Celebrating Student Success
Expanding Pathways for Every Student's Future
April 2018
Male students wearing yellow hard hats standing with two male teachers wearing white hard hats in a construction classroom
Year of Service
This year, we asked our Student Senators to share what service means to their secondary schools as we celebrate the Year of Service. Each month, we will feature a new article written by students that highlight how our school communities are called to serve.

Year of Service at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School
Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School's Math Council was organized last year by Math teacher, Mrs. Maecker. Father Austin is the second school in the Board to have a Math Council, after Msgr. John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School. The Council has been working extremely hard over the year to promote interest in Math courses and change people’s minds on how they think about math. They have also received a SpeakUp grant valued at $2125 from the Ministry of Education to continue their work in constructing a designated workspace that will promote Math collaboration and engagement. They will also be using this funding to create a peer-tutoring system for students. The workspace is set to be ready for the start of the next school year.
 
Alongside the grant, the Council has presented at an Ultimate Potential (UP) Math meeting, a course designed for Grade 9 students with a weaker aptitude for Math to prepare them for high school-level Math courses. They also presented at last month’s Board-wide Math Council meeting held at the Pope Francis Centre. They have organized a Math Day at the school on April 12 for feeder schools to work with Math in new and creative ways. Members come from all levels of math knowledge, which allows for diverse opinions on how math should be taught in our schools. They are excited to help shape the future of Math education in our Board.
Male and female students and teachers who make up the two Math Councils in the Durham Catholic District School Board
Male teacher working on a Math question with students on a white board
Female and male students sitting at a table working on Math questions
Female and male student playing a board game during a break
Mental Health and Wellness
child wearing a super hero cape and eye mask
Durham Region Health Department logo
Building Resiliency in Children and Teens
Resiliency is a combination of skills and attributes that help us solve problems, deal with disappointments, learn from challenges, and “bounce back” from adversity (Carney, 2015, p.130). Children develop resiliency by developing problem solving skills in response to stressful situations. By avoiding such experiences, children do not learn the coping mechanisms or critical thinking skills they need to be able to navigate similar experiences in the future. By allowing children to experience these situations in a safe environment with supportive parents, peers and educators, we can assist them in building resiliency.

Individuals develop skills for resilience when they are successfully engaged in school activities, when they have opportunities to develop positive relationship skills, and strengthen confidence in problem solving. As adults we can model positive thinking and attitudes, show positive emotions, promote pro-social behaviour and foster feelings of competency. Resilience is possible for all children, providing the resources and supports are available.

The Region of Durham Health Department, a valued community partner, offers several resources for developing resiliency in children and teens, including the Kids Can and Teens Can resources, which can be found at this link: https://www.durham.ca/en/health-and-wellness/mental-health.aspx

Diane Mullane,
DCDSB Mental Health Leader
Experiential Learning
Striving for Excellence: Partnering to Enhance Student Success and Well-being
A new partnership between the Durham Catholic District School Board and the Academy for Student Athletic Development (ASAD) has taken student academic and well-being to new levels. Elite athletes within our school board, working with top coaches and other athletic support staff from across the country, are able to continue their academic studies within the home school and earn co-op credits.

This partnership keeps students connected to their local school communities and families. The idea that ‘It takes a village” is made real for the students participating in the program.

Here is what they have to say about the program:

“Getting to be part of the ASAD program has been an amazing experience! I’ve met some great people that have become great friends, my coaches are amazing and my team mates are some of the best people that I’ve had the honour of working and playing with. ASAD has done wonders for my rugby skills and my physical health, not to mention that having the opportunity to burn all my energy in the morning has made my academics better too. I am much better at sitting in class and focusing on what I should be doing. ASAD has been one of the best opportunities I have ever had and I’m glad I’ve gotten the chance to be part of it," said Cole O’Prey, student of ASAD Program.
 
ASAB student, Carson Larabie added, "My experience with ASAD has been great so far. The staff and athletes have pushed me to not only better myself, but better others as well. I could not be happier with any other co-op placement.”

















male student working on school work
Male and female students wearing ASAD hoodies
Male student balancing a ball on his head in a gym
Male student working with weights in a gym
Male and female students wearing aprons in a kitchen
Male student looking at books in a classroom
Female student working on her laptop outside in a backyard
Female and male student painting in an art classroom
Register Now for Summer School Programs
Archbishop Anthony Meagher Catholic Continuing Education Centre offers a variety of summer courses and programs to meet the needs of our elementary, secondary, and adult students.  

High school summer credits include accelerated, eLearning, and credit recovery options for Grades 9-12, Grade 8 reach-ahead courses for Grade 9 credit, and summer school cooperative education.

Elementary programs are also available, featuring summer camps to enhance literacy and numeracy skills for students who have completed Grades 6, 7 or 8. Camps include an Arts & Media Camp (C-AMP), Coding and Robotics, Cooking, Digital Literacy, Music, and Recreation & Fitness. Free Elementary International Languages summer classes are available to elementary students in Kindergarten to Grade 8, and French classes for Kindergarten to Grade 3.
 
Are you transitioning to Grade 9?  Sign up for our Head Start Program! This program is available to all Grade 8 students going into Grade 9 at one of our Durham Catholic District School Board high schools. The program involves a review of language and mathematics skills and provides students with a preview of the Grade 9 curriculum for Mathematics, English and Study Skills. This program will run Monday to Thursday, August 20 - 23, 2018 at 8:30 am - 1:30 pm.
 
Registration is now open. Please visit www.con-ed.ca for more details.
Durham Catholic Secondary Students Celebrate their Love of Reading
Secondary students from Father Leo J. Austin, All Saints, Monsignor John Pereyma, Monsignor Paul Dwyer, Notre Dame and St. Mary Catholic Secondary Schools gathered on Thursday, March 1, 2018 to celebrate White Pines and their love of reading Canadian literature.

This year’s event was hosted by Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School.
Students provide a summary of this year’s White Pines Award nominees’ titles:
  • Every Hidden Thing, By Kenneth Oppel  
  • Everything Beautiful is Not Ruined, By Danielle Younge-Ullman      
  • Exo, By Fonda Lee  
  • The Fashion Committee, By Susan Juby 
  • Girl Mans Up, By M-E Girard  
  • The Marrow Thieves, By Cherie Dimaline
  • Optimists Die First, By Susin Nielson      
  • The Pain Eater, By Beth Goobie
  • Speed of Life, By J.M. Kelly 

One of the highlights of the day was listening to Canadian Métis author, Cherie Dimaline speak to students about her recent book The Marrow Thieves . Cherie provided students with a brief history of her Métis community in Georgian Bay, ON before reading from her book and answering questions.

The Marrow Thieves takes place 30 to 40 years in the future. Climate change has negatively impacted the earth, governments have broken down and society has lost hope. People can no longer dream until it’s discovered that Indigenous people still have the ability to dream.

“Stories are magic and words are powerful,” said author Cherie Dimaline. Cherie’s love of story-telling left students inspired to continue reading great Canadian literature and perhaps become future writers.  
Secondary students pose for a picture with female Indigenous author.
Female adult standing at a podium talking to a group of high school students about her book.
Male and female students smiling and holding poetry books.
Forty-one Students become Published Poets at Father Leo. J. Austin Catholic Secondary School
It is quite a feat to be able to say that your work is being published nationally! This is the case for 41 students who attend Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School. The students completed a poetry unit in Ms. Stephanie Mandziuk's Grade 9 and Grade 11 English classes.  While some students approached this form of creativity with trepidation, they soon discovered that poetry can be fun, especially when they relate it to their favourite music and/or artists. 
 
The selected poems will be published in the Poetry Institute of Canada's latest anthology:   Catch the Whispers  (National Library of Canada, Ottawa, Poetry Institute of Canada - ISBN to be announced.) The publication will be released in the spring. 
 
It isn't over just yet.  Ms. Mandziuk is now collecting short stories to submit to another contest. However, this one is tricky as all submissions need to be 360 words or less. Some of her students are definitely up to this challenge!
Expanding Pathways
Building Relationships with General Motors of Canada
On Monday, March 26, 2018 staff from the Durham Catholic District School Board met with staff and dealership owners from General Motors Canada to discuss education opportunities for Durham Catholic students across the region. With a shortage of Automotive Service Technicians reaching critical mass General Motors of Canada reached out to identify ways to build relationships with our local secondary schools.

Durham Catholic’s Student Success and Pathways department together with teachers from Father Leo J. Austin and Notre Dame Catholic Secondary Schools provided an overview of the different programs available to students such as Specialist High Skilled Majors (SHSM), Cooperative Education, Automotive Courses, Business Programs and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Programs (OYAP) that would benefit from a partnership with General Motors.

The event was an opportunity for Durham Catholic and General Motors staff to network, build relationships and identify each other’s organizational needs, while developing future opportunities for students.
Male adult talking to male and female adults about Student programs such as cooperative education, SHSM, automotive programs and business programs in high schools.
Male and female adults talking and exchanging business cards
Male and female adults networking
male students wearing yellow hard hats standing with two male teachers wearing white hard hats in a construction classroom.
male student wearing yellow hard hat and safety glass in a construction classroom smiling
Three male students wearing yellow hard hats and one female student wearing a pink hard hat working with roofing shingles in a construction classroom.
Construction OYAP Students at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School
At the beginning of the semester, students in the General Carpenter Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic School were exploring the shop and learning how to use tools before moving onto the job site for first hand experience. T he students will receive their Level one apprenticeship training from the College of Carpenters and Allied Trades (CCAT) (Local 27). Some of this training takes place at Monsignor John Pereyma CSS and several sessions take place at CCAT in Woodbridge.

The  Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)  is a school-to-work program that allows students to explore and work in any of the 157 apprenticeship occupations in Ontario, starting in Grade 11 or 12 through the  cooperative education program . Students must apply for the cooperative education course during course selection time.

Students have an opportunity to become registered apprentices and work toward becoming certified journey persons in a skilled trade while completing their secondary school diplomas.

The goals of the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program are to:
  • provide students with the opportunity to start training in a skilled trade while completing the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma;
  • enable students to make the school to work transition by direct entry into apprenticeship training;
  • provide employers with the opportunity to train the skilled workers they require; and
  • address the problem of skilled tradespeople shortages.

For more information about OYAP and the options available, call our Pathways Coordinator at 905-576-6150 ext. 22363, or visit your school's cooperative education or guidance department.
Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School Students share their Cooperative Education Experiences
Cooperative Education is designed to meet a student’s individual needs, strengths, interests and learning styles. Cooperative Education prepares students for the future, by giving them an opportunity to hone their knowledge, skills and work experience. 
Grade 11 and 12 students from Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School recently shared what they liked about their co-op placements.

“The best thing I loved about my placement at Pickering Honda was how welcoming everyone was and how the staff made me feel like a part of their team. They were extremely supportive even when I made mistakes,” said Elena Sapuridis. “Being able to learn from my mistakes, without feeling incompetent was great.”

Cooperative Education student Thomas Giardetti added, “I love the fact that I'm out every day with a crew in a new location. My co-workers treat me like part of the team and are friendly and professional. I get to work with my hands and perform different tasks every day. I now know how to wire a basement, assemble equipment/parts, install pot lights etc. Rand Electric is very professional and safety conscious. Due to my co-op experience, I am going to pursue a career as an electrician.  

“What I like most about my placement at Sobeys is how kind and friendly the staff are towards me. They have made me feel welcome right from the beginning. This year, Co-op has helped to build my confidence and I am now able to perform tasks in the bakery that I would have been nervous of up until now. (e.g. - using equipment such as the bread slicer, bread crumb maker, ovens and mixers.) This semester, I am continuing my placement at Sobeys, but moving to the meat department. I am excited about this move and I’m going to pursue a career as a butcher,” said Cole Fryer, Cooperative Education student.

Are you considering Cooperative Education? The benefits include:

  • Hands-on learning;
  • Transferring skills and knowledge taught in class to the workplace;
  • Earn high school credits;
  • Try different career options;
  • Earn valuable work experience for your resume;
  • Mark connections with employers
  • Learn new practical skills; and
  • Build your resume for University/College applications.
Female student wearing yellow hard hat working at car dealership
Male student working with a female electrician at a build site
male student working in grocery store taking baked goodies in shopping cart to the restock the floor
Student Achievement
Durham Catholic Students' Visual Arts Show at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa
The Durham Catholic District School Board was proud to host a Student Visual Arts Show at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa . The event entitled, “ARTiculate”, spoke directly to the powerful messages that are
communicated through Visual Arts. The showcase featured artwork from both elementary and secondary schools.

Hundreds of visitors attended the opening gala on Thursday, March 22 from 7:00- 9:00 p.m.. They were greeting in the front foyer by the beautiful singing of vocalists from Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. The students were accompanied by their music teacher, Clifford Azavedo.

The show was open to the public during regular business hours until April 8, 2018. Bravo to all our talented young artists!


Female adult standing with students surrounded by art work
Male student standing beside a self drawing
Female student singing with male adult playing a keyboard
Teacher holding large cheque for $400.00 for Animal Rescue Krew with students in the background
Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School Students Raise Money during National Cupcake Day
On February 28, 2018, students at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School celebrated National Cupcake Day by selling cupcakes that were made and decorated by Mrs. Scattalon-Azzano’s cooking classes.

The cupcakes were sold for $1.00 each to the school community. The event raised $400.00 and was donated to the Animal Rescue Krew (ARK) based in Lakefield, ON. Bravo!
Students and Staff at St. Joseph Catholic School in Oshawa Contribute to the Creation of "Love Boxes"
As a way to bring our faith into action during this Year of Service, St. Joseph Catholic School Oshawa, decided to support a cause called "The Super Sophia Project" by contributing to the creation of "Love Boxes". Love Boxes are gift boxes that help children to cope when they are in the hospital.

Each classroom committed to one specific child in need of support. Recently, students and staff had the pleasure of hearing Sophia and her mother speak during a school assembly. Great job!
Male and female students holding school banner and surrounded by boxes filled with items for the creation of Love Boxes
Upcoming Events
Piece of paper with the title Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
OSSLT Testing
On April 10, 2018 Grade 10 students will write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Please visit your school's website for more information about the test or visit http://www.eqao.com/en/
assessments/OSSLT.
Durham Catholic District School Board
650 Rossland Road West,
Oshawa, ON
Phone: 905-576-6150 | Visit us at dcdsb.ca