The鈥痬onth of June is devoted鈥痶o鈥痶he鈥疭acred Heart of Jesus, which for Catholics is a symbol of God’s boundless and passionate love for all humanity. Drawing on鈥痶he鈥痚xample of Christ, who preached a鈥痬essage鈥痮f love and inclusion throughout His ministry, our Catholic schools are called鈥痶o ensure we are nurturing safe and inclusive learning environments, where every student and every member of鈥痶he community is welcomed, valued, and respected. It is most fitting that June is also designated National Indigenous History Month as well as Pride Month in Canada.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is our recognition, as Catholics, of the long-suffering love and compassion of Jesus towards humanity. It developed in the seventeenth century as the result of a series of apparitions to a Catholic nun, Mother (Saint) Margaret Mary Alacoque. Many families will enthrone a blessed picture of the Sacred Heart in their homes.
Our HCDSB schools will be joining our broader Catholic community as we pray a Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, organized by the Institute for Catholic Education. A novena is an ancient form of prayer in the Catholic tradition, consisting of nine consecutive days of prayer leading up to a particular feast day. The Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus will begin with a preparation day on Wednesday, May 29th, followed by 9 days that lead to the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Friday, June 7th. I encourage staff, students and families to participate.
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Indigenous History Month
June is National Indigenous History Month鈥痠n Canada, with special recognition dedicated on National Indigenous Peoples Day, which falls on June 21st. On this day鈥痑nd throughout the month of June, we鈥痗elebrate鈥痶he First Nations, Inuit, and M茅tis Peoples,鈥痶heir vibrant and distinct cultures, and鈥痶heir beautiful languages. This is an opportunity for Canadians to learn about鈥痶he鈥痟istory of Indigenous Peoples, and further embrace鈥痶he鈥痮pportunity鈥痶o鈥痩earn more about鈥痶heir identities.鈥疐or classrooms across鈥痶he鈥疕CDSB, students鈥痺ill be learning about Indigenous perspectives on treaties, Indigenous leadership, resistance, resurgence, brilliance, and creativity.鈥�
Learn more about National Indigenous History Month at HCDSB.
Pride Month
As Catholics, we believe that we are all made in鈥痶he鈥痠mage and likeness of God, who created us and loves us unconditionally 鈥� just as we are. We are called鈥痶o鈥痥now, love and celebrate one another, just as God knows, loves and celebrates each one of us because we are 鈥渨onderfully made.鈥� We鈥痟onour鈥痶he鈥痠nherent dignity in each other by treating one another with sensitivity, compassion and respect. 鈥�
During鈥痶he鈥痬onth of June, our HCDSB schools will be鈥痳aising awareness around Pride Month鈥痑nd will journey alongside鈥痶he 2SLGBTQIA+ community in creating spaces of welcome in a search of dignity and justice for all.鈥疶he鈥痠nformation shared with students will be age-appropriate and consistent with grade-level curriculum expectations. As with all material that is taught in our Catholic schools, it will be presented through鈥痶he鈥痩ens of our Catholic faith.鈥��Click here鈥痶o鈥痳eview鈥痶he鈥痵tudent learning goals by division.
In keeping with鈥痶he鈥�Board motion passed on January 18, 2022, throughout鈥痶he鈥痬onth of June, our Catholic Education Centre and each of our HCDSB schools will fly鈥痶he鈥疨ride鈥痜lag鈥痑s a symbol of our commitment鈥痶o鈥痭urturing safe, welcoming and inclusive communities.鈥�
In our Catholic schools, we welcome and value all students, families and staff, and celebrate diversity within our communities. This June, let us renew our promise鈥痶o鈥疌hrist by nurturing safe and inclusive learning environments that are expressions of God鈥檚 love and mercy in this world.听
John Klein
Director of Education
