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“Catholic schools are places where children and young people encounter Jesus, and where they are encouraged to enter more deeply into a personal relationship with Him. They are privileged places, together with the family and the parish community, where our faith is handed on, and this can only succeed with the cooperation of all concerned.” (Renewing the Promise, pg. 25)
As I reflect on the Year of Hope and my time with the Durham Catholic District School Board, I am most grateful for the opportunity to work with our dedicated trustees, staff members, clergy, families and community partners.
The 2019-2020 school year opened with joy and nostalgia, as we officially marked the completion of the year-long 50th anniversary celebrations with a blessing of the anniversary time capsule, celebration of the board’s history book, People of the Beatitudes, and naming of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Education Centre. This was an extraordinary turning point as we prepared for a new decade, celebrated the completion of our Discovery 2020 Strategic Plan, and launched our new multi-year plan based on our core commitments to Excellence, Equity and Engagement.
While the provincial order to close schools was a major focus from March through June 2020, this report reminds us of the many remarkable achievements and milestones that we celebrated over the course of the year. Some of our most exciting initiatives, to name a few, include:
- the launch of Discovery 2023: Renewing the Vision, our new three-year strategic plan;
- renewed focus on equity with the launch of the board’s first workforce census;
- the grand opening of the newly renovated Grandview Children’s Centre at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School;
- the construction of our new school buildings: St. Anne Catholic School in Oshawa and St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic School in Whitby;
- a continued focus on 21st Century Learning, Student Success, Numeracy, Literacy, Mental Health, Long-Term Accommodation Planning, Equity, Inclusion, Indigenous Education, Technology, Innovation and many other important priorities.
To all members of the Durham Catholic learning community, and leaders who have assumed new responsibilities and stewardship of the system, I wish you continued success within this thriving faith-filled organization.
Yours in Catholic education,
Anne O’Brien
Director of Education (2013-2019)