Catholic Education Week & Mental Health Week | | |
During the first week of May, the Durham Catholic District School Board celebrates Catholic Education Week, which recognizes the important contributions of Catholic education in our communities. This year’s theme is Catholic Education: Pilgrims of Hope, in recognition of the Jubilee Year.
This week is also Mental Health Week, which aims to raise awareness about mental health. This year’s theme for Mental Health Week is “Unmasking Mental Health,” as those living with mental health challenges may feel they need to hide behind a “mask” and the theme encourages open conversations to see the whole person.
We are so excited to celebrate this week as it is a perfect connection with the Supporting Faith and Wellbeing pillar of our Strategic Plan. We will be marking this week with special events and activities. Watch the video below to learn more.
For more information and resources visit dcdsb.ca/CatholicEducationWeek.
| | St. Bernadette Catholic School Celebrates Patron Saint | | |
On April 16, St. Bernadette Catholic School recognized their patron saint's feast day. Over the nine days leading up to St. Bernadette's feast day, St. Bernadette Catholic School school prayed a novena, which is a concentrated special daily prayer where the school community brought forth a special intention to Mother Mary through St. Bernadette. Families brought forth anonymous intentions via a digital intention book that were also woven into prayers.
Click here to read more.
| | Jubilee Cross Created and Blessed at Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School | | |
On April 11, Fr. Chris Lemieux, Pastor of St. Bernadette’s Parish celebrated Mass at Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School. Following the Mass, Fr. Chris blessed the DCDSB Jubilee Cross, which was built by Mr. Ladouceur and Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School students.
To celebrate the Jubilee year in our board, the cross will be travelling to DCDSB schools until January 6, 2026. In the Catholic Church, a Jubilee Year, also known as a Holy Year, is a special time of grace and forgiveness, marked by special celebrations, pilgrimages, and calls for conversion and repentance. The Jubilee Year is celebrated every 25 years, and this year we are celebrating the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope”, as proclaimed by Pope Francis.
| | Durham Catholic Children's Foundation | | DCDSB Announces the 2025 Distinguished Catholic Alumni Recipients | | |
On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the Durham Catholic District School Board recognized eight alumni at the Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation gala. A graduate from each Durham Catholic secondary school received the Distinguished Catholic Alumni Award.
Congratulations to the 2025 Durham Catholic Distinguished Alumni Award recipients:
- Noah Aquino, All Saints Catholic Secondary School
- Dr. Martina Trinkaus and Dr. Mateya Trinkaus, Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School
- D. Tyler Robinson, Father Leo. J. Austin Catholic Secondary School
- Dr. Robert Bentley, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
- Dr. Annalice Hayes, Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School
- Lisa (Slingerland) Freeman, Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School
- Constable James Rivera, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Visit the Distinguished Catholic Alumni Award webpage to learn more about the award recipients.
| | Parent, Guardian, and Caregiver Resources | | Youth and Mental Health Night | | |
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (DCPIC) will be hosting a Youth and Mental Health Night on Monday, May 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School (1020 Dryden Blvd, Whitby).
Join the DCPIC for an enlightening evening where students and families will hear from guest speaker and psychotherapist, Roxanne Francis, MSW, RSW. Expert practitioners from Dean's Mobility Training will also provide insight on mental and physical health. In addition, families are welcome to participate in practical, hands on activities, including a breathing exercise led by Certified Breathing Coach, Vince Caputo.
There will be a giveaway for every attendee! Please register to confirm your attendance by filling out the registration form.
| | Share Your Thoughts on our Multi-Year Plan Implementation | | |
Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) is committed to open and ongoing engagement with students, families, employees, and members of the DCDSB community. We are concluding the second year of our multi-year plan, Inspire 2026, and we want to hear your thoughts and suggestions on implementation and what we should consider for future planning.
All students, families, employees, and members of the DCDSB community are invited to participate in a brief survey, which asks:
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What do you think is going well in terms of the implementation of our multi-year plan, Inspire 2026, and what suggestions do you have for our future planning?
Please click here to participate in this survey. The survey will remain open until Friday, May 30, 2025.
Feedback received from the survey will help to guide our annual plans and multi-year plan. The insights will play a crucial role in our ongoing evaluation process, ensuring accountability and transparency, as outlined in our monitoring framework.
| | Kindergarten Community Fair | | |
On Tuesday, April 29, the DCDSB held the 2nd Annual Kindergarten Community Fair at All Saints Catholic Secondary School. Newly registered Kindergarten families were invited to explore available resources and supports at DCDSB, along with select community partners and the supports they offer.
We'd like thank our community partners and DCDSB resource teams for their ongoing partnership. Our appreciation also extends to the Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (DCPIC) for their collaboration on this event.
Registration for Kindergarten is open! Visit our website at dcdsb.ca/Kindergarten to learn more and register.
| | Unity Hub - Connecting Communities | | |
DCDSB Student Services presents Unity Hub - Connecting Communities on Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School (1375 Harwood Ave N, Ajax).
Join us to find out about services and programs offered by various community organizations, agencies and post secondary pathways!
Presentations from Participation House, Durham College Access and Support Centre, and Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth will begin at 5:00 p.m.
Please view the attached flyer for more information.
| | Submit Nominations for June 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 June is: A Self-directed, Responsible, Lifelong Learner.
The selected nominees will be recognized during the June Board Meeting. The deadline to submit your nominations for the June theme is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 23.
Visit our website to make your nominations and to see previous award recipients: dcdsb.ca/BeaconsOfHope.
| | National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People | | |
On Monday, May 5, the Durham Catholic District School Board will recognize National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People. On this day, students and educators will participate in learning to remember those who are lost or harmed, while honouring Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people and celebrating their resilience and strength. This learning will provide hope for those impacted by spreading awareness across our school communities.
| | Land Walk at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School | | |
Grade 12 students at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School went on a land walk with Indigenous community partner, Beedahbin Peltier, during their Contemporary Indigenous Voices in a Global Perspective class in April. Students learned more about Indigenous worldviews, about land as a teacher, and the connection between land and language. Beedahbin also led the students in an exploration of biodiversity, and how it is important to support local biodiversity in their communities.
| | Students from St. Joseph Catholic School in Oshawa Win National Student Songwriting Contest | | DCDSB Students Compete in Skills Ontario Pre-Qualifying Competition | | |
On April 5, six DCDSB students showcased their skills at the Skills Ontario Pre-Qualifying Competition held at Humber College. Among them, Ryan and Lydia, guided by their teacher Mr. Carnovale, shined brightly and secured their spots in the top three for welding. This incredible feat has earned them a place at the prestigious Skills Ontario Provincial Competition!
Ryan and Lydia will proudly represent DCDSB at the Skills Ontario Competition on May 5, joining 18 other exceptional DCDSB students.
| | Lenten Food Drive at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School | |
From April 7-11, students from St. Mary Catholic Secondary School participated in a Lenten Food Drive. The challenge to the school community was to bring in enough items to fill a police cruiser. On collection day, students managed to fill two police cruisers and brought in 1,050 items, which had a total weight of 950lbs!
The class that brought in most items was Mr. Amendola’s Grade 9 gym class with 143 items. Mr. Greco’s Grade 9 Religion class came in close second with 120 items. All proceeds went to our local food bank, St. Paul on the Hill.
A huge thank you to all students who helped make a difference in our community, especially during this Easter season.
| | 2025 DECA Lacrosse Tournament | | On Tuesday, April 29, an incredible 12-team lacrosse tournament took place at the Whitby Dome. The energy was high and students were excited to play the sport together! It was a successful day and a great tournament overall, with St. Anne Catholic School coming in first place overall. Thank you to all the coaches for their work and guidance, and a big congratulations to the teams that participated. | | SHSM Transportation Students Visit Canadian Tire Motorsport Park | | |
On Friday, April 25, Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Transportation students from Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School and St. Mary Catholic Secondary School had an unforgettable day at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park! They visited the racetrack, watched a quick race, learned from Motorsport racers and Automotive Service Technicians about their pathway, and got up close with some incredible Motorsport cars. Overall, it was an amazing experience!
| | Mental Health and Well-Being | | Mental Health Week Resources | | |
During the first week of May, the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) recognizes Mental Health Week. The theme for 2025 is Unmasking Mental Health.
The DCDSB has compiled resources for students and families to use in support of Mental Health Week. Visit dcdsb.ca/MentalHealthWeek for journalling activities, strategies, and more information.
| | Never too Late: Tony’s Inspirational Journey to High School Graduation | | |
At 78 years of age, Tony Cornacchia is proof that perseverance knows no age limit. On Friday, April 25, 2025, surrounded by DCDSB staff and his family, Tony proudly received his Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) from Archbishop Anthony Meagher Catholic Continuing Education Centre.
Tony’s journey back to the classroom started last fall. After leaving school in Grade 7 to support his family, he spent most of his life working as a foreman for the City of Toronto. Though retirement brought joy in the form of family time and grandchildren, Tony never lost sight of his lifelong goal: completing his high school education.
Tony dedicated himself to attending school at the Ajax Campus two to three days a week. Through the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) program - a process that evaluates and grants credits for life and work experience - Tony earned 26 credits. He then successfully completed four more courses.
Tony’s graduation is a powerful reminder that education knows no age limits. His perseverance and commitment are inspiring, demonstrating that it is never too late to learn, grow, and accomplish lifelong dreams.
Global News covered Tony's inspiring story. Watch the Global News interview here.
Adults who are 18 years of age or older are welcome to register for Adult Education classes at Archbishop Anthony Meagher Catholic Continuing Education Centre. Visit our website at www.con-ed.ca.
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May is the Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Speech & Hearing Month, Asian and South Asian, Jewish and Polish Heritage Month.
- May 5-9 - Catholic Education Week
- May 5-9 - Mental Health Week
- May 5 - Catholic Education Week System-Wide Mass
- May 5 - National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2-Spirited People (Red Dress Day)
- May 6 - Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Meeting
- May 8 - Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (DCPIC) Meeting
- May 11 - Mother's Day
- May 12 - Youth and Mental Health Night
- May 12 - Policy Board Meeting
- May 16 - Moose Hide Campaign Day
- May 17 - International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
- May 19 - Victoria Day
- May 20 - Speech and Language Pathologist & Hearing Consultants Day
- May 20 - Finance Committee Meeting
- May 22 - Child and Youth Counsellor Appreciation Day
- May 23 - Dress Loud for Speech and Hearing Awareness Day
- May 25 - Africa Day
- May 25-31 - AccessAbility Week
- May 26 - Regular Board Meeting
- May 28 - Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee Meeting
- May 29 - Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
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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