Highlights from the Regular Board Meeting of February 27, 2023

Announcements

Thank you to the St. John XXIII Catholic School choir who recorded O'Canada to be played at the February 27, 2023 Regular Board Meeting.

Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association Short-Video Contest

Congratulations to All Saints Catholic Secondary School for winning third place in the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association's (OCSTA) Short-Video Contest. This year's contest focused on the Catholic Education Week theme of "We are Many, We are One". The video can be viewed on the DCDSB’s YouTube channel.

Presentations

Black History Month Highlights Mr. Akomolafe, Human Rights and Equity Advisor, and Mr. O'Neill, Superintendent of Education, presented an update on 2023 Black History Month - Celebration of Black Excellence in Canada: Yesterday and Today. The activities for Black History Month were aligned with the Discovery 2023 strategic priorities of Excellence, Equity and Engagement. Mr. Akomolafe and Mr. O'Neill emphasized the importance of celebrating Black history and Black excellence all year long, extending past the month of February. In celebration of Black History Month, DCDSB partnered with Cultural Expressions Art Gallery Inc., who presented the 16th Annual Durham Black History Month Celebration on February 4, 2023. The event featured community networking, performances by local artists, and a keynote presentation in the Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School/J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate auditorium. Mr. Akomolafe and Mr. O'Neill shared highlights from Black History Month celebrations and learning from our schools, which included: Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School had a presentation and performance by Friday Night Drummers, who delivered an interactive presentation through music, dance and storytelling highlighting some of the rich African culture that forms a part of African Diaspora collective history. St. Paul Catholic School and St. Theresa Catholic School had Tanika 'Insight' Riley and Matthew Jones present "Testament". The presenters spoke and rapped about peace, love, unity, and the power of words. The St. Mary Catholic Secondary School Unity Team delivered a workshop titled The Power of Words to three elementary schools throughout February. Students spoke about the importance and power of the words we use. The DCDSB Black History Month Planning Committee led events for the Catholic Education Centre and Operations, Maintenance and Administration Centre (OMAC) staff. A liturgy and presentation was held on February 3 at the Pope Francis Centre, and approximately 150 staff attended. On February 27, Vice President of the Ontario Black History Society, Black history consultant, education and community advocate, speaker, facilitator, and author, Channon Oyeniran, presented Four Hundred Years of Black History in Canada: Celebrating the Contributions of Black Canadians to Canada. Attendees had the opportunity to think critically about the various experiences and contributions of Black people in Canada. Mr. Akomolafe and Mr. O'Neill also shared the Black Excellence, Celebration, History Lives Here webpage that is on the board and school websites all year long, along with social media posts and other communication materials. Suggestions for future Black History Month initiatives and planning concluded the presentation.

Long-Term Accommodation Report Mr. Grieve, Superintendent of Business, Finance and Facilities Services  presented an overview of the Long-Term Accommodation Plan Mr. Grieve shared that as of September 30, 2022, the DCDSB had 21,838 students in 22,472 pupil places, which means that the board has a 96% utilization rate overall. As of September 30, 2022, the board had 15,177 elementary students and 6,661 secondary students. Enrolment Projections - Municipal Summaries Pickering: The utilization in Pickering is consistently around 100% until approximately 2024, when a proposed new Seaton School could open which would drop utilization to around 90% while development catches up and utilization grows beyond 100% in 2027. Ajax: The utilization in Ajax starts to decline over the next couple of years towards 90%. A review of boundaries and programs will be required to improve the utilization, as growth in Ajax is stunted. Several schools (St. Francis de Sales, St. Andre Bessette, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Teresa of Calcutta) have utilization rates of concerns. Northern Schools: The utilization rates of Good Shepherd and St. Joseph are strong through 2032 above 100%. Holy Family has incremental growth and has increased above 60%. Whitby/Brooklin: The utilization rate in Whitby continues to be strong with an average above 100%, while Brooklin continues to drop to around 70% over the next few years before the anticipated growth starts coming online in 2027-2031. A secondary boundary review might be required to ensure utilization rates remain healthy. Oshawa: The utilization rate in Oshawa continues to remain strong at an average over 100%. This is mostly attributed to the growth in North Oshawa. The proposed new schools and additions, along with the current Oshawa study will provide some relief and direction on boundary and program reviews to help balance the utilization.  Mr. Grieve also shared that the number of childcare centres and childcare rooms continues to expand year-over-year. In addition, he reviewed the impacts of legislative changes to planning. Mr. Grieve then reviewed the action items completed in 2022, and presented the proposed actions for 2023-2027 by each municipality. The full presentation and report is available at dcdsb.ca. Safe and Caring Schools – School Climate Survey Update

Ms. Sorhaitz, Superintendent of Education, and Mr. DeCaires, Data and Research Officer, provided an overview of Safe Schools initiatives for the 2022-2023 school year, including a brief overview of the Safe Schools Climate Survey results.  As part of ongoing efforts to create safe and welcoming schools, a variety of training opportunities, resources and perceptual surveys have been implemented this school year. All school staff have been provided with professional learning on the topics of cyber and digital safety for students and bullying prevention and intervention. Additionally, staff have participated in further learning about anti-sex trafficking through the lens of Indigenous communities and have familiarized themselves with the DCDSB Anti-sex trafficking protocol. Ms. Sorhaitz also shared Safe and Accepting Schools Bullying Prevention Initiatives and Restorative Practices. Ms. Sorhaitz and Mr. DeCaires presented the results of the DCDSB's Safe and Inclusive Schools Survey. The Ministry of Education requires all schools in the province to implement a Grade 4 - 12 School Climate Survey every two years. The Safe Schools steering committee will continue to work with the data from the climate surveys and use the data to inform the development of resources targeting key areas of need within our schools.

Updates

Tracy Barill, Director of Education began by sharing that the DCDSB is currently in the process of gathering feedback to assist with our 2023-2024 strategic priorities and budget development. At this time, we are asking for input and suggestions about investments that the Board should consider for the upcoming school year in support of student learning. There are three ThoughtExchange questions, and the feedback received will help to inform our 2023-2024 budget and strategic priorities. Further details can be found on our Budget Consultation webpage. The ThoughtExchange questions will be available until March 24. Recognition On February 15, we hosted our first Navigating Kindergarten Zoom session titled Welcome to Kindergarten at DCDSB and Information on Before and After Childcare. Navigating Kindergarten is a live virtual parent/guardian series to prepare parents and guardians and their child for Kindergarten. We have three upcoming Navigating Kindergarten sessions including Early Literacy Skills on March 8, Supporting Transitions for Students with Special Needs on March 29, and Tips and Strategies to Support Communication Skills and Well-Being in Kindergarten on April 19. Interested families are encouraged to visit our website at dcdsb.ca/Kindergarten for further details. The United Nations has declared this the International Decade of Indigenous Languages and that Indigenous Languages Day is coming up on March 31. Professional Development learning sessions for 60 elementary and secondary educators, led by Beedahbin Peltier and the Indigenous Education team, took place in February 2023, with a focus on Anishinaabe ways of knowing and how these ways of knowing are rooted in Anishinaabemowin language.  In February, seven teachers from our secondary schools participated in their third and final welding training session with the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB). Following this training, all seven teachers successfully completed the CWB Certification Qualification exam and were awarded their CWB 47.1 Fillet Weld Qualification in the Flat & Horizontal Positions using the SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) & GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) Processes. Achieving this qualification will allow these educators to prepare their students to complete the same CWB certification while in our secondary schools. Also in February, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School and St Mary Catholic Secondary School were certified as official CWB test centres. This will allow students in our school board to gain their certifications through testing done in our own schools. A special thank you to the Canadian Welding Bureau Foundation for offering the training and to our other partners in our welding initiative, which includes UA Locals 401 and 46, OPG and Black and McDonald. Director Barill highlighted details on our Adult and Continuing Education programs through Archbishop Anthony Meagher Catholic Continuing Education Centre. As part of the Adult Day School program, adult learners are now able to work from home or school, which allows us to reach more students in various parts of the province and offers more flexibility for students. In 2021-2022, 215 adult students graduated with their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. In addition, 125 students received their Personal Support Worker certificate. Our Continuing Education Center offers a myriad of programs such as: The Child Care Assistant Training Program The Custodial Services Training Program The Personal Support Worker (PSW) Program The Young Parent School Program at the Rose of Durham allows mothers and fathers who are 16-26 years of age to obtain credits for the Ontario Secondary School while in a supported learning environment with an educator and Rose of Durham counsellors.  We have an upcoming Continuing Education presentation to Board scheduled when we will provide more details and insights on all that we do at our Archbishop Anthony Meagher Catholic Continuing Education Center.   Upcoming Events Looking forward into March, there are a few initiatives that Director Barill wanted to highlight: We are currently seeking parent and guardian feedback on the Oshawa Program and Boundary Study. There are public meetings scheduled for: Tuesday, March 7 at Sir Albert Love Catholic School Tuesday, March 21 at St. Christopher Catholic School Thursday, March 23 at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School Further information on our boundary reviews is available at dcdsb.ca/boundaryreviews In April, Grade 10 culinary students from Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School will be engaging in learning with Indigenous Education and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. Learning will be supported by community partner Beedahbin Peltier who will lead learning sessions on the land where he will share plant knowledge and the connection to health. Keri-Ann Peacock of Indigenish Catering will also join to share her pathway journey and lead students in cooking classes. The project will culminate with a visit to Durham College.  Through partnerships with the Ministry of Education and the Ontario DELF Centre, the Durham Catholic District School Board is pleased to offer Core French, Extended French and French Immersion students registered in a Grade 12 French as a Second Language course in the 2022-2023 school year the opportunity to participate in the Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF) Proficiency Exam. Interested DCDSB Grade 12 students are encouraged to review the information on our DELF webpage, or contact their French teacher or Guidance department for registration details. DCDSB staff are looking forward to the much-anticipated Lenten Twilight Retreat on March 2 at the Manresa Retreat Centre. Staff will celebrate mass, followed by dinner, then transition into guided meditation followed by reflective ritual action. Thank you to our dedicated Faith Formation department for supporting this faith enrichment opportunity for our staff. The Coach/Advocates for Black Youth will be facilitating a March Break Recreational Leadership Camp at Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School from March 13-17. The camp is designed for Grade 7 and 8 students who identify as Black. Students will participate in a variety of recreational activities aimed at building leadership skills, fitness skills, peer relationships skills and community building.   Recognition March 7-13 is Ontario Social Work Week. Director Barill acknowledged and thanked all our social workers who provide invaluable support and resources to our students and families. The mental health and well-being of our students, staff and families is so important, especially now, and we greatly appreciate all our amazing social work staff. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) invited a member of the Board of Trustees from Durham Catholic District School Board to participate on the Natural Science and Education Committee. Subject to approval by the TRCA Board of Directors, Director Barill was pleased to announce that Chair Forster will be participating in this committee, which is expected to convene in April 2023. Active involvement from the DCDSB on this committee is essential to the long- term success of any collaborative framework involving school boards, conservation authorities and other key public sector education stakeholders. On behalf of the Senior Administrative Team and staff, we want to thank Chair Forster for her leadership on this committee. Director Barill shared the news that Superintendent Lee-Fernandes will be joining the Ontario Principals’ Council as Director of Professional Learning effective March 6, 2023. Her last day with the DCDSB will be March 3, before she begins her secondment with the Ontario Principals' Council. Superintendent Lee-Fernandes has over twenty years of service with the DCDSB, during which time she has held the positions of classroom teacher, program support teacher and school administrator with the board. Prior to becoming a Superintendent, she served on several board committees, including the Equity Steering Committee, Mentorship Steering Committee, and the board’s Together for Hope Poverty Action Plan. A valued member of the DCDSB Senior Administrative team since January 2020 when she was appointed to the position of Superintendent of Education, Dr. Lee-Fernandes has tirelessly and effectively led Family of Schools and key system portfolios such as Student Services and Equity. On behalf of the entire DCDSB community, Director Barill expressed her sincere appreciation to Superintendent Lee-Fernandes for her leadership and dedication over the years. Although she will be deeply missed, we wish her all the very best in her new role. Director Barill welcomed all students, staff, and families to embrace the Lenten season with an open heart, mind, and spirit as we take this opportunity to strengthen our connection to our faith, through our values and our actions, to make the world a better place. Director Barill wished everyone a blessed Lenten season filled with the opportunity to strengthen our personal connection with Christ.

Monique Forster, Chair of the Board thanked the evening’s presenters for sharing updates on Black History Month, the Long-Term Accommodation Plan and Safe and Caring Schools. Recognition The Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association (OCSTA) has announced the 2023 OCSTA Trustee Award of Merit recipients. DCDSB Trustee for the City of Pickering, Jim McCafferty, has been announced as a recipient of this honour. The award recognizes trustees who have rendered exceptional service to Catholic education over the years. Congratulations to Trustee McCafferty on being recognized for your many years of dedicated service to the DCDSB and Catholic education. Congratulations to All Saints Catholic Secondary School students Joseph, Sierra, Ashley, Kaitlyn, and Robyn. They are the third place winners in this year’s Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association's (OCSTA) Short-Video Contest themed "We are Many, We are One”. Congratulations also to their educators and advisors. On Wednesday, February 22, we began the Liturgical season of Lent with the distribution of ashes and our own Lenten promises. Lent is a period of 40 days of repentance and preparation leading up to the celebration of Easter – our most holy time of year with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Pope Francis’ Lenten message connects to the Durham Catholic District School Board’s 2022-2023 spiritual theme, Listening with the Ear of the Heart. A time for us to continue to reflect on to whom we listen, to what we listen, and to how we listen during this holy Lenten season. This Lenten season is a time to deepen our relationship with God. On Wednesday, February 8, DCDSB secondary students attended the Durham Youth Drug Awareness Committee’s 4th “The Leader in Me: Awareness to Action” Student Conference. The Student Conference was presented in partnership with the Durham Region Health Department, Lakeridge Health Mental Health and Addiction Services, Carea Community Health Centre, and the YMCA Youth Cannabis Awareness Program. The keynote presentation was by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. During the conference, students learned to create effective health promotion campaigns and were provided up-to-date information regarding alcohol, marijuana, and vaping to use in their school campaigns. Chair Forster also extended her thanks to Trustee Beatty who was able to attend a part of the conference. The Durham Catholic District School Board 2023 student art show is now open at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG). The DCDSB’s student art show is titled Kaleidoscope and will be available for the public to view free-of-charge from February 24, 2023, until March 12, 2023. This year’s show features over 90 pieces of artwork created by students from kindergarten to Grade 12. We hope you can visit the exhibit and enjoy our students’ works of art.   Upcoming Events The board is currently accepting nominations for three different awards, including the Board Award of Merit, the Distinguished Catholic Alumni Awards, and the Reverend John Markle Home-School Communications Award. The Board Award of Merit recognizes an individual or group who has made an extraordinary contribution to the cause of Catholic education or who has performed an extraordinary community service outside of their normal work duties. The people nominated for this award may include a Priest, a member of a religious community, an employee of the Board, a ratepayer, a student, or a Trustee who is, or formerly was, under the jurisdiction of the DCDSB. Nominations may be made by any individual within the broader Catholic community. Nominations are open until Wednesday, March 1. As a Board we believe in the foundational partnerships between home school and parish. Communication is essential to keeping these relationships strong which is why each year the Board sponsors the Reverend John Markle Home-School Communications Award to recognize excellence in Elementary and Secondary School Communications. Nominations for these awards are open until Friday, March 3. The Distinguished Catholic Alumni Awards recognizes former students at the Durham Catholic District School Board who have achieved significant success in their chosen pathway. Through their pursuit of personal excellence, these individuals have made a positive contribution to their communities and represent the image of the Catholic learner as outlined in the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations. Nominations are open until Friday, March 31. To learn more about these awards, or to submit a nomination, please visit dcdsb.ca. March 6, 2023, marks the fourth annual Black Mental Health Day, recognized by communities across Ontario. On Black Mental Health Day, we are called to recognize the ongoing impact on mental health that results from experiences of anti-Black racism. It is also a day to raise awareness of the specific mental health needs of Black communities across Ontario. This year DCDSB proudly presents, Dionne Sinclair, Vice President Clinical Operations & Chief Nursing Executive Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Maryanne Oketch Winner of Survivor, Season 42. The event will take place on Monday, March 6, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. Please visit dcdsb.ca for further details or to register for this event. On Thursday, March 9, our chaplains and secondary students representing our board will participate in the 33rd Annual Ordinandi event along with other Catholic school boards, the Archdiocese of Toronto, and the Office of Catholic Youth. In the evening, trustees and senior staff will attend the Ordinandi Dinner to honour the Transitional Deacons who study, pray and reside at St. Augustine’s Seminary and Redemptoris Mater Seminary who will be ordained to the priesthood this year. Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association This year, the Durham Catholic District School Board will be hosting the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association Annual General Meeting in Toronto from April 27-29, 2023. We will be sharing further details in the next couple of months.   In closing, Chair Forster wished all members of the Durham Catholic family a safe, happy and restful March Break from March 13-17, 2023.

Motions

That the Durham Catholic District School Board approve the Guiding Principles of the Long Term Accommodation Plan 2023-2027 dated February 27, 2023. That the Durham Catholic District School Board approve the actions proposed for 2023 within the Long Term Accommodation Plan 2023-2027 dated February 27, 2023. That the Durham Catholic District School Board approve “In Principle”, the actions proposed for 2023-2027 within the Long Term Accommodation Plan 2023-2027 dated February 27, 2023. That the Durham Catholic District School Board approve International Student Fees in the amount of $15,200 for an elementary school student and $16,200 for a secondary school student for the 2023/2024 school year. State of Student Transportation Report Whereas ongoing issues and challenges, including a province-wide bus driver shortage, continue to impact student transportation services in Durham Region; and, Whereas the DCDSB is committed to actively monitor and manage student transportation issues; Be it resolved that the DCDSB request a report on the state of student transportation to be presented at the next regular Board meeting; and That such report cover the impacts and management of: The bus driver shortage; Bus service in remote and rural areas including service on dead-end roads; and Durham Region Transit Bus Passes

Announcements

Monique Forster, Chair of the Board made the following announcements: Retirements Richard Dobson, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School, effective February 28, 2023 Resignations Karina Lawrynowicz, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, effective January 31, 2023 Melissa McGroarty, St. Marguerite d'Youville C.S., effective January 31, 2023 Appointment to Elementary Vice Principal - Effective February 21, 2023 Geoffrey McPherson appointed to Vice Principal of Father Fénelon Catholic School from teacher, St. Bridget Catholic School

2022-2023 Board of Trustees: Monique Forster (Chair) - Ajax Morgan Ste. Marie (Vice-Chair) - Oshawa Kim Beatty - Oshawa Richard Damianopoulos - Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock Robert De Souza - Whitby Janelle Emanuel - Whitby Marisa Hall - Ajax Jim McCafferty - Pickering Sophie Nwaoha - Student Trustee Moyin Esan - Student Trustee

Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of February 27, 2023 will be posted on the board website as part of the agenda for the Regular Board Meeting of Monday, March 27, 2023.