DCDSB News

September 2023 - Back-to-School Edition

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year from the Director of Education and Chair of the Board

Happy September!

We are excited to reconnect with you and your family for the start of the 2023-2024 school year and offer a special welcome to students and families who are new to the Durham Catholic District School Board.

Here in Durham Catholic, we are looking forward to a school year that will focus on listening, learning and living in faith as we embark on our new multi-year strategic plan, Inspire 2026. Through our recent consultations in the spring of 2023, participants reconfirmed the importance of our strategic priorities to support faith and well-being, advance human rights and equity, and improve student learning with a particular focus on literacy, numeracy and pathways for student success.

To read the full message from the Chair of the Board of Trustees and Director of Education, please visit our website.

Yours in Catholic Education,

Monique Forster Tracy Barill

Chair of the Board Director of Education

Living in Faith

Spiritual Theme: Speaking With the Heart

After reflecting last year on what it means to “listen with the ear of the heart,” we turn to the words of Pope Francis for this year’s Spiritual Theme.

Noted during his message for the 57th World Day of Social Communications, 2023, he states, “It is the heart that spurred us to go, to see and to listen, and it is the heart that moves us towards an open and welcoming way of communicating.”

With these words in mind, the DCDSB community will be “Speaking With the Heart” in 2023-2024.

In reference to the synodal process and the kind of communication needed in the Church, Pope Francis writes, "listening without prejudice, attentively and openly, gives rise to speaking according to God’s style, nurtured by closeness, compassion and tenderness." This serves as an invitation to reflect on what it means to communicate “according to God's style”, welcoming encounters with others as “heart speaks to heart.”

We are also called to consider the many ways we communicate with one another. Beyond spoken words, we express ourselves through gestures, symbols, icons, body language, online communication, art, music, dance, and more. Even moments of silence can communicate meaning.

As we Listen, Learn, and Live in Faith this year, may “Speaking With the Heart” inform communication that “kindles hearts, is the balm on wounds and that shines light on the journey of our brothers and sisters.”

We invite you to learn more about this year's Spiritual Theme and the poster design on our website.

DCDSB Updates

2023-2026 Strategic Plan

Inspire 2026 focuses on Listening, Learning, and Living in Faith.

Through implementation of these processes, we will develop annual goals identified through strategic priorities of supporting faith and well-being, advancing human rights and equity, and improving student learning.

To learn more on our Inspire 2026 Strategic Plan, click here.

School Year Calendar

Our 2023-2024 School Year Calendar is now available. The calendar is available to view and/or download on our website.

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

DCDSB Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee Seeks Chair and Vice-Chair

The DCDSB recognizes that an equitable, inclusive education system is fundamental to achieving its mission and evolving core priorities. It also recognizes recognizes that any form of overt or covert racism and discrimination is incompatible with Catholic values and may be a breach of the Ontario Human Rights Code.

The board is committed to listening to its diverse communities and to addressing disparities with a view to cultivating a Board community that promotes human rights, equity and inclusion, and is committed to dismantling anti-Black racism.

With this in mind, the Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee was formed to provide a medium for effectively addressing and dismantling disadvantages and discrimination, historical or otherwise, experienced by Black students, staff and families in the Board.

The committee is currently seeking nominations for Chair and Vice-Chair. Details about the positions, eligibility requirements, tenure and the nomination and election process, as well as the nomination form, can be found online.

Click here to view the Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee webpage.

KinderClub

Parents and guardians with children ages 0-4 years old who have not been registered to school yet, can sign up for the DCDSB KinderClub for free!

Sign up today to receive a special birthday greeting during the month of your child's birthday and to be automatically entered to win a KinderClub monthly prize box!

Click here to Register to the DCDSB KinderClub

#ForTheKids Golf Classic

On August 22, 2023, the 8^th annual #ForTheKids Golf Classic in support of the Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation was held at Deer Creek Golf Course.

Thanks to the support of the attendees and our generous sponsors, we raised over $36,000! These funds will allow us to continue to bring much needed necessities to Durham Catholic students.

We want to thank everyone who registered, as well as DCDSB’s ICT department for organizing, as through the funds raised, we will bring hope to students in need and support students in becoming who they are called to be.

We hope to see everyone again at our 9^th Annual #ForeTheKids Golf Classic on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Mark it in your calendar!

To learn more about the Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation, please visit our website.

Parent, Guardian and Caregiver Resources

Report a Student Absence Through Safe Arrival

If your child is going to be absent, notify the school by using one of the following methods:

Safe Arrival portal login: go.schoolmessenger.ca
Call the toll free number: 1-844-288-7628
Report the absence through our smartphone mobile application: SchoolMessenger. Available from the App Store and Google Play Store.

Please click here for more information on SchoolMessenger and for steps on how to create an account.

DSTS – Check Your Childs Bus Route

Durham Student Transportation Services (DSTS) is responsible for ensuring safe and efficient transportation to and from schools for eligible students.

Families are encouraged to create an account for the DSTS Parent Portal, where they can subscribe to receive email alerts for their child(ren)'s bus route(s).

Please not that parents and guardians will require their child(ren)'s Ontario Education Number (OEN) to subscribe. Please click here to view information on how to create an account.

For more information on DSTS, please visit our webpage by clicking here.

Class Placements and Timetables

Tentative class placements and timetables are now available to view on Edsby. If you need assistance logging in to Edsby, please visit our website for further information.

If you have any questions, please contact the office at your DCDSB home school.

Supports for Students with Special Education Needs

Students with special education needs will continue to be supported through individualized service and program plans in the DCDSB.

Educators will continue to provide accommodations, modified expectations, and alternative programming to students with special education needs, consulting with parents/caregivers in the development of their IEPs for the 2023-2024 school year.

We are working to provide continued access to assistive technology, including Special Equipment Amount (SEA) equipment, where needed to support student learning. We look forward to continuing to support our students with special education needs through the home, school, and parish partnership.

DCDSB Students

DCDSB Assistive Technology Summer Camp

In July 2023, DCDSB students attended an Assistive Technology (AT) Summer Camp facilitated by Ms. Norris, Assistive Technology Specialist and Ms. Ezquerra, Student Services Consultant.

Some of the learning included hotkeys & tips for Chromebooks, accessibility features, read & write software, navigation of Office 365, self-advocacy skills and mindfulness & technology.

Thanks to Mr. Alexander and Mr. Berezhnyuk for their technology support and thanks to DCDSB’s Operations Maintenance Administrative Centre (OMAC) staff for sharing their space.

photo of children stretching their arms above their heads

Summer Rays

Our Summer Rays Learning program is a four-week learning and recreation program focused on improving students' literacy and math skills while offering all the benefits of activities such as field trips, games, and arts and crafts. Check out what our students did during the summer of 2023!

DCDSB Literacy and Numeracy Summer Programs

DCDSB students participated in a variety of Ministry-funded summer programs with a focus on Literacy and Numeracy, including Measurement in the Kitchen, Getting Ready for Grade 1, Literacy Intervention, Introduction to Assistive Technology, and more.