Expanding Pathways

Education and career/life planning helps students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and beyond set and achieve their personal goals; and become competent, successful, contributing members of society. During the 2020-2021 school year, staff created authentic learning experiences in the classroom to promote programs such as Girls in the Trades, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) and Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs.

The board established a partnership with CWB Welding Foundation, Ontario Power Generation (OPG), UA Canada, and Black & McDonald to enhance welding education and build career possibilities for local Durham Catholic youth. The partnership ensured that 21 state-of-the-art welding booths equipped with brand-new industry-grade ventilation and 3-1 multi-process welding machines were created at four of our DCDSB secondary schools (St. Mary, Archbishop Denis O'Connor, Father Leo J. Austin, and Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic Secondary Schools).

This partnership will benefit more than 300 students from the four secondary schools and help students build skills to prepare them for good jobs in the welding trade, and develop the skilled welders required to fulfill OPG's workforce needs.

Achievements

Superintendent of Education, Mr. Gerard Winn shares highlights and achievements on Expanding Pathways for the 2020-2021 school year.