ECSD Elementary Summer Summit: Full Schedule

ECSD Elementary Summer Summit 2026: September Starts Here
Join us on August 28 for a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration designed to help you start the school year strong! Choose from over 25 sessions featuring classroom-ready resources, practical strategies, and ready-to-use lessons across literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, assessment, inclusion, faith permeation, and wellness. Whether you’re exploring the new Grades 4–6 Social Studies curriculum, discovering Dynamic Math, or looking for fresh ideas to support every learner, you’ll leave confident, energized, and September ready!

9:45am MDT

FSL Without the Stress: Start Strong from Day One

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Feeling unsure about where to begin - or ready to refresh your FSL classroom? This session offers simple, high-impact routines and practical strategies to get students using French. With a focus on low-prep, adaptable approaches, you’ll explore easy ways to move beyond passive activities and into real language use - all without adding to your workload.

By the end of this session, you will leave with:

A clear, ready to go plan for your first days and weeks of September
Practical, UDL-informed strategiesn you can use across grades and levels
Simple ways to move beyond worksheets and get students talking right away
Ready to go routines you can implement immediately

Start simple - and let the the language grow from there!

Speakers

Amy Leavitt

French as an Additional Language Consultant, Edmonton Catholic Schools

Amy Leavitt, a self-professed language nerd from Saskatchewan, is a dynamic French as an Additional Language consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools in Alberta. Passionate about making language learning fun, Amy incorporates game-based learning and the Action-Oriented Approach into... Read More →

Friday August 28, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
2B

K-6

9:45am MDT

Leveraging Culturally Relevant Texts in the Classroom

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Heritage Room

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

Explore how culturally relevant texts affirm EAL student identity, broaden perspectives, and strengthen engagement while supporting meaningful learning aligned with the curriculum.

Speakers

Linda Hoang-Rackel

Danielle Rakowski

EDIAR Consultant, ECSD

Angelica Tan

English as an Additional Language Consultant (K-6), Edmonton Catholic School Division

Angelica Tan is an Elementary English as an Additional Language Consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools. Growing up as a multilingual learner, she developed a deep passion for languages. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta, majoring in French... Read More →

Anna Deligianis

EAL and Languages, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Anna Deligianis is an Elementary English as an Additional Language Consultant with Edmonton Catholic School Division. She previously worked as an elementary classroom teacher in Alberta and Mexico for many years. Anna graduated from her Masters in Educational Leadership with a focus... Read More →

Melissa Astle

EAL Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Melissa is an EAL consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools. Her background includes teaching in both bilingual and second language programs in elementary and junior high setting. As a language lover and multilingual herself, she is committed to helping EAL learners find success in... Read More →

Friday August 28, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Heritage Room

K-6

9:45am MDT

Smart Start! Religion Refresher

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Room 1

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

Start teaching this year feeling organized, beginning with the end in mind! Whether you are new to teaching a grade or just want a new perspective for teaching religion, join us in this refreshing review of the Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ program. This session is designed for Grades K-6.

Overview of the Units in each grade
Assessment best practices
Unit inquiry tasks
Online Resources available

Speakers

Kathleen Nguyen

Religion Consultant, Edmonton Catholic Schools

Kathleen Nguyen finds joy in sharing our Catholic faith and accompanying people on their faith journey. Kathleen loves to spend time with her family and is a great aunt; literally. This is a term she loves to use quite liberally and makes her friends call her Kathleen, the Great... Read More →

Friday August 28, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Room 1

K-6

9:45am MDT

Supporting Vocabulary Acquisition in Math (K-6)

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

Every math lesson is filled with words, but which ones really matter? In this interactive session, we’ll use a simple analysis tool to unpack the vocabulary demands of a math lesson, distinguishing between words tied to context, content, and prior learning. This approach helps teachers plan targeted supports that make math more accessible without lowering the cognitive demand. Walk away with practical strategies, planning tools, and classroom-ready structures to intentionally support vocabulary development in every math lesson.

Speakers

Benjamin Prather

Math Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Benjamin is a mathematics consultant for the Edmonton Catholic School Division. Following a rewarding stint as an Emerging Technology consultant, and a return to the classroom, he has returned to his true passion: mathematics.

In the role of a mathematics consultant, Benjamin brings his interest for mathematics and technology to the forefront. His goal is to empower educators and students through the promotion of multi-modal representation, bolstering math vocabulary, and implementing high-impact teaching... Read More →

Caroline Lepps

Math Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Caroline is a math educator with over 30 years of experience helping students and teachers embrace the playful side of mathematics. She believes the best learning often happens in the messy space between struggle and a breakthrough—and she designs sessions that celebrate exactly... Read More →

Friday August 28, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
2A

K-6

9:45am MDT

Unpacking Assessment Toolkits and the NEW Levels of Proficiency and Achievement

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

This session introduces the Division’s assessment toolkits and explores how they support effective planning, instruction, and reporting. Teachers will examine how learning intentions, success criteria, question progressions, and proficiency scales can be used to gather meaningful evidence of learning and strengthen instructional decision-making. Participants will also consider how these tools align with the new Levels of Proficiency and Achievement and support consistent professional judgment across classrooms. With a focus on knowing the learner and being purposeful in planning, this session highlights how clear assessment practices can create the conditions for both rigour and engagement, while supporting student ownership of learning. Teachers will leave with a clearer understanding of how assessment tools can help set the year up strong and support optimal learning from the start.

Speakers

Leanne Hemphill

Curriculum and Assessment, Edmonton Catholic School Division

As an Assessment Consultant with Edmonton Catholic School Division, I support schools in developing responsive, curriculum-aligned assessment and reporting practices that leverage technology to enhance learning. I collaborate with educators and administrators to build capacity in... Read More →

Alyson Gabucci

Curriculum and Assessment Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

As an Assessment Consultant with Edmonton Catholic School Division, I support schools in developing responsive, curriculum-aligned assessment and reporting practices through the lens of instructional coaching. I collaborate with educators and administrators to build capacity in assessment... Read More →

Friday August 28, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
3B

K-6

11:00am MDT

Before the Pencil Hits the Page: Rethinking the Writing Planning Process

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Room 8

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

Get September ready!
Strong writing doesn’t start with a draft—it starts with thinking, talking, sketching, and shaping ideas. In this session, we’ll rethink the planning stage of the writing process, exploring multimodal tools, structures, and routines that support students before they write. You’ll leave with inclusive, classroom‑ready strategies to support writers of all abilities from idea to draft. This experience will include connections to ELAL and Social Studies mentor texts found in your schools.

Speakers

Brandi Clark

English Language Arts Consultant (K-6), Edmonton Catholic School Division

I have been working in the division for over 25 years. I have a Masters in Elementary Language Arts. My passions are reading and writing across a variety of genres and topics. I live in a house of artists and writers, specifically, my husband, two adult kids, a pug and two cats. I... Read More →

Anna Deligianis

EAL and Languages, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Anne Simpson

Elementary Social Studies Consultant (K-6), Edmonton Catholic School Division

I am a proud parent of two children and two pets. I enjoy traveling, reading, engaging in creative pursuits, and spending quality time with friends and family—often cheering from the stands of chilly hockey arenas or warm indoor ball hockey floors.Drawing from both personal and... Read More →

Friday August 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Room 8 350 5th Ave New York, NY 10018 USA

K-6

11:00am MDT

SpacesEDU Success: Making Learning Visible Through Student Portfolios

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

Join us for an engaging professional development session exploring how SpacesEDU can make learning visible and meaningful while enhancing our assessment practices. Participants will examine how digital portfolios support purposeful planning, highlight student growth, and help teachers better understand their learners. This session will explore practical ways SpacesEDU can foster student ownership of learning, promote reflection, and support both rigour and engagement in the classroom. We will also look at how portfolios provide families with a clear window into classroom learning, strengthening connections between home and school. Perfect for educators looking to set the year up strong by offering time and resources to create our first posts in our SpacesEDU portfolios.

Speakers

Nicole Cunningham

Emtech, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Nicole Cunningham is an Educational Technology Consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools for the past 3 years, supporting teachers from Kindergarten to Grade 12. She designs and delivers professional learning and at the elbow planning and in-class support that helps educators purposefully... Read More →

Joel Kristiansen

Emerging Technology Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Joel Kristiansen has been part of the EmTech team for the past 3 years. Joel finds inspiration in working with teachers to incorporate technology in feasible ways to make learning more accessible, exciting, and long lasting. Before that, Joel spent over a decade in K-9 schools where... Read More →

Leanne Hemphill

Curriculum and Assessment, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Alyson Gabucci

Curriculum and Assessment Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Friday August 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
3B

K-6

11:00am MDT

Student Success Strategies

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Room 1

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

Speakers

Carole Carby

Lindsay Lott

Inclusive Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Lindsay Lott is an Inclusive Consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. With 15 years of classroom experience both abroad and here in Edmonton, Lindsay has developed a deep understanding of diverse educational environments... Read More →

Caitlyn McCauley

Friday August 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Room 1

K-6

11:00am MDT

Using EAL Benchmarks 2.0 for Planning

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Heritage Room

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

This session explores practical ways to use EAL Benchmarks 2.0 to guide instructional planning. Participants will examine how benchmarks can be used alongside curriculum outcomes to intentionally support language development across subject areas.

Speakers

Devin Austin

Elementary EAL Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Devin Austin, a forward-thinking Elementary EAL consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools, sharing his skills in diverse capacities since 2011. He loves globe-trotting, keeping abreast of the newest tech innovations, supporting diverse learners, and moments with his family. Devin... Read More →

Angelica Tan

English as an Additional Language Consultant (K-6), Edmonton Catholic School Division

Friday August 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Heritage Room

K-6

12:45pm MDT

AI + You: The Ultimate Teaching Design Duo

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

How can we design learning experiences that are rooted in joy, grounded in faith, and intentionally responsive to the diverse needs of all learners? This session invites educators to explore how artificial intelligence can support the design of inclusive, equitable, and rigorous Tier 1 instruction aligned with the conditions of Optimal Learning: Catholic faith and permeation, joy and rigour, and ownership of learning.
Inspired by Catlin Tucker’s Elevating Educational Design with AI: Making Learning Accessible, Inclusive, and Equitable, participants will engage with AI as a thought partner in the instructional design process. The focus is on strengthening clarity of learning goals, alignment of assessment and instruction, and the intentional design of learning experiences grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Educators will explore how AI can support the creation of high-quality, student-facing resources, such as scaffolds, models, multiple entry points, and differentiated pathways, that reduce barriers and increase access for all learners. Emphasis will be placed on designing for variability from the outset, rather than retrofitting supports after instruction.
Participants will apply these ideas to redesign a lesson or learning sequence for September through November, leaving with practical strategies and adaptable tools to support purposeful, inclusive, and joy-filled learning experiences for every student.

Speakers

Nicole Cunningham

Emtech, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Leanne Hemphill

Curriculum and Assessment, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Friday August 28, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
3B

K-6

12:45pm MDT

From Belonging to Learning: Using Proactive Circles to Strengthen Academic Outcomes in Alberta Classrooms

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Heritage Room

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

This session introduces you to proactive circles as both a relationship‑building and instructional practice. You will explore what proactive circles are, how to establish and sustain them, and why they are foundational for student engagement, safety, and learning. Grounded in restorative practice research and Universal Design for Learning, the session shows how proactive circles support access and success for all learners.
The session then focuses on academic circles, exploring how proactive circles can be intentionally designed to support the Alberta curriculum. Using concrete classroom examples and ECSD resources, participants will see how academic circles activate prior knowledge, deepen understanding, practice academic language, and support reflection and student voice, without sacrificing instructional time. They also create the relational safety required for students to engage with sensitive or complex curriculum topics, ensuring academic conversations remain grounded, respectful, and accessible for all learners.

Speakers

Claudia Pederson

EDIAR Manager, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Claudia Pederson leads the Creating Communities of Belonging department, supporting schools in fostering environments where every student and staff member feels valued, safe, and connected. Her work focuses on strengthening inclusive practices, building staff capacity, and advancing... Read More →

Anne Simpson

Elementary Social Studies Consultant (K-6), Edmonton Catholic School Division

Friday August 28, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
Heritage Room

K-6

12:45pm MDT

Learning in Light of the Gospel: Permeating our Catholic faith in Curriculum

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Room 1

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

What if faith permeation wasn’t another box to check, but a natural way of seeing curriculum through a Catholic worldview?
In Catholic education, every subject offers opportunities to connect learning with faith, helping students make meaning of their experiences in light of the Gospel.This engaging and practical session is rooted in our Five Marks of Catholic Education and our shared call to be disciples of Christ. It offers a process for making faith permeation authentic, meaningful, and connected to curriculum outcomes.
Designed for teachers at every stage of their faith journey, this session provides resources, examples, and planning tools in Mathematics and Health and Wellness that support intentional and accessible integration in practice. After this session, you will be better equipped to help students encounter truth, beauty, goodness, and to develop a Catholic worldview that shapes how they understand, respond to, and serve others.

Speakers

Kathleen Nguyen

Religion Consultant, Edmonton Catholic Schools

Anita Hanneman

Mathematics Consultant - Elementary, Edmonton Catholic Schools

Elementary Mathematics Consultant

Friday August 28, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
Room 1

K-6

12:45pm MDT

Mission Possible: From Data To Action

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

Welcome to Mission Possible: From Data to Action—an overt operation where teachers become instructional agents on a quest to build targeted, efficient intervention systems. After a rapid briefing on high‑leverage data, you’ll examine student profiles, craft tailored supports, and design small‑group structures that maximize every instructional minute.
Your mission concludes with a debrief and a clear plan for deploying these strategies in your own classroom. Agents will depart equipped with two mission‑critical resources: a Math Intervention Planner and a Small‑Group Instruction Playbook to guide ongoing implementation.

Speakers

Amy Swinkels

Math Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Amy is a Math convert! Being a child that hated Math and was highly unsuccessful in Math, it became her absolute passion to help make Math fun, meaningful and successful for all students. When not championing Math, Amy is either reading absolute garbage on a beach or running marathons... Read More →

Friday August 28, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
2A

K-6

12:45pm MDT

Natural Connections K-6

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Join us for Natural Connections, an interactive session that brings together English Language Arts and Literature, Physical Education and Wellness, and Science curricula to life through Indigenous-focused knowledge. This experience fosters a deeper connection to Indigenous cultures, the natural world, and social emotional well-being. It is an opportunity to sample what is being offered to teachers who would like to sign up for our year long Community of Practice. You will walk away with numerous strategies, tools, and new books!

Speakers

Venessa Chalifoux

Elementary ELA consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Venessa Chalifoux is one of the Elementary English Language Arts Consultants. She has been teaching for 20 years in grades 1-6 with experience as English as an Additional Language Designate. She has a passion for making learning engaging and fun for students and is an avid reader... Read More →

Jacqueline Koval

Physical Education and Wellness Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Phyed and Wellness Consultant

Natalie Zuberbuhler

Elementary Science Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Natalie Zuberbuhler: Elementary Science Curriculum and Assessment Consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools lives for Science and supporting her teacher colleagues. Natalie always has great recommendations on books, tips for catching fish, and how to incorporate computer science to... Read More →

Shannon Loutitt

Indigenous Learning Services Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Shannon is a Métis auntie and educator who is passionate about the weaving of Indigenous Knowledges and ways of knowing into K-6 curriculum. Anti-racism, the ongoing effects of colonization, and Indigenous student wellbeing are also areas of interest.

Friday August 28, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
2B

K-6

12:45pm MDT

Supporting AAC Users in the Classroom

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Staff Lounge (Basement)

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

This professional development session focused on building educator capacity to intentionally model Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) within everyday classroom activities using ChatEditor, while maintaining alignment with the Alberta Programs of Study and inclusive education practices. Participants explored how AAC can be meaningfully embedded across instructional contexts to support language, literacy, and curriculum access for students with complex communication needs.
In addition, the session introduces educators to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) as a planning support tool for AAC implementation.

Speakers

Sarah Ostlund

Inclusive Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Sarah has been a teacher with ECSD for 15 years and has served as an Inclusive Consultant for the past 3. She is passionate about advocating for the needs of diverse learners and assisting teachers in planning and programming for students with various needs. When she’s not in work... Read More →

Katrina Filice

Learning Coach, Edmonton Catholic Schools

Tracey Robertson

Speech Language Pathologist, ECSD

Friday August 28, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
Staff Lounge (Basement)

K-6

2:00pm MDT

Hearts in Motion: Building SEL Through PEW

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Discover how Social Emotional Learning is woven throughout the Physical Education and Wellness curriculum in this active, hands‑on professional learning experience. Educators will explore the PEW SEL Toolkit, unpack where key competencies naturally show up in movement‑based learning, and participate in a variety of games and activities they can bring directly to their classrooms. Come ready to move, reflect, and leave with practical strategies to strengthen connection, confidence, and whole‑child wellness in your PEW program this year.

Speakers

Jacqueline Koval

Physical Education and Wellness Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Phyed and Wellness Consultant

Friday August 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT
2B

K-6

2:00pm MDT

Starting Strong in Science: Planning and Assessment That Last All Year

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

This session helps teachers build consistent science routines that support learning all year. You’ll explore practical ways to plan lessons and use ongoing assessment to understand student progress. The focus is on strengthening assessment practices so they inform instruction without adding extra work.

Speakers

Leanne Hemphill

Curriculum and Assessment, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Katerina Campbell

Elementary Science Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Katerina is an elementary Science consultant at Edmonton Catholic Schools. She loves all things Science, exploring natural phenomena and will never stop asking “why?” Katerina is a self proclaimed maker and cardboard collector. She is a proud promoter of inquiry based learning... Read More →

Natalie Zuberbuhler

Elementary Science Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Alyson Gabucci

Curriculum and Assessment Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Friday August 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT
3B

K-6

2:00pm MDT

Super Soft Starts and Visuals

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT

Staff Lounge (Basement)

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn practical programming strategies to support neurodiverse learners through soft starts, predictable routines, visual supports, and strong relationship building. This session highlights simple, effective tools that help students feel regulated, connected, and ready to learn.

Speakers

Breanne Lowe

Elana Bryks

Inclusive Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Elana Bryks is a dedicated educator with two decades of invaluable experience in the field. Her journey began as an elementary and junior high teacher, where she honed her skills in fostering a nurturing learning environment. Over the years, Elana has expanded her expertise, assuming... Read More →

Friday August 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT
Staff Lounge (Basement)

K-6

2:00pm MDT

Word Walls That Work: From Displays to Daily Instruction

LIMITED

Friday August 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT

Room 8

Limited Capacity seats available

Session Materials

This session takes a fresh look at vocabulary instruction and the role of word walls in today’s classrooms. Together, we’ll explore different types of words students encounter and use throughout the day, along with engaging instructional routines, planning tools, and classroom supports that strengthen vocabulary development across grade levels.
We’ll also consider how classroom word displays can move beyond traditional setups to become more purposeful, organized, and connected to daily literacy learning. The focus will be on creating classroom environments that help students access, understand, and apply words in meaningful ways.

Speakers