Scholarships, Bursaries and Financial Supports for Post-Secondary Pathways | |
Many Grade 11 and Grade 12 students may be thinking about their post-secondary pathway at this time of year. We have compiled a list of links to financial supports to help with the funding of post-secondary programs and pathways. We offer these resources and links as a potential starting point to help support students and families as they transition to post-secondary education.
Please click here to visit our Financial Supports webpage.
Please note: although we have made an effort to include a wide variety of resources, this is not a finite list. The DCDSB does not represent or speak on behalf of any other organization and specific information and questions should be directed to the organization itself.
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Grade 12: Deconstructing Anti-Black Racism Course (IDC4U) | |
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All DCDSB secondary schools are offering the Grade 12 course: Deconstructing Anti-Black Racism (IDC4U). The course will run in the 2024-2025 school year if enough students at each secondary school opt to register for it. This university-level course is available to current Grade 10 and Grade 11 students when the 2024-2025 course selection opens in January/February. It is a counter-space of celebration that centres Black students, promotes unity, allyship, and participatory action, by allowing all students to learn about the theories, histories, and stories of Black resilience and advocacy that have been largely and systematically left out of Ontario's curricular expectations.
View the video below to hear DCDSB students talk about what they've learned and experienced while taking the Deconstructing Anti-Black Racism course. To learn more about this course, please speak with your secondary school guidance department.
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DCDSB Black Student Excellence Awards | |
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On Thursday, November 7, 2024, the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) hosted the inaugural Black Student Excellence Awards. A collaboration between the DCDSB and the board’s Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee, the awards honour Grade 11 and Grade 12 students who self-identify as Black and have demonstrated leadership and/or commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion efforts.
At the awards ceremony, all nominees were honoured, and provided with a certificate, a letter of recognition, and a $100 bursary. The nominees honoured were:
- Nathan C., All Saints Catholic Secondary School
- Shadae Corina T., All Saints Catholic Secondary School
- Brenda O., Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School
- Rejoice O., Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School
- Temitope O., Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School
- Esosa M., Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School
- Temidayo Esther O., Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School
- Kaylia D., Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
- Ololade A., Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
- Nathyn T., St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
- Tarie D., St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
After much deliberation, the committee was pleased to present Sadé L., a Grade 12 student at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School in Whitby, with the Black Student Excellence Award for the 2024-2025 school year. Sadé was recognized at the awards ceremony and received a certificate, a letter of recognition, a glass trophy, and a $500 bursary.
Congratulations to Sadé and all nominees! Visit dcdsb.ca to learn more.
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Mental Health Supports for Black Students | |
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Recognizing the need to provide identity-affirming mental health supports, families may wish to access the following community resources that provide culturally relevant and responsive approaches:
DCDSB students and families can also speak to our board support staff directly by calling our Social Work Access Line and leaving a voicemail with their contact information. One of our mental health professionals will call back and provide support. Note that this is not a crisis line and is not monitored 24/7.
More information on mental health resources can be found on the DCDSB website.
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Equity Invitational Learning Series Recap and Save the Date! | |
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In partnership with the Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee, DCDSB is pleased to present the Equity Invitational Learning Series, focused on identifying and removing barriers, and improving student outcomes.
Session One Recap: Educate, Empower and Excel: The Impact of Black Leadership in Education
On November 7, Siobhan Wright and Joel Chiutsi, Superintendents of Education at the York Catholic District School Board, discussed the lack of representation of Black educators, school administrators and other senior leadership positions in school boards. Through a multi-stakeholder engagement style, Siobhan and Joel guided attendees in identifying systemic barriers to representation of Black educators in education. The discussion centred on possible future initiatives to improve representation of Black employees, and how this leads to improving the experience of Black students in schools.
Session Two: Save the Date!
DCDSB families, staff, students and community members are invited to attend! Save the date for Wednesday, April 30, 2025, for our next Equity Invitational Learning Series. Details will be available soon!
To learn more about the Equity Invitational Learning Series please visit our website.
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Coach/Advocates for Black Students Highlights | |
BLOSM Group at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School | |
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The Black Leaders of St. Mary’s (BLOSM), is a Black student-led group that helps support, uplift and advocate for Black students at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Pickering. The BLOSM group currently has 105 students participating in Grades 9-12.
Highlights from initiatives this year include:
- On October 18, approximately 40 students in the BLOSM group went on a trip to Ontario Tech University. Students participated in a tour of the campus and a workshop on emotional regulation.
- On November 12, the BLOSM group did a samosa sale as a fundraiser for Sickle Cell research. Students elected to donate to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Canada as this disease is prominently found in the Black and BIPOC community.
- On November 14, 20 students from the BLOSM group went on a trip to Durham College Whitby campus. This was a trip specifically for students interested in the skilled trades. Students received a tour and a presentation of programming available, including crane operating, engineering, mechanics, and more!
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Durham Catholic District School Board
650 Rossland Road West
Oshawa, ON L1J 7C4
(905) 576-6150
www.dcdsb.ca
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