As summer draws to an end and we are greeted by the fresh air and vibrant colours of autumn, we often take time to gather with family and friends and give thanks. Here in Durham Catholic we are thankful for a smooth return to the school year, for the friends and neighbours who make up our community of faith and for the remarkable gift of Catholic education.

Please visit our website to read the full message.

October is the Month of the Rosary

The month of October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary with the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary taking place on October 7th. As Catholics, we have witnessed the power of praying the rosary and the comfort and healing it offers during difficult times. As a Catholic learning community, students, families and staff are invited to pray the rosary together.

Learn more about how to pray the rosary on our website.

Student Spotlight - Moyin and Sophie, Student Trustees

In this Student Spotlight segment, we introduce you to your 2022-2023 Student Trustees, Moyin and Sophie! Thank you to Moyin and Sophie for sharing your excitement for the school year, your plans for your roles as Student Trustees, and for sharing what it means to listen with the ear of the heart.

We are looking forward to having you both represent DCDSB students this school year!

Outdoor Trail and Learning Space at the Catholic Education Centre

The Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) has been working closely with the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA), who has provided guidance for outdoor learning spaces on a piece of property at the DCDSB Catholic Education Centre.

On September 28, 2022, students from St. Mary Catholic Secondary School (Pickering) and St. Jude Catholic School (Ajax) came to the DCDSB Pope Francis Centre to participate in a day of experiential learning. Over 55 students collaborated to come up with design ideas for trails and outdoor learning spaces on this piece of land.

Students worked throughout the day on outdoor space designs, and moved over 28 yards of mulch onto the new trail paths!

We would like to thank students from St. Jude Catholic School and St. Mary Catholic Secondary School. In addition, we would like to extend a special thank you to Mrs. Brunnock, Mrs. Collins and Mr. Harvey from St. Jude Catholic School along with Mr. Pisani, Mrs. Ladrillo and Mrs. Van Rhee from St. Mary Catholic Secondary School.

We are looking forward to continuing to share updates about this ongoing project which is led by students and educators.

If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health or general well-being, you can work with your school to help make sure your child gets the support they need. Early identification of mental health concerns can help prevent future problems.

The best place to start is by having a conversation with one of your child's classroom educators. If you’re comfortable, you may wish to share information such as situations your child has dealt with that may impact their mental health; approaches that seem to help your child; and behaviours that you’ve been noticing at home. You may want to ask if staff have noticed similar behaviours at school. Having an open and honest discussion will help you figure out together, the best way to help.

Durham Catholic students and families can also speak to our board support staff directly by calling our Social Work Access Line and leaving a voicemail with their contact information. One of our mental health professionals will call back and provide support. Note that this is not a crisis line and is not monitored 24/7.

Register to Vote in Municipal and School Board Elections

If you are a resident, owner or tenant of property in Ontario, a Canadian citizen and 18 years of age or over, you can vote in Ontario’s municipal and school board elections. To confirm that your information is current and accurately reflected, please visit voterlookup.ca.

The Municipal and School Board Elections are Monday, October 24, 2022, but qualified voters don’t need to wait until Voting Day to cast their ballots! Plan to vote early at one of the Advance Voting Events. A variety of times and locations are available throughout Advance Voting Event that will work for your schedule! Please visit voterlookup.ca or the website for the city or town you reside in for further information on the 2022 Municipal and School Board Elections.

Oshawa Municipal and School Board Elections

The Oshawa Municipal and School Board Elections are Monday, October 24, but qualified Oshawa voters don’t need to wait until Voting Day to cast their ballots! Plan to vote early at one of 11 Advance Voting Events this October. With a variety of times and locations throughout the city, there is an Advance Voting Event that will work for your schedule! Review dates, times and locations on the City’s website.

But who are you voting for? Qualified Oshawa voters may vote for:

• one candidate for Regional Chair, elected region-wide;
• one candidate for Mayor, elected city-wide;
• one candidate for Regional & City Councillor, elected from your ward;
• one candidate for City Council, elected from your ward; and,
• Trustee(s) from your School Board (as applicable).

The list of certified candidates is available for review on voteoshawa.ca.

In the meantime, you can make sure your voter information is up-to-date on voteoshawa.ca or at Service Oshawa (50 Centre St. S.).

For more information on the 2022 Municipal and School Board Elections, please visit our website at voteoshawa.ca or contact City Clerk Services at 905-436-5639 or vote@oshawa.ca.

Indigenous Creative Arts Showcase

The Indigenous Creative Arts Showcase is taking place on Thursday, October 27, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa. This event is free and open to everyone.

We invite you to come celebrate the creativity of the local Indigenous community through music, poetry, and dance performances.

Presented in partnership with the Durham Region, Durham Public Libraries, Durham College, Durham College Student Association, Ontario Tech University, and The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, with support from the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board.

Further details can be found on the RMG webpage.