DCDSB Celebrates Catholic Education Week and Mental Health Week from May 1-5, 2023

Posted On Thursday April 27, 2023

During the first week of May, the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) celebrates Catholic Education Week, which recognizes the important contributions of Catholic education to our community, the province and Canada. This week is also nationally designated as Mental Health Week, which aims to raise awareness and to promote and protect mental health.

This year, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) has selected We are Many, We are One as the provincial theme for Catholic Education Week.

“In our DCDSB schools, we celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of each person in our Catholic learning community,” said Tracy Barill, DCDSB Director of Education. “Guided by our board’s spiritual theme for this year, Listening with the Ear of the Heart, we have been focusing on authentically listening to those around us to build better understanding of the experiences of all people, and to consider what steps the Holy Spirit is inviting us to take as we walk the path forward together.”

There are many connections between Catholic Education Week and the Mental Health Week theme, My Story, which was selected by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). CMHA states “Collectively and individually, we have multiple layers and stories that make us who we are and while each year 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental illness or mental health issue, 5 in 5 of us – that’s all people – have mental health.”

To recognize the significance of this week, DCDSB is launching an interactive webpage for students and families. This webpage includes mental health and well-being activities, suggested reading lists and family faith-centered activities.

DCDSB will be celebrating these important weeks with special activities at all grade levels, which will include prayer celebrations and service activities. Students, families and community members are invited to visit our Catholic Education Week and Mental Health Week webpage for resources, book lists, and more. 

DCDSB will be recognizing Catholic Education Week and Mental Health Week through the following initiatives and events:

  • Monday May 1, 2023:
    • System-Wide Mass and Distinguished Catholic Educator and Leader Award Ceremony. This year, recipients of the Distinguished Catholic Educator and Leader Awards will be honoured following the System-Wide Mass at St. Bernadette Parish (21 Bayly St., E., Ajax) beginning at 4:30 p.m. 
  • Tuesday May 2, 2023:
    • Suicide Prevention and Life Promotion Literacy for School Staff training is being offered to educators. This is a 3-hour workshop developed by School Mental Health Ontario that is intended to develop an understanding of suicide prevention at school and the role that all school staff play in keeping students safe.
    • Parent, Guardian and Caregiver Mental Health and Well-Being Virtual Presentation: Understanding Mood and Anxiety Difficulties Presented by Ontario Shores. The presentation will take place from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Please click here to join the Zoom meeting.  
  • Wednesday May 3, 2023:
    • The student trustee leadership team at the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association is hosting a virtual Ontario Catholic Student Youth Day (OCSYD).
    • His Grace Francis Leo, Archbishop of Toronto, will join thousands of students across the province in the celebration of a special Catholic Education Week Mass that will be live streamed at 1:30 p.m. If you would like to watch the Mass, please visit https://www.stmichaelscathedral.com/live/.
  • Thursday May 4, 2023:
    • School Mental Health Ontario is offering a webinar for secondary educators: Mental health lesson plans to support student learning -MH LIT: Student Mental Health in Action. During this session, educators will review this series of lessons for students in Grades 9-12 on basic mental health knowledge and help-seeking skills, consider how to bring the lessons to their students, hear from those who have begun doing so, and start the planning process in conversation with their peers.
  • Friday May 5, 2023:
    • Students and staff are encouraged to wear green to raise awareness for Mental Health Week. 
    • May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls & 2-Spirit People. Students have been engaging in learning about how systemic barriers failed to prevent and address cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, children and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. We encourage our community to learn more at Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. On May 5, secondary students will be attending the Gathering to Honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples hosted by Carea Community Health Centre. Staff will be attending the Gathering and selling sweaters to donate all the proceeds back to the Carea Community Health Centre to support the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples in Canada.  

To learn more about the DCDSB’s related programs, supports and resources, please see the following webpages: