The Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee is a statutory committee of the Durham Catholic District School Board. Our goal is to make parental engagement a priority by providing ongoing support on a system-wide basis and promoting communication and dialogue between school councils, the Board and members of the community. |
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As we enter the final few weeks of the 2020/2021 school year, we reflect on the accomplishments, opportunities and challenges experienced over the past year.
The week of May 3-7, 2021 was Catholic Education Week and Children's Mental Health Week with a combined theme of Nurturing Hope; Cultivating Gratitude. I want to extend gratitude to all of the parents/guardians, students, teachers and staff for all of the support we've shown to each other during these trying times.
Recently, we celebrated National Volunteer Week from April 18-24, 2021 and although we could not meet in person to celebrate, the committee acknowledged and thanked our dedicated recipients of the 2020/2021 Distinguished Catholic Volunteer Awards. I want to personally thank all the recipients for their contributions to their school communities. We love our volunteers!
The Annual DCPIC Parent/Guardian Survey has been distributed, and further information can be found in an article below. The results of the survey will help the committee determine strategic directions for the 2021/2022 school year.
The 2020/2021 school year continues to challenge educators, parents and students like none before it. Pivoting from online to in-class learning, and then back again, has tested our kids resiliency and placed additional strain on parents and guardians during these challenging times.
School councils have had to find new ways to engage their school communities and non-traditional ways to fundraise. I want to acknowledge those who have continued to work on behalf of all parents and guardians within their school communities and have connected creatively with families this year.
As we head into the final weeks of the 2020/2021 school year, it’s fair to say that we are hopeful that the next school year will see a return to a more recognizable year of in-person learning and a resumption of school activities that we have greatly missed this year from clubs, dances and bake sales to athletics and graduation ceremonies.
We have enjoyed bringing you various online activities throughout the year, which have included Lenten crafts, learning sessions, keynote speakers and more. We look forward to having more offerings and resources to share with all parents and guardians in the fall.
I hope that you all have a safe, healthy and happy summer.
Yours in Faith,
Melissa Bevan
Chair, Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee
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2021 DCPIC Parent/Guardian Survey |
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We're asking parents, guardians and caregivers to complete the annual DCPIC Parent/Guardian Survey. The survey consists of six questions and will take approximately 5 minutes to complete. To complete the survey, please click here.
The responses received from the survey help guide the committee's strategic priorities for the 2021/2022 school year.
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Distinguished Catholic Volunteer Awards |
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2020/2021 Distinguished Catholic Volunteer Awards |
Congratulations to our 2020/2021 Distinguished Catholic Volunteer Award recipients. We love our volunteers! Thank you to the dedicated volunteers who contribute to the success of our schools and committees each and every day.
We are honoured to present this year's recipients below.
Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Ajax Schools:
- Brad Levantis, Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School;
- Heather McFadden, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School;
- Alban Cardoza, St. André Bessette Catholic School;
- Paula Papagni, St. Bernadette Catholic School;
- Georgina Dubeau, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School;
- Damien Julien, St. Francis de Sales Catholic School;
- Nicole Bellomo, St. James Catholic School;
- Kristina Andrada-Wizzard, St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic School;
- Philip Neelamegan, St. Jude Catholic School;
- Karen Callery, St. Patrick Catholic School;
- Stephanie Daga, St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School.
Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Northern Schools (Beaverton, Port Perry, Uxbridge):
- Shelly Hopper, Good Shepherd Catholic School;
- Coline Theordoru, Family Catholic School;
- Julie Morrison, St. Joseph Catholic School Uxbridge.
Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Oshawa Schools:
- Carrie Bon, Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School;
- Lesley McAvoy, Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School;
- Cristal Surla, Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School;
- Amanda Brake, St. Anne Catholic School;
- Marcia DeSouza, St. Christopher Catholic School;
- Anne Fernando, St. Hedwig Catholic School;
- Jennifer Falzon, St. John XXIII Catholic School;
- Debora Ribeiro Picarte, St. John Bosco Catholic School;
- Nicole Zara, St. Joseph Catholic School;
- Amanda Hazarie, St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School;
- Erin Avery, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School.
- Michelle Acorn, Sir Albert Love Catholic School.
Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Pickering Schools:
- Keisha Petrolo, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School;
- Aliki Zacharia, Father Fenelon Catholic School;
- Suzanne Charles Watson, St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School;
- Lisa Werner, St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School;
- Michelle Mendonca, St. Monica Catholic School;
- Sylvia D’Souza, St. Wilfrid Catholic School.
Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Whitby Schools:
- Vanessa Hopman, All Saints Catholic Secondary School;
- Vernon Hiller, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School;
- Shantel Ielasi, St. Bernard Catholic School;
- Christina Melick, St. Bridget Catholic School.
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DCPIC Parent/Guardian Workshop |
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DCPIC Parent/Guardian Workshop with Aubrey Noronha
Hello Hope: Battling Loneliness + Isolation Before, During and After COVID-19
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“Life changes when there’s hope.”
That’s the message Aubrey Noronha shared in the parent/guardian “Hello Hope” online session hosted on April 28, 2021.
Noronha, a former DCDSB student and currently a motivational speaker, shared some insights for parents and guardians on coping with loneliness both during and after COVID-19 for both themselves and their children.
The session highlighted that loneliness was a pandemic before the COVID-19 pandemic and has been shown to be worse on our health than smoking, excess drinking and being sedentary while being social adds years to our lives.
Noronha reminded participants that pandemics change society but not human nature and that generally we are currently connection, affection, conversation and touch starved.
Some strategies to help our children cope with loneliness include:
- Acknowledge how hard this is
- Invest your attention in your kids when you spend time with them (put your devices/phone away)
- Make a connect rather than just making contact and be creative in your connecting (play a new game, try a new activity, do charitable works together)
You can learn more about Aubrey Noronha and his work at hellohelp.ca.
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Lenten Calendar and Activities |
To support the DCDSB's online Lenten Calendar initiative, DCPIC offered virtual Lenten craft nights for families. We created short videos which were posted to our website and to our Twitter page @DCPIC.
Each week we did a random draw from the submissions, and sent the winners e-gift cards.
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Parents and guardians are welcome to attend our Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Meetings. Our meetings are currently being held virtually at 7:30 p.m. on the dates below. Visit our website for the link to upcoming meetings.
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Website: dcpic.ca
Email: info@dcpic.ca
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