Oshawa Program and Boundary Study - Updates for 2024-2025 School Year

Posted On Thursday November 16, 2023

Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers,

In follow up to the letter shared with families on June 22, 2023, we are writing to provide  an update on the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) Oshawa Program and Boundary Study. The following will assist in providing information for students currently attending a DCDSB school in Oshawa.

Oshawa Program and Boundary Study Background Information

The Oshawa Program and Boundary Study was initiated to address potential program and service delivery models at one or more Durham Catholic District School Board schools in Oshawa which are being impacted by the increased growth in north Oshawa, and due to the Ministry of Education announcement in July of 2020 to replace Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School with a Grade 7-12 school.

At the Regular Board Meeting held on June 19, 2023, the Durham Catholic District School Board of Trustees approved the recommended program and boundary revisions as a result of the Oshawa and Program Boundary Study.

 

What Does This Mean for My Child?

To provide further clarity, we have outlined the approved recommended program and boundary revisions for each school community. 

Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School

  • French Immersion will be offered at the school, beginning with Grade 9 students starting September 2024.
  • When the new school opens, it will be a Grade 7 to 12 dual track English and French Immersion school (note: depending on the date of opening will determine if Grades 11 and or 12 will be offered).
  • One less feeder school (Sir Albert Love) will attend Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School. 

Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School

  • One additional feeder school (Sir Albert Love Catholic School) will attend Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School.

Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School

  • No changes.

Sir Albert Love Catholic Elementary School

  • Grade 8 graduates will attend Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School for Grade 9, beginning in September 2024.
  • A boundary adjustment to remove the current satellite area and add some of the St. Joseph Catholic School boundary that is walking distance to Sir Albert Love Catholic School. The boundary adjustment will also move some of the western part of the current boundary into St. Christopher Catholic School. This will only impact new students to the new boundary.
  • A follow-up survey will be sent to all families of Sir Albert Love Catholic School in the spring of 2024 to gauge the interest in having Grade 6 students graduate to Monsignor John Pereyma to align with the other feeder schools.

St. Anne Catholic School

  • No changes.

St. Christopher Catholic School

  • The French Immersion program will be gradually re-directed to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School, beginning in September of 2024.
  • A boundary adjustment will be made to encompass some of the western boundary of both Sir Albert Love Catholic School and St. Joseph Catholic School. This will only impact new students to this new boundary.
  • A survey has been sent to parents of French Immersion students to determine the extent of the legacy grades that will remain at St. Christopher Catholic School in September of 2024 (which will be reduced annually). 

St. Hedwig Catholic School

  • A boundary adjustment will be made to encompass the eastern portion of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School. This will only impact new students to this new boundary.

St. John XXIII Catholic School

  • No changes.

St. John Bosco Catholic School

  • Temporary holding school for new Regular/English Track students to the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School boundary.

St. Joseph Catholic School (Oshawa)

  • A boundary adjustment to include the current satellite area from Sir Albert Love Catholic School and add some of the St. Joseph Catholic School boundary that is walking distance to Sir Albert Love Catholic School. It will also move some of the western part of the current boundary into St. Christopher Catholic School. This will only impact new students to the new boundary.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School

  • The French Immersion boundary will be adjusted to take in some of the St. Christopher Catholic School French Immersion boundary beginning in September of 2024.
  • Grade 7 and 8 students in French Immersion and Regular/English track programs will move to the new Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School when it opens.
  • Temporary restrictions to new enrolment will be redirected to St. John Bosco Catholic School until the new Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School opens.

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School

  • The school will become a Kindergarten – Grade 6 dual track (English and French Immersion). However, Grade 7 and Grade 8 French Immersion students will remain at St. Thomas Aquinas until the new Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School opens.
  • A boundary adjustment will be made to move part of the eastern portion regular track into the St. Hedwig Catholic School area. This will only impact new students to this new boundary.

  

Updated Attendance Area Maps

Please view the following updated attendance area maps:

 

Student Transportation

Student transportation will be provided to eligible students in accordance with the Student Transportation Policy PO429. Further details will be shared with families regarding any impacts related to transportation in August 2024 via the Durham Student Transportation Services?Parent Portal?or 24-hour automated phone line (1-866-908-6578). 

 

Questions

If you have questions or comments regarding the Oshawa Program and Boundary Study implementation process or transition process, please complete the feedback form, contact us via phone at 905-576-6150 ext. 42252, or send an email to planning@dcdsb.ca. 

To view the full report to the Board of Trustees at the June 19, 2023, Regular Board Meeting, please click here. Updates will continue to be provided to families via School Messenger and on the Oshawa Program and Boundary Study webpage. 

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Sincerely, 

 

Jim Wilson                                          Mike O’Neill                                          Scott Grieve
Superintendent of Education         Superintendent of Education            Superintendent of Business, Finance and Facilities Services