50th anniversary logo for the Durham Catholic District School Board





Celebrating Student Success
Expanding Pathways for our Students' Futures
December 2018
Female and male students sitting on rocks and painting nature.
Spreading Joy this Christmas Season
As we prepare for the coming of Christ during this Advent season, let us take time to reflect on all that is good around us and help others. Our Durham Catholic students and staff are busy helping our local communities by donating toys, socks, personal hygiene items, gifts and food for Christmas baskets. 
Join us in spreading joy this Christmas and remember the best gift we can give others is our full attention.
Three men on camels travelling at night
Year of Joy
"Our Catholic schools help form joyful disciples as hearts and minds are opened to the transforming love of God and to the flame of faith in action. On a daily basis, Catholic schools demonstrate the joy of believing and witness the Good News to the communities they serve." (Renewing the Promise, page 13)

This year, our Student Senators will submit articles that highlight their school communities, while exploring the true meaning of joy and recognizing joy as a gift/fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School Student Spreads Positivity in her First Published Book
 
Ra’eesa Baksh is a Grade 11 student at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. She participated in the 10-10-10 program hosted by Raymond Aaron, author of Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul. Through the program, and with the incredible support of her family, she wrote and published her first book titled Make My World a Better Place: How to Live in Peace and Harmony with Others.

An optimist in a world filled with tragedy and natural disasters, Ra’eesa wants to be a social change-maker and spread positivity. Through inspirational stories, insights and ideas, her book encourages others to change the way they view the world and to do their part to make it a better place for everyone.

Ra’eesa’s voice is not confined to the page and she loves public speaking. She spent seven years doing speech competitions and the release of her book has opened up opportunities to spread her ideas on stage. When Ra’eesa is not spreading positive messages she is very involved in school clubs and sports teams. She loves speaking to other people and hearing their ideas, even saying, “to add to why I wrote the book, it’s because of other people”. Though she is unsure of her post-secondary plans she hopes to combine politics and art while continuing to motivate others to become the best version of themselves.

Written by: Julia Cara
Student Trustee
 
Female student holding her book
Male adult introducing female student before she speaks
Books on a table with banner of female student in the background
Mental Health and Wellness
Stomping Out Stigma logo
Four female students standing with male adult
Four female students with female teacher holding up green backpacks.
Male adult standing beside the Stomping Out Stigma banner
DCDSB Intermediate Students Participate in Talking About Mental Illness (TAMI) “Stomping Out Stigma” Summit
On Tuesday, November 27, 2018, Grade 7 and 8 delegates from 8 DCDSB Elementary schools spent the day at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences participating in the Durham TAMI Intermediate Summit titled Wellness: Growing Together.
 
The TAMI Summit is a full day student action conference on mental health and stigma that includes an opportunity for students to: learn from professionals as well as individuals with lived experience; to meet with others to share ideas and enthusiasm; to participate in experiential learning activities; and to receive resources and ideas to assist them in completing a follow-up action plan within their school communities. Students who attended the Summit indicated a desire to foster an atmosphere of acceptance and change, and a willingness to take action on mental health awareness and reducing stigma.
 
This Summit featured keynote speaker, Paul Ranger, a Whitby native and former Father Leo J. Austin student. Paul Ranger is a former professional defenceman, who spent the majority of his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League before leaving the professional level for almost three years due to severe depression. Paul Ranger shared his story and graciously answered questions for the audience.
 
Since 2002, Durham TAMI has provided contact-based mental health education to over 66000 students, teachers and other professionals in Durham and beyond. The TAMI program includes both the one-day Summit and the classroom curriculum, for both Intermediate and Secondary Students. The four goals of the TAMI program are to: 1. to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness; 2. to increase knowledge of mental health and mental illness; 3. to encourage youth to initiate change in their lives and in their school communities; and 4. to increase youth knowledge of community resources and how to access support.  
 
The Durham TAM I Coalition is a collaboration between Durham Catholic District School Board, Durham District School Board, Kawartha Pineridge District School Board, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)-Durham, Carea Community Health Centre, Durham Children’s Aid Society, Durham Mental Health Services, Durham Region Health Department, Frontenac Youth Services, Lakeridge Health - Child, Youth & Family Program, Pinewood Centre of Lakeridge Health, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Resources for Exceptional Children & Youth-Durham Region and the TAMI Speaker Group.

Diane Mullane,
DCDSB Mental Health Leader
Experiential Learning
Group of male and female students standing in the school Chapel.
Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School participating in the CBC’s annual Sounds of the Season Food Sort Challenge
Chaplain Paola Fraietta and 15 Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School students will travel to the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto on December 14, 2018 to participate in the CBC’s annual Sounds of the Season Food Challenge. This annual fundraising event supports GTA area food banks.
 
During the challenge, the school’s team will have to correctly sort and package 3,500 pounds of donated food within 90 minutes, while checking for crushed, open or expired cans. 
 
Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School was invited to participate in recognition of their support as one of Feed the Need Durham’s top donors of the Cram a Cruiser event. “Giving back and helping others in need is important to our Catholic school community,” said Mr. D’Amico, Principal at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. “Our students, families and staff are very generous and together we are donating $1800 to the Daily Bread Food Bank.”
 
In addition to the monetary donation, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School is also continuing their yearly Christmas Outreach initiative in partnership with the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Ajax. As part of this initiative, each homeroom class will fulfill a family’s Christmas wish list by coming together as a class to purchase items for them. Members from St. Vincent de Paul Society will collect these items on December 19 to deliver to families in need.
 
“Bringing joy to others this Christmas season is the best gift I could ask for,” said Andrea Doloroso, Grade 10 student at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School.  
Vocal Music Students from the Regional Arts & Media Program bring Holiday Cheer to Tree Lighting Celebration
Grade 7, 8 and 9 Vocal Music students from our Regional Arts & Media Program performed at the Town of Ajax's tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, November 24, 2018. The Santa Claus parade took place earlier in the evening and concluded at Heritage Square, where our Grade 7 and 8 Vocal Music students performed first. 

The Mayor, and local MPPs spoke to ring in the lighting of the tree in Heritage Square. Following the speeches, our Regional Arts & Media Program's Grade 9 Vocal Music students performed several medley’s of holiday favourites to get the local community into the Christmas spirit! 






Students wearing Santa hats and singing outside under a Town of Ajax tent.
Tree lit up with lights
Students sitting on rocks and painting
Female student holding a picture of her landscape oil painting in nature.
Group of female and male students pose for a picture with the fall colours in background.
Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School’s Arts & Culture SHSM Students Adventures Range from Painting in the Madawaska Valley to Fright Night at Wonderland.
In mid October, Mr. Longauer led 22 Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School Arts & Culture SHSM students through the colourful autumn wonder of the Madawaska Valley, trekking into the Canadian shield to visit the artist workshops of Kathy Haycock of the Wilderness Gallery near Eganville and Patrick Stewart in Combermere.
 
The students began their 3-day trip touring the Pioneer Cabins of Wilno's Heritage Park where local Kaszube historian Dave Schulist shared stories of the plight of early settlers and toured us through St. Mary's Church and the pioneer cemetery which overlooks the Bonnechere Valley.
 
A full day of oil painting on location in the Madawaska Valley with landscape artist Kathy Haycock saw each artist bringing home his/her own landscape masterpiece, re-living the passion of the Group of Seven on locations painted by those very artists.  
 
Day three included a tour of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, Catholic College in Barry's Bay, and a tour and visit with artist Patrick Stewart at Madonna House Apostolate Mission in Combermere. Inspired by his art and spiritual focus, the students were moved by Patrick's focus on the light of the Holy Spirit and the example he presents as a lens through which this light is refracted to those around him. The group then retreated into the forest for a hike to the highest lookout of the Thomas P. Murray Trails.

Later in October, some of these students joined the Scarefest Workshop trip to Wonderland led by a courageous Cosmetology teacher, Ms. Valianes. There, the students received instruction in makeup and costume effects as well as characterization skills. The SHSM program will continue to provide these young artists with inspired opportunities to extend their imaginations beyond the natural to the supernatural, and stimulate their goals through both spiritual meditation and spirited motivation.
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School Teams Up with Enactus Durham College to build Micro-Greenhouses
Students from St. Mary Catholic Secondary School’s Outdoor Education team have partnered with Enactus Durham College to build three micro-greenhouses on an empty patch of grass at the school. The greenhouses will allow students to grow food all year long. “Before, this was just empty space that wasn’t being used for anything. Now we can use it to grow food,” said Medea Romani, a Grade 10 student at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School.

The students gathered on Monday, November 12, 2018 to dig holes and plant fruit trees and built the three micro-greenhouse kits. The wood-frame greenhouses are solar heated, using built-in vents to keep a consistent temperature.

This initiative is part of Grassroots , an Enactus Durham College project that develops local food production ideas and provides students with experiential learning opportunities.

“Students are learning everything from teamwork, to construction skills and food literacy,” said Michael Hamil, Teaching and Learning Consultant at the Durham Catholic District School Board. “Students are learning first hand that it is possible to extend the growing season in Canada.”
Female and male students working together to dig a whole to plant a fruit tree
Students and adults building the micro-greenhouses
Students digging holes for the fruit trees
Group of students and adults gathered together in a library
Group of pictures showing students and staff presenting their ideas to help a non-for-profit organization
Cross-Panel Experiential Learning Day of Service at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School
On November 2, 2018, Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School’s Non-Profit Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) students, and elementary We Team Leaders collaborated to solve a real-world, sector-relevant challenge in partnership with community partner Help Lesotho and Pearls4Girls.

This cross-panel training activity provided an opportunity for four Grade 7 and 8 We Team or Social Justice student leaders, and one teacher from all seven of Dwyer’s feeder schools (St. Christopher, Sir Albert Love, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Father Joseph Venini, St. John Bosco, St. Joseph and Good Shepherd Catholic Schools) to collaborate and demonstrate the experiential learning cycle (Participate-Reflect-Apply), in the 21st Century Learning Commons at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School.

This rich service learning opportunity met the expectations for SHSM ICE Training (for Grade 11/12 Non-Profit SHSM students), and also provided an opportunity for elementary students to build connections to staff, educators, students and the secondary school environment at Monsignor Paul Dwyer CHS. Elementary students experienced a warm welcome and opportunity to meet Superintendent of Education Mrs. Leclair, Dwyer’s Principal Mr. O’Brien, School Chaplain Mr. Dubowitz, Non-Profit SHSM Lead and Student Success Teacher
Mrs. Cannon and students had the opportunity to work alongside and get to know the high school Non-Profit SHSM students at their table. All students had lunch together in the Cafetorium, which was an exciting opportunity that allowed elementary students to envision themselves as Dwyer Saints in the near future. During a memorable Ice Breaker activity, elementary students asked high school students burning questions that they had about academics, extra-curricular activities and student life at Dwyer.

Thanks to our knowledgeable and passionate community partner Mrs. Marlene Caicco, students and staff learned about the geography, socio-economic demographic and living conditions of the majority of the people in Lesotho. It was inspiring to learn about the positive impact and “innovative programs that help people heal, learn new skills and strategies, and ultimately take action for the benefit of others” that are made possible by the generous supporters of Help Lesotho and Pearls4Girls.

Students learned about career opportunities in the Non-Profit sector, and each participant was involved in a Pearl Bee (hands-on learning where students/educators made gorgeous pearl bracelets). Students were asked by our community partner to be “change agents” and each school group brainstormed and created an idea/developed a plan, and presented their ideas back to the larger group at the end of the day. Students worked diligently in their school groups to prepare and present an Elevator Pitch to our community partner which outlined how each school team intended to inform others about Help Lesotho and Pearls4Girls, and student leaders also discussed the possibility of selling the student made bracelets at their home school at upcoming events.

Thank you to all who supported and participated in this event, especially Grade 7 and 8 We Team Student Leaders and Dwyer Non-Profit SHSM students. This day would not have been possible without the support of the Senior Administration team, the elementary and secondary administrators involved, Dwyer’s SHSM Non-Profit Lead Mrs. Cannon, the elementary teachers that attended this day alongside their students, (Ms. Olesky, Ms. Boisvert, Ms. Gljuscic, Ms. McKeown, Ms. Kilfoy and Ms. Mahura), Mrs. Marlene Caicco from Help Lesotho & Pearls4Girls (who traveled from Ottawa), Mrs. Cain for hosting our group in the Learning Commons, Teaching and Learning Consultant Mrs. Sheppard, and Grade 7/8 Guidance Teachers Mrs. Paiment and Ms. Brien.

Thank you for a fantastic day of community connected experiential learning, and for bringing JOY to those individuals in southern Africa in which the bracelet sales support.
Durham Catholic District School Board ranks Second in Top 10 Boards Across Ontario for EcoSchools
The 2017 – 2018 school year proved once again to be a successful year for our Durham Catholic District School Board Eco Teams. For the third year in a row, we have 100% Eco Schools certified and are second in the top 10 Boards across Ontario. Special congratulations to St. Elizabeth Seton, St. John the Evangelist, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Christopher Catholic Schools for achieving Platinum status this year.
 
Highlights from Elementary Schools
St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School continues to take part in educating the students and community by participating in the Yellow Fish Road Program and is also partnering with Altona Forest Stewardship Committee (AFSC). The Yellow Fish program is an initiative that gets students outside and painting a yellow fish on the storm sewers to make people aware of what can and can’t go down the storm sewers. Their partnership with AFSC has continued to get the school involved with planting trees in and around the Rouge Park.
 
St. John the Evangelist’s Eco Club and teachers have joined forces with the community to plant pollinator gardens. They have also developed an amazing outdoor Kindergarten space for more experiential learning through play, as well as adding an outdoor classroom.
 
St. Christopher Catholic School has worked hard to plant trees, while adding a new outdoor Kindergarten area for the younger students.
 
St. Catherine of Siena has also worked hard to promote their outdoor learning space by improving their Kindergarten play area, as well as, adding an outdoor classroom and pollinator garden.
 
Meanwhile at St. Joseph Catholic School in Uxbridge, they turned down the heat and the students wore sweaters on National Sweater Week. The whole school participated in the ECO games, which got the students outside to participate in fun activities focused on our environment and develop teamwork. The ECO Team made Christmas ornaments from recycled items that they found around the school and sold them at their school’s Marketplace – with all funds raised going back to the school to fund for other ventures.
 
Highlights from Secondary Schools
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School achieved gold status this past year. They worked hard to expose how many plastic water bottles are used. The students collected plastic bottles from within the school and the neighbouring property and displayed them in the cafeteria to create a startling reminder of our contribution to the plastic waste problem in our world. They also recently launched a greenhouse initiative (see article above) which offers students an opportunity to grow vegetables year round.
 
Finally, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School is working hard outside on their vegetable garden to provide for the school’s culinary students. They have also designated one area of the school property as a “No Mow Zone”. This will give our native plants a great chance to flourish, take over the invasive species and give our birds and bees an area to pollinate.
 
We are looking forward to be able to communicate much more of these ECO successes in 2019. Congratulations to all our schools and Eco Teams for all your hard work in 2017 – 2018. 
Banner with pollinator garden images of birds, bees, butterflies and flowers.
Giant turtle on the grass
Rocks in a semi circle for an outdoor classroom
Secondary and elementary students with adults at Simcoe Hall Settlement House
Male student painting a star made out of wooden clothes pins
female secondary student working on the snow people photo booth
Elementary students colouring and painting letters.
Male secondary student working with two elementary students measuring things for the set design.
Female and male secondary student getting ready to cut out the photo booth design.
Students from St. Hedwig Catholic School and Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School Share a Day of Discovery
Simcoe Hall Settlement House’s Fund Development Coordinator Ms. Rita Nave reached out to the Durham Catholic District School Board with a question and an opportunity. Simcoe Hall Settlement House is hosting a Breakfast with Santa Fundraiser on Saturday, December 1, 2018 in support of their After School Program and needed our help. Ms. Nave requested, “the need for props, sets and artistic designs that we can put up in our gym to make it look festive.” She also asked if "we would have any students interested in creating something?”
 
This small gesture and invitation for students to get involved by assisting Simcoe Hall Settlement House provided the perfect opportunity to increase meaningful student participation in a community connected experiential learning activity. Students, educators and administrators at St. Hedwig Catholic School and Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School were eager to support this community partner, and excited for our students to gain a deeper insight into the programs and services that Simcoe Hall offers to the community. Not only is Simcoe Hall Settlement House located near both schools, this community connected activity provided a tremendous opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of the relationship between what they are learning, why they are learning it and how it connects to their lives.
 
On November 20, 2018, Mrs. Hope’s Grade 2 and 3 students from St. Hedwig Catholic School together with Mr. Daminato’s Grade 11 and 12 Construction Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) students from Monsignor John Pereyma CSS travelled to Simcoe Hall Settlement House to participate in this memorable Project-Based Learning Activity. Students were paired cross-panel using random groupings (numbers 1-10), and senior students asked their younger partners some ice breaker questions on the bus drive over to Simcoe Hall Settlement House. When students arrived they were welcomed by Ms. Nave and learned a little bit more about programs and services that are provided by this organization. Ms. Nave explained that she really needed the help of each student in designing and transforming the gymnasium for Breakfast with Santa, and although she did explain a few of her ideas to the students such as where Santa would sit (on the North Wall), she indicated that she knew that the students were very creative and explained that she was excited to see what they would decide for decorations.
 
In order to create a set design to scale, students first needed to work with their cross-panel partner and use their measuring tape and grid paper to accurately measure and record the dimensions of each wall. Students demonstrated curiosity and a positive disposition toward this hands-on learning activity whereby students were in the driver’s seat. Ultimately the students were steering the design for this project. Students enjoyed a tour of the building and toward the end of our visit, students were eager to share some of their design ideas with the larger group and our community partner. Students returned to their home schools excited and thankful for the experience to meet a student from elementary or high school, and both groups of students were keen to prepare their design ideas. Ms. Nave was very thankful and impressed with student initiative, creativity, teamwork and communication skills and there was much anticipation at the end of the day about student design ideas which soon would be shared with all three parties.
 
On the day after our visit to Simcoe Hall Settlement House, students in Mrs. Hope’s class voted on which photo booth they wanted the Grade 11 and 12 Construction students to build for Simcoe Hall’s Breakfast with Santa. The gingerbread people was the favorite over the snow people photo booth (eleven votes to eight votes), however, when the Grade 2 and 3 students were asked if they thought that the senior students should build both photo booths, one hundred percent of the students said “yes”. Once this was cleared with our community partner Ms. Nave, students at Pereyma started the work sanding the MDF, drawing the images onto the material and cutting the photo booth to size.
 
In three days, the Grade 2 and 3 students designed props, decorated the letters for the banner and painted the clothes pin snowflakes. While students at Pereyma built the set design to the Grade 2 and 3 students' specifications; student voice feedback indicated that students are passionate about being involved in meaningful project-based learning and feel excited to get involved in their community. 
 
This community connection and experiential learning opportunity has taught elementary and secondary students that cooperation and collaboration are critical to student success and achievement. Students have also experienced the JOY of giving during the Christmas season. A special thank you to all of the students involved in this project, educators and administrators at St. Hedwig CS and Monsignor John Pereyma CSS, Teaching and Learning Consultants Mrs. Sheppard and Mrs. Crockford and a very special thank you to Ms. Rita Nave and Simcoe Hall Settlement House for reaching out to our staff and students to get involved in this worthwhile endeavor.
All Saints Catholic Secondary School Submits Video to CBC's Music Class Challenge
CBC Music, in association with MusiCounts, annually holds a contest for Canada's best music program. From elementary to high school, the Canadian Music Class Challenge invites schools to submit a video that features everything from jazz bands, kazoo classes and guitar clubs, to hip-hop programs, symphonies and choirs.

This year Grade 9 to 12 Arts & Media and Comprehensive Music students submitted "Live off the Floor" for the "Music Class Challenge 2018 Competition". Winners will be announced around Christmas. In the meantime, watch the video here .
Expanding Pathways
STEP Program Thriving at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
The STEP program is thriving at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School this semester with students developing their employability skills in the classroom and community. The STEP program stands for Students Transitioning to Employment Program and is aligned with the Designing your Future (GWL 3O) curriculum. Students explore topics relating to health and safety, well-being and essential skills and work habits through their weekly class. Students implement this information and these skills at their community placements while also building independent living and employability skills; such as taking public transit, demonstrating punctuality and good attendance and meeting employer expectations in the workplace.

The program is also successful through the efforts of Mrs. Jubran, our educational assistant ‘job coach’ who travels on the bus with some students and prompts the students at the placement to support their experiential learning through this experience.

Grade 11 student, Caleb is working in an automotive service placement and is learning how to work safety wearing his prescribed personal protective equipment (e.g. safety glasses and steel toe work boots). “I use tools at my placement to take things apart and put things back together including engines," said Caleb.

While Jason, a Grade 12 student at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School is working at a large-scale national retailer, and is working in the warehouse as well as on the retail floor. He is developing basic customer service skills as well as retail stock skills. “I work safely at Canadian Tire by using my box cutter safely and using a step stool to reach items on a higher shelf as well as rolling tires instead of carrying them," added Jason.

Matthew is working at a retail pharmacy placement and is learning the fundamentals of retail merchandising. “I arrange the products in a neat line and make sure that they are all facing out so people could easily find them," noted Matthew, a Grade 12 student.. Matthew is learning basic customer service as well as how to stock products and face them on the store shelves.

Students also have opportunities to refine their numeracy and literacy skills through their community placement by reading text as it relates to stocking products and matching bar codes, performing inventory checks using an electronic scanner, and applying measurement principles through proper tire inflation and using appropriate tool sizes.

The students are also reflecting on their learning through weekly journals and demonstration of learning tasks conducted at the community placement with their monitoring teacher. Many students were also provided with company uniform shirts which they wear proudly when attending their placements in the afternoon.
Male student working on a car part in an automotive shop.
Male student fill shelves at a retail store.
Male student filling shelves at a drug store.
Let's Talk Trades slide with OYAP logo and Durham Catholic District School Board's logo
Parents and students listening to a college professor explain the Millwright program
Female adult explaining how Ontario Youth Apprenticeships and Cooperative Education work
Let's Talk Trades Event a Huge Success
On November 27, 2018 the Durham Catholic District School Board's Student Success Program held a Let's Talk Trades event at the Durham College Whitby Campus. The event was an opportunity for students and parents to learn more about Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Programs and the many pathways that students can take to enter the Trades.

Representatives from Durham College provided tours of the various skilled trade programs available at the campus. The evening also offered students and parents an opportunity to talk to college professors who offered insights into careers in the following fields: Millwright, Automotive, Plumbing, Elevating Devices, Welding, Electrical Engineering, Trades Fundamentals, HVAC and more.

"Offering parents and students an opportunity to explore careers in the Trades is important," said Claudine Longo, Pathways Coordinator at the Durham Catholic District School Board. "Students can obtain experience in the Trades by completing a Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program available in Grade 12 or through cooperative education."

To learn more about these options, please speak to your school's Guidance department or call Mrs. Longo at 905-576-6150 ext. 22363.
Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School Student in her Element in Cooperative Education
Grade 12 student, Isabella from Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School is currently completing a two credit cooperative education program at Windreach Farm.

Isabella is immersed in her element as she adores all types of animals so the favourite part of her placement is just being there. Isabella's goal is to one day work with animals in a Veterinary Assistant capacity.

Cooperative Education is a great opportunity for students to explore their passion and identify if they want to continue studying a specific field or industry in more depth.
Female student feeding chickens during her coop placement at a farm.
Male and female student wearing yellow hazmat suits as part of a tour of Ontario Power Generation plant.
St. Mary and Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary Students Tour OPG
On Friday, October 26, students from St. Mary and Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary Schools participated in a Student Open House at Ontario Power Generation (OPG). The tour allowed students to see first hand the career opportunities available in the Skilled Trades and Sciences and Engineering.

Students spoke to professionals in the following trades:

  • Boilermakers;
  • Carpenters;
  • Millwrights;
  • Electricians;
  • Iron Workers; and
  • Sheet Metal Workers.

They also had an opportunity to visit display booths that featured information on apprenticeships at OPG, how to join the union, and learn about other career options available.

Student Achievement
Male adult sitting with female student who is wearing of Mayor's office chain.
St. Joseph Catholic School Student wins City of Oshawa’s Mayor for a Day Contest
Emily, a Grade 6 student at St. Joseph Catholic School in Oshawa is the recent winner of the City of Oshawa’s Mayor for a Day Contest. Students in Grades 5 to 7 who live in Oshawa were invited to submit an essay explaining why they would like to be “Mayor for a Day” and to share their vision for Oshawa’s future.

Emily fulfilled her role as “Mayor” on November 21. Her day started with a drive to work, courtesy of Oshawa Fire Services, and included guided tours of City facilities such as the Oshawa Executive Airport, Fire Hall 1, Animal Services and City Hall, with Mayor Henry. Emily also went for lunch at her favourite Oshawa restaurant and wore the Chain of Office.

“My vision for Oshawa is to become a destination of choice for families and businesses,” said Emily.

The annual contest’s aim is to increase youth and public awareness about the important role local government plays in our communities. 

Congratulations to Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School's Budding Poets
"Of course you can!", is the response that a teacher at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School gave to students who were given the task of writing poetry from the perspective of an object like a rock, leaf or seashell. The challenge paid off and now 19 of those students will have their poems published in a national anthology entitled:
Whispering Woods. This is all part of an annual contest sponsored by the Poetry Institute of Canada. 
Teacher, Ms. Stephanie Mandziuk has been submitting student work to both the poetry and short story contests for more than a decade. Congratulations to our budding poets!
Male and female students in a group with male adults.
Durham Catholic District School Board
650 Rossland Road West,
Oshawa, ON
Phone: 905-576-6150 | Visit us at dcdsb.ca