September 2024 - Back-to-School Edition

Welcome to the 2024-2025 School Year

Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers:

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! I extend a heartfelt greeting to students and families who are new to the Durham Catholic District School Board, and a warm ‘welcome back’ to returning students and families.

I am excited to begin this year as the new Director of Education for the DCDSB and look forward to connecting with students and families in this new role. I am dedicated to the continued growth, collaboration and innovation of the board.

The beginning of each school year brings with it a sense of renewed energy and excitement. We are eager to build upon the successes of last year’s Student Achievement Plan, and to continue to build on the priorities outlined in our multi-year strategic plan, Inspire 2026, to support faith and well-being, advance human rights, equity, and Indigenous Education, and improve student learning.

Please click here to view the full message.

Yours in hope and faith,

Gerard Winn Director of Education

Faith

Spiritual Theme: Living in Hope

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.” Inspired by this significant moment, the DCDSB community will be guided by the spiritual theme of Living in Hope during the 2024-2025 school year.

The virtue of hope calls us into a loving relationship with one another. In his February 2022 letter, Pope Francis writes, “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.” These words will guide us as we celebrate Living in Hope this year.

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

DCDSB Updates

School Year Calendar

Our 2024-2025 School Year Calendar is now available.

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

Cell Phone and Personal Mobile Device Use in Schools

The new provincial policy states that all members of the school community must not use personal mobile devices during instructional time except under the following circumstances:

For educational purposes, as directed by an educator;
For health and medical purposes; and/or
To support special education needs.

Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year:

Kindergarten - Grade 8 students must store their cell phones/personal mobile devices out of sight for the full school day. Devices must be powered off or set to silent during school hours, which includes recess and lunch hour (i.e. any time the student is on school property). Cell phone/personal mobile device usage is only permitted if the educator deems it necessary for educational purposes.
Grade 9-12 students must turn off their cell phones/personal mobile devices or set to silent during instructional time, except where use is permitted by the educator for educational purposes.

All social media sites and apps, including Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, Tik Tok, and Discord will no longer be available on school or board Wifi. Social media platforms can only be used by students at school for educational purposes, directed by an educator.

Visit our website for more information.

Smoke/Vape Free Schools

A reminder there is absolutely no smoking, vaping, e-cigarettes, or cannabis, permitted inside our schools, on school or board property, or within 20 metres of school property. If you are found to be carrying, selling, buying, giving, or using vape or tobacco products on school property, you may be subject to disciplinary action or may be charged under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.

If a student is found in possession of one of these substances, parents/guardians/caregivers will be notified, and the item(s) must be given to an educator or administrator.

To learn more about smoke, drug and vape-free schools, please visit our website.

Steps to Addressing Questions and Concerns

We believe that open, respectful, two-way communication builds relationships and enhances student success.

Durham Catholic District School Board requests that questions or concerns be directed to the level closest to the issue. We have created a webpage that is available on board and school sites and outlines the process in order to help parents, guardians, caregivers and community members know who to contact with questions and/or concerns.

Click here to learn more.

DCDSB Right to Disconnect

Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) staff believe in the value of open and responsive communication between home and school in support of our students.

As a school board with approximately 2,300 staff members, we are committed to supporting positive work-life balance for our employees. We take this responsibility seriously and believe that the overall health and well-being of our staff impacts their ability to effectively support the learning needs of our students.

The DCDSB Right to Disconnect from Work Policy, protects the right of staff to disconnect from work between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, all day on weekends, approved vacation days, statutory holidays and board-designated non-working days.

We recognize that families have different responsibilities and work obligations of their own, which may impact the times when they are able to write notes and/or emails to their children’s school and/or educators. All parents, guardians and caregivers are advised that in most cases, communication received after hours will not be responded to until the next working day.

Thank you for your continued partnership to support the mental health and well-being of all in our Durham Catholic learning community.

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 Child's 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 to the Parent Portal. Please click here to view information on how to create an account.

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.

Talking to Kids About Back to School Worries

Going back to school can bring up big worries for kids, but talking about concerns — and feeling supported — can help. The Child Mind Institute has put together helpful tips to make your back-to-school conversations with your child more productive and less stressful for everyone. Click here to read the article.

Support 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 2024-2025 school year. In addition, we have been equipping educators to support students with special needs throughout the summer through our Summer Institute for Educators and Educational Assistant training sessions.

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.

Region of Durham - Mobile ID and Benefits Access Hubs

Mobile ID and Benefits Access Hubs are taking place in Durham Region this fall! Residents can get help with benefits that may put money in their pocket, like the Canada Learning Bond.

Families can get help accessing the Canada Learning Bond at each of the hubs—they can apply for government identification, open a RESP, speak to someone from the Canada Revenue Agency about income-boosting benefits, and more. Visit durham.ca/MobileBenefitsHub and read the flyer to learn more.

Durham Region – Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Information

Durham Region has seen a higher rate of pertussis (whooping cough) cases over the summer months. The Durham Region Health Department is urging all Parents and guardians, to ensure their children’s immunizations are up to date and all staff to ensure theirs is as well. Please get any needed vaccines, including the pertussis vaccine, before school begins. Please see Facts About ... Pertussis (Whooping Cough) for additional information about pertussis, and for details about pertussis vaccination: Facts About… Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, and Haemophilus Influenza B Vaccines.

DCDSB Students

Summer Rays Learning Program

DCDSB's Summer Rays Learning Program is a four-week learning and recreation program for students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 that focuses on improving students' literacy and math skills while offering all the benefits of activities such as field trips, games, and arts and crafts. This summer, students participated in a variety of activities, including visiting the Oshawa Zoo to explore and learn about animals! Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who make this program possible.

Click here to learn more about Summer Rays.

CABS Multi-Sport Summer Camp

This summer, the Coach/Advocates for Black Students (CABS) led students in Grades 6-9 in the CABS Multi-Sport camp at Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School. Students played a variety of recreational activities, including basketball, volleyball, kickball and more! In addition, camp leaders facilitated activities that were aimed at building leadership, fitness, and peer relationship skills.

Throughout the camp, students had the exciting opportunity to meet inspiring leaders including Jamaal Magloire and Keishana Washington. Jamaal Magloire, basketball development consultant and former Toronto Raptor, spoke to students about financial literacy, the importance of education and his time in the NBA. Keishana Washington, Team Canada basketball player and St. Mary Catholic Secondary School alumni, spoke about the importance of grades, working hard to achieve desired goals, kindness, and teamwork. Thank you to Jamaal and Keishana for speaking with our students!

Exploring the Trades Camp

From July 15 to 19, the Exploring the Trades camp was offered to students from Grades 6 to 8. 14 students attended the camp which focuses on introducing trade-related math skills and exploring trade areas in construction, carpentry, transportation and communication. The students made cell phone holders, trivets, and flower boxes.