Presentations and Events

2024-2025

The following presentations and events are scheduled for the 2024-2025 school year:

Equity Invitational Learning Series – November 7, 2024
DCDSB Black Student Excellence Award – November 7, 2024
Human Rights and Equity trainings for CEC and OMAC staff – January 24 and 31, 2025; March 31, 2025, April 4, 2025

Black History Month Liturgy – February 5, 2025

Black History Month Celebration Event – February 28, 2025

Student Human Rights Conference – April 23, 2025

Equity Invitational Learning Series – April 30, 2025

2023-2024

The following presentations and events were scheduled during the 2023-2024 school year:

Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence Advisory Committee

Learn more about the committee here.

Black Heritage & Excellence Celebration Committee

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.

Meeting dates:

September 26, 2023
October 24, 2023
November 21, 2023
December 19, 2023
January 23, 2024
February 8, 2024
February 29, 2024 – Black History Month Closing Celebration (CEC)
April 23, 2024
May 28, 2024

Community Partnerships Hub

Continue to build relationships with community partners who provide culturally relevant resources and support to our racialized students and families.

Current community partners:

Created in The Image of God: I Am Because We Are (Ubuntu) Virtual Engagement Series

Building upon last year’s successful program, which engaged 30 classes and 757 students across the DCDSB, this virtual engagement series for Grade 7 to 9 classes will once again be facilitated by Tanika Riley (a.k.a. iNsight). This is a four-session series:

2024 Dates:

Session 1: SELF-Awareness – WHO AM I? March 21, 2024
Session 2: SELF-Regulation – HOW DO I FEEL? April 11, 2024
Session 3: SELF-Love: HOW DO I SPEAK TO MYSELF AND OTHERS? May 2, 2024
Session 4: SELF-Expression: HOW DO I EXPRESS MYSELF? May 23, 2024

Session 1: SELF-Awareness - WHO AM I?

On Thursday, March 21, 2024, approximately 520 Grade 7-9 students across DCDSB participated in the first session of Created in the Image of God: I am because We are (Ubuntu). Ubuntu is a virtual engagement series led by Tanika Riley with guest, Matthew Jones, in collaboration with a board planning team. The first session was focused on self-awareness, and it took a closer look at personal beliefs, labels, and personal identities such as race, culture, stereotypes, talent, and skills, and how our beliefs can be helpful or harmful.

Ubuntu Logo

Grade 7 Students Share their Ubuntu Experience

Ms. Spitale and her Grade 7 students share their experience about Ubuntu and how the engagement series has helped them learn more about themselves. Thank you to Ms. Spitale and her Grade 7 students for participating in this video! Watch the video below:

Engagement Series In Person Gathering

On May 23, Grades 7 to 9 students celebrated the final session of the Created in the Image of God: I Am because We Are (Ubuntu) engagement series. This event brought together approximately 500 students from across the Durham Catholic District School Board and was led by Tanika Riley featuring guest speaker Matthew Jones.

Focusing on embracing the principles of Indigenous and African wisdom, this final session was an opportunity to integrate and reflect on the leadership lessons and learning experiences shared in the previous virtual sessions.

A big thank you to all staff, students, and partners for this learning opportunity.

Students watching a presentation in a theatre

Local Roots Program in Secondary School Careers Classes

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).

Notre Dame CSS – November 13, 20, 27, December 4, 11
Father Leo J. Austin CSS – November 14, 21, 28, December 5, 12
St. Mary CSS – February 12, 26, March 4, 18, 25
Msgr. John Pereyma CSS – February 13, 27, March 5, 19, 26

Black Excellence Newsletter

We are pleased share our newsletters to Black families at the DCDSB, and look forward to sharing information, resources, and upcoming events that may be of interest.

Families can express interest in receiving communications for Black students and families on the student verification form. The 2023-2024 newsletters can be found below:

2022-2023

The following presentations and events were scheduled during the 2022-2023 school year:

August 25, 2022 – Summer Institute for Educators
November 17, 2022 - Trinity and Inclusivity
January 24, 2023 - Inclusivity for Caring Adults Session 1
February 15, 2023 - Inclusivity for Caring Adults Session 2

2021-2022

The following presentations and events were scheduled during the 2021-2022 school year:

November 22-24, 2021 - Authors and Advocates: Illuminating Representation in the Classroom
March 7, 2022 - Black Mental Health Day speaker, Natalie Haynes

2020-2021

The following presentations were scheduled during the 2020-2021 school year:

January 25, 2021 – Board Meeting presentation on DCDSB’s Anti-Black Racism Strategy
February 16, 2021 at 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - All community members are invited to engage in further conversation regarding DCDSB's Anti-Black Racism Strategy with members of Senior Administration.
March 1, 2021, Black Mental Health Day speaker, Asante Haughton.
March 8, 2021 – Anti-Racism Policy presented to Board for first reading