Approved Boundaries, Maps, and Implementation

There are three approved recommendations as a result of the new Seaton #1 Catholic School construction. These include the adjustment of Seaton #1 Catholic School Boundary (recommendation #1), a boundary adjustment to St. André Bessette Catholic School, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School, and St. Jude Catholic School (recommendation #2), and a boundary adjustment to Notre Dame and Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic Secondary Schools to align with the proposed changes in recommendations #1 and #2 (recommendation #3).

Information on these approved boundary revisions can be found below.

Approved Recommendation #1: Adjustment of Seaton #1 Catholic School Boundary 

The approved revised boundary for the Unnamed Seaton #1 Catholic Elementary School is outlined in the map below. This boundary revision will only impact the rural areas of St. Wilfrid and St. Elizabeth Seton, where at the time of this report, there were no students attending St. Elizabeth Seton and no students attending St. Wilfrid. Any students currently residing within the existing Seaton boundary who have been registered at DCDSB are attending St. André Bessette, or are cross-boundary to another school, or French Immersion at St. Monica or St. Isaac Jogues. When the new school opens, it is anticipated that students who may be attending other non-DCDSB schools will transfer into the new school.

Approved Unnamed Seaton #1 Catholic School Boundary Map

Implementation

For this boundary review, staff have applied the following assumptions for students affected by the boundary change:

  • All Kindergarten - Grade 8 students in 2026-2027 within the proposed Seaton #1 boundary attending St. André Bessette will be directed to attend the new Unnamed Seaton Catholic Elementary School upon the opening.
  • Staff will explore housing both St. André Bessette students and the new Unnamed Seaton #1 students in St. André Bessette for the 2026-2027 school year. This would allow for the school to be moved at an appropriate time (i.e. Christmas break or March Break), should the construction of the new school be complete and ready for occupancy. This should accelerate the enrolment from the Seaton boundary and support the Catholic students and families wanting to attend a Catholic school in their community.
  • Any Kindergarten - Grade 8 student moving into the adjusted Unnamed Seaton Catholic Elementary School boundary after the approval of this report will continue to be directed to the St. André Bessette until the opening of the new school.
  • The secondary school boundary for Seaton is St. Mary Catholic Secondary School and will remain unchanged.
  • Any students wishing to attend as cross-boundary would be subject to the criteria of the cross-boundary process, and not eligible for transportation.
  • Transportation to the new school will follow the Board Transportation Policy (PO429). 

Approved Recommendation #2: Boundary Adjustment to St. André Bessette CS, St. Catherine of Siena CS, and St. Jude CS 

On October 28, 2024, the Board of Trustees approved the postponement of the Ajax Boundary and Program Review, however, as a result of the pending opening of the new Unnamed Seaton #1 school in 2026-2027, the Board of Trustees approved boundary revisions for three Ajax schools on December 15, 2025. Staff have considered adjusting the boundaries of St. André Bessette Catholic School, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Jude, as outlined in the map below, upon the opening of the Unnamed Seaton #1 Catholic School (anticipated September 2027). The boundary revisions are being made to help balance the enrolment at these three schools.

Approved Ajax Elementary School Boundary Map

Approved St. André Bessette Catholic School Boundary

Approved St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School Boundary Map

Approved St. Jude Catholic School Boundary Map

Implementation

For this boundary revision, staff have applied the following assumptions for students affected by the boundary change:

  • Grade 7 students enrolled at St. Catherine of Siena and St. Jude in June 2027 will attend the school associated with their new boundary or remain at their current school for the 2027-2028 school year in Grade 8. A survey will of parents of Grade 7 students be conducted in 2026-2027 school year to determine whether they will graduate from their current school or transition to the new school. The majority preference based on the results of the survey will guide the decision, along with program viability. 
  • Any new student moving into the new St. André Bessette, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Jude boundary after January of 2027 will be directed to the Catholic school associated with the new boundary.
  • Any students wishing to attend as cross-boundary would be subject to the criteria of the cross-boundary process, and not eligible for transportation.
  • Transportation within the new boundaries for the three schools will follow the Board Transportation Policy (PO429). 

Approved Recommendation #3: Boundary Adjustment to Notre Dame and Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic Secondary Schools to Align with the Proposed Changes in Recommendations #1 and #2

On December 19, 2022, the Board of Trustees approved the recommended boundary adjustments to Notre Dame and Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic Secondary Schools, which were approved to be in effect for September 2023.  

In the December 19, 2022, report the approved recommendation corrected a legacy issue from an April 7, 2014 Board decision to change boundaries to St. Patrick, St. Jude and Mother Teresa (now St. Teresa of Calcutta) Catholic elementary schools. The legacy issue allowed Grade 8 students graduating from St. Jude to choose between Notre Dame or Archbishop Denis O’Connor as their Secondary school. 

As recommendations #1 and #2 were approved in this study, an adjustment to the secondary boundaries of Notre Dame and Archbishop Denis O’Connor is required to ensure that a similar legacy issue is not created.  

Current Ajax Secondary School Boundary Map

Approved Ajax Secondary School Boundary Map

Implementation:

  • The Ajax secondary school approved boundary changes align with the boundary revisions to St. Jude Catholic School and St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School (as outlined in recommendation #2). 
  • Any new student moving into the new boundary for Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School and Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School as of January 2027 will be directed to the Catholic school associated with the new boundary.
  • Any students wishing to attend as cross-boundary would be subject to the criteria of the cross-boundary process, and not eligible for transportation.

School Specific Information

  • Study Area 1 (referred to as “SA 1” in the map) will move to be within the Seaton #1 Catholic School boundary.
  • No current St. Elizabeth Seton students (as of September 2025) will be affected by the boundary revision.
  • Any new students will be made aware of the upcoming proposed boundary revisions at the time of registration.
  • Any new student moving into the new Seaton #1 Catholic School boundary after December 15, 2025, will be directed to the Catholic school associated with the new boundary.
  • The secondary school boundary for Seaton #1 and St. Elizabeth Seton is St. Mary Catholic Secondary School and remains unchanged.
  • Transportation will continue to follow the Board’s Transportation Policy (PO429).

  • Study Area 2 (referred to as “SA 2” in the map) will move to be within the Seaton #1 Catholic School boundary.
  • No current St. Wilfrid students (as of September 2025) will be affected by the proposed boundary.
  • Any new students will be made aware of the proposed boundary revisions at the time of registration.
  • Any new student moving into the new Seaton #1 Catholic School boundary after December 15, 2025, will be directed to the Catholic school associated with the new boundary.
  • The secondary school boundary for Seaton #1 and St. Wilfrid is St. Mary Catholic Secondary School and remains unchanged.
  • Transportation will continue to follow the Board’s Transportation Policy (PO429). 

  • A boundary change is being implemented to maintain a balanced school population and programming at all three Ajax schools (St. Catherine of Siena, St. André Bessette and St. Jude) that were part of the study.
  • The boundary change will come into effect in September 2027 (anticipated), when the new Seaton #1 Catholic School opens.
  • Students who reside within the Seaton #1 Catholic School boundary and are currently attending St. André Bessette will remain at the school until the new Seaton #1 Catholic School is open (by September 2027, or potentially at an optimal time during the 2026-2027 school year - i.e. following Christmas Break or March Break, etc.).
  • Any new student moving into the new St. André Bessette boundary after January of 2027, will be directed to the Catholic school associated with the new boundary.
  • In September 2027 (anticipated), St. André Bessette Catholic School will include study areas that are currently part of the St. Catherine of Siena boundary.
  • Students in the impacted study areas attending St. Catherine of Siena will be redirected to St. André Bessette in September 2027.
  • For students who are within the Seaton #1 Catholic School boundary, the secondary school is St. Mary Catholic Secondary School.
  • For students who are within the St. André Bessette Catholic School boundary, the secondary school is Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School.
  • Transportation will continue to follow the Board’s Transportation Policy (PO429). 

  • A boundary change is being implemented to maintain a balanced school population and programming at all three Ajax schools (St. Catherine of Siena, St. André Bessette and St. Jude) that were part of the study.
  • The boundary change will come into effect in September 2027 (anticipated), after the new Seaton #1 Catholic School opens.
  • The St. Catherine of Siena boundary will include study areas that are currently part of the St. Jude boundary in September 2027 (anticipated) and remove study areas from St. Catherine of Siena and incorporate them into the St. André Bessette boundary.
  • Students in the impacted study areas attending St. Catherine of Siena will be redirected to St. André Bessette. Students within the St. Jude study areas will become part of St. Catherine of Siena’s boundary will be redirected to attend St. Catherine in September 2027 (anticipated).
  • Grade 7 students enrolled at St. Catherine of Siena and St. Jude in June 2027 will either attend the school associated with their new boundary or remain at their current school for the 2027-2028 school year when they are in Grade 8. A survey of parents of Grade 7 students will be conducted in the 2026-2027 school year to determine whether they will graduate from their current school or transition to the new school. The majority preference will guide the decision, along with program viability. 
    Any new student moving into the new St. André Bessette, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Jude boundary after January of 2027 will be directed to the Catholic school associated with the new boundary.
  • For students who are within the new St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School boundary, the secondary school will be Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School.
  • Transportation will continue to follow the Board’s Transportation Policy (PO429). 

  • A boundary change is being implemented to maintain a balanced school population and programming at all three Ajax schools (St. Catherine of Siena, St. André Bessette and St. Jude) that were part of the study.
  • The boundary change will come into effect in September 2027 (anticipated), when the new Seaton #1 Catholic School opens
  • The St. Jude boundary will remove study areas that are currently part of the St. Jude boundary and incorporate them into the St. Catherine of Siena boundary.
  • Students in the impacted study areas attending St. Jude would be redirected to St. Catherine of Siena.
  • Grade 7 students enrolled at St. Catherine of Siena and St. Jude in June 2027 will either attend the school associated with their new boundary or remain at their current school for the 2027-2028 school year when they are in Grade 8. A survey of parents of Grade 7 students will be conducted in the 2026-2027 school year to determine whether they will graduate from their current school or transition to the new school. The majority preference will guide the decision, along with program viability.
  • Any new student moving into the new St. André Bessette, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Jude boundary after January of 2027 will be directed to the Catholic school associated with the new boundary.
  • For students who are within the new St. Jude Catholic School boundary, the secondary school is Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School.
  • For students in the new St. Catherine of Siena boundary, the secondary school is proposed to be Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School.
  • Transportation will continue to follow the Board’s Transportation Policy (PO429).