B Sessions (1:00 - 2:30)

"B" SESSIONS - AFTERNOON (1:00pm - 2:30pm)

Title: B01 - Magic Moments: Capturing K–2 Learning & Sharing the Story with Families
Presenters: Genevieve Malcolm & Sonya Ickert
Audience: K – 2 Teachers
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Explore quick, consistent strategies for assessing K–2 learners and sharing progress with families. This session focuses on easy systems you can embed in daily practice to make data collection and communication smooth, sustainable, and stress-free.

Title: B02 - Máthxwi Curriculum Project
Presenter: Lisa Wolgram & Melissa Epp
Audience: Elementary & Middle Staff
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Preview the recently developed curriculum packages designed for elementary and middle levels. This curriculum was created in partnership with Máthxwi First Nation. Activities focus on Science, Social Studies and Language Arts.

*Title: B03 - Halq'eméylem Language Games ~ SOLD OUT*
Presenter: Delaina Stromquist
Audience: All Staff
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Learn more about the history of the Halq'eméylem language, and broaden your vocabulary with these fun and engaging language games and activities.

*Title: B04 - Smudging Protocols ~ SOLD OUT*
Presenter: Jessica Richardson
Audience: All Staff
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Learn about the protocols for Smudging. This includes Indigenous Protocols with heart work, as well as the Abbotsford School District’s Smudging Protocols in Schools. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in smudging if they choose and leave with a bundle of sage for home.

Title: B05 - Beyond Blankets: a Stó:lō Lands Exercise
Presenter: Leanne Jarrett
District Contact: Allison Gardner
Audience: All Staff
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Beyond Blankets: a Stó:lō Lands Exercise an immersive and transformative learning experience was developed by Keith Carlson and Xwiyolemtel Grand Chief Clarence Pennier. To foster understanding of Stó:lō culture, history and connection to the land.

*Title: B06 - Living Well with Stress ~ SOLD OUT*
Presenter: TELUS Health
District Contact: Kate Muir
Audience: All Staff
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Description: Workplace stress arises from heavy workloads, organizational change, and interpersonal conflict, often compounded by personal responsibilities. Unmanaged stress harms health, increases absenteeism, and reduces productivity. This seminar equips participants with practical strategies to manage stress effectively, supporting sustained wellbeing, resilience, and optimal performance at work for employees and organizations alike today.

*Title: B07 - Happiness: Learning from Positive Psychology ~ SOLD OUT*
Presenter: TELUS Health
District Contact: Kate Muir
Audience: All Staff
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Description: Positive psychology explores what helps people thrive by enhancing wellbeing, resilience, and life satisfaction. Research shows happiness is strongly shaped by intentional activities, empowering individuals to create it for themselves. This seminar introduces practical, evidence-based strategies to boost positive emotions and cultivate lasting happiness through deliberate, meaningful habits in daily life.

*Title: B08 - Effective Communication ~ SOLD OUT*
Presenter: TELUS Health
District Contact: Kate Muir
Audience: All Staff
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Description: In order to communicate effectively, individuals have to master the techniques of effective listening and self-expression. These skills involve verbal and non-verbal behaviours as well as the ability to speak with persuasion and confidence. This seminar will examine both of these essential sides of the communication equation. It will address key communication elements such as active listening and show participants how to present messages in a way that is more compatible with the receiver’s style.

Title: B09 - Disengagement Skills Training
Presenters: Megan Little, Amy LeClair & Melissa Wood
Audience: Staff with Current CPI Certification
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Disengagement skills are a part of the Non Crisis Intervention training. This is for staff that have current Non Crisis training and to assist them to increase their skill set to maintain safety with individuals in distress.

Title: B10 - Preparing for Your Job Interview
Presenter: Patrica LaFramboise-Lo
Audience: All Staff
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Boost your confidence in this engaging interviewing seminar! Learn how to share your strengths, highlight skills, and communicate with clarity and professionalism. Through practical tips and interactive practice, you’ll gain the tools to shine in interviews and present yourself as a strong candidate.

Title: B11 - Literacy in Action: Practical & Digital Tools for Grades 4–8
Presenter: Nelly Fargeon & Sara Strocel
Audience: 4 - 8 & LLC Teachers
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Explore why blending paper and digital resources matters for literacy success. Learn strategies that support vocabulary instruction, comprehension, and engagement for diverse learners. Leave with practical ideas and a toolkit you can use immediately to boost literacy achievement in your classroom. Bring your laptop to this hands on session.

Title: B12 - Morpheme Magic
Presenter: Amy Baker
Audience: 4 - 8 Teachers
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Dive into the powerful world of morphology with Morpheme Magic! In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore how this engaging resource can help students unlock the meanings of complex words by understanding their smallest meaningful parts—morphemes. You’ll learn how to integrate quick, daily routines that build vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension through direct and playful investigation of word parts.

*Title: B13 – StoryChamps: From Oral Language to Literacy ~ SOLD OUT*
Presenter: Kacey Oravec
Audience: K – 3 Teachers
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Join us for a hands-on introduction to StoryChamps, a structured narrative program that builds foundational literacy skills. Learn how supporting story elements can enhance vocabulary, reading comprehension, retell and writing in your elementary classroom.

Title: B14 - K -3 Learning Exchange: Connect, Share, Explore
Presenter: Colleen Gregory & Natalie de Wit
Audience: K - 3 Teachers
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Share what’s working and explore new possibilities for your classroom. What’s going well? What fresh ideas can we learn from one another? Bring a lesson idea, a resource or read-aloud, or an example of student work that resonates with you. The intention is for teachers to leave feeling affirmed, inspired, and having been a part of rich and connected conversations.

*Title: B15 - Awe Walk ~ SOLD OUT*
Presenter: Karen Van Egmond
Audience: All Staff
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: This session introduces the practice of Awe Walks--moments to pause, observe, and reflect on the beauty and complexity of the world around them. Come to explore the science behind awe and its impact on student well-being and engagement, learn practical strategies and experience an Awe Walk yourself. As the majority of this session will take place outside, please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather.

Title: B16 - Fostering Academic Conversations in the Classroom
Presenter: Tracy Finch
Audience: 6 - 12 Teachers & ELL
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Oral language is an often-overlooked yet critical component of literacy and academic language development. Academic conversations strengthen oracy while providing opportunities for students to construct meaning, build on ideas, and appreciate diverse perspectives. In this session, you will learn inclusive strategies for structured academic conversations that foster engagement for all learners, with built-in scaffolds to support English Language Learners.

Title: B17 - Unlock the Power of Your Library!
Presenter: Tambra Henderson
Audience: Staff who deal with students' learning circle.
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Join our Destiny Library Workshop and uncover district resources that can transform your teaching. Learn how to seamlessly search for curriculum-enhancing materials and discover creative strategies to spark a love of reading in your students.

*Title: B18 – EAs Sharing Wins and Strategies ~ SOLD OUT*
Presenter: Alicia Kroeker & Connie Hampson
Audience: Education Assistants
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Connect with fellow EAs in this collaborative session focused on sharing wins and effective strategies that support student success.

*Title: B19 - Workplace Violence Awareness ~ SOLD OUT*
Presenter: Amar Samra
Audience: All Staff
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: This session will help you understand what workplace violence is, why reporting matters, and how to use tools like safety plans and safe work instructions to keep everyone safe. In a school setting, situations can arise quickly, being informed makes a big difference. Join us for practical guidance, clear steps, and an open discussion on creating a safer environment for staff and students.

Title: B20 - The Importance of Labels
Presenter: Shane Stark
Audience: Secondary Teachers
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: To encourage Social Justice with a focus on personal Identity (Labels).

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

Define personal identity and social labels
Explain how labels can both empower and marginalize individuals
Reflect on their own identities with respect and self-awareness
Demonstrate empathy toward identities different from their own
Deepen our understanding of Labels + Identity and the Connections to Social Justice

We will begin with an opening activity, followed by direct instruction, along with a guided discussions, and conclude with key takeaways (Connection to Social Justice).

*Title: B21 - Canva for Education - Graphic Design Made Easy! ~ SOLD OUT*
Presenters: Bryon Carpenter, Mona Lui & Kristi Ferguson
Audience: All Staff
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Tools Required: Please bring your laptops
Description: This session is a teacher and Communications Department collaboration which will show you Canva for Education which is now available district-wide as an instructional and productivity tool. We will show you how to:

Create visually engaging resources with ease.
Use a range of pre-built templates and education-specific features.
Apply Canva for different classroom uses at different levels.

Title: B22 - Making Writing Manageable with Post-It Notes
Presenter: Jennifer Johnson
Audience: 3 – 7 Teachers
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Writing well organized paragraphs can be a challenge! Come learn how to break writing fiction & non-fiction paragraphs into manageable steps that don't overwhelm students all through the magic of Post-It Notes. This strategy has been tested and tried in my intermediate classroom for the last 3 years and has supported all learners in writing paragraphs.

*Title: B23 - Restorative Circles in Practice: Building Connection Before Correction ~ SOLD OUT*
Presenter: Denisa Dyck
District Contact: Graeme Kemp
Audience: Middle School Teachers &EAs
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: This session introduces Restorative Circles to build classroom connection and community. Learn who Abbotsford Restorative Justice is, circle benefits, and proactive strategies like “connect before you correct.” Gain facilitation skills, sample activities, responsive circle practices, and a resource handout. Includes closing activity and Q&A.

Title: B24 - Successful Scaffolds for ELL Students
Presenter: Denise Veer
Audience: K - 8 Teachers & ELL
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Classrooms are becoming more diverse every year and having ELL students in a mainstream classroom can be overwhelming. Teachers are left wondering how they can support these newcomers to Canada. Come learn scaffolds that support learning for all students, especially multilingual students. Be introduced to tricks and tips that are easy to implement and make learning accessible for all. Learn ways to create a language rich, interactive classroom environment in which all learners can succeed.

Title: B25 - Get to Know Abbotsford's Numeracy Framework
Presenter: Tawnie Hildebrandt
Audience: K - 8 Teachers
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: The district's new Numeracy Framework is designed to provide an overview of the key components of numeracy. We'll explore how it can guide your instruction, provide new ideas for how to approach numeracy, and consider resources and assessments that complement different aspects of math.

*Title: B26 - Supporting Complex Learners Through Tiered Interventions ~ SOLD OUT*
Presenter: Darlene Cotten
Audience: All Staff
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Classrooms are becoming more diverse every year and having ELL students in a mainstream classroom can be overwhelming. Teachers are left wondering how they can support these newcomers to Canada. Come learn scaffolds that support learning for all students, especially multilingual students. Be introduced to tricks and tips that are easy to implement and make learning accessible for all. Learn ways to create a language rich, interactive classroom environment in which all learners can succeed.

Title: B27 - MyEducation BC Updates and Tips for Admin Assistants
Presenter: Sandra Kipling
Audience: School Level Administrative Assistants
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Description: Explore the latest MyEducation BC release updates and refine workflows to empower school administrative assistants with streamlined processes.

Title: B28 - EasyConnect, Sparkrock 365 & Timesheets
Presenter: Adrianne Harley, Kate Muir & Teresa Wertman
Audience: All Staff
Time: 10:45 am - 2:30 pm
Description: This learning opportunity guides staff through submitting absence requests, managing dispatch assignments, and accurately entering expenses and claims. Participants also learn to create complete payroll timesheets.

Registering for Sessions A and B?
Please choose “NOT ATTENDING” for Session C.