More than 80 Grade 3 teachers from across the Durham Catholic District School Board spent Monday, October 5, at the Pope Francis Centre in Ajax for a full day of professional learning aimed at boosting student achievement and well-being.
The session, according to the Durham Catholic District School Board, brought together primary educators to dig into the board's 2025-2026 EQAO results and explore instructional practices rooted in that evidence, with a focus on literacy and mathematics in the classroom.
What the day covered
The program included learning and discussion around Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework for designing lessons that work for a wide range of learners, along with evidence-based teaching strategies and classroom resources for reading, writing and math.
EQAO Outreach Officer Diana Hong joined the group, offering what the board described as valuable insights into EQAO results and data analysis to help teachers translate provincial assessment data into instructional planning.
Facilitation was handled jointly by members of the board's Academic Services and Student Services departments, which the board said reflects its commitment to collaborative professional learning and evidence-based practices that support student success.
Why Grade 3
Grade 3 is one of the provincial assessment years in Ontario, with students writing EQAO tests in reading, writing and mathematics. The board said the training was designed to help educators use that assessment data — along with broader classroom evidence — to strengthen instruction for young learners.
The Pope Francis Centre on Williamson Drive East served as the venue for the day, drawing participants from the board's schools across Durham Region, including Ajax and Pickering.
