DCDSB Black Excellence Newsletter

Posted On Tuesday November 28, 2023

Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers: 

We are writing to you as you expressed interest in receiving communications for Black students and families on the student verification form this year. We are pleased to be sharing our first newsletter to Black families at the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB), and look forward to sharing information, resources, and upcoming events that may be of interest to you. 

DCDSB Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee
The DCDSB recognizes that an equitable, inclusive education system is fundamental to achieving its mission and evolving core priorities. It also recognizes that any form of overt or covert racism and discrimination is incompatible with Catholic values and is in violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code.

The board is also committed to listening to its diverse communities and to addressing disparities to cultivate and promote human rights, equity and inclusion, as well as dismantling anti-Black racism.

The Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee was formed to provide a medium for effectively addressing and dismantling disadvantages and discrimination, historical or otherwise, experienced by Black students, staff and families in the board. The committee is comprised of community members and parents, guardians and caregivers of DCDSB students. 

Click here to learn more about the committee, including its Terms of Reference and Meeting Schedule  

Equity Invitational Learning Series
Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB), in partnership with its Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee, is pleased to continue the Equity Invitational Learning Series, focused on knowledge-sharing for identifying and removing barriers, and promoting improved student outcomes.

There are three sessions within the series, each featuring a guest speaker presenting on a topic related to equity and achievement. The first session held on November 23 with D. Tyler Robinson, OCT delivering a keynote titled Deconstructing Anti-Black Racism: Providing Overdue Outcomes for our Kids.

DCDSB families, staff, students and community members are invited to attend each, or all of the sessions, which are being offered free of charge.

Click here to learn more and register for upcoming sessions.

DCDSB Coach/Advocate for Black Students
Within our Catholic learning environment, Coach/Advocates for Black Students (CABS) work within their assigned schools to support the implementation of programs, services and other supports, in collaboration with school staff, to meet the needs of Black students and their families. CABS services and initiatives aims to promote positive school environments with a focus on student well-being and success. This role was established in 2021 as part of DCDSB’s commitment to recognizing and dismantling anti-Black racism and systemic barriers. 

The CABS program currently operates in the following DCDSB schools:

  • Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School
  • Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
  • St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
  • St. Bernadette Catholic School
  • St. James Catholic School
  • St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic School
  • St. Patrick Catholic School

 Highlights from the CABS program in the past few months include:

Black Foundation of Community Networks (BFCN) Scholarship Database
BFCN, in collaboration with the Durham Region Anti-Racism Taskforce (DBART) recently hosted an online workshop to show Black students and their families how to search, prepare, and apply for scholarships and bursaries. The PowerPoint presentation and scholarship/bursary application tips can be found on the BFCN website, along with a scholarship directory. Please visit https://bfcn.ca/scholarships/ for further details.

Please feel free to contact us at Equity@dcdsb.ca if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

  

Katharine Stevenson                                                           Kayode Akomolafe
Superintendent of Education                                              Human Rights & Equity Advisor