We invite you to learn more about how the Durham Catholic District School Board continues to celebrate and support Black Excellence on an ongoing basis.
Within a Catholic learning environment, Coach/Advocates for Black Students (CABS) will work within schools to support the implementation of programs, services and other supports to meet the needs of underserved Black students and their families, with a focus on student well-being and success.
This role was established as part of DCDSB’s commitment to recognizing and dismantling anti-Black racism and systemic barriers. The CABS role is one way that the Durham Catholic district school board is working to change this reality for our students.
Learn more about the Coach/Advocates for Black Students and the Coach/Advocate-Led Initiatives.
Academic Services teaching staff will engage in a book study of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students by Zaretta Hammond, to intentionally integrate Culturally Relevant and Responsive Pedagogy strategies into their instructional sessions and educator supports.
The DCDSB commits to listen to our diverse communities and address disparities to cultivate a community that is focused on human rights, equity, anti-racism, and inclusion. This six-part virtual series provides opportunity for staff to engage in learning to support culturally responsive and relevant practice. A certification of completion will be issued to staff who complete this learning series.
Dates to be confirmed:
Equity Leads (one in every school) engaged in two full days of professional development and learning focused on anti-racism and anti-discrimination to support engagement, conversations and capacity-building at the school-level. Academic and Student Services teaching staff also joined these learning opportunities.
Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) is committed to maintaining a culture of respect for human rights and the dignity of the human person. In furtherance of its commitment to identifying and eliminating any form of overt or covert racism, discriminatory practices, systemic barriers and biases from our board, DCDSB appointed Mr. Kayode Akomolafe as its Human Rights and Equity Advisor (HREA).
The HREA will provide system-level leadership in meeting obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code and continue to build capacity to foster a culture of human rights, maintain welcoming, respectful working and learning environments in the board. The HREA will also facilitate the resolution of human rights concerns/complaints through transparent and accountable processes which may include investigation, mediation or other forms of complaint resolution.
The HREA acts in a non-partisan capacity to protect and advance human rights as articulated in the Ontario Human Rights Code and school board policies.
The HREA will also maintain appropriate independence and impartiality and will not:
To deliver on this mandate, the HREA commits to working collaboratively with students, all board staff, Trustees, families and communities to advance human rights, equity, diversity, inclusion and the dismantling of systemic barriers in the board.
A three-part training series for Catholic Education Centre (CEC) and Operations Maintenance Administrative Centre (OMAC) staff, and Maintenance/Custodial Staff.
CEC/OMAC Staff Training Dates
Maintenance/Custodial Staff
Learning and engagement sessions for Principals and Vice-Principals:
What does racism have to do with me?
Human Rights Training
Equity Leads
Equity Leads (one in every school) will engage in two full days of professional development and learning focused on anti-racism and anti-discrimination to support engagement, conversations and capacity-building at the school-level. Academic and Student Services teaching staff will also be joining these learning opportunities.
Learning and engagement sessions for Equity Leads:
All staff will engage in learning about the way in which faith and well-being, and equity and human rights, create the conditions for student learning. Through regular meetings, staff will revisit the core resource below:
Staff will engage in self-reflection about how to be anti-racist and foster cultural humility to guide their own professional growth/learning plan
More than 70 staff members gathered for the Summer Institute for Educators at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School on August 24, 2022. Academic and Student Services departments provided workshops covering a variety of topics, while keynote speaker and Durham Catholic Alumni, Aubrey Noronha spoke to staff on Colour Blind? Why being ‘not racist’ is not enough anymore. Aubrey Noronha shared steps to take on our actively anti-racist journey by building awareness, relationships and commitment.
On December 13, 2022, All Saints Catholic Secondary School hosted the first ever Panel Discussion on BIPOC Representation in the Canadian Film Industry in partnership with Reel Canada.
All Saints Catholic Secondary School students hosted award winning director, writer and producer Jennifer Holness who spoke about her project Subjects of Desire, Black women and Beauty. Mohawk director and cinematographer Jonathan Elliot spoke about how his award-winning contemporary stories of Indigenous cultures are complex narratives, and up and coming Muslim Indo-Caribbean filmmaker Yazmeen Kanji spoke about her experience as a TIFF Next Wave filmmaker.
The panel explored Canadian representation on screen, as well as experiences behind the camera, both in key creative roles and crew positions. The interactive session was filmed by a professional tv production crew comprised of industry specialists from different parts of Ontario such as North Bay, Ottawa and Toronto. It was Reel Canada's first live event since the beginning of the pandemic.
Durham Catholic District School Board's Coach/Advocate for Black Students (CABS) program offered three different Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) camps in partnership with Queen’s University, Ontario Tech University Engineering Outreach, and McMaster University.
Through this program, Black students experienced a community-orientated and accessible learning environment that explored different facets of STEM, coding, and engineering design. These programs were led by Black facilitators, allowing youth to see themselves represented in STEM fields and experience positive mentorship while participating in various activities. Learn more.
From March 13 - March 17, 2023, DCDSB Coach Advocates for Black Students (CABS) hosted a half-day camp for approximately 40 Grade 7 and Grade 8 students.
Students participated in a variety of recreational activities that aimed to build leadership, fitness, and peer relationship skills and community building. Special thanks to Morlan Washington and Chevoy Hickey for running and facilitating the leadership camp!
In the summer of 2022, Focusing on Black Students Without Borders from Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School visited the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) where they were provided with the opportunity to meet with various professionals. This visit allowed them to expand their knowledge of career opportunities, such as Nursing, Social Work, Data analysis, lab technicians and more. The students were enlightened, educated, and felt empowered as they engaged in impactful conversations that will shape the decisions made throughout their future careers.
Students in the Focusing on Black Students Without Borders group at Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School share their student-led initiatives and goals for black students at their high school, the board and beyond. This video also features footage from guest speaker, Farley Flex.
In February 2023, the Friday Night Drummers shared a selection of rhythms used in West African Nations such as Guinea, Mali and Seirra Leona at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. They also shared the cultural significance and community importance of music and dance in everyday life. They concluded the evening with an interactive dance session, where students and staff from the crowd joined them on stage and learned an authentic dance routine.
This community partnership in four of our Catholic Secondary Schools supports culturally relevant facilitation through intergenerational connection, mentoring, and rhythm. Black “seasoned” adults with diverse career experience will share their wisdom and experience with students in the Grade 10 Careers course (GLC2O).
A Multicultural Celebration was held at Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School on May 9, 2023. This event was organized by Coach/Advocate for Black Students (CABS), Focusing on Black Students Without Borders group members, Ms. Nekkers, Ms. Polidano, and student volunteers.
This event honoured Black excellence and diversity within the school community by inviting students and staff to participate in a parade while dressed in full traditional attire to honour their cultural heritage.
Jamaal Magloire, a former professional basketball player and assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors, spoke to the students about the value and importance of education. In addition, Quenessa West, a fitness coach/trainer with expertise in soca fit, led the school community in a voluntary 20-minute socasize activity.
Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School takes on Socasize! The Black Excellence Student Team (BEST) invited staff and students to join in on a Soca dance class, Socasize, for a fun afternoon of dance, fitness, and Soca music. Thank you to BEST at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School and to the Coach Advocate for Black Students (CABS) for organizing and sharing this fun activity and for expressing the importance of cultural appreciation and fitness.
The Unity Group at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School shares the importance of the Power of Words and how this presentation will help younger students learn more about the impact of racial slurs, micro-aggressions and more.
Created in the Image of God: I Am Because We Are (Ubuntu) Virtual Engagement Series is a virtual engagement series for Grade 7-9 classes, facilitated by Tanika Riley aka iNsight, an energetic storyteller, city builder, entrepreneur and artist. There are four sessions available in this series, including:
The DCDSB is committed to listening to its diverse communities and to addressing disparities within the board, with a view to cultivating a board community that promotes human rights, equity, anti-racism and inclusion. The collaboration with the Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee provides a medium for effectively addressing and dismantling disadvantages and discrimination, historical or otherwise, experienced by Black students, staff and families in our Board.
Learn more about the Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee.
We are pleased to share our newsletters to Black families at the DCDSB, and look forward to sharing information, resources, and upcoming events that may be of interest. Please click here to view the 2023-2024 newsletters.
Families can express interest in receiving communications for Black students and families on the student verification form.
Like many organizations across the country, the DCDSB celebrates Black History Month each February. The focus of this committee is to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions, culture, history, and achievements of Black students, staff, families, and communities, not only during Black History Month, but every day.
2023-2024 Meeting dates:
In the 2022-2023 school year, the Black Heritage & Excellence Celebration Committee planned the following Black History Month initiatives for Catholic Education Centre and Operations Maintenance Administration Centre staff:
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.
Be You, Be Well: A Black Mental Health Day Event (March 2024)
March 4, 2024 marks the fifth 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 and to raise awareness of the specific mental health needs of Black communities across. Join us as we examine these impacts and needs and discuss ways in which members of the community can support their mental health.
This year DCDSB is proud to present Roxanne Francis, an award-winning psychotherapist, registered social worker, consultant, leadership coach and international speaker, who has been helping people access tools to change their lives for over 15 years. As well, we will host a panel discussion including: Trudy Stone, Culinary Nutritionist, Joy Lapps, Musical Artist/Composer and more!
This event is open to students, families, staff and community members. Please click here to register for this event.
Not Just Surviving: Centering Black Mental Health (March 2023)
During the evening on Monday, March 6, 2023, Not Just Surviving: Centering Black Mental Health was held at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. Prior to the event beginning, community service booths were set up to provide information to attendees.
The DCDSB proudly presented: Dionne Sinclair, Vice President Clinical Operations & Chief Nursing Executive Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and Maryanne Oketch, Winner of Survivor, Season 42.
Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB), in partnership with its Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee, is pleased to present the Equity Invitational Learning Series, focused on identifying and removing barriers, and improving student outcomes. There are three sessions within the series, each featuring a guest speaker presenting on a topic related to equity and achievement.