Living in Hope Student Reflection | |
During the 2024-2025 school year, the DCDSB community is guided by the spiritual theme of Living in Hope. Fabian, a Grade 7 student from St. Bernadette Catholic School, shares what Living in Hope means to him. | |
Pope Francis has announced that 2025 will be a Jubilee Year! This has become a spiritual tradition celebrated in the Church every 25 years. Pope Francis has chosen as the motto of the Jubilee, “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Learn more about the Jubilee Year at the Archdiocese of Toronto website.
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Durham Catholic Children's Foundation | |
Thank You for Participating in Giving Tuesday | |
On December 3, we celebrated Giving Tuesday in support of the Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation. DCDSB families donated through School Cash Online and through the Foundation website, and together, we raised a total of $12,107!
Your generous donations will help ensure that DCDSB students have access to essential resources like food, clothing, shelter, and more. The funds raised will directly support students, enabling them to fully participate in school activities such as field trips and extracurricular programs. Funds will also help to provide emergency support for families in need.
Thank you for your generosity and continued support in making a lasting difference in the lives of our students!
To learn more about the Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation, or to make a donation, please visit our website: www.durhamcatholicfoundation.ca.
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Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation Dart Tournament | |
We are excited to announce the Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation 1st Annual Dart Tournament! Funds raised will go to the Durham Catholic Children's Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing hope to the students of the Durham Catholic District School Board through fundraising efforts and your support.
Please see below for the event details:
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Date: Saturday, February 8, 2025
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Time: Social: 6:00 – 6:45 p.m., and play will take place from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
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Location: Canadian Corps Association, Oshawa (2nd Floor), located at 142 Athol St. E. Oshawa.
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Cost: $105 ($35 per player) for a team of 3 players. Note: must have a team of three (3) to enter. Teams must provide their own darts.
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Registration: Click here to register.
To learn more and to register for the 1st Annual Dart Tournament, please visit durhamcatholicfoundation.ca/darttournament. Please share this information with your families, friends and networks – all are welcome!
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DCDSB Kindergarten Registration is Now Open | |
Kindergarten registration is now open! Students eligible to attend Kindergarten in September 2025 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.
Begin your child’s faith-filled journey at DCDSB!
Visit dcdsb.ca/Kindergarten to learn more about our Kindergarten program.
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Grade 1 French Immersion Closes January 17 | |
Registration for Grade 1 French Immersion at the DCDSB closes on Friday, January 17, 2025. All interested Year 2 Kindergarten/Senior Kindergarten students are invited to register, to begin in the 2025-2026 school year!
Click here to learn more and register today.
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Nominations Open for DCDSB's 2025 Distinguished Catholic Alumni Awards | |
Nominations are now open for the DCDSB Distinguished Catholic Alumni Award.
The Distinguished Catholic Alumni Awards recognizes former students of the Durham Catholic District School Board who have achieved significant success in their chosen pathway. Through their pursuit of personal excellence, they have made a positive contribution to their communities and represent the image of the Catholic learner as outlined in the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations.
To be eligible for this award, the nominee must meet the following criteria:
- The nominee is a former student of the Durham Catholic District School Board.
- The nominee has distinguished themselves through service or accomplishments or career.
- The nominee reflects the characteristics of the Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations.
To submit a nominee for consideration, please complete the nomination form no later than Friday, February 7, 2025.
Recipients of the 2025 Distinguished Catholic Alumni Award will be recognized at the Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation Gala on April 23, 2025.
Visit our website to learn more about the Distinguished Catholic Alumni Award and to submit a nomination.
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Submit Nominations for February 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 February. The theme is: A Caring Family Member.
The selected nominees will be recognized during the February Board Meeting for a special award presentation. The deadline to submit your nominations for February is Friday, January 24, at 4:00 p.m.
Visit our website to make your nominations and to see previous award recipients: dcdsb.ca/BeaconsOfHope.
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Parent, Guardian, and Caregiver Resources | |
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 three different dates and locations to ensure accessibility for families.
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St. John XXIII Catholic School: Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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St. John Paul II Catholic School: Tuesday, February 25, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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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.
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Grade 9 Provincial EQAO Assessment | |
This month, students enrolled in MTH1W (Grade 9 Math) will be taking the provincial EQAO Grade 9 assessment. Based on the Grade 9 math curriculum, this online assessment provides parents, guardians, and teachers with valuable insights into students' attitudes and achievements in mathematics. The Grade 9 EQAO Math Assessment will be administered near the end of the first semester. For specific details on the date and time of the assessment, please consult your child’s math teacher.
Resources for families are available on the EQAO website, including an online practice test, released questions, and a short video outlining what to expect.
The Ministry of Education has developed Grade 9 Math: A Guide for Parents, a website with additional information about the Grade 9 Mathematics Course.
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Upcoming ASAD Information Sessions |
The Academy for Student Athlete Development (ASAD) is offering information sessions for Grade 8 students and their families.
Families are invited to attend an information session on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Abilities Centre to learn more about the program. Please email ASAD@abilitiescentre.org to register for this session.
Interested students and their families are also invited to attend "Day in the Life" sessions beginning on January 22, 2025, to experience the program, meet staff, and participate in a training session. Please click here to download the newsletter to learn more and register.
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St. Mary Catholic Secondary School Recognized as an Apple Distinguished School | |
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Pickering, Ontario, is pleased to announce it has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for the 2024–2027 program term. Schools apply and are selected for this distinction based on their commitment to continuous innovation in education and using Apple products to inspire, imagine, and impact teaching and learning.
Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of leadership and educational excellence, with a clear vision for how technology-rich environments support learning goals. In Apple Distinguished Schools, forward-thinking leaders and their communities work to inspire, imagine, and impact teaching and learning, and they have documented results of academic accomplishments.
Click here to read more.
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St. Joseph Catholic School in Oshawa Named a Top 10 Finalist in the CBC Canadian Music Class Challenge |
A huge congratulations to the incredible students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Oshawa on being named a top 10 finalist in this year’s CBC Canadian Music Class Challenge! St. Joseph Catholic School was the only school in Durham Region to be named a top 10 finalist for 2024.
Listen to our very talented students live performance of "Everything Is Boring" by The Beaches in the Elementary Vocal (Grade 4-6) category.
A special thank you to Mr. Parker for his work in practicing every recess for a month with the Grade 4-6 students, which includes seven singers and five-piece band. The ensemble says it took lots of hard work and lots of fun to make this video!
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DCDSB Students Honoured by Forests Canada and the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario for Commitment to Environmental Sustainability | |
On December 4, students from St. Bridget Catholic School and St. Monica Catholic School were invited to attend the annual tree lighting ceremony at the at the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite at Queen’s Park in Toronto. The lighting ceremony was hosted by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable Edith Dumont. During the ceremony, Forests Canada honoured the accomplishments of students who excelled in their education programs over the past year.
Click here to read more.
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Centre for Success Program at Durham Catholic District School Board |
The Centre for Success program is a dual credit alternative learning opportunity for students in their final year of high school. This is a unique program which, through a partnership with Durham College, allows students to complete their secondary school graduation requirements in an adult learning environment with support from DCDSB teachers. Students apply to this program through their home school. Please contact your child's Guidance Department for more information.
Check out the video below to learn more about the program.
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Mental Health and Well-Being | |
Talking to Your Child About Your Concerns | |
A common question parents have is: “How do I talk to my child if I’m concerned about them?”
Firstly, it is important that you share your concerns with your child. You can say something like: “I notice you're spending more time in your room than you used to, I care about you, is everything okay? Let’s come up with a plan together, you deserve to feel better.”
Sometimes children may be more comfortable having that conversation with someone else. While it's hard to hear that as a parent, it’s good to recognize that having your child be able to have that conversation with someone in their life is important. If they won’t have the conversation with you, you may want to encourage another caring adult in their life to check in with them. This conversation is done ideally in private in a time where emotions aren't high.
Click here to learn more by reviewing the handout Model Language for Families.
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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) and
- 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.
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Register for Night School with Archbishop Anthony Meagher Catholic Continuing Education Centre | |
Night school classes will begin February 18, 2025, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm. Classes will be offered as remote learning with online teacher instruction.
Course offerings are available on the DCDSB Continuing Education Night School webpage.
Current DCDSB students should see their Guidance Counsellor to register for Night School classes.
For more information, visit our website at www.con-ed.ca and/or contact us at:
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Indigenous Graduation Coach | |
Indigenous Graduation Coaches (IGC) support self-identified First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students’ overall well-being, cultural journey, and academic success while students work toward their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. IGCs work alongside the Indigenous Education Team to support Indigenous students’ spirit, heart, mind, and body. Additionally, IGCs promote Indigenous visibility within schools and classrooms.
IGCs visit schools to provide students access to culture. IGCs provide mentorship, advocacy, and leadership opportunities, promote Indigenous excellence, and help to recommend community connections.
Read the flyer to learn more about Indigenous Graduation Coaches or visit dcdsb.ca/IndigenousEducation.
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2023-2024 Director’s Annual Report | |
This past year has been an incredible journey of growth, achievement, and commitment to the Durham Catholic District School Board’s renewed mission to be an inclusive Catholic learning community that inspires every student to achieve their full potential through faith and education.
Click here to view the 2023-2024 Director's Annual Report.
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January is Tamil Heritage Month.
- Jan. 11-12 - Regional Arts and Media Program (AMP) Auditions
- Jan. 12 - Baptism of the Lord
- Jan. 13 - Policy Board Meeting
- Jan. 17 - Grade 1 French Immersion Registration Closes
- Jan. 19-25 - Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
- Jan. 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Jan. 21 - Lincoln Alexander Day
- Jan. 22-28 - Secondary Exams
- Jan. 22 - Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee Meeting
- Jan. 24 - Elementary P.A. Day
- Jan. 24 - World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture
- Jan. 27 - Regular Board Meeting
- Jan. 27 - International Holocaust Remembrance Day
- Jan. 27 - Family Literacy Day
- Jan. 29 - National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia
- Jan. 30 - Semester 2 Begins at Secondary Schools
Click here and subscribe to our calendar to receive reminders about holidays, P.A. days, events, and recognition days.
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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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