Latest news with #Hamilton-WentworthCatholicDistrictSchoolBoard
Hamilton Spectator
01-08-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
‘AI is going to be a major focus': Here's how Hamilton-area boards are integrating artificial intelligence into schools
Brian Daly is leading by example with artificial intelligence. The assistant superintendent relied heavily on the fast-growing technology to write Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board guidelines for AI, approved by trustees at a recent board meeting. He uploaded a draft alongside examples from other school boards in and out of province, and asked ChatGPT to compare them. He also uses it to proofread and generate ideas. 'I use it all the time, and I'm looking for ways to use it more,' he said. With guidelines in place, the next step is to teach staff how to use it so they can pass knowledge on to students. Building professional development for AI is one of the board's 'major' projects, he said. Daly's still learning, too, and has summer plans to figure out how to get it to take meeting minutes. 'AI is going to be a focus for our board next year,' he said. But he also hopes it will enhance teaching and save educators time. One teacher used AI to generate a simulation of the 1929 stock market crash, Daly said. As the teacher explained the events day by day, students went into a frenzy trying to win and were wiped out, just like major companies 100 years ago. It's an activity that would have taken a teacher hours to write from scratch, Daly said. Instead, she had AI do the grunt work and then edited it to fit her needs. Like any technology, AI comes with challenges and drawbacks. For one, the technology is changing so rapidly, policies will have to be flexible and updated regularly. Cheating with AI is a legitimate issue — and the main concern for teachers, Daly said. Teachers will have to shift practices and find new ways to assess students, he said. For example, a take-home written assignment is 'problematic,' he said. But rather than fixating on policing AI, which is constantly evolving and difficult to detect, educators should focus on teaching students appropriate use, Daly suggested. 'Our duty is to educate them for the world they're going to live in,' he said. 'Since AI is going to … be their world when they're in the workplace, we should show them how to use it effectively.' Here's how other local boards are approaching AI: This summer, public board staff are reviewing feedback on professional development topics like AI, and planning for next year. The board has offered training on basic use and the benefits of AI, and has plans to expand. 'In the coming school year, professional development plans will start to take greater shape,' a spokesperson said in an email on Monday. The board's modern learning policy states HWDSB provides classrooms with equipment and resources to 'develop digital skills,' including how to use AI. The technology can 'enhance' learning and help with administrative tasks, but 'raises questions' about intellectual property, reads a related procedure addressing ownership, authorship and AI. Students and staff are responsible for maintaining academic integrity and understanding that AI is biased, meaning the content used to train it may exclude marginalized groups, the procedure reads. The board is 'committed to preparing its students for success in an ever-changing economy and society,' the spokesperson said. In an eight-week program through the education charity I-Think, students and staff at 13 high schools and seven elementary schools learned about machine learning, neural networks and natural language processing, and were encouraged to think critically about the question: 'How might our school use AI to enrich the lives and possibilities of every student?' The public school board serving students in Brantford and the counties of Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk has partnered with Conestoga College to create the first AI micro-credential in the public education sector. The voluntary, 10-hour online course covers AI tools, responsible use, ethics and customized modules geared toward educators, administrators and non-teaching employees, according to a June 24 release . Relevant professional learning is crucial in 'today's rapidly changing education landscape,' Grand Erie director of education JoAnna Roberto said in the release. 'AI will continue to shape the future of work and learning, and staff must be equipped with tools and knowledge to navigate these changes to support students in the classroom and career planning,' she said. The course begins in September, and those who complete it successfully will receive a certificate. The course follows the launch of AI policy , procedure and guidelines meant to help students and staff navigate use. The Catholic school board serving Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk says it is 'actively developing capacity' among teachers and other staff in partnership with other boards, and has adopted guidelines for AI use. Privacy, academic integrity and responsible use are hallmarks of the guidelines, which cover practical classroom use, ethical concerns, strategies for assessment and AI literacy, superintendent of education John Della Fortuna said in an email. The board is also building its own AI-powered chatbot for staff, a corporate tool to connect policies and procedures, as well as curriculum and other resources. Agentic AI, which acts like an intelligent assistant to help with administrative tasks, is another area the board is exploring. 'We recognize that AI is evolving, and so must we,' Della Fortuna said. More than 100 teachers, librarians and administrators at Halton's public schools took part in workshops on AI last year, spokesperson Heather Francey said in an email. Topics include classroom applications and addressing concerns like bias, misinformation and assessment. The board has also developed guidelines , with a focus on how to use AI tools responsibly, the board said. The Halton Catholic District School Board didn't respond to The Spectator's requests for comment. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
20-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
No gavel needed: Pat Daly steps down after four decades on Catholic board
It took several prompts and iterations for Catholic trustees , with the help of ChatGPT, to create the perfect parting prayer for Pat Daly . A lot has changed in three decades, but the chair seat hasn't. Now, after 34 years, Daly, who has helmed the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board since 1991, is stepping down. 'Through tireless days and steadfast years, he served with faith, with hopes and fears,' trustees read in unison from the text brought by trustee Mark Valvasori. 'A shepherd strong, with heart and soul, committed to the common goal.' Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board chair Pat Daly is stepping down after 34 years. It's the end of an era for the board — and for Daly, whose 40-year run as Ward 7 representative comes to an end on Friday. He was first elected in 1985, replacing his father on the board after the elder Daly's death. Daly was elected to the top job several years later, and is believed to be the longest-running chair in the province's history. 'It seems like yesterday,' Daly said following his final board meeting on Tuesday evening, at which trustees bid him a heartfelt farewell. 'Your hard work, insight and integrity have left a lasting mark,' said Ward 10 trustee Mary Nardini, who has worked with Daly for more than 20 years. 'You'll be missed, but we know you'll continue to make a difference wherever you go.' Longtime Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board chair Pat Daly at his final board meeting on June 17, 2025. At 67, Daly has accepted the top job at the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association (OCSTA) after the current executive director announced plans to retire. Daly has a long history with the organization, including eight years as its president. He starts on Monday. A round of applause erupted in the Mulberry Street boardroom, and trustees presented Daly with an award. 'Whatever small contribution I've made, it's only as a result of the friendship, the partnership … of the men and women around this board,' he said. 'We have done amazing things.' And he's never once had to use his gavel to maintain order, he said, raising it to demonstrate. It's still unclear how his vacant Ward 7 seat will be filled. Historically, the board has opted to appoint a trustee — the cheaper option — over holding a byelection, Daly said. The last municipal vacancy — Ward 4 at the public board — was filled via a byelection in January with a little more than two years until the next election, which is set for October 2026. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Catholic school board launches new construction co-op program
Hamilton's Catholic school board is launching a new carpentry co-op program amid soaring demand for skilled trades across the province. Students in Grade 11 and up can join the board's new enhanced construction program, offering an opportunity to explore careers in building and repairing homes and other infrastructure. 'It is specifically designed to provide participants with industry-recognized training, practical experience and direct pathways into careers in the skilled trades,' the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board said in a May 29 post . Students will take classes at the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) Local 18 Training Centre on Stoney Church Road East. They will be assigned a co-op placement in either general carpentry or drywall, acoustical and lathing systems. Successful students will receive four high school credits — math, English and two construction technology — and placements could be paid. Students will also receive seven construction certifications, about $900 of personal protective equipment and tools, and apprenticeship hours toward a trade, setting them up for the next steps in a construction career. The board says ideal candidates are reliable, punctual, hardworking and 'committed to learning.' The new program, which will accept 20 students per semester, is a collaboration between UBC Local 18 and the Catholic board, and is funded in part by the provincial and federal governments. A student information session will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at the Stone Church Road training centre. Co-op teachers and industry leaders say there's a growing interest among young people in the trades. There are also plans afoot to double an Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) construction craft worker program at LIUNA Local 837's Grimsby training centre. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
06-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
A couch was set on fire in the middle of this school sports field. How much is vandalism costing the Catholic board each year?
In the early-morning hours of April 19, a sofa was placed on the Knights logo on the artificial turf field at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School on the Mountain and lit on fire. Repairs cost $56,121 — more than anticipated, said Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board senior facilities manager Paul Ferrie at a June 3 committee of the whole meeting. 'They dragged the sofa out to the centre field and torched it,' he told the committee. 'It took flame very quickly.' Fields are generally easy to access, which has posed a challenge, he said. Hamilton police investigated, but haven't made an arrest in this act of 'wilful evil,' Ferrie said. Police confirmed on Thursday no suspects were identified and no charges laid. St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School near Stone Church Road and Garth Street on the Hamilton Mountain. Police are generally only contacted for significant vandalism incidents, spokesperson Const. Adam Kimber said in an email. This incident of vandalism at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School is one of two high-cost vandalism incidents at the board in the last six months. The board is required to report all incidents of vandalism over $2,500. 'wilful evil Damage to an automatic door at Cathedral High School around April 24 cost $3,193 in repairs. Last July, copper thefts from three rooftop HVAC units at Canadian Martyrs Catholic Elementary School cost $70,876 in repairs. Police investigated, and cameras were installed to identify suspects in any future incidents, the board said in a Dec. 3, 2024, report . It was a 'disappointing' year, Ferrie told the committee. 'Extreme' incidents in the tens of thousands are few, but costs associated with vandalism overall are 'significant' across the province, said chair Pat Daly, who is also the former president of the provincial Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association (OCSTA). For the burning couch, the board is responsible for a $10,000 deductible, and insurance would cover the rest. Emergency work was performed to make the field usable, and permanent repairs will take place over the summer, according to a June 3 report. A couch set fire in the middle of St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School's artificial turf football field cost more than $56,000 in damage. Automatic door repairs were also funded entirely by the facilities management budget. Smashed windows, damage to exterior doors, graffiti and broken toilets and sinks in out-of-sight bathrooms are common across the board's approximately 70 buildings, he said. At least a decade ago, about 20 large exterior windows at a Catholic school were broken in one night, Daly said. Ferrie said there was a 'rash of trespassing' during the pandemic, but Daly said there's no indication vandalism has increased significantly since schools reopened. In addition to the cost, which he estimates is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, vandalism affects students, for whom schools are their 'homes' during the day, Daly said. 'It's a real concern,' he said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton high school students dance the day away
Lyrical, modern and Afro-fusion are just a few of the styles of dance students performed during the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board's 10th annual showcase on Tuesday. Close to 100 secondary students attended the dance workshops hosted by the school board at Rhythm Plus studio in Stoney Creek. This year's classes also included hip hop and Latin dancing. Instructor Megan Medeiros leads Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board students through a hip-hop dance class Tuesday. Teachers watch a Latin dance workshop from the hall at Rhythm Plus studio in Stoney Creek. In the foreground, Samara-Lee Jardine and Brianna Frater from Cathedral High School move to the music. Alyssa Aceti leads a lyrical dance workshop for Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board secondary students Tuesday at Rhythm Plus studio in Stoney Creek. Instructor Percy Anane-Dwumfour puts students through their paces in an Afro-fusion dance class on Tuesday in Stoney Creek. Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board secondary students try out a hip-hop dance class Tuesday at Rhythm Plus studio in Stoney Creek as part of an annual showcase.
