We invite you to watch the Advent message below from Tracy Barill, Director of Education and access Advent resources for you and your family at dcdsb.ca.

On November 21, 2022, at DCDSB's Inaugural Board Meeting, the following Trustees elect were commissioned by Father Keith Callaghan as Catholic School Trustees and officially sworn into office through the completion of their Declaration of Oath, overseen by the Director of Education, Tracy Barill: 

• Town of Ajax - Monique Forster and Marisa Hall 
• Townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge - Richard Damianopoulos
• City of Oshawa - Kim Beatty and Morgan Ste. Marie 
• City of Pickering - Jim McCafferty 
• Town of Whitby - Robert De Souza and Janelle Emanuel 

Having confirmed that each member of the Board had made the declaration and taken the oath, Director Barill, declared the Board to be legally constituted and proceeded to open nominations for the position of Chair. 

Monique Forster, Trustee for the Town of Ajax was acclaimed to the position of Chair of the Board and Morgan Ste. Marie, Trustee for the City of Oshawa was subsequently elected for the position of Vice-Chair.

Advent Resources

Sunday, November 27, 2022 marked the beginning of a new liturgical year with the start of the season of Advent in the Catholic Church. Advent means “arrival.”

Advent is a hope filled season, meant to bring us to a stillness with God and preparing for the birth of His Son, Jesus, into human existence. During Advent, we are reminded that Christ is present in our lives throughout all seasons! 

We have compiled a list of online calendars, prayers, retreats and reflections which you might find helpful in your spiritual journey during Advent. 

• DCDSB Advent Resources
• Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (DCPIC) Family Advent Activity Calendar

Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School Creates Nativity/Creche for St. Bernadette's Parish

Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School is delighted to continue to foster their relationship with St. Bernadette’s Parish. Mr. Ladouceur’s Construction Technology class was asked by Father Chris Lemieux to build a five-foot nativity/creche to be displayed outside the Parish for the Advent and Christmas season. 

Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School wishes to express their gratitude to St. Bernadette’s Parish for inviting the Construction Technology class to share their gifts and talents with their parish community and look forward to their continued partnership.

Mini-Police Chief of the Day

This Student Spotlight segment features Gabriel, a Grade 5 student at St. Paul Catholic School and winner of the Durham Regional Police Services’ Mini-Police Chief for the Day contest. Gabriel shares everything he did during his time as Mini-Police Chief and he also shares what it means to listen with the ear of the heart.

Recently, the students and staff from St. John Paul II Catholic School had a day of learning with the DCDSB Indigenous Education team and special guests. Students and staff were privileged to have Beedahbin Peltier lead them in learning to deepen their thinking about the land acknowledgement and the significance of our role in the interconnectedness of plants and all living things.

Students are beginning their novel study of Barren Grounds, and were treated to a visit with the author, David A. Robertson, who shared his writer’s journey and the importance of diverse representation, particularly, in having an Indigenous hero in stories. Students learned that stories come in many forms and that authentic voice matters. Students were gifted signed copies of The Great Bear to continue the Misewa Saga. 

Students and staff sat in community and shared a traditional Indigenous meal provided by Keriann Peacock (Indigenish Catering). The afternoon was spent reinforcing the morning learning through experiential activities on the land. 

Foundation launches Tributes and Legacy Funds

The Durham Catholic Children's Foundation is excited to announce new fundraising campaigns. Commemorative gifts are wonderful ways to honour special people and special occasions in your life. The Foundation has launched a Tribute and Legacy fund with all donations go directly to supporting students and families in need throughout Durham region.

The Tribute Fund is an excellent way to donate to the Foundation in someone’s honour. This is an opportunity to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday, retirement, or graduation. We also have limited time Christmas cards that are a great way to spread joy this upcoming holiday season.

The Legacy Fund is a thoughtful gift to honour somebody special who has passed away.  All honourees will be mailed a physical card that notifies them that a donation has been made in their name. Please see images below for the various card options.

Visit durhamcatholicfoundation/waystodonate for more information. 

Inclement Weather



As the weather begins to change, parents and guardians 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.

2023-2024 ASAD Applications Are Now Open

The ASAD application portal for 2023-2024 programming is now open!

The Academy for Student Athlete Development (ASAD) program removes barriers to high performance sport by providing student athletes with the opportunity to earn academic credits while participating in a combination of sport technical training, strength and conditioning, mental performance, and sport nutrition. Lead by a team of national, provincial and local experts, and in partnership with local school boards including DCDSB, ASAD gives student athletes the tools they need to achieve their academic and athletic goals while remaining in their home school community.

To learn more about the ASAD program please visit their website.

To apply now please visit the 2023-2024 application portal.

Grade 1 French Immersion Registration is Now Open

Registration for Grade 1 French Immersion is now open! All interested Year 2 Kindergarten/Senior Kindergarten students are invited to register for French Immersion at the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB).

Registration for Grade 1 French Immersion will be open from November 29, 2022 – January 20, 2023.

Please visit dcdsb.ca/FrenchImmersion for more information on the French Immersion program.

Grade 2 and Grade 3 Students from St. Christopher Catholic School in Oshawa participated in a day of outdoor experiential learning. They began the day at the school and engaged in a learning walk on the way to the Catholic Education Centre. Once students arrived, they went to the new trails at the board offices where they discovered the layers of a forest. They also spent time building mini forests and playing games together in the new outdoor learning space.

Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) is pleased to announce a new project that will bring outdoor experiential learning spaces to five schools across the board. As part of this project, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School (Pickering), St. Jude Catholic School (Ajax), St. Paul Catholic School (Whitby), St. Joseph Catholic School (Oshawa) and Good Shepherd Catholic School (Port Perry) are collaborating with Foggy River Farm to design outdoor class spaces at each school.

DCDSB received funding through the Federal COVID-19 Resiliency Infrastructure Stream (CVRIS) which is to be used for improving air quality, increasing physical distancing, and promoting occupant health and safety. In addition, DCDSB receives provincial funding through the School Renewal Allocation (SRA). SRA provides flexibility, in which the Ministry of Education encourages school boards to prioritize SRA expenditures to address facility condition, health and safety, and general code requirements (including accessibility). “The combined funding has provided us with the flexibility to move forward with the outdoor learning spaces,” said Scott Grieve, Superintendent of Business, Finance and Facilities Services. “These outdoor learning spaces will provide student communities with the opportunity to access a variety of activities with connections to Experiential Learning, Health and Physical Education, Outdoor Education, Religion and Family Life, Science and more.” 

To read more please visit our website.

Durham College/Ontario Tech University Pathways Trip for English Language Learners



This past Friday, Grade 11 and 12 English Language Learners (ELL) from all seven DCDSB secondary schools attended a full day tour of our local post-secondary institutions. They attended informative presentations regarding the application process for domestic/international students and heard about the specialized supports and services available. This was accompanied by a tour of both campuses and lunch in the cafeteria.

The experience allowed ELL students from across the board the opportunity to connect with new peers and gain a deeper understanding of available pathways. This excursion led to many learning opportunities including Q&A with staff, a familiarity of the environment, and the development of on-going friendships. Students expressed feelings of gratitude and increased confidence towards their future endeavours.

Emotional and behavioural difficulties can arise at any time and can affect anyone. It is important to consider signs that could indicate that your child is struggling with an emerging or escalating mental health problem. Identifying problems early, and providing caring support, goes a long way toward prevention and/or worsening of difficulties. 

School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) offers some tips around noticing and responding to mental health concerns for your child:

• SMHO Noticing Mental Health Concerns for Your Child
• SMHO Tip Sheet for Parents and Caregivers

Travel for Credit Program – Summer 2023

Archbishop Anthony Meagher Catholic Continuing Education Centre is offering three exciting Travel for Credit options in July 2023 in partnership with EF Educational Tours. Students will have a unique opportunity to earn a credit through a combination of classroom and experiential learning. Students will complete a part of their summer school learning in-person and continue their instruction while traveling under the supervision of the summer school teacher.

2022-23 Travel for Credit Offerings:

• Grade 10 Civics (CHV2O) and Careers (GLC2O) – Destination: Ottawa, Montreal and New York City Course Dates: July 4 to July 27, travelling July 17 to July 24. Tour Details.
• Grade 11 Environmental Science (SVN3M) – Destination: Costa Rica Course Dates: July 4 to July 27, travelling July 10 to July 18. Tour Details.
• Grade 11 French Culture and Conversation (IDC3O/IDC4U) – Destination: France Course Dates: July 4 to July 27, travelling July 17 to July 25. Tour Details.

Information Session 

Parents/Guardians and students are invited to register for an information session to learn more about the program and how to apply. The information session can be accessed virtually or participants can attend in-person at Archbishop Anthony Meagher Catholic Continuing Education Centre, Oshawa Campus (850 King St. West, Unit 26). The information session will take place on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. To register for the information session please click here.

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