Believing
Celebrating our Catholic faith and aspiring to be models of Christ
At HCDSB, we are committed to being a model learning community, widely recognized as distinctively Catholic.
Our distinctiveness as a Catholic school district is reflected in the curriculum that is delivered through a lens of faith; through the vibrant partnership that exists between school, home and parish; and in the many ways in which our staff and students know, live and express their faith in action.
Our Goals Under the Priority of Believing:
- All learners experience a Catholic learning environment rooted in Gospel values and the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations.
- Our schools foster the relationship between home and parish.
- Staff and students are discerning believers, formed in the Catholic faith community, who model Christ in their actions.
The annual Strategic Plan Monitoring Survey found that:
of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the HCDSB promotes a Catholic learning environment rooted in Gospel Values and the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations.
of staff respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the HCDSB offers faith formation opportunities for its staff.
of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the HCDSB schools and parishes work together to strengthen home/school/parish relationships.
of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that HCDSB students and staff model Christ in their actions.
Rebuild, Restore & Renew Together for Catholic Education Week
During the week of May 1 to May 6, 2022, HCDSB joined school boards in celebrating the significant contributions that Catholic education has made to our community and across the province of Ontario!
The province-wide theme of Catholic Education Week was Rebuild, Restore and Renew Together, inspired by the challenges faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and our dedication to rebuild, restore and renew as a Catholic faith community.
The five sub-themes for Catholic Education Week were:
Monday: Rediscover
Tuesday: Rebuild
Wednesday: Restore
Thursday: Renew
Friday: Rejoice
To celebrate, HCDSB students, staff, families, parishes and members of our community were invited to participate in school-wide activities, prayer and reflections throughout the week.
Journeying with Jesus During Catholic Education Week
In honour of Catholic Education Week, HCDSB鈥檚 Journeying with Jesus, formerly known as the annual Walk with Jesus took place on Thursday, May 5, 2022.
Students, staff, and members of the HCDSB community were invited to watch a , and all schools participated in a school-led Journeying with Jesus walk.
Participants of the day were encouraged to rebuild their relationship with God, to restore the connections with people and situations in their lives, to renew themselves and love to the best of their abilities, and to rejoice and give thanks for all their blessings.
As part of the virtual liturgy, greetings were shared by the Very Reverend Con O鈥橫ahony, Vicar of Education for the Diocese of Hamilton and Pastor of St. Andrew’s Parish in Oakville, and a Reading of the Gospel by Father David, Pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Georgetown.
Throughout the virtual liturgy, special messages, prayers, and musical performances were performed by HCDSB students, staff and the Lumen Christi Choir.
Members of our HCDSB community were able to join the conversation online and share their photos using the hashtags: and .
And the Keeping Christ in Christmas Winners Are鈥�
Students at the 嫩芽视频 (HCDSB) were invited to participate in the 8th annual Keeping Christ in Christmas contest, which began in November, 2021.
Students of all ages and abilities were invited to submit work that best described the theme of the contest and highlight how we can all do our part to Keep Christ in Christmas!
The call for submissions went out on November 5 and all entries were due by December 3, 2021.
Quick Facts:
- The response was overwhelming, with over 560 student entries and over 10,870 votes to select the winners of the top prizes during the voting process!
- 4 categories were open for submissions: Original Artwork; Original Video; Original Song; and Short Story/Poem, providing opportunities for students to work with different mediums to showcase their creativity.
- All student finalists were recognized at the December 21, 2021 virtual Board Meeting.
Special thanks to all student participants for submitting their amazing entries, and to HCDSB families and staff for their participation!
A note of appreciation is extended to the Halton OECTA Elementary Association and the Halton OECTA Secondary Association for their continued partnership, and support of the contest through generously donating the top prizes.
Sharing the Spirit of Christmas and Supporting Families in Need
During the 2021 Keeping Christ in Christmas contest period, HCDSB once again put the spirit of this contest into action through the sale of Christmas Cards!
Student artwork that was submitted to the contest was used to create Christmas cards. Mixed bundles of the Christmas cards were then available for donation, with all proceeds supporting families through the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
When we began this initiative in 2018, our intent was to start small, only actively promoting this initiative with our Central Office Staff.
In 2019, we expanded the sale of Christmas cards by sending out a 鈥榗all to action鈥� to all families across HCDSB and to all of our staff, inviting them to purchase Christmas cards to support families in need.
Once again, an online submission form was created, allowing parents, families and staff to submit their donations through PayPal.
Through the outpouring of generosity, we were able to sell 663 card sets, and raise $9,176 dollars to support families in our HCDSB community!
Notre Dame Celebrates Tiny Home Build in Partnership with Habitat for Humanity!
On April 8th, 2022, students, staff, and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nations celebrated the completion of the Tiny Home Project at
The Notre Dame Tiny Home build started in October 2021, when Habitat for Humanity approached Al Nason, Construction Teacher at Notre Dame, asking for their assistance with building a tiny home to assist the Chippewas of Awash Unceded First Nations.
Tiny homes are affordable and eco-friendly housing alternatives that are under 500 square feet, and are able to function without the use of an electrical source.
After completion of the build, Chief Veronica Smith from Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nations, Councillor Norma Tobey, and Grey Bruce from Housing, Lands & Membership came to visit the students and tour the Tiny Homes which will provide housing solutions and emergency, short-term housing for the community.
“Meeting the Chief of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nations community was emotional and helped me realize I was making a difference,” said Luna Viana, student at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School.
Students in construction classes, as well as the Construction Club, gained hands-on experience through their work in housing construction, which contributed to our efforts towards Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous communities.
“It was awesome knowing that my hard work was making a difference and to see how many people came together on this project,” said Notre Dame student, Ava Sunderland.
Learn more about the Tiny Homes Project
Adult Faith Formation (AFF) Sessions
HCDSB staff, along with special guest speakers offered a series of Adult Faith Formation (AFF) sessions for HCDSB staff and members of the community at large during the 2021-2022 school year.
The AFF sessions below were available to all HCDSB staff to pre-register on StaffNet and were offered in virtual formats.
| Adult Faith Formation Sessions | |
| Eco Caf茅 October, 2021 February, 2022 April, 2022 | The Eco Caf茅 was offered in three virtual sessions during the fall, winter and spring seasons for HCDSB current and retired staff, members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and members of the broader community. The sessions were designed to help participants develop and embrace a spirituality that would bring about the change that is needed in our world to address the current climate crisis. Participants were invited to read the text, Earth: Our Original Monastery written by Christine Valters Paintner, and to reflect on our planet earth; how the wonder of God鈥檚 creation gives us profound resources for the work of eco-justice today. |
| Benedictine Rule & the Modern Catholic Education September, 2021 | This session explored the ancient Rule of St. Benedict, as well as the history and valuable lessons that monastic life offers the modern Catholic educator; both in their person lives and in the classroom. |
| Do you love me? Love my Mother… October, 2021 | The session, Do you love me? Love my Mother… explored what we know about mother Mary, the traditions about her and devotions associated with her. |
| The Trinity: A Model of Love & Inclusion for our Time November, 2021 | In this session, participants were able to explore key insights from the doctrine of the Trinity; as it relates to our everyday lives of faith and daily practices. |
| A Time Apart: Reflecting on the Wisdom of Our Elders December, 2021 | The session, A Time Apart: Reflecting on the Wisdom of Our Elders allowed participants to reflect on their lives, to respond to the gifts that the Christ child brings, and to reflect on the wisdom of the Elders as they entered the season of Advent. |
| Do Monkeys Go to Heaven? The Beauty & Wisdom of Faith and Science January, 2022 | This session highlighted the notion that religious faith and empirical science are not necessarily in conflict, but rather act as fruitful partners in a healthy dialogue that seeks the truth of the fullness of human experience. |
| Love Is鈥� February, 2022 | In this session, participants contemplated and discussed God鈥檚 plans for us as sexual beings, and how spirituality and sexuality come together, to build the knowledge and understanding of sex in a Catholic context. |
| All You Need is Love鈥� March, 2022 | This session challenged participants to look at how their visions of God affected how they viewed themselves and how they viewed God. Through the process of theological reflection, participants reviewed famous art images, as well as Catholic traditions, histories, and education. |
| If 篓God So Loved the World篓… then why don鈥檛 we? April, 2022 | In this presentation, participants were invited to consider ecological care in our world, not only as necessary for survival or rooted in faith, but also as a key component to our happiness and spiritual well-being. |
| How Wide Are God鈥檚 Arms? April, 2022 | For much of Christian history, views of heaven were narrow and exclusive: 鈥淥utside the Church, there is no salvation鈥�. In the last 75 years, the lived experience as Church and new theological approaches have led to a much more nuanced and humble approach to the question of 鈥渨ho gets into heaven鈥�. This retreat invited participants to appreciate, welcome, and model God鈥檚 mercy in their own lives, as 21st Century Christians. The retreat also included prayer, short presentations, large and small group discussions, and time for personal reflection. |
| Catholic Social Teaching & Our Call to Agape May, 2022 | Agape is the type of love for another that is concerned about their well-being and greatest good. In this session, participants explored how Catholic Social Teachings take the call to agape from an individual to societal concern for the well-being of all. |
Theological Education for Leadership (TEL)
Theological Education for Leadership (TEL) during the 2021-2022 school year invited Catholic educators and leaders to reflect on the question, 鈥淐an We Be the Leaders We Need our Students to Become?鈥�
HCDSB participants in this series of TEL sessions were directed on a new course for leadership in education; one that is as concerned with the soul, identity and integrity of students as is their 鈥榓chievements鈥� academically.
The 2021-2022 TEL sessions combined learning about:
- The Theological foundation of prophetic leadership in times of uncertainty, drastic change and struggle;
- The practical leadership skills to support a community on a journey of change; and
- Opportunities for reflection and focused conversation with peers.
Faith Day 2021
On Friday, October 8, 2021, HCDSB staff gathered to celebrate Faith Day.
In 2021, our focus was on Renewing our spirits, Restoring our joy, and Rebuilding our communities after a long season of virtual and remote learning.
To honour our diverse school communities and cultures, schools and workplaces were provided a program with several options to follow for the day, including liturgies, community building activities, video presentations and reflections. The unifying theme centred on Isaiah 58:6-12 and John 15:1-5.
Reflection Videos with David Wells
As part of the Faith Day celebrations, David Wells, (teacher, Education Advisor, speaker and consultant based in the U.K.) provided three videos for us with reflection questions.
The videos focused on Renew, Restore, and Rebuild using three encyclicals from Pope Francis, and connected them to our personal and professional vocation in Catholic Education.
A special thank you to our Faith Day Planning Team, made up of Chaplaincy Leaders and Pastoral Animators, for putting together the activities and prayer services for our schools.
People of Life Symposium
On May 2, 2022, during Catholic Education Week, and eco teams hosted the People of Life Symposium, a virtual presentation focused on the Catholic response to the climate crisis. The day was open to eco teams and related clubs in all HCDSB secondary schools.
Emily Lukasik, the Southwestern Ontario Animator for Development & Peace at Caritas Canada, and guest speaker for the event, inspired and encouraged our students to be responsible stewards of the earth.
As part of the event, every secondary school received a copy of the book, 鈥淒on鈥檛 Be Trashy鈥� by Tara McKenna 鈥� a practical guide to living a more sustainable and eco-friendly life. Both host schools also planted apple trees in honour of the event.
Thank you to both Christ the King and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School Eco Teams for their hard work on this event!
The 2021-2022 Director鈥檚 Annual Report Sections
Continue browsing the Director’s Report by clicking any of the “View” buttons below.
Achieving
Believing
Belonging
Foundational Elements
About the Director’s Annual Report
The Director’s Annual Report provides a snapshot of some of the great things happening across our school district. The real story of accomplishment, however, is captured daily within the walls of our schools and workplaces through the many individual successes that are celebrated by students, staff, and members of our Catholic learning communities.