2022-2023 School Year Calendars |
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The 2022-2023 school year calendars have now been approved by the Ministry of Education.
We want to thank all staff, families and community members who participated in the school calendar consultations. Your feedback provided valuable input into the creation of these school year calendars.
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Register for Kindergarten |
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Begin your child’s journey at the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB)!
Register your child for Kindergarten. The online registration is now open for a September 2022 start in Kindergarten.
Kindergarten Resources
We have many resources available to assist families with the transition to Kindergarten:
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Lyme Disease Information from Durham Region Health Department |
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Durham Region Health Department reminds everyone to be aware that blacklegged ticks are prevalent within the Region, especially in forested or grassy/brushy areas, and the importance of taking precautions to avoid tick bites and Lyme disease infections. While not all blacklegged ticks are infected with Lyme disease, some ticks may carry the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi which can cause Lyme disease in humans and animals.
Lyme disease is preventable. If detected early, it can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Early symptoms of Lyme disease can appear within a few days or up to a month after a bite from an infected tick. Symptoms may include fever or chills, headache, muscle or joint pain, fatigue, stiff neck, and swollen lymph nodes. Also, 70 to 80 per cent of infected individuals experience an expanding red rash that often looks like a bull’s-eye target. If left untreated, Lyme disease can progress to a more serious, long-term illness involving the heart, joints and nervous system.
Anyone who develops symptoms after being bitten by a tick should see a health care provider as soon as possible. Lyme disease diagnosis is based on recognition of the clinical signs and symptoms, plus known exposure to a tick or a history of living in or travel to an area where ticks are likely to be found.
If you find a tick on the ground or one crawling on you that is not attached and feeding and you would like to know if it is a blacklegged tick, visit etick.ca for further information.
Although the risk of becoming infected with Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections is still relatively low, you can reduce the risk by taking precautions when enjoying outdoor activities. This is especially important if you frequent brushy or forested areas where ticks are most found. Precautions include:
- Wearing long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, socks, and closed footwear.
- Tucking your pants into your socks and wearing light-coloured clothing, which makes ticks easier to spot.
- Using an insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin on your clothing and exposed skin.
- Taking a shower within one to two hours of being outdoors and examining your body thoroughly for ticks while showering.
- Routinely checking pets for ticks and consulting a veterinarian regarding long-term protection for pets.
For more information on Lyme disease, please call Durham Health Connection Line at 905-668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729 or visit durham.ca/lyme. For the most up-to-date information about areas in Ontario where there is a frequent risk of Lyme disease, visit Public Health Ontario’s website at publichealthontario.ca.
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Community of Faith - Teen Ranch Retreat and Confirmation at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School
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In this Community of Faith video, Grade 12 and Grade 7 students welcome us to learn more about their Teen Ranch Retreat and Confirmation, respectively.
Thank you to Chaplain Kelly and to the Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School students for sharing your experiences and telling us what a Community of Faith means to you!
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DCDSB Student Visual Art Exhibit at Pickering Artfest |
Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 students from across the DCDSB had their art work featured in an exhibit at Pickering Artfest on Saturday, May 28, 2022. Many students and their families attended Artfest to support our student artists. Congratulations to all student participants!
A special thank you to all educators involved and to Mr. Costello, DCDSB Academic Services Consultant for Health and Physical Education and The Arts, for organizing this exhibit for DCDSB students!
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DCDSB Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program Students Discovery Day at The Miller Group |
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The Miller Group hosted skilled trades and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) students from Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School and St. Mary Catholic Secondary School at their Markham headquarters. The Discovery Day provided opportunities for students to be introduced to The Miller Group organization as well as learn about the construction industry and opportunities within a skilled trades pathway.
Students had an opportunity to try excavation and snowplow simulators, learn about the science of road salt, mix cement, create some electrical circuits, and learn about heavy equipment and careers with The Miller Group.
The hands-on small group sessions were well-received, and students were eager to ask questions to the Miller staff leading the event. Many students came away with a new awareness of The Miller Group and the realization of the skilled trades and other career opportunities that exist in Durham, the GTA and Canada with the group of companies. This opportunity was funded by OYAP in partnership with The Miller Group.
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On the evening of Wednesday, May 11, 2022, more than 300 elementary students showed off their choreographed dance steps to a variety of traditional tunes at the Annual Folk Dance Jamboree. This took place at Iroquois Park from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
A special thanks to all our DCDSB volunteer coaches that rehearsed for many hours to prepare the students for this DCDSB Community Event.
The evening culminated with the audience being invited down to the floor to participate in "The Slosh."
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Future City is a project-based learning program for students in Grades 6, 7 or 8. Students are given an inquiry question to research and then design and build cities of the future. Through this project, students learn the engineering design process and work in teams to answer a real-world question or problem. This year’s challenge was “Living on the Moon”. Teams needed to design a futuristic lunar city and provide examples of how the city uses two moon resources to keep its residents safe and healthy.
There were 13 classes that participated in this experience sponsored by Engineers Canada and Engineers of Tomorrow. Students met virtually with STEM leaders to ask questions and learn from experts in the field. Some classes built prototypes using various materials (recyclables, wood, motors and electronic tools. A few classes completed the experience virtually using programs like Minecraft and learned platforms such as Tinker Cad. In addition, global competencies skills for innovation, design-thinking and teamwork were further developed.
On May 11, all classes participated in a virtual showcase hosted by the outreach engineering department at Ontario Tech University here in Oshawa. Events included trivia, STEM challenges, and the presentations of “moon cities”. We congratulate all students and staff members - you put many hours into this 21st century learning experience!
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St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School
The Grade 7 and Grade 8 students in Mr. Brown's class participated in the Future City Project! Their task was to make a city on the moon. The class used Minecraft to create their Future Cities and explained their reasoning behind their creations. Thank you for sharing your Future Cities!
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St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School
The Grade 8 students in Mrs. Flores' class participated in the Future City Project! Their task was to make a city on the moon. The class used modern engineering techniques and items found around their households to create their Future Cities and explained their reasoning behind their creations. Thank you for sharing your Future Cities!
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Trap the Trash Art Challenge at the Toronto Zoo - Life Skills Class, Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School |
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Seabins are floating garbage cans that trap plastic pieces in our lakes and oceans. This is one of the important lessons that students are learning in the Life Skills class at Msgr. John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School. Program Support teacher, Ms. Mandziuk, decided to take this one step further by getting her class involved in an art project sponsored by Deep Blue Cleanup. The end result - Osborne the Octopus, which was created out of garbage collected from a seabin in Lake Ontario along with other plastic items.
Osborne will be on display at the Toronto Zoo in July 2022 as part of the Trap The Trash Art Challenge. The artwork also has various written messages about why our oceans are important and why we need to protect them.
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Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School UNITY Festival |
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UNITY was a celebration of diversity at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School. This event started at 11:00 a.m. and concluded at 12:00 p.m. on May 25, 2022. Dwyer students and staff were invited to go round the gym and choose from a wide variety of foods from cultures around the world. UNITY was planned and organized by members of the Harmony Club and students in the Hospitality SHSM. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNITY was a way to bring our school community together. T
hank you to everyone who brought food or organized food for the event. Thank you to the members of the Harmony Club and Hospitality SHSM program at Paul Dwyer, for planning and pulling off UNITY. Special thanks to Ms. Majzoub, Mr. Dubowits, Principal O’Brien and other staff members for giving our community the opportunity to have this event.
- Moyin E., Grade 10 Student
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Mental Health and Well-Being |
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Helping Your Child or Teen Manage Digital Technology |
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The level of digital technology use has significantly increased for most people, including our children, partly due to pandemic restrictions over the past two years. With limited options for face-to-face interaction and other activities, digital technology has helped us to learn, to stay connected with family and friends and to engage in some recreational activities. Unfortunately, for some students, the tremendous increase in use has had a negative impact on their mental health and well-being. Some students may be experiencing problems related to or worsened by their use of digital technology.
Results from the Centre for Addition and Mental Health, The Well-Being of Ontario Students (2021 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey): about one-in-six (18%) of secondary school students report symptoms that may suggest a moderate-to-severe problem with technology use; about 5% report symptoms suggesting a serious problem with technology use; and one in five (20%) of students meet the criteria for a video gaming problem.
If you’re concerned that your child’s screen time is problematic, you can ask yourself the following:
- Is my child spending more time on screens than on other enjoyable activities or hobbies, physical activities and face-to-face interaction?
- Does my child’s use of digital technology get in the way of their ability to do the things that are expected of them at their age?
- Does my child seem more irritable, anxious, sad or less interested in things they used to enjoy?
- Is my child overly concerned about their online presence?
- Is my child less engaged in school or less motivated to succeed than usual?
- Is my child spending money on-line?
- Might my child be experiencing withdrawal because of excessive use of screens?
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Summer School Registration is Still Available for Elementary and Secondary Students Through Archbishop Anthony Meagher Catholic Continuing Education Centre |
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Archbishop Anthony Meagher Catholic Continuing Education Centre offers a number of summer courses and programs for students in elementary and secondary school.
Elementary Programs and Courses
Are you a Grade 8 student starting high school in the fall? The Head Start Program is available to all Grade 8 students going into Grade 9 at one of our Durham Catholic District School Board high schools and will run August 22 - 25. The program involves a review of literacy and numeracy skills and provides students with a preview of the Grade 9 curriculum for Mathematics and English. Study skills and health and well-being are also integrated into the program.
In-person camps with a focus on literacy and numeracy are filling quickly, but there are still spots available. Students who are completing Grades 6, 7 or 8 can still register for the following camp offerings: Hairstyling & Aesthetics (July 18-22), Digital Literacy (July 11-15 or July 25-29), Musical Theatre and Instrumental Music. Dates, times, location and registration details for each camp are available on the Continuing Education website (www.con-ed.ca). Camp enrolment will be determined on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Literacy and Math including French Immersion for Grades 6, 7, & 8 online summer program is designed for students who would benefit from additional practice and assistance in literacy and/or math to ease their transition into the next grade. Students will participate in engaging lessons to meet their individual needs and learning styles. This program is non-credit and available July 4 – 15 and/or July 18 – 29.
Students who are in Grade 8 and will be attending a DCDSB high school and wish to register for a Grade 9 summer credit can take an online high school credit through the Reach Ahead Program (July 4 – 27). Courses offered include Introduction to Business (BBI 1O), Exploring Family Studies – Transition to High School (HIF 1O), and Ultimate Potential (UP) Math (GLS1O).
Interested in learning another language? Summer Elementary International and Heritage Language classes are for students in Grade 1 to Grade 8. There are 24 different languages to choose from! The classes will run from July 4 – July 29 at St Mary CSS (Pickering) and Father Leo J. Austin CSS (Whitby). Students who are currently enrolled in Kindergarten to Grade 3 are invited to register for French language classes.
Secondary Courses and Programs
The links below will take you to course lists and program dates:
Students wishing to upgrade marks for courses that they have completed and passed may do so in credit recovery.
The OSSLT Preparation Program is available to students who are currently registered in Grade 9 to 11. Students will engage in activities and practice questions to enhance their literacy skills and prepare for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Health and well-being and fun activities will be incorporated throughout the program. The program is non-credit.
Registration forms for summer school credit courses are available through the school guidance office. Registration for the OSSLT Preparation Program is available on the Continuing Education website.
For any questions about the non-credit literacy/numeracy programs, please contact cont.ed@dcdsb.ca or call (905) 683-7713 and for questions about the Reach Ahead high school credit program or secondary courses, please contact credit.reg@dcdsb.ca or call (905) 438-0570.
All summer school information can be found on our website www.con-ed.ca.
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Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School : Learning About the Creative Process with Mishiikenh Kwe |
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During the months of April and May, Grade 7 students in Mrs. Couch’s class at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School engaged in learning with Mishiikenh Kwe (Autumn Smith).
First, students learned about the creative process and sketching while listening to Mishiikenh Kwe share the story of her relationship with her grandmother.
Students sketched their plans while thinking about someone in their life who is important to them and the story this carries. Mishiikenh Kwe led students in thinking about their own identities and creative styles.
Next, the students went on to painting!
Mishiikenh Kwe showed students how to create a flat wash background on their canvas using acrylic paint and water. She encouraged them to use colours that they liked or had meaning for them. During the next visit, Mishiikenh Kwe showed students how to mix colours and create shapes they could use to create images reflecting relationships in their own lives.
As a follow up, students discussed what they learned about themselves, their relationships and the creative process.
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June is National Indigenous Peoples Month |
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June is National Indigenous History Month. Throughout the entire year, we are committed to ongoing learning, speaking the truth, and to reconciliation.
June is the anniversary month of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The commission was officially established on June 1, 2008, with the purpose of documenting the history and lasting impacts of the Canadian residential school system on Indigenous students and their families.)The 94 Calls to Action were released June 2015. If you would like to see how the government has responded to these Calls to Action please visit Beyond 94: Where is Canada with Reconciliation?
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DCDSB to Introduce Grade 12 Indigenous Studies Course at All Secondary Schools |
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DCDSB will be introducing the Grade 12 NDW 4M: Contemporary Indigenous Issues and Perspectives in a Global Context at all secondary schools beginning in the 2022-2023 school year.
Offering this Grade 12 course in all secondary schools responds to student voice and interest. After completing the Grade 11 compulsory English course, Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices, students engaged in an optional survey which indicated that over 60% of students would be interested in taking a Grade 12 Indigenous Studies course.
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Indigenous Student Success Network Information Session on Pathways to Post-Secondary for Indigenous Students and Learners |
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Save the date! The Indigenous Student Success Network (ISSN), which is a collaborative collective between First Peoples House of Learning at Trent University, Indigenous Education and Cultural Services at Ontario Tech University and First Peoples Indigenous Centre at Durham College, will be hosting an in-person Information Session on Pathways to Post-Secondary for Indigenous Students and Learners. The focus of the evening is to create a space for Indigenous students, youth, families and community members to learn about the different opportunities and pathways through post-secondary and/or career pathways. Guests include TYCOP-Technical Youth Career Outreach Project, Métis Nation of Ontario, and Children’s Services Division from The Regional Municipality of Durham
This in-person event will be held at Trent University's Durham Campus (55 Thornton Rd S., Oshawa) on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
We invite you to learn more about:
- STEAM youth mentorship (TYCOP)
- Programs and services offered by Ontario Tech, Trent University and Durham College
- Summer programming
- Youth programs
- Access to programs for mature students
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Ajax Library: An Evening with Joshua Whitehead |
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Join the Ajax Library on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. for a virtual event with Joshua Whitehead, Two-Spirit and Indigenous author of the award-winning novel “Jonny Appleseed.”
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Victim Services of Durham Region Presents: Domestic Sex Trafficking of Youth: Awareness and Prevention |
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Tuesday, June 28, 2022
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Victim Services of Durham Region is presenting an online workshop that empowers caregivers and community members with psycho-education on human trafficking to prevent youth from being trafficked.
This workshop is not recorded and a recording will not be made available after the presentation to uphold a safe and private environment for all attendees.
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June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, National Indigenous History Month, Pride Month and Brain Injury Awareness Month.
June 3 - PA Day (Elementary Only)
June 4 – National Day to Promote Health and Fitness
June 4 – International Trails Day
June 6-10 – Canadian Environment Week
June 7 - Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting
June 8 – Clean Air Day
June 11 - Solemnity of the Sacred Heart
June 12 – Canadian Rivers Day
June 20 - Board Meeting
June 21 - National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 27 - Father Don MacLellan Catholic Secondary School Graduation
June 28 - All Saints Catholic Secondary School and St. Mary Catholic Secondary School Graduation
June 28 - Last day of Secondary school classes
June 29 - Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School, Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School and Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School Graduation
June 29 - Last day of Elementary school classes
June 29 - PA Day (Secondary Only)
June 30 - Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School and Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School Graduation
June 30 - PA Day (Elementary and Secondary)
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Durham Catholic District School Board
650 Rossland Road West
Oshawa, ON L1J 7C4
(905) 576-6150
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