Director's Message

As I share the 2024-2025 Director's Annual Report, I do so with sincere appreciation for all in our Durham Catholic learning community, and with great hope for the future. This past year has been filled with many successes as we live out our mission to be an inclusive Catholic learning community that inspires every student to achieve their full potential through faith and education.

The 2024–2025 school year was a year of joy, achievement, and innovation. Guided by our spiritual theme, Living in Hope, we embraced opportunities to grow together in faith and to strengthen our commitment to Gospel values. This theme reminds us that hope calls us into a relationship of trust in God and into loving relationships with one another. As we move forward, I am honoured to carry this mission with faith and purpose.

Our work this year was anchored in the DCDSB strategic priorities:

• Support Faith and Well-Being
  We celebrated milestones that brought our Catholic identity to life, including the Beacons of Hope Recognition Program, the Distinguished Catholic Volunteer Awards, and the 2025 Home-School-Parish Symposium. Through initiatives like the BWell Student Mental Health and Well-Being Leadership Team, we reaffirmed that belonging, kindness, and care are essential to learning and spiritual growth.

• Advance Human Rights and Equity
  This year marked significant steps toward equity and inclusion. We hosted our Inaugural Student Human Rights Conference, celebrated excellence through the first Black Student Excellence Awards celebration, and strengthened relationships through the Unity Hub – Connecting Communities. These initiatives reflect our commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces where every student feels seen and supported.

• Improve Student Learning
  Innovation and achievement were evident across our schools. From Ontario Power Generation and UA Canada’s partnership to ignite welding education success, to the Into the Horizon Student Art Exhibit at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, and Indigenous Education initiatives like Brook Trout Hatcheries, our students explored new ways to learn, create, and lead. Stories like Tony’s inspirational journey to high school graduation remind us of the transformative power of education and perseverance.

We are proud that the Durham Catholic District School Board was named one of Canada’s Best Employers in 2025 by Forbes, a recognition of the dedication and excellence of our staff. We also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Good Shepherd Catholic School, a testament to the enduring strength of Catholic education in our community.

We invite you to look back on these accomplishments through the 2024-2025 Director's Annual Report, which highlights people, programming and initiatives that make our Durham Catholic learning community so incredibly special. 

I extend my sincere appreciation to students, staff, families, Board of Trustees, and parish and community partners, for your ongoing engagement and dedication to supporting Catholic education in Durham Region. Together, we will continue to support all students as we listen, learn and live in faith together.

Yours in hope and faith,

Gerard Winn
Director of Education