As the 2022-2023 school year is coming to an end, we want to take a moment to reflect on the past ten months which have been filled with learning, excitement and the joy of community. We are so pleased that students, staff and families have once again had opportunities to engage with one another in celebrations of faith, co-curricular activities, field trips, proms, graduations and retirements.

Throughout the school year, we have embraced our spiritual theme of Listening With the Ear of the Heart placing our focus on what it means to authentically listen to each other and to God. Through deep listening, we can continue to expand our knowledge and understanding of the experiences of others, which supports a culture of respect for all. We invite you to watch the compilation video below that provides an overview of how we have Listened With the Ear of the Heart over the 2022-2023 school year.

To view the full year-end message, please visit our website.

Indigenous Education at St. Paul Catholic School

Kindergarten students at St. Paul Catholic School showcased what they have learned this year in Indigenous Education. Thank you to Ms. Brown-Cummings and Ms. Persaud’s class for sharing their learning!

Breaking Down Stereotypes at St. Monica Catholic School

Grade 7 and 8 students at St. Monica Catholic School participated in a special art project where they broke down stereotypes. This project was based on a Trent University art project by an Indigenous artist. Students took photos of themselves how they believe they are perceived by others and took another photo of themselves that represented how they want others to perceive them.

Thank you to all the students in Miss. Maitland's Grade 7 and 8 class for sharing your artwork!

DCDSB 2023 - 2024 School Year Calendar

The Durham Catholic District School Board 2023-2024 school year calendars have now been approved by the Ministry of Education.

The first day of school for both elementary and secondary students will be Tuesday, September 5, 2023. Please click here to view the 2023-2024 School Year Calendars which can be found on our website.

DCDSB is Hiring!

To view and apply to DCDSB Teaching and Educational Support positions, please visit Apply to Education.

We are also hiring for the following positions:

• Disability Claims Management Officer
• All Purpose Person
• Plumber

Current opportunities can be viewed on our Careers webpage.

Durham Region Transit (DRT) is again offering the 2-for-1 Summer Youth Pass. Youth 13 to 19 years of age can purchase the 2-for-1 Summer Youth Pass for $93.50—the regular cost of a monthly pass.

Once purchased, the August pass will automatically renew on the customer’s PRESTO card prior to the beginning of August.

DCDSB Student Spotlight - Tyler B.

This Student Spotlight segment features Tyler B., a Grade 12 student at Monsignor John Pereyma Secondary School. Tyler shares his passion for learning languages and tells us why he chose to continue taking French beyond Grade 9. Thank you, Tyler, for sharing with us!

Students from All Saints Catholic Secondary School travelled to Ottawa to participate in OFSAA Track and Field Provincial Championships. Shadae T., Kennedy B., Bryana G. and Kayla G. Broke the decade old OFSAA record in the junior girls 4x100m race, winning the gold medal. The team set a new OFSAA record of 47.73 seconds. 

Click here to read the full story.

DCDSB Virtual Art Show

We hope you enjoy the Durham Catholic District School Board Virtual Art Exhibit! This exhibit displays the artistic talents of some of our DCDSB students that was put together by DCDSB Communications Co-operative Education student Joshua L. (Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School). A special thanks to the DCDSB staff that submitted pieces of student art for this annual June Virtual Art Show!

St. Mary Catholic Secondary School Students Collaborate with E-Nable to Send Prosthetics to Afghanistan

E-Nable is a global humanitarian network that uses 3D printing to help individuals that are in need of assistive devices and prosthetics. This year, in co-ordination with e-Nable contacts, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School students have been able to put together a package that will be sent to Gilani Hospital in Quetta, Pakistan. From there it will hopefully make its way to Afghanistan where it will be distributed to individuals in need of prosthetic hands. Click here to read the full story.

Licensed to Learn (L2L) Peer Tutoring at Durham Catholic District School Board

Over the last year, Licensed to Learn (L2L) has played an important role in supporting students across the Durham Catholic District School Board. The aim of this program was to boost student success by creating peer tutoring and leadership development opportunities for all students in both elementary and secondary schools. Thank you to all the students and staff, especially the school coordinators, for helping to facilitate this program!

On your Mark, Get Set, Get Set, Get Set.....GO!

Due to rain and poor air quality, it was a challenge, but with the assistance of our Elementary Track and Field leads, all eight DECA Track and Field Meets did successfully go forward! Over 2,800 student athletes were able to showcase their amazing athletic talents.

Click here to read the full story.

Skills Ontario Trade & Tech Mobile Classroom at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic School

The Skills Ontario Trade and Tech Mobile Classroom travelled to Monsignor J. Pereyma in Oshawa on Tuesday, June 13th and St. Catherine of Siena in Ajax on Wednesday, June 14th. This mobile classroom is equipped with 12 different skilled trades and tech related trainers and simulators providing students with an opportunity to explore and learn more about the apprenticeship pathway. Students enjoyed participating in the hands-on activities especially the welding and heavy machinery simulators. This opportunity was an OYAP funded initiative.

Supports for Summer Mental Health

The mental health and well-being of students continues to be a priority at DCDSB. For some students, summertime can be challenging for a number of reasons. The disruption in routine and a loss of structure can affect anyone. Changes in sleep and eating habits can have big impacts. Less structured days can lend themselves to spending too much time online and can aggravate an unhealthy attachment to social media. We have highlighted some tips for summertime wellness, as well as resources that can be accessed for support on our Supports for Summer Mental Health Webpage.

The Head Start - Transitioning to High School program is available to all Grade 8 students going into Grade 9 at one of our Durham Catholic District School Board high schools.

Our Head Start program runs from August 21 - August 24, 2023 (8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.).

Learn more and register for Head Start at Con-Ed.ca.