DCDSB 2023-2024 Year-End Message

Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers:  

As the end of the 2023-2024 school year draws near, I want to thank you for your continued partnership and collaboration in listening, learning, and living in faith together at the Durham Catholic District School Board. We have had many reasons to celebrate students, staff, families, parishes and community partners throughout the year, and are so proud of all in our Durham Catholic learning community. 

After reflecting last year on what it means to “listen with the ear of the heart,” we were inspired once again by the words of Pope Francis for our 2023-2024 Spiritual Theme, Speaking with the Heart. Noted during his message for the 57th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Francis said, “it is the heart that spurred us to go, to see and to listen, and it is the heart that moves us towards an open and welcoming way of communicating.”

Throughout the year, we have been reflecting on the spiritual theme as a Catholic learning community, and what it means to communicate “according to God's style”, welcoming encounters with others as “heart speaks to heart.” We invite you to watch a compilation video that provides an overview of how we have been Speaking with the Heart throughout the 2023-2024 school year.  

As the year draws to a close, I invite you to look back at some of the successes and new initiatives from this past year. Please see some of our highlights below: 

• 2023-2024 DCDSB Student Achievement Plan
• DCDSB Recognized by Forbes as One of Canada’s Best Employers in 2024
• Funding Announced to Provide New Catholic Elementary School and Additional Pupil Spaces in Oshawa
• New Addition at St. Anne Catholic School Opens to Accommodate Growing Student Population
• Indigenous Education Learning Opportunities and Initiatives
• St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School 25^th Anniversary Celebration
• Grade 8 Welding Camp for Girls and their Parent/Guardian/Caregiver, Funded by the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)
• Coach/Advocates for Black Students Offer Extended Programming and Camp Opportunities for Students
• Project SEARCH Durham Region Completes Inaugural Year
• 2023-2024 Student Demographic Survey
• Secondary Student Mental Health Leadership Summit
• New Dual Credit Plumbing Program Offers DCDSB Secondary Students Opportunity to Receive Durham College Credit
• Initiatives, Programs and Projects as Part of the Board’s Equity Action Plan   

On behalf of the DCDSB, I extend congratulations and best wishes to our graduates and retirees. I hope that you take all that you have learned, and the relationships you have made while with the board with you into the next chapter of your life.

As you may be aware, at the end of this school year, I will be retiring from Durham Catholic after 36 years of service in Catholic Education. I am grateful for the many, valued relationships formed with students, families and colleagues over the years. To be entrusted with leading the board as Director of Education has been a true honour and privilege. While I will miss daily involvement with the community, I am confident that the board will be in competent and compassionate hands under the leadership of the newly appointed Director of Education, Mr. Gerard Winn, the Board of Trustees and the Senior Administration Team.

Our central team, administrators and staff look forward to the return of students when regular programming resumes on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. I hope everyone in our Durham Catholic learning community has a safe and happy summer vacation. 

Yours in Faith,
  

Tracy Barill 
Director of Education