2025-2026 Professional Development

Jennifer Hingley, Superintendent of Schools

X   Expected

 Invitational

X    Division

 Decentralized

Mileage Covered by Division

X    On your own

 Provided

Time:

Location:

Facilitator(s): Bring:

  May 8, 2026

9am-3:30pm – Lunch is on your own from 11:45-1:00

Ed. Centre – Seminar East

Kathleen Schwartzenberger, Diana Isbister, Kendra Sittler-Gane

Nothing required.

Communicate & Play The Way They Need You To: Understanding Developmentally Appropriate Practice

AM: Facilitators – Diana Isbister – Intensive Supports Coach  &  Kathleen Schwartzenberger – Early Learning Consultant

Each year in Prekindergarten, we welcome children whose language and play skills are in the early stages of child development.

Many teachers have not attended post-secondary programming that addresses the educator skillset required to match these children’s needs.  As an educator, it can be challenging to respond to a child’s needs when you feel unsure about the appropriate strategy to use.  Join us to:

Learn about how to set up activities for children in the very early stages of play.

Recognize when an existing activity needs to be differentiated within the small group.

Understand when and how to adapt an activity so that the child can learn the play skills they need.

This session has been designed from scratch for you, by us, based on research, lived experience and observed practices within the field of early learning and childcare – including SRPSD PreK classrooms!

PM:   Facilitator – Kendra Sittler-Gane – Speed Language Pathologist

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) strategies help support all students in expressing their ideas, building language skills, and engaging fully in learning. AAC includes tools and approaches such as visuals, gestures, communication boards, speech-generating devices, and structured language supports. These strategies are not only for students with identified communication needs, they benefit every learner by making language more accessible, predictable, and inclusive. Early exposure helps prevent frustration, reduces communication barriers, and promotes the foundational skills needed for reading, writing, and social interaction. Most importantly, starting AAC early shows students that their voices—spoken or otherwise—are valued and heard.

Join the AAC journey to explore foundational skills and simple strategies for classroom implementation.

Kathleen at kschwartzenberger@srsd119.ca or phone 764-1571

Deadline for Registration: Two days before each workshop.

Maximum of 40 Participants

Click Here To Register

Workshop Name:  Prekindergarten

“Request for Leave” Form – Teachers

 CURR

“Request for Leave” Form – EAs

 CUPE Individual