various roles including a high school science teacher, plant ecologist, and environmental educator, Jennifer is now Executive Director of Alberta Tomorrow, an Alberta non-profit dedicated to providing a platform that empowers youth to design and... Read More →

Sue Arlidge

Sue Arlidge is a teacher in Canmore, Alberta. For twenty years she was the School Consultant at the University of Calgary’s Biogeoscience Institute where she taught grade 6-12 ecology field trips, using student inquiry as a portal to understanding the natural world. For over three... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 09:00 - 10:00 MST
Imperial 7 - HYATT Hyatt

Science (TQS 3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content Intermediate content
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

10:20 MST

The Purity Pandemic | dealing with disaster in our postmodern world

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 MST

Imperial 7 - HYATT

We are in a crisis. Our students are being faced with choices that they are ill equipped to make. A society of pornography and rape culture is infiltrating our well-being with incredibly severe consequences. We shy away from discussing the issues & pay a huge price. Not for the faint of heart, Peter offers an in-depth and in-your-face talk to teachers & educators about purity. While from the perspective of the Christian faith, principals shared transcend religious backgrounds. It’s time to talk about it. It’s time to fight back.

Speakers

Peter Hill

CPM Enterprises

Peter is a licensed minister, author, motivational speaker, youtuber, and math teacher. During the school year, he teaches high school math in the city of Calgary. Outside of his teaching career, he is involved in the training, support, equipping and encouragement of an array of different... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 MST
Imperial 7 - HYATT Hyatt

Religious & Moral Education (TQS 3), ECE (Pre K-K), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content General overview for novice learners
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

11:40 MST

A Reasonable Act of Worship| understanding & teaching the connection between worship & purity

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40 - 12:40 MST

Imperial 7 - HYATT

We live in a society where the word purity has become entangled in a gray area of post modernism & self-indulgence. Teaching authentic worship goes beyond just a faith or catechism class in school. It needs to be integrated into our systems as a whole. Accomplishing this requires a paradigm shift in both our mentality and our approach. Drawing from concepts laid out in his book, Peter guides us through the beginnings of what this shift might look like. Participants are invited to reflect, to journey, and to share.

Speakers

Peter Hill

CPM Enterprises

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40 - 12:40 MST
Imperial 7 - HYATT Hyatt

Religious & Moral Education (TQS 3), ECE (Pre K-K), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content General overview for novice learners
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

13:00 MST

Harbouring Hope | honing the gift of hanging on

Thursday February 20, 2025 13:00 - 14:00 MST

Imperial 7 - HYATT

How does hope play a role in our teaching and learning? Potential does not get reached. A student falls through the cracks. A teacher battles family and personal issues. Each one of us face hardship through our journey of life. When life hits us hard, it brings out one of two responses: we either give up, or fight through. It is when we fight through that growth and potential are reached. Hope enables us to fight. Building resiliency is paramount to push through hardship, and harbouring hope in our lives is vital to resiliency.

Speakers

Peter Hill

CPM Enterprises

Thursday February 20, 2025 13:00 - 14:00 MST
Imperial 7 - HYATT Hyatt

Professional Issues (TQS 6) [emerging topics - teacher career, ECE (Pre K-K), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12) | retirement, ECE (Pre K-K), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12) | wellness], ECE (Pre K-K), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content General overview for novice learners
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

14:20 MST

Face Time Without the Phone | rekindling the lost art of communication

Thursday February 20, 2025 14:20 - 15:20 MST

Imperial 7 - HYATT

We all want to be heard. We want to know someone cares about what we have to say. As teachers, this may be one of our most important roles in the profession – showing those around us that we are listening. These communication skills are often hard to find in the middle of the noise of life around us, and yet vital for the healthy functioning of a school. Peter takes a look at some of the fundamental principles of communication. Examples, stories, and role playing with one another will help us all sharpen these vital skills.

Speakers

Peter Hill

CPM Enterprises

Thursday February 20, 2025 14:20 - 15:20 MST
Imperial 7 - HYATT Hyatt

Session has participant fee No
Level of content General overview for novice learners
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

09:00 MST

Nourishing Minds: Cultivating a Healthy Relationship with Food

Friday February 21, 2025 09:00 - 10:00 MST

Imperial 7 - HYATT

You notice students consistently bring high-sugar snacks and drinks to school. You overhear a student body shaming another student in class. What do you do? New and updated resources and lesson plans will be shared during the session to reflect, collaborate, and explore these topics with other educators. Learn about key strategies you can use to support a positive relationship with food in your classroom and school environment.

Speakers

Mariel Fajer-Gomez

Public Health Dietitian, Alberta Health Services

Mariel Fajer is a Registered Dietitian with over 10 years of experience. She is passionate about sharing nutrition information with a variety of audiences and enjoys finding novel ways to translate research findings to simple but effective messages to foster health and wellness. On... Read More →

Donald Barker

Alberta Health Services

Friday February 21, 2025 09:00 - 10:00 MST
Imperial 7 - HYATT Hyatt

Health & Wellness (TQS 3), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content Advanced content
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

10:20 MST

From play to learning: embracing fun and learning together

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 MST

Imperial 7 - HYATT

Join us for a captivating session, "From Play to Learning: Embracing Fun and Learning Together." Through hands-on activities and discussions, participants will explore how play can serve as a potent tool to teach academic concepts across various subjects. By effectively scaffolding play experiences, educators can ensure that they are not only enjoyable but also educational, aiding students in developing crucial cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Additionally, attendees will learn strategies to foster a positive attitude towards play among students and parents, emphasizing its significance in early childhood development. Don't miss this opportunity to blend fun and learning in your classroom!

Speakers

Andrea Mishio

Teacher

With 17 years of invaluable experience in the education field, Andrea brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. After spending 15 years teaching in a junior high school setting, she now finds herself in the world of early childhood education as a dedicated kindergarten... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 MST
Imperial 7 - HYATT Hyatt

Assessment (TQS 3), ECE (Pre K-K), Div1 (Gr 1-3)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content General overview for novice learners
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

11:40 MST

Hot mess teaching: Embracing the chaos with a smile

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40 - 12:40 MST

Imperial 7 - HYATT

Welcome to "Hot Mess Teaching: Embracing the Chaos with a Smile," a session designed for early childhood educators who want to navigate the challenges of teaching with humor and resilience. In this session, we'll explore three big ideas for early learners. Firstly, teachers will learn how to approach difficult subjects in a developmentally appropriate way, ensuring that young children can understand and engage with complex topics. Secondly, educators will explore the importance of validating children's emotions and teaching constructive coping skills, fostering resilience and emotional intelligence from an early age. Finally, teachers will learn strategies to help children understand and empathize with others who may be experiencing hardship or injustice, promoting empathy and compassion in the classroom. Join us as we embrace the chaos of early childhood education with enthusiasm and empower our youngest learners to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Speakers

Andrea Mishio

Teacher

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40 - 12:40 MST
Imperial 7 - HYATT Hyatt

Religious & Moral Education (TQS 3), ECE (Pre K-K), Div1 (Gr 1-3)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content General overview for novice learners
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No