With the holiday break in the rear-view mirror, Trinity College School staff members were eager to embrace 2024 with a day of professional development activities on Monday, January 8th. The morning began with a full staff gathering during which themes including community, inclusivity and the pace of change were touched on. This was followed by the day’s keynote speaker, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist Michael Decaire, who shared fresh insights to enhance the toolkit faculty employs to support learners in the Junior and Senior Schools.

Mr. Decaire is the founder and clinical director of an Oshawa-based practice that provides psychological and psychotherapeutic services for children, adolescents and adults. His areas of specialty include learning and social-emotional wellbeing. Mr. Decaire spoke about how learning disabilities are identified and the diagnosis process; discussed the nuances of different types of learning disabilities such as information processing and/or working memory challenges; and shared which accommodations, learning strategies and teaching styles best support different types of learners. He had words of praise for the efforts and supports offered by the TCS faculty to help ensure our students are successful in their pursuits.

The afternoon included time for departmental meetings and planning, in preparation for the return of students and the resumption of classes on January 9th, and an active and engaging winter term at TCS.