GNS Reflects on a Transformative February Pro-D Day and Looks Ahead to a Future with AI

On Friday, February 16, GNS staff participated in their annual February professional development event that is held in conjunction with other ISABC schools. The theme for this event was “Inspire, Empower, and Sustain” and topics ranged from kindness in schools, health & wellness, Indigenous education and even Artificial Intelligence. Staff had opportunities to pick and choose from a wide variety of learning opportunities, both in-person and in virtual learning sessions.

GNS also had several staff presenting at the ISABC event and then offering in-house personal sessions for our internal staff. Several highlights of the day included a tour of the Indigenous Monuments of Oak Bay, a bike maintenance workshop to encourage more staff to ride to work, and several health & wellness sessions run by physiotherapists and GNS alumni, Sarah Adamson and Eric Lowe. Our ISABC morning keynote speaker was Dr. John-Tyler Binfet from UBC, sharing an inspirational presentation on performing intentional acts of kindness and how those relate to reducing stress and improving overall well-being for educators and students.

Professional development at GNS is the backbone of continual growth and excellence in teaching. It equips our world-class educators with the latest pedagogical strategies, technological advancements, and educational research, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of effective teaching practices. At GNS however, Pro-D is not just about enhancing teaching techniques; it’s about nurturing a vibrant, informed, and connected community of educators who are committed to fostering the intellectual, social, and emotional well-being of our students.

Our next school-wide professional development event will take place on May 17 and will focus exclusively on the role of artificial intelligence in education.

We will welcome AJ Juliani as our keynote speaker and session facilitator, he is one of North America’s leading experts on AI in education.

A parent evening with AJ Juliani will also take place on  Thursday, May 16th, and will explore the shifting role of education and artificial intelligence from a parent and student perspective. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more event details to come after Spring Break!