Why DCDSB?

Elementary and high schools in the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) are located within Durham Region. Less than a 45-minute drive from Toronto (Canada’s largest city), Durham Region also provides excellent transportation and access to even more universities and colleges, cultural, academic and employment opportunities.

Communities in Durham Region

Durham Region is a thriving, creative and dynamic community where international students can experience the best that Canadian culture has to offer. These communities include:

• • Beautiful parks, beaches and outdoor recreation.
  • Home to a culturally diverse community with many different hobbies, interests and vocations.
  • College and University campuses
  • Business and investment opportunities
  • Excellent services and medical facilities for its residents

21st Century Learning Commons

DCDSB wants to ensure that the digital revolution that has taken place in every aspect of our lives is reflected in our classrooms, and in our teaching and learning models. By creating spaces that integrate technology with learning, and encourage collaboration, our school board can help to effectively develop the critical thinking skills that international students need to be successful.

The 21st Century Learning Commons is a hub for learning that everyone in the schools at DCDSB can use to access state-of-the-art technology in order to inspire deep learning. In this multi-functional space, students and teachers can work on building knowledge together in an interesting and engaging way that optimizes the use of technology.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

During your study at DCDSB, you can bring your own electronic device to school for educational purposes. You are expected to use devices responsibly, and only with the permission and direction of teachers or other staff. Students are required to use the school's wireless network, which can be accessed at no cost while at school. If you are bringing your own device to school, be sure to protect it with a secure password and purchase a protective case.

Catholic schools are different. Each DCDSB student in our Catholic learning community embodies excellence and equity by embracing the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations. Our schools focus on the guiding principles that you seek in quality Catholic education: Excellence, Equity and Engagement. DCDSB offers 21st century learning, academic results, faith formation and a safe, caring community that accepts and respects international students.

We welcome international students of all faiths at our elementary and secondary schools.

• At School Support
  • Excellent Guidance and ESL teachers offer the support you need to reach academic goals.

• After School Support
  • Free IELTSs test preparation for all secondary international students.
  • Free after-school tutoring upon request.
• Enrich English Skills
  • ESL instruction to improve reading, writing, speaking and listening, while immersed in the daily high school curriculum. English Immersion environment tailored to the specific needs of the students. ESL teachers at school will help students learn English in ESL classes, and provide strategies for success in other classes.

• Earn OSSD
  • Secondary students graduating from DCDSB will earn Ontario Secondary School Diploma which is widely recognized for admission by post-secondary institutions including prestigious universities all over the world.

• Post-secondary Destinations and career counselling
  • Our Guidance team at each secondary school will support international students during the university application planning process. They will assist international students with academic counselling, planning student timetables, postsecondary planning, and career counselling. International students can participate in planned visits to university and college campuses and other university and college recruitment events.

SWIS Program

Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) is a school-based program that provides information and referral services to assist international students and newcomers.

• Each school is assigned a school settlement worker.
• Provide settlement/school information.
• Refer international students to other community services.
• help to access services in many languages.

International students and their parents can contact teachers or IE staff if they require support from the SWIS worker.

Experiencing a new culture can be a rich learning opportunity. Our International Education Program provides planned activities to help students get together and learn about Canadian culture, meet new Canadian friends and practice English. From maple syrup festivals in the spring, and live music or food festivals in the summer, to fall fairs, snow sports and ice fishing in the winter, Durham Region has many Canadian cultural experiences for international students.

Service Provider Testimonials

It was our pleasure to work with DCDSB in the past years. The topnotch international education system, the excellent teaching team, multiple course selections, etc. provide our students the opportunities and the privilege to be successful with their education goal. On top of the all, the teachers here are very kind, considerate, responsible, supportive and helpful. As the result, all of our students reached their dream here (more than 80% of our students were accepted by top Canadian universities). We appreciate the wonderful teachers here, and the international students support team! They raised our students up, and giving them the bright future! DCDSB is the best place where students can grow and success!

-From Mrs. Z, a Service Provider

I’d like to thank DCDSB International Education Program’s great effort to accommodate all the requests from our students and their parents.

-From Mrs. L, a Service Provider

Excellent team from the head office to the individual schools and teachers. They are always very attentive, respond promptly, and process applications quickly.

-From Mr. H, a Service Provider

Parent/Caregiver Testimonials

We would like to convey to you all the gratitude in the world for having taken such good care of her, for the affection you have given her, because despite the kilometres that separate us we have been calm at all times knowing that she was in very good hands.

Our daughter has conveyed to us every day the good treatment received by all her teachers, the efforts made by them to make her feel one more in your classes, which will be perfectly integrated among her new classmates. We have the feeling that for her the experience has been unforgettable and has helped her grow and mature as a person, and her teachers have been an invaluable support.

Both in the heart of our daughter and in our own, there is a special place for all of you, since an experience that could be difficult has been incredible thanks to your affection and professionalism, so we will always be grateful.

-From Mrs. and Mr. Javier, an International Student's Parents