Message from the Chair of the Board

“Hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” – Pope Francis

The Durham Catholic District School Board’s liturgical theme of Hope for the 2019-2020 school year was a gift which provided our Catholic learning community with strength and comfort during an extraordinary year. Together we were faced with unfamiliar circumstances, change, and uncharted experiences in education, emerging from a global pandemic. Throughout this time, keeping site of our students’ needs remained the highest priority for the Board of Trustees.  

Like a beacon of light, hope was expressed not only by our words, photos, and prayers, but in the essence of our Catholicity in action and can be viewed throughout this report.  

In addition, we are pleased to reflect upon the successful achievement of strategic goals and actions which emerged from the board’s new three-year plan launched in September 2019. Some of these include: 

  • commitment from all seven secondary schools to the implementation of the new Grade 11 English course: Contemporary Indigenous Voices as the mandatory English course for all Grade 11 students in 2020-2021 in keeping with the Calls to Action for education in Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Report. 
  • the completion of construction for St. Anne Catholic School in Oshawa; 
  • innovative advancements in the use of technology in support of a sustainable future;  
  • funding announcements from the Ministry of Education to support the Long-Term Accommodation Plan, such as the re-location of Oshawa’s Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School;  
  • and other highlights celebrated in the 2019-2020 Accountability Report. 

I am grateful to our leaders, Anne O’Brien, Retired Director of Education, for her dedication and leadership from September 2013 to December 2019; and Tracy Barill, who, since January 2020, has fulfilled the role of Director of Education with care, compassion, wisdom and integrity.  

May God bless the Durham Catholic learning community for years to come, and may we, as the Board of Trustees, always lead with love in our hearts, and hope for the future of our students and staff.  

Sincerely,  

Janice Oldman
Chair of the Board