As the season of Advent begins, we are reminded of the profound meaning this time holds within our Catholic faith. Advent is a time of spiritual preparation and reflection as we anticipate the celebration of the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

This season offers us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the values of hope, peace, joy and love. It is a time to gather with family and friends, and to reach out to those in need within our community as we live out our faith through acts of charity.

Read the full Advent message here.

Advent Resources

The word Advent means "coming" and refers to a special liturgical season when we, as people of Christian faith, are invited to prepare ourselves spiritually to celebrate Christmas. As we eagerly anticipate the birth of Jesus during this joyous time of patience and prayer, we have compiled Advent resources that families may wish to use at home. Please visit the Advent Resources webpage for activities, reflections and prayers.

Pilgrims of Hope Video

Ms. Zuccaro’s Grade 4/5 class at St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic School was excited to create a video for the OCTSA Short-Video Contest. The video showcases the journey of a student discovering and embodying the qualities of being a "Pilgrim of Hope" in our community. Through the themes of generosity, care for God’s creation, inclusivity, and faith, we highlight the pillars that build our faith and community at St. Marguerite d’Youville.

Click here to learn more and watch the video below.

Reflecting on Truth and Reconciliation at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School

Grade 11 and 12 students at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School shared their reflections on Truth and Reconciliation. Kylie, Toni and Althea spoke about how they were inspired to create their own art pieces and write school announcements that they shared during National Truth and Reconciliation Week in September. Watch the video below to learn more.

Students Explore their Relationship with the Land at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School

Throughout November, Grade 7 and 8 students at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School participated in learning with members of the DCDSB's Indigenous Education team. Students engaged in learning surrounding the Land Acknowledgement, Treaties, and solidifying relationships with the land as an act of reconciliation. Click here to read more.

DCDSB Celebrates Inaugural Black Student Excellence Awards

On November 7, 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.

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.

Visit our website to learn more about the Black Student Excellence Award recipient and nominees.

DCDSB Receives Three Awards for Outstanding Efforts to Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Initiatives!

On November 13, the Region of Durham hosted the Durham Greener Buildings Awards. DCDSB was recognized with not one, not two, but THREE awards for outstanding efforts to environmental sustainability and climate change initiatives!

DCDSB received the following awards:

• Best Energy Performing K - 12 School Award – Received by Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School
• Best Data Quality Award
• Climate Leadership Award

Click here to read more.

Grade 1 French Immersion Registration Now Open

Registration for Grade 1 French Immersion at the DCDSB is now open! All interested Year 2 Kindergarten/Senior Kindergarten students are invited to register, to begin in the 2025-2026 school year.

Registration for Grade 1 French Immersion will remain open until January 17, 2025.

Click here to learn more and register today.

Save-the-Date: Kindergarten Registration Opens January 8, 2025

Save the date for Kindergarten registration. Begin your child’s faith-filled journey at DCDSB!

Registration opens on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.

Visit dcdsb.ca/Kindergarten to learn more about our Kindergarten program.

Submit Nominations for January Beacons of Hope

Families, students and staff are invited to nominate a DCDSB student or employee that exemplifies and embodies the theme for Beacons of Hope in January. The theme is: A Reflective, Creative and Holistic Thinker.

The selected nominees will be recognized during the January Board Meeting for a special award presentation. The deadline to submit your nominations for January is Friday, December 20, at 4:00 p.m.

Visit our website to make your nominations and to see previous award recipients: dcdsb.ca/BeaconsOfHope.

Financial Literacy Parent Night

The Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (DCPIC), in partnership with the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB), offered a Financial Literacy Parent Night on November 21 at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School. Families were invited to attend an interactive presentation and learned how to support their child’s development of financial literacy skills. Click here to watch the presentation.

Visit dcdsb.ca/Mathematics for financial literacy resources and games.

ASAD Information Session

The Academy for Student Athlete Development (ASAD) is hosting information sessions on December 12, 2024 and January 14, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Abilities Centre (1 Jim Flaherty St., Whitby).

Student athletes and their families who are interested in learning more about attending ASAD in Semester 2 or the 2025-2026 school year are invited to participate in this information session. Email asad@abilitiescentre.org to register.

Click here to learn more about ASAD.

Wes Hall Keynote Event at Father Leo J. Austin

On November 8, Wes Hall, entrepreneur and business professional, visited Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School to deliver a keynote titled Inspiring Hope and Overcoming Adversity. His talk, aimed at empowering Black and racialized youth, focused on his life story and the obstacles he overcame throughout his journey.

Read the full story here.

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School Promotes Mental Wellness on DCDSB’s Let’s Talk Day

On November 28, the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) recognized DCDSB Let's Talk Day. In recognition of DCDSB Let’s Talk Day, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School's Empowerment Club took the lead in promoting meaningful conversations about mental wellness. Students visited every classroom from Kindergarten to Grade 8, guiding their peers through a square breathing exercise and sharing resources on how and where to seek help when they need it. With the support of the school's public health nurse, the club also distributed Kids Help Phone materials, providing students with valuable tools to support their well-being. To reinforce the message, all students received a Lifesaver candy, symbolizing the many "lifesavers" around us—educators, family, and trusted adults—who are always there to help.

8 Holiday Activities to Nurture Family Connection

The holiday season is a special time for family bonding and creating lasting memories. As we navigate this festive period, it's important to find ways to strengthen our family connections and build positive memories with our children.

Here are some creative ideas to help you foster deeper family ties through meaningful traditions:

1. Volunteering Together
2. Crafting Homemade Gifts
3. Starting a Family Gratitude Journal
4. Holiday Storytelling Nights
5. Themed Dinner Nights
6. Outdoor Adventure
7. DIY Decoration Day
8. Year-End Reflections and Resolutions

Click here to learn more about each holiday activity.

Mathletes Competition at St. Joseph Catholic School in Uxbridge

On Friday, November 8, St. Joseph Catholic School in Uxbridge hosted its inaugural Mathletes competition, with enthusiastic participation from Grade 3-8 students. Students in Grade 3-6 participated in a series of hands-on mathematical questions, and intermediate students in Grade 7-8 were team leaders to support their younger peers. Read the article and watch the video below to learn more.

BLOSM Fundraiser in Support of Sickle Cell Association of Canada

On November 12, the Black Leaders of St. Mary (BLOSM) group at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School came together to sell samosas over the school lunch periods. The sales from the samosas went directly to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Canada in support of sickle cell disease research.

Click here to read more.

Author's Tea at St. Patrick Catholic School

Every month, select students at St. Patrick Catholic School are invited to an “Author’s Tea.” During this time, students share their classwork with family and friends while sipping tea and munching on treats, all in French! Students in Grades 5 and 7 shared short stories, biographies, science projects and presentations on Los Angeles and Liverpool as part of their work in geography. All the proud students received a certificate of accomplishment!

St. Patrick Catholic School is one of the two elementary French Centres at DCDSB.

Coco's Cocoa for Kids Fundraiser for SickKids

For the third year in a row, Coco's Cocoa for Kids is in full swing! Cohen, a student from St. Matthew the Evangelist Catholic School, and his family and friends, are running a hot cocoa bar throughout November and December to raise money for SickKids Hospital. To date, Cohen has raised over $28,000 with 100% of donations going directly to SickKids Hospital. Cohen was also honoured by SickKids as the first-ever "SickKids Fundraiser Ambassador" for the hospital! This year, Cohen's goal is to raise $15,000 and hopes to raise a combined $50,000.

Congratulations to Cohen and his family and friends on this amazing initiative. Your compassion and generosity are an inspiration to us all!

Click here to learn more about Coco's Cocoa for Kids.

Grade 12 Business SHSM Certification

The Grade 12 Business Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) students from Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School spent the afternoon with the franchise owner and kitchen manager of Charlie Ronick's in Whitby. Students had the opportunity to learn first-hand about the challenges and opportunities facing today's small businesses.

Click here to read more.

Project SEARCH Retreat

On November 11, Project SEARCH interns and staff gathered at Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre in Pickering for a Day of Retreat. Reflecting on this year's spiritual theme of "Living in Hope", the interns spent some time discerning their personal gifts and how they might continue to share them in the future. Since it was Remembrance Day, the group paused the retreat around 11:00 a.m. to recall the sacrifices that our Canadian war veterans offered in protection of our country. Later that afternoon, the retreat participants engaged in various activities that were aimed at strengthening the fundamentals of faith. The retreat ended with a closing prayer meditation where each intern receiving a votive candle as a sign of their commission to be hope for the world.

Travel, Learn, and Earn a Credit in Summer 2025

Are you ready to take your education beyond the classroom? The Travel for Credit program, offered in partnership with EF Educational Tours, is your chance to earn a high school credit while exploring the world. This program blends classroom learning with hands-on experiences, providing you with a unique opportunity to earn a credit in an unforgettable setting. Complete part of your summer school learning in-person at one of our DCDSB secondary schools, and continue your learning while traveling under the supervision of the summer school teacher.

There are four exciting Travel for Credit summer offerings in summer 2025:

• Grade 10 Civics (CHV2O) and Careers (GLC2O) – Destination: Ottawa, Montreal and New York City
• Grade 11 Environmental Science (SVN3M) – Destination: Costa Rica
• Grade 11 French Culture and Conversation (IDC3O/IDC4U) – Destination: Paris and Nice 
• Grade 12 English, University (ENG4U) – Destination: London and Edinburgh

Start your journey by exploring your options at Travel for Credit - DCDSB. Pack your bags, expand your horizons, and earn credit for the adventure of a lifetime!

• Dec. 6 - National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
• Dec. 8 - Second Sunday of Advent
• Dec. 9 - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Dec. 9 - Dec. 13 - Computer Science Week - Hour of Code
• Dec. 10 - Human Rights Day
• Dec. 12 - National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples
• Dec. 15 - Third Sunday of Advent
• Dec. 16 - Regular Board Meeting
• Dec. 21 - Winter Solstice
• Dec. 22 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
• Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 - Christmas Break
• Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve
• Dec. 25 - Christmas Day
• Dec. 25 - Jan. 2 - Hanukkah
• Dec. 26 - Dec. 31 - Kwanzaa
• Dec. 29 - Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
• Dec. 31 - New Year's Eve

Click here and subscribe to our calendar to receive reminders about holidays, P.A. days, events, and recognition days.

Durham Catholic District School Board

650 Rossland Road West

Oshawa, ON L1J 7C4

(905) 576-6150

www.dcdsb.ca