Welcome to the Beginning Teacher Conference SeriesWelcome to a year of learning, growth, and connection. As beginning teachers in Edmonton Catholic Schools, you are called to a vocation that shapes hearts, minds, and futures. Rooted in joy and guided by faith, this conference series is designed to support you as you develop your professional practice, strengthen your confidence, and deepen your impact on student learning. Throughout the year, we will journey together through three learning experiences:
September 10th, 2026: Called to Teach – Beginning with Purpose Building strong foundations through planning, relationships, and classroom routines.
January 30th, 2027: Called to Respond – Seeing and Serving Every Learner Developing responsive practices through assessment, inclusion, and student-centered learning.
April 24th, 2027: Called to Grow – Strengthening Your Voice, Vocation, and Impact Reflecting on your growth, celebrating your accomplishments, and setting goals for the future. Together, we are rooted in faith, called to serve, and committed to excellence in Catholic education. We are grateful that you are part of this community and look forward to learning alongside you throughout the year.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness..." Galatians 5:22
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Starting a new school year can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to turn curriculum outcomes into meaningful learning experiences. This interactive session will support beginning teachers in developing practical lesson-planning skills while providing an overview of the resources and supports available within our division. Participants will explore key components of effective lesson planning, consider how lessons connect to broader long-range plans, and learn where to find high-quality, curriculum-aligned resources. Teachers will be introduced to divisional SharePoint resources, the Provincial Resource Review Guide, the ATA Library, ATA specialist councils, and the Consortium. Participants will leave with practical tools, planning templates, and a clearer understanding of how to confidently plan for the first weeks of school.
This session introduces K–6 educators to the intentional use of Proactive Circles as a foundational practice for building community, strengthening relationships, and fostering a sense of belonging in the classroom. Grounded in restorative practices, participants will explore how proactive circles create safe, inclusive spaces where every student’s voice is heard. Teachers will experience circle structures firsthand and leave with practical tools to embed regular circle practice into daily routines.
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 →
Take the guesswork out of teaching writing. In this session, teachers will map out a full week of writing instruction that supports student success and engagement. Using a clear and manageable structure that can be repeated throughout the year, participants will plan daily mini-lessons, student practice opportunities, and simple assessment strategies. By the end of the session, teachers will leave with a ready-to-use week of writing instruction and a planning template they can confidently implement in their classrooms.
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 →
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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm MDT 3B
This session explores how to design science learning experiences that are accessible, rigorous, and meaningful for all students through the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Beginning teachers will learn how to plan with the Skills and Procedures verbs at the forefront, creating authentic opportunities for students to engage in the doing of scientific literacy while exploring practical resources, planning tools, and assessment strategies that build confidence and support effective science instruction.
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 →
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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT 2B
This session helps bring clarity to what reading looks like from Kindergarten through Grade 6 in the Alberta ELAL curriculum. We’ll explore grade-level expectations, look closely at what students should know and be able to do within each organizing idea, and consider how assessment, texts, and instructional tools can help teachers build a clear picture of each reader. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of how to recognize student strengths, plan next steps, and support reading growth across the year with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
English Language Arts Consultant (K-6), Edmonton Catholic School Division
Stephanie is a newbie joining the ELA Elementary team. She has been an Educator for 15 years with ECSD and completed her Masters in Religious Education. Stephanie has a passion for building powerful literacy classrooms where all learners experience success. She loves reading, traveling... Read More →
