Message from the Chair of the Board and Director of Education | |
Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year |
Welcome back! What a pleasure it is, after two years of modifications, to begin 2022-2023 on a regular schedule. Here in Durham Catholic, we are looking forward to a school year that will focus on creating safe and welcoming, faith-based learning environments that support the needs and development of our students.
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2022-2023 School Year Calendars | |
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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Staggered Start Dates for Junior Kindergarten/Year 1 Kindergarten and Secondary Students | |
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Elementary Students
Senior Kindergarten/Year 2 Kindergarten to Grade 8 students begin on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.
Junior Kindergarten/Year 1 Kindergarten students will be welcomed to school in small groups from September 6 to September 9. Junior Kindergarten students will have the opportunity to get to know their Kindergarten educators (Early Childhood Educator and Teacher) and some of their classmates to support the transition to school. Please note that this staggered entry does not apply to Senior Kindergarten/Year 2 Kindergarten students as they will be maintaining the regular school day schedule.
Schools will be in touch with Junior Kindergarten/Year 1 Kindergarten families to communicate the schedule for the first week of school.
Secondary Students
Grade 9 students will be the only students at school on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 to participate in orientation. All secondary students (Grades 9 -12) will begin classes on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.
Please contact your DCDSB home school if you have any questions.
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On the advice of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, masks will bee welcomed but will not be required for students, staff and visitors in schools, the board's offices, or on student transportation. We will continue to provide free high-quality masks for students to use, if they choose to. It is recommended that staff, students and visitors continue to self-screen every day before attending school using the COVID-19 school and child care screening tool.
A COVID-19 Information webpage has been created and posted on board and school websites.
| School Transportation Information |
Beginning Monday, August 22, 2022 the Durham Student Transportation Services (DSTS) Information Line (905 666 979) and Parent Portal will available for bus transportation information for the 2022-2023 school year.
Bus routing information can be obtained for eligible students by calling DSTS's automated line or logging into the parent portal. Parents and guardians will need their child(ren) Ontario Enrolment Number (OEN) and birthdate. OEN numbers are available on a student's report card.
DSTS provides school bus transportation based on the eligibility criteria outlined in the school board-approved transportation policy which can be found here. For more information, visit dsts.on.ca.
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2022-2023 Spiritual Theme: Listening With the Ear of the Heart |
Each year the Durham Catholic District School Board identifies a spiritual theme to inform reflection and unite all members of our community as a people of faith. This year, our theme, “Listening with the Ear of the Heart” comes from the words of Pope Francis, who reminds us that listening is central to our faith.
Pope Francis has called all the faithful throughout the world to participate in a critical Synod of Synodality. This is a special time of listening for the Catholic Church as the Holy Spirit inspires us through prayer and reflection to move forward in faith.
In Pope Francis’ January 2022 letter, which we encourage you to read in its entirety, he reminds us, “It is only by paying attention to whom we listen, to what we listen, and to how we listen that we can grow in the art of communicating, the heart of which is not a theory or a technique, but the ‘openness of heart that makes closeness possible’.”
We hope this spiritual theme will help everyone reflect on the need to be intentional in listening with compassion and humility to the experiences and needs of one another. Truly hearing each other is critical as we work together to recover from the effects of the global pandemic and build working and learning cultures that are safe, welcoming and respectful of the dignity of each person.
Listening With the Ear of the Heart Design
Grade 7-12 students across Durham Catholic District School Board were invited to apply to participate in the design process for the spiritual theme posters. In June 2022, approximately 40 students were given the opportunity to collaborate with one another and learn from a professional artist and graphic designer. Students attended a full day workshop at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery where they unpacked what this spiritual theme means to them and shared their ideas to help create the new poster design.
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This summer, the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) partnered with Ontario Tech University and Queen’s University for a specialized Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) camp for Black youth. During the week-long camp, DCDSB elementary students in Grades 7 and 8 and secondary students in Grades 9 and 10 built and created structures, such as structurally sound bridges, learned to code and use robotics, and created bottle rockets.
The STEM camp allowed students to learn from Ontario Tech and Queen’s University Engineering students about post-secondary career pathways in engineering, while in a fun and creative environment. Watch the video below for highlights of the camp and partnership.
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Welding Camp at Msgr. Paul Dwyer Catholic High School | |
New to this year's summer programming were the DCDSB's Welding Camps. The week-long camps were a continuation of an exciting partnership program that brought new welding facilities to four DCDSB secondary schools. This partnership brought together the Canadian Welding Foundation, Ontario Power Generation, UA Locals 46 and 401 and Black & McDonald. The camps were taught by Mr. Vince Sorbilli, a Technological Education teacher at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Pickering.
To read the full article please click here.
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Mental Health and Well-Being | |
School Mental Health Ontario - How to Support a Mentally Healthy Back to School for Your Child |
The past two school years have been anything but usual! We know that while many students and families are eager to return to a "more normal" school experience, some will be worried about starting back, and what this new school year will look like for them. Remember, as parents/caregivers you know your child best!
School Mental Health Ontario has created a "tip sheet" for parents/caregivers titled How to Support a Mentally Healthy Back to School for Your Child. This tip sheet offers information on understanding and coping with stress, conversation starters and ways to support your child/teen as they head back to school, self-care tips, as well as websites that can be accessed for additional resources. You can read and/or download this tip sheet on the School Mental Health Ontario website.
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Register for DCDSB’s Continuing Education Programs |
The Durham Catholic District School Board’s Adult and Continuing Education programs offer flexible learning options to help students succeed while balancing work and family commitments with their education.
With centres located in Ajax and Oshawa, we offer Adult Education, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) and Specialized Training Programs for Pathways to Employment and Post-Secondary Education. We are accepting registrations for a variety of programs including:
Our Adult Day School new semester begins on Thursday, September 8, 2022.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram (@coneddcdsb) and Facebook (@ArchMeagher).
All are welcome!
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September Long Weekend - Family Fun Ideas!
- Go for Ice Cream or try to make your own ice cream dessert!
- Pack a Picnic.
- Family Movie Night Extravaganza.
- Backyard Games and/ or Outdoor Activities.
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Public Library Programming
Check out the upcoming Children's Programming at local libraries:
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Durham Regional Police Service’s Chief for a Day Contest | |
Students entering into Grade 5 this fall are invited to enter the essay contest now to become Durham Regional Police Service’s Chief for a Day. The theme of the essay contest is entitled “What would you do if you were the Chief of Police for a day?” The essay is limited to 500 words. The winner will serve as Chief for a Day in October 2022.
All submissions must include:
- Name of student submitting essay (Grade 5 in September 2022)
- Name and city of school attending
- School Board the student attends (i.e. DCDSB)
All essays for consideration are due on Monday, September 19, 2022 and are to be submitted via email at: chiefforaday@drps.ca
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- September 1 – Professional Activity (PA) Day (Elementary and Secondary)
- September 2 – Board Holiday
- September 5 – Labour Day
- September 5 – International Day of Charity
- September 6 – First Day of School (For Grade 9 students and Senior/Year 2 Kindergarten to Grade 8 students)
- September 6-9 – Staggered start dates for Junior Kindergarten/Year 1 Kindergarten students
- September 7 – School for all students (Senior/Year 2 Kindergarten to Grade 12)
- September 8 – International Literacy Day
- September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
- September 12 – Terry Fox Day Run
- September 13 – Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
- September 15 – Durham Catholic Children's Involvement Committee (DCPIC)
- September 21 – International Day of Peace
- September 22 – Franco Ontarian Day - Flag raising at St. John Bosco CS
- September 23 – Professional Activity (PA) Day (Elementary and Secondary)
- September 25 – Franco Ontarian Day
- September 26 – Regular Board Meeting
- September 27 – World Rivers Day
- September 28 – Custodial Workers Appreciation Day
- September 28 – October 4 – Right to Know Week
- September 29 – Rowan’s Law Day
- September 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day
Please visit our online calendar for further details.
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Durham Catholic District School Board
650 Rossland Road West
Oshawa, ON L1J 7C4
(905) 576-6150
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