Workshops
A1 - That Blessed Upper Room: A Catholic Leadership Journey into Missionary Discipleship
Administration, Chaplains
This workshop equips Catholic leaders to use Cardinal Francis Leo’s That Blessed Upper Room to deepen staff encounters with Christ. Participants explore formation presentations that integrate teaching, reflection, and spiritual practices, strengthening leaders to live the Beatitudes and renew their missionary purpose within today’s Catholic educational landscape.
Michael Lawlor, Keri Calvesbert
Brant Haldimand Norfolk CDSB
A2 - Using Slow Intentional Living to Bring the Beatitudes into the Early Years & Prim Classrooms
Early Years (K1), K-3
Slow intentional living allows educators to embody the Beatitudes. Early years and primary teachers will be given tangible tools to incorporate slow living into their classroom management and staff-student interactions. By incorporating slow intentional living principles, educators model & live the Beatitudes leading students toward a more Christ-centered life.
Kate Smith
Halton CDSB
A3 - Being the Beatitudes in Bloom: Cultivating Faith, Community, and Creation through a School Peace Garden
All grades, Administration, Chaplains, Indigenous Education, Special Education
Explore how school-based Peace Gardens transform spaces into sacred grounds for encountering God. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this session offers practical insights for integrating contemplative prayer, Catholic Social Teaching, and the OCSGEs. Discover how to cultivate "living classrooms" that inspire wonder, foster belonging, and bring the Gospel to life.
Aideen Moss, TBD
Huron-Perth CDSB
A4 - Called to Serve as a Community of “Be” Attitudes - A Cooperative Education Prayer Service
9-12, Chaplains
This session focuses on a Co-operative Education Prayer service on the Beatitudes, St. Joseph the Worker, the patron saint of labourers, and a Visio Divina on the Road to Emmaus. It aims to foster the connection between vocation and living out the Beatitude blessings in daily tasks.
Mina Sangermano
York CDSB
A5 - Shaping Minds and Inspiring Faith Through the "Growing in Faith Growing in Christ"
Early Years (K1), K-3, 4-6, 7-8
New to Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ or looking for a refresher? This workshop will engage educators in a review of the digital components of the Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ program. The presenter will provide a guided tour of the Student/Home, and Parish websites, to uncover all of the rich media embedded in the program. As well, this session will take educators into a deeper encounter with the digital components of the Teacher Resource. By developing their confidence using the program’s technology, educators will inspire faith and shape minds in their classroom faith community. The session will provide teachers with full information on how to navigate the websites, find all the relevant curriculum and assessment content, and engage students by showcasing the interactive media elements of the program. For a hands-on, interactive workshop, please bring your device to the session.
Kelly Ronan
Other
A6 - Integrating the OCSGE and Beatitudes int K-6 Classrooms
Early Years (K1), K-3, 4-6
Come and explore ways to revisit past Catholic Education Week books to teach the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE) and the Beatitudes through mentor texts, lessons, and visuals. You will walk away with a road map on integrating the OCSGE at the elementary level, grade by grade.
Corrie Klapperich
Thunder Bay CDSB
A7 - Clean water and food for all who hunger and thirst for righteousness
7-12, Administration, Chaplains
This session links environmental stewardship to the Beatitude of "hunger and thirst for righteousness." Focusing on clean water, a vital resource, we will explore the science of obtaining it and its essential role in life. The presentation will link practical science lessons to the broader principles of social justice.
Karen Ferrelli, Stephanie Jarrett
Niagara CDSB
A8 - From Products to People: Being Beatitude through Human-Centered Assessment and Triangulation
7-12, 9-12
"Assess more, evaluate less." Triangulation of assessment data can be an embodiment of the Beatitudes. This session explores how educators become a "living curriculum" in their assessment practices. Prioritizing conversations and observations over products resists AI-driven sterility, to transform assessment into a fair, equitable, and joyful encounter with students.
Taunia Phillips
Windsor-Essex CDSB
A9 - Hope in Action: Living the Beatitudes in Every Classroom
4-6, 9-12
Deepen Understanding of the Beatitudes Connect Literature to Character Formation – Participants will learn to use Kathy Kacer’s To Hope and Back and link Catholic virtues with real-life challenges. Implement Virtue-Based Teaching Strategies Empower Students as Agents of Justice
Bruno Pileggi, Ana Rita Santos-Furtado
Toronto CDSB
A10 - Living the Beatitudes Through Structured Literacy
K-3, Special Education
This session explores how the Beatitudes can guide structured literacy instruction, connecting Catholic identity with explicit, equitable teaching practices. Participants will reflect on forming minds, shaping hearts, and inspiring lives through literacy, while gaining practical strategies to support all learners with dignity, compassion, and purpose.
Jenna Gubbels, Julie Dillman
London DCSB
A11 - Blending Brushes with Building Blocks
K-3
Participants will explore how integrated Arts and STEAM experiences can support the Problem Solving and Innovation expectations in Kindergarten and the Science and Technology curriculum in Grades 1 and 2, while nurturing a faith‑filled learning environment grounded in the Beatitudes.
Jillian Gormley, Sarah Reimer
Wellington CDSB
Meeting Room: Hamilton
A12 - Broken Hearts - Hopeful Souls
All grades, Administration, Chaplains, Special Education
Learning outcomes: Best practices for the loss of a student. How to answer tough questions. What to do with their desk and their work. How much is too much? Parents included? Faith is our rock. Jesus wept. We can too, but we live the light of the Resurrection!!
Wayne Lachapelle
CSCO
A13 - Who Me ... a Leader?
All grades
Learn with others about leadership and the PQP offering at CPCO through small group presentation, discussion and case study.
Jan Murphy
CPCO
A14 - The Path to Holiness: Charisms of the Saints
9-12, Administration
Our call to be saints is a universal call at the heart of Christian life. Saints are ordinary people who responded to God’s call in extraordinary ways. Each one of us is called to holiness. This presentation will focus on the lives of our Catholic saints and connections to curriculum.
Anne O'Brien
Other
A15 - Éduquer le coeur pour suivre Jésus : croire-aimer-espérer
All grades, Administration, Chaplains, French (Core or Immersion)
Et si l’éducation catholique devenait un véritable chemin de sainteté? Découvrez une vision renouvelée, fondée sur Foi–Amour–Espérance, pour former des élèves enracinés dans les Béatitudes, engagés dans le monde et porteurs d’espérance. Une approche vivante qui unit foi, pédagogie et mission éducative.
Jonathan Roy
Other
A16 - Blessed are the Merciful, Blessed are the Peacemakers – Holocaust Education through a Catholic Lens
9-12, Administration, Chaplains
Blessed are the Merciful, Blessed are the Peacemakers, exploring the use of Catholic Social teachings & the Beatitudes to deepen secondary students’ understanding of the Holocaust and antisemitism through a trauma-informed and Canadian lens.
Rachel Karstadt
Other
A17 - Canva for Christ
K-3, 4-6, 7-8, 7-12, Administration, Chaplains
Rooted in Catholic education, this workshop explores how Canva can transform learning by deepening prayer, amplifying student voice, and faith-filled leadership. Educators will discover creative, hands-on strategies to bring the Beatitudes and Gospel values to life across the curriculum.
Carmelina Biundo
Hamilton-Wentworth CDSB
B1 - When Data Meets Practice: DI, MTSS, and Faithful Literacy Instruction
K-3, 4-6, 7-8, Administration, Special Education
In Year 3 of early literacy screening, the question is no longer about data collection—but action. This session explores how Direct Instruction and MTSS translate assessment into responsive teaching. Grounded in Being the Beatitudes, participants will connect structured literacy practices to faith-filled, equitable, and intentional classroom practice.
Sam Smith
Nelson
B2 - From Head to Heart: Forming Discernment Through Faith and Critical Thinking
7-12, Chaplains
In a world of misinformation and distraction, students struggle to discern truth. This session explores how Catholic educators can move beyond content delivery to form hearts and minds through critical thinking, faith-based reflection, and practical classroom strategies rooted in the Beatitudes.
Marko Iskric
York CDSB
B3 - Embedding Catholic Social Justice Teachings & Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Digital 2030
4-6, 7-8
Students engaged in the Digital2030 challenge, using the Engineering Process to explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In partnership with the Indigenous Department, they examined Indigenous perspectives on reciprocity and land stewardship. Guided by Laudato Si’, they deepened their commitment to caring for earth while designing a sustainable AI model.
Sandra Morassutti, Andre O'Bonsawin
Toronto CDSB
B4 - The Mathematics of Solidarity: Forming Hearts and Shaping Minds through Math exploring the Longhouse
7-8, Indigenous Education
This session offers Grade 8 educators a meaningful opportunity to "be the Beatitudes" within a mathematics circle. Guided by the spirit of Solidarity, we move beyond abstract concepts to explore the Spatial Sense strand, including scale drawings, transformations, and 3D modeling, through the architectural brilliance of the Longhouse.
Shannon Ulgiati, Mariarosa Schniering
York CDSB
B5 - Hard Hats & Holy Hearts: Integrating Theology in the Skilled Trades
9-12, Administration, Chaplains
Discover God in the sawdust! Bridge the technical trades and Catholic life by reframing craftsmanship as a divine calling. Explore how precision and patience build both structures and spiritual character. Gain hands-on analogies and classroom-ready techniques to help students see the trades as a participation in God’s ongoing creation.
Kate Einhorn
Niagara CDSB
B6 - If They Don’t See Themselves: Faith, Representation, and Confronting Inequity in Schools
All grades, Administration, Chaplains, Special Education
Not all students feel seen at school, so what are we doing about it? Inspired by the Beatitudes’ call to honor the dignity and blessedness of every person, this session invites educators to move beyond surface-level inclusion and create classrooms where every student feels visible, valued, affirmed, and deeply known
Sara Estoesta-Boundy
St. Clair CDSB
B7 - Bringing the Bible to Life for Children
K-3, 4-6, 7-8
In need of some ideas when approaching Scripture with children? Let's explore how bringing Scripture to life for children can be filled with joy and enthusiasm! Focus will be on creative ideas, activities, and techniques that can be immediately used in the learning setting with elementary-aged children.
Steven Ellair
Novalis
B8 - Being the Beatitudes: A Think Tank for Leaders in Catholic Education
Administration, Chaplains
Join fellow Catholic education leaders in a dynamic think tank session rooted in Being the Beatitudes. Dive into diverse realities, share insights, and build community networks through dialogue, storytelling, and reflection. Together, we will discern challenges, explore meaningful responses, and support Catholic education through faith-filled leadership.
Ashley Boivin
Ottawa CSB
B9 - From Code to Connection: An Integrated Instructional Arc for the K-6 Classroom
K-3, 4-6
Grounded in the Active View of Reading, this session offers a blueprint for developing proficient readers through an explicit, multisensory instructional arc. Participants will master a systematic progression bridging Word Recognition and Language Comprehension, utilizing content-rich integration and "Read Together" workflows to ensure purposeful rhythm and student mastery.
Gina Marion
Other
B10 - Picture Books as Pedagogy: Integrating Literacy, Identity, and Faith in the Catholic Classroom
4-6, 7-8
Picture books deepen literacy while nurturing faith, empathy, and critical thinking. Grounded in Rudine Sims Bishop’s framework, this session shows how to align the Ontario Language Curriculum (2023) with Catholic Graduate Expectations, using practical strategies to build culturally responsive, reflective, and compassionate learners.
Elizabeth Reiser, Laura Masellis
Toronto CDSB
B11 - Heart Work in a Digital Age: AI Professional Learning and Parent Engagement
All grades, Administration, Chaplains
In an era of rapid technological disruption, how does a Catholic school board move from a posture of "protection" to one of "prophetic leadership"? This session details the HPCDSB’s Year of Learning in AI, a systemic journey that transitioned staff, parents and students from digital literacy to meaningful, faith-filled integration.
Paul D'Hondt, Jenna Meyers
Huron-Perth CDSB
B12 - Being Blessed & Beloved: Forming Body, Mind, and Spirit in Family Life Education
4-6
Blessed are they who recognize they are blessed and beloved! Join us to explore Blessed & Beloved, the family life education program now available for Grades 4-6. Come see how these newly released grade levels invite students to know themselves, to love their neighbour, and to live as God's beloved.
Amy McEntee
Other
B13 - Découvre ton unicité catholique et laisse les béatitudes éclairer qui tu es vraiment
All grades, French (Core or Immersion)
Ce parcours invite l’enseignant et l’élève à explorer leur identité à la lumière des béatitudes. En établissant des liens avec le profil de sortie de l’enseignant et de l’élève catholique et les béatitudes, chacun est appelé à réfléchir, grandir dans la foi et découvrir qui il est comme catholique aujourd’hui.
Tina Charbonneau, Annie Laviolette
Other
B14 - From Head to Heart: Spiritual Practices for the Busy Educator
All grades, Chaplains
As educators, our ability to embody the Beatitudes begins with a well-nourished spirit. This session invites teachers to explore simple, meaningful spiritual practices that can be woven into busy lives—helping us become gentler, more grounded, and more present witnesses of the Gospel.
Trevor Klein, Krista Nolan
Wellington CDSB
Meeting Room: Sacred Space
B15 - Learning from Diverse Voices: OECTA’s journey of listening
All grades, Administration, Chaplains
In this workshop, we share clips from OECTA’s Learning from Diverse Voices video series where First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, Black, Racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, and teachers with disabilities share wisdom for teaching students with similar identities. You will leave with tangible ideas for a better classroom for each of your students.
Brenda Golden, Yvonne Runstedler
Other
B16 - More Than Wins and Losses: Teaching Service Through Athletics
9-12
This session explores how athletics can develop character, leadership, and a commitment to service. Through practical examples, participants will learn how to integrate service learning, mentorship, and community engagement into athletic programs, using sport as a vehicle for faith formation, belonging, and the development of compassionate, servant leaders.
Daniel Lumsden
St Michael`s College School
B17 - Leveraging Business Student Leadership to Implement Cross-Curricular Catholic Mentorship Programs in Elementary Schools
7-12
The workshop will spark ideation about opportunities for collaboration between Business Leadership cohorts in secondary and any Junior or Intermediate classes in elementary through a Catholic lens. Participants will co-construct strategies to enhance skill based learning needs of secondary students and supplement elementary curriculum delivery in numeracy and literacy areas.
Dr. Matthew Aslett
Halton CDSB
C1 - Global South Communities Being the Beatitudes for Global Justice
9-12, Chaplains
This interactive workshop explores how Jesuit partners in the Global South embody the Beatitudes through their work for justice. Using a build-your-own-adventure format, participants engage real-world stories that connect Catholic Social Teaching with global justice, inspiring students to live their faith through solidarity and action.
Juan Poveda
Other
C2 - Being the Beatitudes: Embodying Christ-like Attunement in Catholic Education
All grades, Administration, Chaplains
This session, rooted in Catholic values, will explore how attunement—the ability to see, hear, and respond to a child—forms the foundation of both human development and spiritual formation. We will invite educators to move beyond teaching the Beatitudes into becoming them through relational presence, attunement, and love.
Rosaleigh Neal
York CDSB
C3 - Listening With Intention: Using Music to Support Wellness and Faith Formation in Grades 5-8
4-6, 7-8
This session explores how intentional music-listening can support student wellness, emotional literacy, and faith formation. Grounded in Catholic education and informed by research, participants will engage with strategies that foster reflection, self-regulation, and connection, using music as a tool to nurture the whole child in today’s classroom.
Alessandra Santaguida
Halton CDSB
C4 - Virtues: A Monthly Guide
Early Years (K1), K-3, 4-6, 7-8, Special Education
This session explores YCDSB’s monthly virtue framework as a practical approach to living the Beatitudes. Participants will learn how shared language and resources support faith formation, helping students and staff embody Gospel values while fostering a Christ-centered school culture.
Mary Marcello, Marisa Meffe
York CDSB
C5 - A Love Like His: Following Jesus
All grades
What does it means to follow Jesus? He wants us to be on fire, overflowing with enthusiasm/joy, and excited/eager to do God’s will. Through each of the Gospels 16 weeks reflections and on specific aspects of Jesus' ministry, learn to understand what He asks and accept what He offers us.
Caroline Pignat
Nelson
C6 - Cultivating Resilience in Catholic Education
All grades, Administration, Chaplains
Cultivating Resilience in Catholic Education invites educators to explore practical strategies for managing stress, preventing burnout and building personal and collective resilience. Rooted in Catholic values of compassion, community and faith, this session offers reflective practices and actionable tools to help teachers strengthen well-being and foster hope-filled, resilient school communities.
Michael Reich
Niagara CDSB
C7 - Outdoor Education: Rooted in Faith
All grades
This workshop invites educators to see God’s creation as a living classroom, blending outdoor learning with spiritual and intellectual growth. Explore faith-integrated, inquiry-based lessons that foster wonder, stewardship, and reverence, while gaining practical strategies to confidently meet curriculum goals through meaningful encounters with God in nature.
Abby O'Neill
Wellington CDSB
C8 - The First 20 Days: Connecting our Faith and Growth Mindset
K-3, 4-6, 7-8
This workshop equips educators with proven strategies to foster a positive growth mindset in the first 20 days of school. Through classroom examples, Catholic faith integration, prayer, and Guided Christian Meditation, participants gain practical tools that help students grow academically, socially, spiritually, and physically.
Rachel Cha
Niagara CDSB
C9 - The Resilient Teacher: Thriving in a Demanding Profession through Faith
All grades
Rooted in a Catholic understanding of the human person, this session explores how educator well-being supports vocation and effective teaching. Participants will examine five pillars of wellness and engage in faith-informed strategies to build resilience, fostering learning environments where both educators and students can flourish.
Franco DiMarco, Laura Alfano Victoria
York CDSB
C10 - Labyrinth as a Way to Be the Beatitudes
9-12, Administration, Chaplains
The labyrinth is a different prayer form that helps shape our minds to shift our perspective in how we approach our life in faith, as we grow into being "beatitude" people.
Vlad Mamaradlo
CSCO
C11 - Paper Folding & Peace-Making: Origami as a Reflection Tool and Theological Metaphor in Religion Classes
4-6, 7-8, 7-12, 9-12, French (Core or Immersion)
In an attention economy, how can students sustain reflection? Use origami! Paper becomes a space for personal connections and imagery, concepts through metaphor and deliberate pacing that encourages deeper, longer engagement.
Peter Bagnall
PVNC CDSB
C12 - Listening as Love: Storytelling and Arts-Based Research in Catholic Schools
7-12
This workshop shares storytelling (kuwentuhan) and arts-based research methods from The Biyuti Project, where queer and trans Filipinx former Catholic school students explored faith, identity, and belonging through art. Educators will learn how creative, narrative, and culturally rooted approaches can foster more humane, inclusive, and reflective Catholic educational spaces.
Aileen Santiago, Rochelle Matthews
Toronto CDSB
C13 - Seeing the Learner: Differentiation Through Representation, Expression, and Engaging Math Tasks
K-3, 4-6, Special Education
Explore how open mathematical tasks can support differentiation and reveal student thinking. Using visual, concrete, and symbolic representations, this session focuses on inclusive, Universal Design for Learning strategies. Participants will leave with practical task structures and facilitation approaches to support diverse learners and deep mathematical understanding.
Kim Mastromartino
Other
C14 - Integrating the OCSGE and the Beatitudes in K-6 French Immersion
K-3, 4-6
Attention K-6 French Immersion teachers! Explore a diverse collection of French mentor texts that align with the adapted elementary OCSGE expectations. This session supports the theme “Being the Beatitudes” with strategies that promote French oral language, vocabulary development, and comprehension through talk protocols (CEFR A1-A2) for K-6 French Immersion.
Grace Pocion
Thunder Bay CDSB
C15 - Being the Beatitudes Through Peer Mediated Gospel Literacy
4-6
This workshop explores how peer-mediated literacy instruction can support both faith formation and reading development in Catholic classrooms. Using Partner Reading with Paragraph Shrinking (PRPS), participants will examine how Gospel texts and Scripture-grounded narratives foster mercy, dignity, inclusion, and oral reading fluency while honoring the integrity of Sacred Scripture.
John Bramer, Dr. Andrea Fraser
Brant Haldimand Norfolk CDSB
C16 - Beyond Visio Divina: Commissioning Sacred Art As Prolonging Encounter
7-12, Administration, Chaplains
Guiding participants to respond with their own sacred art, this workshop looks at how using a combination of St. John's Bible illuminations and lectio/visio divina can result in profound prayer. Research with students (grades 8-12) shows how this method enables deeper encounters with the divine.
Paula Rush
Waterloo CDSB
D1 - Nurturing Faith and Foundations: A Kindergarten Scope and Sequence for Literacy, Math, and Cross‑Curricular Learning
Early Years (K1), K-3
This session presents a comprehensive Scope and Sequence that integrates the NEW Ontario Kindergarten Curriculum (2026) with Religious Education for Kindergarten Expectations. Educators will explore professional, cross-curricular strategies to harmonize all four learning strands with faith-based pedagogy, ensuring a cohesive instructional roadmap that supports both academic growth and spiritual formation.
Cynthia Melo, Cassandra Scapicchio
Halton CDSB
D2 - Blessed Are the Connected: Everyday SEL That Brings the Beatitudes to Life
All grades, Administration, Chaplains, Special Education
This interactive workshop explores how small, everyday actions can bring the Beatitudes to life through social-emotional learning (SEL). Discover practical, ready-to-use strategies to strengthen relationships, support student mental health, respond to big emotions, and create compassionate, faith-filled classrooms and schools where every student feels seen, valued, and supported.
Charity Paolini
London DCSB
D3 - Finding God in the Struggle: Faith, Justice, and the Ignatian Path
All grades, Administration, Chaplains
This reflective retreat invites educators to encounter God within the realities of teaching and social justice. Rooted in Ignatian spirituality, participants engage prayer, reflection, and dialogue to renew their vocation as educators called to live the Beatitudes and foster communities of compassion, solidarity, and hope.
Juan Poveda
Other
D4 - Finding Blessings Amidst Hardships
All grades, Administration, Chaplains
This workshop will explore how educators can thoughtfully and responsibly engage students in conversations about suffering, resilience, and hope through pedagogically sound and mentally healthy approaches. Grounded in theological reflection and informed by contemporary educational practices, this session emphasizes the importance of creating safe, inclusive, and responsive learning environments.
Veronica Tuzi
Toronto CDSB