February is Black History Month! Throughout the year, the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) engages in learning and understanding of the history and current realities of Black individuals, while also recognizing the achievements, resilience and excellence of Black communities.  

At DCDSB, we are committed to promoting an inclusive learning community where diversity is celebrated, and all voices are heard. During February, we will be hosting various events, celebrations, and discussions to educate and inspire our students, staff, and community members on Black history and excellence. 

Click here to learn more about Black History Month at DCDSB and available resources and supports.

Living in Hope - Student Reflection

Hendrix from St. John XXIII Catholic School shares his reflection on the 2024-2025 spiritual theme, Living in Hope. Thank you, Hendrix, for your thoughtful reflection!

11th Annual Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation Gala

Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation is pleased to announce the 11th Annual Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation Gala, where 100% of the proceeds will go towards supporting DCDSB students and families. We invite you to join us on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, for the Gala honouring our Distinguished Catholic Alumni.

This signature event is a crucial part of our fundraising efforts. All monies raised will go to the Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation, which is committed to enhancing student well-being and academic success, by providing basic needs to some of the most vulnerable students in our Catholic school communities.

To purchase tickets, and to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please visit DurhamCatholicFoundation.ca/Gala.

Durham Catholic District School Board Named One of Canada’s Best Employers in 2025 by Forbes

The Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) is proud to announce that it has been included on the Forbes list of Canada’s Best Employers in 2025. This is the second consecutive year DCDSB has received this recognition.

Click here to read more.

To learn more about rewarding career opportunities with the Durham Catholic District School Board, please visit dcdsb.ca/Careers. 

Explore, Play, Grow - Kindergarten Registration is Open at DCDSB!

Kindergarten registration for a September 2025 start is now open! To attend Kindergarten in September 2025, students must be turning 4 years of age by December 31, 2025, to register in Year 1 (Junior) Kindergarten and 5 years of age for Year 2 (Senior) Kindergarten. 

We look forward to welcoming your child as they embark on a faith-filled journey at DCDSB! Please visit dcdsb.ca/Kindergarten to learn more and to register.

New Track and Field at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School

We're thrilled to announce the opening of the new track and field at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School! Special thanks to the Government of Ontario and the Ministry of Education for their support through the School Facility Renewal Project. Additionally, thanks to the City of Oshawa for funding the soccer field lights.

Submit Nominations for March Beacons of Hope

Families, students and staff are invited to nominate a DCDSB student or employee that exemplifies and embodies the monthly theme for the Beacons of Hope recognition program. The theme for March is: A Collaborative Contributor.

The selected nominees will be recognized during the March Board Meeting. The deadline to submit your nominations for the March theme is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28.

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

Durham Region Health Department – Norovirus Information

The Durham Region Health Department has shared that cases of Norovirus, commonly known as the "stomach flu", are on the rise in the Durham Region. Noroviruses are a leading cause of outbreaks in child care centres and schools, most often occurring in the fall and winter months. They can infect individuals of all ages and typically cause symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Noroviruses spread easily and rapidly through direct contact with infected individuals, contaminated food, and contaminated objects or surfaces. 

For information on how to protect against noroviruses please see the Durham Region Health Department fact sheet.

Math Made Accessible: Tools for Families of Students with Special Education Needs

The Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee, in partnership with the Durham Catholic District School Board, is pleased to offer part two of the Financial Literacy Parent Night on Thursday, February 20, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School (80 Mandrake Street, Ajax). Part two of this series will focus on tools for families of students with Special Education needs.

This presentation will feature practical tools, fun games, hands-on activities, and valuable resources to make math more approachable and enjoyable for all learners.

This is a family-friendly event where children are welcome, and activities are perfect for all ages! Registration for this evening is required. Please click here to confirm your attendance.

For more resources, please visit the DCDSB Financial Literacy webpage.

Unnamed Kedron Catholic Elementary School - Upcoming Public Consultation

In 2024, the Province of Ontario announced a $31.0 million investment to provide additional pupil spaces in Oshawa. A part of this funding will provide a new Catholic elementary school in north Oshawa.

A proposed boundary for the Unnamed Kedron Catholic Elementary School has been determined. A further review through a public consultation process, supported by a consultant, will determine the boundary for this new school.

View maps of the current Oshawa boundaries and the proposed Unnamed Kedron Catholic Elementary School boundary here.

Through a series of public meetings, the board will compile considerations and recommendations to bring to the DCDSB Regular Board Meeting in June 2025. Public meetings have been scheduled on the dates below to present the options under consideration and to offer our parents and guardians the opportunity to ask questions and provide input. 

The dates and locations for these meetings are as follows:

• Tuesday, February 25, 2025: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at St. Anne Catholic School
• Tuesday, March 4, 2025: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at St. John Bosco Catholic School
• Tuesday, March 18, 2025: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School

Please visit our website for more information on the proposed boundary for the Unnamed Kedron Catholic Elementary School, and for updates on the Oshawa Program and Boundary Study.

Family Literacy Night

The Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee and the DCDSB Literacy Team have

partnered to offer a Family Literacy Night for parents and caregivers.

The presentation will be available on various dates and locations to ensure accessibility for families. The upcoming presentations include:

• St. John Paul II Catholic School: Tuesday, February 25, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• St. Jude Catholic School: Tuesday, March 25, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Please click here to register for your desired location and date.

Download the post card to learn more about Family Literacy Night.

Academy for Student Athlete Development 2025-2026 Applications Now Open!

The Academy for Student Athlete Development (ASAD) is an innovative program designed to provide targeted athletic, academic, and psychosocial support in a high-performance daily training environment to student athletes in Grades 9-12, as they strive to achieve success at provincial, national, and international levels of competition.

The ASAD program in partnership with Durham Catholic District School Board provides an opportunity for student athletes to earn academic credit while training in their desired sport!

Please email asadadmissions@abilitiescentre.org to express your interest and please visit the online form to apply.

Mental Health First Aid - Supporting Youth Virtual Workshop

As part of Durham Catholic District School Board’s commitment to supporting mentally healthy schools, we are pleased to offer Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) - Supporting Youth, a virtual program for parents, guardians and caregivers. This 10-hour blended course includes one self-directed module (2 hours) and two virtual classroom modules (4 hours each). MHFA is the help provided to a person who is showing signs of declining mental well-being or crisis. This course is open to parents, guardians and caregivers with children in Grades 6-12.

Participants will be required to complete Module 1 (the 2-hour self-directed module) on their own, in advance of the first virtual session.

The virtual sessions dates are:

• March 26, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Module 2)
• March 27, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Module 3)

For further information about MHFA Supporting Youth (Virtual), please visit the

Mental Health Commission of Canada website.

To register, please complete this form and you will be contacted if selected.

Indigenous Arts Gala

DCDSB students and families are invited to attend a free Indigenous Arts Gala at All Saints Catholic Secondary School on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

This evening will be dedicated to showcasing and honouring the richness of Indigenous art, culture, and storytelling. Guests are invited to view real, original and authentic Indigenous artwork and hear from inspiring guest speakers.

Please fill out the Indigenous Arts Gala RSVP form to confirm your attendance.

Grade 6 Students Welcome Author David A. Robertson

Mr. Bradley’s Grade 6 class at St. Anne Catholic School had the privilege of virtually hosting and welcoming writer David A. Robertson after they read his fantasy novel, "The Barren Grounds."  

Throughout the novel, students had the opportunity to make connections to the Cree language, Cree and Indigenous themes such as star stories, the medicine wheel, animal mythology, and messages about environmentalism and relationships with the land.

Click here to read more.

Bishop Nguyen Visits DCDSB Schools in Brooklin

On January 17, students from St. Leo Catholic School, St. Bridget Catholic School and St. John Paul II Catholic School in Brooklin were blessed to receive a school visit from His Excellency, Bishop Vincent Nguyen. 

Bishop Nguyen spoke to students and staff about his role in the clergy and answered questions students had about his mitre (i.e. traditional headgear worn by the Bishop), his crosier (i.e. the Bishop’s staff), and his vocation.

Thank you to Father Mounir El-Rassi from St. Leo the Great Catholic Church for coordinating the school visits. It was a wonderful opportunity to see the home-school-parish triad in action!

St. Monica Catholic School Celebrates Family Literacy Day!

Held annually on January 27, Family Literacy Day highlights the importance of daily reading and engaging in literacy activities as a family. This year, St. Monica Catholic School Principal, Mr. Szent-Ivany, kicked off the celebration by leading the primary division in a read-aloud.

Mrs. Lytwynchuk, Teacher Librarian, and Ms. Gazley, Grade 5 teacher, hosted a "Book Tasting" event, inviting students from Grade 4 to Grade 8 to explore a variety of books. This interactive experience helped students discover new titles and authors to spark their reading interest. Meanwhile, Mme. Romeo (Grade 2) and Mr. Georgiadis (Grade 1/2) encouraged students to create their own versions of book covers, resulting in a vibrant "Favourite Book Wall of Fame" designed to inspire others to fall in love with reading.

The fun didn’t stop there! Staff and students dressed up as their favourite literary characters and took part in a guessing game to identify the book protagonists they were portraying.

Click here to read more.

Grade 12 Art Show at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School

On January 16, students from Mr. Lelasseux's Grade 12 Art class at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School showcased their stunning pieces at Audley Community Centre in Ajax. Students shared multiple pieces and each set carried a theme. A community member said: "It was inspiring to see how the students unfolded a theme over a period of time through various mediums. Even more impactful was listening to students as they explained how they expressed their theme in their pieces with so much depth." Congratulations to all of the participants on a successful evening of art. 

DCDSB Co-Operative Education - One More Cocoa

Are you interested in learning more about Co-operative Education at DCDSB? Check out this video to learn more! Grade 12 student, Naomi, tells us all about her co-op placement at One More Cocoa Chocolatier.

Learn more about Co-operative Education at the Durham Catholic District School Board by visiting our website: dcdsb.ca/cooperative-education

Coding Quest Projects at St. Patrick Catholic School

Grade 5 students at St. Patrick Catholic School showcased their creativity, critical thinking and collaboration skills through Coding Quest projects! Students used Scratch and Makey Makeys to create interactive French video games while integrating skills across three subjects: French, Science, and Math.

In Math class, students tackled coding challenges with Scratch, incorporated algorithms, loops, and problem-solving techniques in designing their games. In Science class, they designed controllers that were functional circuit boards, which showcased their understanding of circuitry and electricity. In French, they demonstrated their language skills through game posters, instructions, and oral presentations.

BWell - Secondary Student Mental Health and Well-Being Leadership Team

In May of 2024, DCDSB’s secondary student mental health and well-being leadership team, BWell, was formed. Since its inception, 36 students representing all of DCDSB’s secondary schools have come together to work on bringing student voices to the discussion around well-being in our schools. Students have engaged in conversations about mental health promotion, looking at how the DCDSB and individual schools can help support student well-being. Currently the group is working on creating four health promotion campaigns to be released during Catholic Education and Mental Health Week in May. The campaigns will focus on substance use, seeking help for mental health concerns and helping others who may be struggling. We look forward to seeing their final products!

Congratulations to the Child Care Assistant Training Program Graduates

On January 23, Archbishop Anthony Meagher Catholic Continuing Education Centre staff congratulated the dedicated adult learners who successfully completed the Child Care Assistant Training Program. After 18 weeks of hard work and commitment—nine of which were spent gaining hands-on experience at a child care facility— students earned their certificates and are now ready to embark on fulfilling careers in child care. 

The program, which runs twice a year with intake periods in September and January, provides adults aged 18 and older with the skills and knowledge necessary to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young children. Many of the graduates have already received job offers, a testament to their hard work at placement and the high demand for qualified professionals in the field. 

Applicants must first attend an orientation and complete a literacy assessment to ensure they are prepared for the coursework ahead. Once enrolled, students engage in both classroom learning and real-world training, making them well-equipped to thrive in child care environments. 

We commend our graduates for their perseverance, passion, and commitment to this important work. For more information on the Child Care Assistant Training Program or to apply for future intakes, please visit www.con-ed.ca/cca. 

February is Black History Month.

• Feb. 10 - International Epilepsy Day
• Feb. 10 - Finance Committee Meeting
• Feb. 11 - World Day of the Sick
• Feb. 11 - Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Meeting
• Feb. 13 - Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (DCPIC) Meeting
• Feb. 14 - Secondary P.A. Day
• Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day
• Feb. 17 - Family Day
• Feb. 24 - Regular Board Meeting
• Feb. 24-28 - Stand Up to Bullying Week
• Feb. 26 - Pink Shirt Day
• Feb. 26 - Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee Meeting

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