I am pleased to present my 2022-2023 Director’s Annual Report: Listening With the Ear of the Heart. The past school year was filled with learning, excitement and the joy of community. Students, staff and families were thrilled to be able to re-engage with one another in celebrations of faith, robust learning inside and outside of the classroom, co-curricular activities, field trips, proms, graduations and retirements. 

As a board, we have adopted a stewardship for creation stance and have therefore chosen to reduce our paper consumption wherever possible. The full 2022-2023 Director’s Annual Report: Listening With the Ear of the Heart is available in a digital version and can be found on our board website at dcdsb.ca/DirectorsAnnualReport.

The Director’s Annual Report is an opportunity to highlight some of the initiatives, projects and activities from the 2022-2023 school year that further support student achievement, faith formation and student well-being. I invite you to learn more about our achievements and our stories in my report.

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to students, staff, families, Board of Trustees, parish and clergy partners, and community members for their ongoing partnership and efforts to support Catholic education in Durham Region. 

Thank you for another exciting faith-filled year of learning, community and growth.  

Yours in Faith,

Tracy Barill

Director of Education

Spirit of Giving Campaign at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School

In December 2023, Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School participated in the Spirit of Giving Campaign. Baskets were assigned to each classroom and students and staff donated and collected items for families in need within the community.

Thank you to the staff and students who participated in this video, and a special thank you to Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School for embodying our 2023-2024 spiritual theme, Speaking With the Heart.

Kindergarten Registration Opens Today

Kindergarten registration, for a September 2024 start, opens on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

Your child must be turning 4 years of age by December 31, 2024, to register for Junior Kindergarten, or turning 5 years of age by the same date, to register for Senior Kindergarten.

In our Catholic schools, we embrace the belief that children are curious, capable and competent, and endeavour to create safe and caring Kindergarten classrooms where can explore, play and grow.



Visit www.dcdsb.ca/kindergarten to learn more and to register your child at the Durham Catholic District School Board. 

Equity Invitational Learning Series Session Two:

The Role of Active Allyship in Dismantling Anti-Black Racism in Schools

Following a successful first session, the Equity Invitational Learning Series is back, featuring guest speaker Allison Hector-Alexander.

In this session, Allison Hector-Alexander will explore the role that allyship can play in promoting successful outcomes for Black students, asking questions such as "Who is an ally?, Who determines who an ally is?, and How does someone become an active ally?".

She will also examine the responsibility of educators, community and Ontario’s education system in dismantling anti-Black racism beyond declarations and performative acts, positing that successful outcomes for Black students are possible by promoting active authentic allyship.  

• Date and Time: January 16, 2024, at 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. 
• Guest Speaker: Allison Hector-Alexander
• Location: In-person at the Pope Francis Centre, DCDSB Board Office (652 Rossland Rd W, Oshawa) OR virtually via Zoom (a link will be emailed prior to the session).



* Door prizes are available for those who attend in person!

Click here to register to attend.

DCPIC Parent Resource Conference

The Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (DCPIC) is pleased to present its Parent Resource Conference – registration is now open!

Parents, guardians and caregivers of students within the Durham Catholic District School Board are invited to attend this free event, featuring Keynote Speaker Michael Way Skinner and breakout room sessions led by subject-matter experts, discussing a variety of topics related to child and youth education, development, wellness and more.



Complimentary child-minding is also available during the conference.

Date: Saturday, January 13, 2024

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Location: Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School (80 Mandrake St, Ajax)

Keynote – Michael Way Skinner: Being Catholic Parents In Trying Times

Breakout Sessions:

• Youth Engagement on Substance Use
• Vaping Education in our Schools
• Social Media Safety
• Engaging Students in STEAM and AI
• Engaging Students in Literacy Education
• Engaging Students in Math Education

Click here to read about the keynote topic and breakout session descriptions.

Click here to register.

Academy for Student Athlete Development (ASAD) Information Sessions for the 2024-2025 School Year

We're thrilled to invite all parents to the upcoming Information Sessions and "A Day in the Life" experiences at the Abilities Centre.

Join us for an informative and engaging time where you can learn more about our programs and witness firsthand the unique opportunities available for your child.

For more information on dates and locations, please click here.

How to Understand and Support Your Child or Teen with Mood Difficulties

The Mental Health Resources Team at the DCDSB has created a video to provide guidance on understanding and supporting children or teens experiencing mood difficulties. We invite you to watch it and join us in a collective effort to nurture the well-being of our students.

Grade 1 French Immersion Registration Closes on January 19

The deadline to register for a September 2024 start in Grade 1 French Immersion at the DCDSB is Friday, January 19, 2024. 

All interested Year 2 Kindergarten/Senior Kindergarten students are invited to register online through OSAS.

Inclement Weather Reminder

As the weather begins to change, parents, guardians and caregivers are reminded to subscribe to Durham Student Transportations Services website to receive updates on inclement weather zones and to track your child's bus.

Visit dsts.on.ca for more information.

Dear Families,

Happy New Year!

The Durham Catholic Children's Foundation (DCCF) reflects on 2023 with true appreciation

and the deepest gratitude for each and every one of you. We look forward to continuing our charitable work to bring hope to students and families in need across Durham Region this year. We strive to ensure that students who attend our schools have access to the basic daily necessities of life and can participate fully in field trips and extracurricular activities. 

On behalf of the Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation, we want to thank our families, students, staff, and community partners for your support. It is a privilege to serve our students in our shared commitment to promote student well-being and achievement.

Sincerely,

Bernadette Santiago 

Chair, DCCF

Tracy Barill   

Director of Education, DCDSB 

This Student Spotlight segment features Olivia M., a Grade 8 student at St. James Catholic School. Olivia participated in the Girls Welding Workshop and she shares her passion for welding and creativity. Thank you, Olivia, for sharing your talents with us!

This School Spotlight segment features St. Monica Catholic School. Thank you to staff at St. Monica for taking the time to gather and reflect on the school's past, present and future.

Please see below to read a few fun facts about St. Monica's staff, students and community!

• St. Monica Catholic School is 35 years young and is an awesome place to be. Did you know some of our staff have worked here for 20 plus years? Our Lunch Hour Supervisor, Ms. Kirkey, has been with us since 1994 and has been honoured more than once for her dedicated service.

• St. Monica Catholic School is 70% French Immersion and 30% English.

• Last year during the month of May, the "Hail Mary" was led in over eight different languages.

• In 2022-2023, our school participated in a community consultation on anti-Black racism, and we are now in the action phase of the process using feedback from our community. Our current project involves the visual portrayal of our patron saint. St. Monica. Born in what is now Algeria, she has commonly been depicted incorrectly as a white woman. We are excited to be working with a student artist from St. Mary Catholic Secondary School to address this and look forward to having a beautiful new art installation that more accurately represents St. Monica to display in our main foyer this school year. 

• We have awesome staff that share their gifts, talents, and volunteer to offer so many teams and clubs! In addition to our sports teams, we have American Sign Language Club, Spanish Club, Lego Club, Eco Club, Faith Ambassadors that meet with Ms. Krista (Youth Minister), the Paws Program, Dog Therapy, Tree Bee Club, and Mural Club.

• This fall, the Eco Club and the Tree Bee Club completed a greening project in front of the school, planting a gingko and freemanii maple tree. The students, staff, and parents, guardians and caregivers are very proud that St. Monica is a platinum EcoSchool.

St. Mary Students Attend Level Up Skilled Trades Careers Fair

St. Mary Transportation Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) students, along with students from four other DCDSB secondary schools, attended Level Up in Oshawa at the end of November; a Skilled Trades Career fair showcasing trades pathway opportunities for students. 

During the fair, students had the opportunity to meet representatives from Ontario colleges, private trade schools, various trades unions, OPG, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, and skilled trades employment partners to learn about career opportunities in the skilled trades in Ontario.  Students also had opportunities to connect with DCDSB's Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) Recruiter to learn more about exploring the skilled trades while in secondary school.

In addition to receiving information about the apprenticeship pathway, students were also able to participate in skilled trade experiential learning activities such as bricklaying, virtual welding, soldering pipes and using various power tools. This initiative was funded by OYAP.

Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School's Ceramics Program is Fired Up!

Notre Dame’s NEW ceramics program, is off to a great start!

When Grade 10 Ceramics and Grade 11 Ceramics were added to the course calendar last February, there was an instant buzz among students who were interested in getting their hands dirty with clay, and who wanted to try the pottery wheel.



Click here to read more.

Stomping Out the Stigma: Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School Students Attend the TAMI Summit

In November, students and teachers from Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School, All Saints Catholic Secondary School, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School and Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School, attended the Talking About Mental Illness (TAMI) Stomping Out Stigma Summit at Ontario Shores. 

Joining other secondary students from across Durham Region, participants had the opportunity to hear from keynote speaker Paul Ranger, former NHL player and Father Leo J. Austin alumnus, who spoke about his challenging and courageous journey with mental illness both on and off the ice. 

Students also shared what they are doing in their schools to Stomp Out Stigma and learned about mental illness and resources, so they can return to their school communities and create their own plans to combat stigma.

Checkmate at Notre Dame!

The first ever DCDSB Secondary Invitational Chess Competition took place at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School in December.

Six out of seven of our DCDSB secondary schools were represented, with Monsignor Paul Dwyer coming away with first place in the Sr. Event (Archbishop Denis O'Connor - 2nd) and St. Mary taking first place in the Junior division (Notre Dame - 2nd).

OYAP at St. Joseph Catholic School (Uxbridge)

St. Joseph Catholic School (Uxbridge) students worked with St. Mary Catholic Secondary School student leaders to create personalized plaques in the auto and construction shops.

Thank you OYAP for funding this amazing skilled trades learning opportunity for future St. Mary students!

Join Us for an Information Session on the Summer 2024 Travel for Credit Program

We are excited to share that this summer we will be providing students with the opportunity to take a Travel for Credit course as part of our summer school offering. Travel for Credit courses are run in partnership with EF Educational Tours.

Students who register for a Travel for Credit course are required to complete three weeks of in-person learning at a DCDSB secondary school and one week of experiential travel.

If you would like to enrol your student in a Travel for Credit course, please visit the Continuing Education Travel for Credit webpage for registration details.

Courses available include:

• Grade 10 Civics and Careers (CHV2O and GLC2O) – Ottawa, Montreal and New York City
• Grade 11 Environmental Science (SVN3M) – Costa Rica
• Grade 11/12 French (IDC3O/IDC4U) – France and the Alps
• Grade 12 English, University (ENG4U) – Scotland and England

For more information about Travel for Credit courses available this summer, including cost, FAQs and important dates, visit the EF Tours Durham Catholic website or attend our upcoming information session at 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, taking place in-person at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School (1375 Harwood Avenue North, Ajax) and online.

RSVP for the Information Session on Wednesday, January 17, 2024:

• In-Person at Notre Dame
• Attend Online

If you have any questions, please contact Continuing Education at 905-438-0570 or credit.reg@dcdsb.ca

Tamil Heritage Month

January is Tamil Heritage month in Canada, a time to consider the vibrant history, culture, perseverance, and strength of Tamil communities across the country. 

One of the world's largest Tamil diasporas calls Canada home, and Canadians of Tamil descent have played a significant role in shaping the country as it is today. Tamil communities in Canada continue to play a crucial and inspiring role in our society, including in business, politics, the arts, and other sectors. Tamil Heritage Month is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate and recognize the richness of Tamil culture and to honour the outstanding and continuing accomplishments and contributions of Tamil-Canadians at DCDSB and in the Canadian society.

Bell Let's Talk Day

January 24 is Bell Let’s Talk Day, which is dedicated to promoting awareness and acceptance around mental health.

Here at the DCDSB we believe that mental health and well-being are an essential component of academic achievement. One of the ways in which we support our student’s well-being, is building an understanding of what mental health is, and how to find support.

On Bell Let’s Talk Day we will be encouraging students, staff and families to open up the conversation about mental health to lessen stigma and build understanding, so that everyone can get the help they need. Within our schools, we want students to know that help with their mental health is always available. They can reach out to any trusted adult who can support them in connecting with the help that they need.

If a student or parent is unsure of who to talk to, they can always seek support through the DCDSB Social Work Access Line, either by phone at (905) 576-6150 ext. 21021, or by completing our online form.

Upcoming Events

January is Tamil Heritage Month.

• Jan. 9: Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Meeting
• Jan. 10: Kindergaten Registration Opens
• Jan. 11: Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (DCPIC) Meeting
• Jan. 13: DCPIC Parent Resource Conference
• Jan. 13-14: AMP Auditions
• Jan. 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Jan 16: Equity Invitational Learning Series - Session Two
• Jan. 17: Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee Meeting
• Jan. 18-25: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
• Jan. 19: French Immersion Registration Closes
• Jan. 21: Lincoln Alexander Day
• Jan. 22: Regular Board Meeting
• Jan. 24-30: Secondary Exams
• Jan. 24: World Day for African and Afro-descendant Culture 
• Jan. 25: Bell Let’s Talk Day
• Jan. 25: Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul
• Jan. 26: Elementary PA Day
• Jan. 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
• Jan. 27: Family Literacy Day
• Jan. 28: Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas
• Jan. 29: National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamaphobia