Election Day

Good morning,

The SPS PDEC looks forward to welcoming all certified staff for a full day of professional learning on Election Day, November 3. We are so grateful to the many colleagues who are contributing their time and expertise as facilitators. Please read on for details about the day, including the schedule and registration process.

Schedule for the Day

Following Convocation in the SHS Auditorium, staff will participate in three one-hour choice learning sessions, one lunch block, and one collaboration block; for further information about the collaboration block, see below.

• Convocation: 8:00-9:00

• Session 1: 9:10-10:10

• Session 2: 10:15-11:15

• Session 3 or Lunch A: 11:20-12:20 

• Session 4 or Lunch B: 12:25-1:25 

• Collaboration Block: 1:30-3:00

Collaboration Block: Responding to Your Feedback

In direct response to staff survey feedback requesting time to learn, collaborate, and apply new ideas together, PDEC is piloting an independent or collaborative learning block from 1:30–3:00 PM. This flexibility carries an expectation of purposeful professional work aligned with district priorities and your professional growth needs.

Before November 3, please identify your learning goal for this time and coordinate with any colleagues you plan to work with. For example, you might examine instructional practices or student work across grade levels, finalize a curriculum unit with content colleagues, complete a self-guided training, or share and apply learning from the morning sessions.

Rooms will be available at SHS. Staff whose planned work requires physical resources that are not available digitally may return to their home schools for this block. Two optional yoga sessions will also support personal restoration; details will be available in Sched.

Registration: Required Steps and Deadlines

1. Preview sessions in the Schedule at a Glance. Select hyperlinks within the schedule to read session descriptions.

2. Prepare your Sched account. Watch for an email invitation from Sched, the platform used to organize the day. New staff must create an account; returning staff must update their password to access registration.

3. Registration opens Thursday, October 22, at noon. Select three learning sessions and one lunch block. If a preferred session is full, join its waitlist; PDEC will monitor demand and add offerings where possible. Staff participating in professional learning outside of Southington will be able to select this option within the registration platform.

4. Finalize selections by Wednesday, October 28, at 3:00 PM. You may change your selections until this deadline. Staff who have not registered will be assigned a schedule.

The PDEC Website will be updated with Election Day PD information, including schedules, important tips, food truck menus, and copies of staff communications.

Finally, if you will need a private space for nursing accommodations during Election Day, please contact Jen Discenza, Director of School Counseling, with the approximate times you anticipate needing a space. This will help us ensure space is available when needed.

We look forward to a meaningful day of learning together!