Belonging
Embracing relationships and collective responsibility, sustaining safe and welcoming schools
As a Catholic school district, we understand the importance of creating a sense of belonging for all members of our community 鈥� students, staff, parents, and community partners.
Students are most successful when they feel they belong, when they feel safe, and when they are fully engaged in authentic and relevant learning experiences.
We know that student achievement improves when parents play an active role in their children鈥檚 education.
Staff engage with students, with parents, and with each other in a nurturing and caring environment to enhance learning and improve student achievement.
Our Catholic schools are integral to our local communities. Our schools belong, and our students achieve when they benefit from active engagement with community partners, local business, and public institutions.
Our Goals Under the Priority of Belonging:
- Schools and workplaces are safe and welcoming for all, cultivating a positive sense of belonging and well-being.
- Relationships with all educational partners are nurtured and supported.
- Students are service-minded global citizens, engaged and empowered to be leaders in their communities.
The annual Strategic Plan Monitoring Survey found that:
of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that HCDSB schools promote student safety.
of staff respondents agreed or strongly agreed that HCDSB workplaces promote staff safety.
of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that HCDSB schools are welcoming for all, and promote a positive sense of belonging.
of staff respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their HCDSB workplaces are welcoming for all staff, and promote a positive sense of belonging.
of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the HCDSB nurtures and supports relationships with community/external partners.
of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that HCDSB students are taught to think of others, and are given opportunities to get involved and be leaders in the school and/or community.
Project SEARCH School-to-Work Internship Program Available to HCDSB Students!
Project SEARCH, a school-to-work internship program was available for eligible HCDSB students during the 2021-22 school year!
This unique program was available to students with developmental or intellectual disabilities who were on schedule to graduate and were interested in acquiring the workplace and functional skills to prepare them for employment in the local community.
In partnership with Community Living (North Halton), Halton Healthcare, CUPE Local 815, and HCDSB, this program offered an immersive workplace experience at the host site, Milton District Hospital.
On June 27, 2022, six students from across HCDSB were recognized at the inaugural Graduation Ceremony for Project SEARCH at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School in Milton!
Congratulations to the inaugural Class of 2022 on this incredible accomplishment!
鈥淭he six of us embarked on three rotating internships that developed our work skills, but it didn鈥檛 stop there. We learned so much, more than just job skills.鈥�
鈥淲e have walked away with developing and strengthening our skills in areas such as social communication, organization, time management, collaboration and safety skills鈥 am very proud of what we accomplished this past year, and good things are coming our way. Whether employment is in our immediate future or progressing towards employment, we all have new beginnings ahead of us.鈥�
Justin Veale, 2022 Valedictorian and Project SEARCH Intern
Staff Appreciation Day
HCDSB celebrated its annual Staff Appreciation Day on May 6, 2022!
Staff Appreciation Day is a day set aside each year to recognize the accomplishments and exceptional work of all 5600+ employees in our schools and in our workplaces.
Staff, students, and members of the HCDSB community were invited to share their photos and thank staff who shine bright each and every day using the hashtag: on Twitter.
Thank you to all HCDSB staff for going above and beyond to support our students and families!
Black History Month at HCDSB
In February 2022, the 嫩芽视频 (HCDSB) honoured and celebrated the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians, both past and present, and paid tribute to the diverse backgrounds, experiences, cultures and histories of Black individuals and communities.
Black Excellence Beyond February
While the month of February offers an opportunity for intentional focus on the histories and robust contributions of Black Canadians, we know that our commitment to centering Black excellence must extend beyond February. We also know that denouncing and dismantling anti-Black racism in our classrooms and across our community is our moral and legal obligation, and essential to ensuring our schools and workplaces are free of discrimination and harassment.
At HCDSB, we are committed to Human Rights and Equity and we undertake this commitment in a variety of ways, including shared leadership, professional learning, inclusive curriculum/assessment practices, and responding to discrimination and harassment. Through our Human Rights and Equity office, we have implemented a protocol that specifically outlines how we will disrupt incidents of racism and discrimination in our HCDSB schools. The protocol is posted on our Board website: Racism & Discrimination: Responding with Faith, Hope & Love.
While we have made some progress, our work is not done. We must be proactive and accountable to Black students, families and staff as we continue to denounce racism and centre Black excellence to create safe, welcoming and inclusive schools.
Black History Month Resources
In 2022, the Learning Resource Centre at HCDSB offered a variety of educational material, including eBooks, videos, articles, websites, as well as a . Visit the online for details!
Events
Throughout the year, a number of virtual events and learning opportunities took place in Halton and in our schools in partnership with HCDSB and various community partners.
Special thanks goes out to community partners , 鈥�,&苍产蝉辫; and the for their support of these school and system-wide events.
Visit our HCDSB website to see a full list of events that took place during Black History Month in 2022.
Award-winning Children鈥檚 Author Ekiuwa Aire Teaches HCDSB Students About Nigerian Culture!
As part of our 2022 Black History Month celebrations, best-selling and award-winning children鈥檚 author from Oakville, Ekiuwa Aire, visited primary classrooms across our Board to teach students and staff more about Nigerian culture and traditions!
Ekiuwa is an author with Our Ancestories, a publishing company that focuses on sharing a positive narrative on African History. Born in Nigeria, Ekiuwa writes stories that provide all students with a means to connect with and learn from pre-colonial African figures.
To learn more about Ekiuwa,
“Ekiuwa was amazing! She started with a presentation on African culture and history and then went over the process of creating her book before she read to us. Then there was lots of time for questions after.”
Megan Knights-Sandhu, Library Technician at St. Andrew Catholic Elementary School
“It was wonderful! She gave a great presentation on African history as well as current traditions. The kids really enjoyed listening to her book and had a never-ending stream of questions for her. They started asking for her books immediately.”
Stephanie Pope, Library Technician at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Elementary School
“We had Eki yesterday and she was fantastic! Our teachers cannot say enough about her presentation!”
Serena Winegarden, Library Technician at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Elementary School
A True Superhero Story ~ Holy Rosary Student Granted His Make-A-Wish to Disney World!
On April 29th, 2022, Gabe Crimeli, a grade 6 student from had his Make-A-Wish to Walt Disney World granted!
Gabe, also known as 鈥業ronGabe鈥� was diagnosed with leukemia when he was only 6 years old. For 3.5 years, he underwent numerous hospital visits, medication and chemotherapy to treat the cancer.
鈥淚 just knew that I had to go to the hospital because I wasn鈥檛 feeling good. Then next thing you know, I was in a hospital room not knowing what was going on,鈥� Gabe said.
While IronGabe was fighting to beat leukemia, he encouraged his community to donate blood to help children like him fight leukemia too. Over 600 members of his community participated!
鈥淥ur school community has been a huge support,鈥� said Mrs. Crimeli, Gabe鈥檚 mother.
In April 2020, IronGabe and his family received the wonderful news that he was officially cancer free! Gabe also had his wish to visit Disney World granted 2 years ago through the , but since the beginning of the pandemic, international travel plans were cancelled.
On April 29th, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, along with students, staff, and Gabe鈥檚 family surprised him at his school and presented his Disney World wish! This marked the first time since the pandemic that the Foundation was able to resume its plans to grant wishes.
鈥淲e as a family are so grateful鈥e remembers being a normal kid going to school and being part of so many fun events that helped erase the pain and nausea with joy and excitement. And here we are, finally after a long delay, the final wish after a victorious fight,鈥� said Mrs. Crimeli.
We ALL Belong in Our HCDSB Catholic Schools!
In June 2022, our HCDSB schools raised awareness around Pride Month, nurturing our call to build safe and inclusive learning environments where every student and every member of the community is welcomed, valued, and respected.
In keeping with the Board motion passed on January 18th, 2022, the Pride Flag was raised at each school and the Catholic Education Centre, and was flown throughout the month of June.
How We Celebrated
Rainbow Day
We launched Pride Month 2022 with a system-wide Rainbow Day on Wednesday, June 1st&苍产蝉辫;鈥�&苍产蝉辫;a day to love and celebrate one another, just as God loves and celebrates each one of us because we are all wonderfully made.
Pride Awareness Day
On Tuesday, June 14th, we held Pride Awareness Day鈥� a day to reaffirm our commitment to honour the dignity and worth of each member of our community by nurturing safe, welcoming and inclusive schools.
There were a number of learning activities and events planned across our district throughout the month of June.
An Incredible Turnout at the Special Olympics & Life Skills Track and Field Meets
On June 8, 2022, HCDSB special education elementary students participated in a Special Olympics Track and Field meet at and on June 7th, secondary students participated in the Life Skills Track Meet at !
The Elementary Special Olympics Track and Field meet was organized by HCDSB Special Education staff, with the assistance of student volunteers. The Secondary Life Skills Track meet was organized by HCDSB staff and secondary students from the Sports Leadership class at St. Francis Xavier.
In previous years, the Life Skills Track and Field Meet had one para-event; the 100-metre run. Students in the Sports Leadership class saw this as an opportunity to expand the event by incorporating more athletic events and fun games!
The day鈥檚 activities on June 7th included shot put, frisbee throw, long jump, the 50-metre run and 50-metre hurdles. The event also hosted fun centers, including a freezie stand, games, and a photo booth.
On June 8th, there were approximately 105 Special Olympian participants representing 34 elementary schools! They were accompanied by 30 peer mentors who also participated in the event.
Students were supported by their Special Education Resource Teachers (SERTs), Educational Assistants (EAs), classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and had many parent and community supporters cheering them on from the stands!
Congratulations to all participants, and a big thank you to our staff, students, Holy Trinity School, as well as the St. Francis Xavier Sports Leadership students, under the leadership of Logan Klaver and Andrew Pedersen for organizing these two incredible events!
Sherry Saevil and Jody Harbour Recipients of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award!
Each year, the of Oakville, Oakville West and Oakville Trafalgar host the Community Paul Harris Awards event to honour 8 individuals who provide 鈥渟ervice above self鈥� to their local community.
On January 26, 2022, Sherry Saevil, Indigenous Education Advisor at HCDSB and Jody Harbour, Indigenous Education Assistant were presented with the Paul Fellowship Award for their work in Indigenous education through .
Grandmother鈥檚 Voice is a safe and secure community that enhances education, knowledge, understanding of Indigenous cultures and practices.
Thank you, Sherry and Jody, for sharing your knowledge, and for your commitment to fostering a sense of belonging in our schools and in our community. Congratulations on this outstanding accomplishment!
International Day of People with Disabilities 2021
Students and staff from the 嫩芽视频 (HCDSB) celebrated International Day of People with Disabilities on Friday, December 3rd and throughout the week (November 29 鈥� December 3, 2021).
HCDSB schools participated in a variety of learning activities next week to raise awareness, and support the rights and significant contributions of persons with disabilities. The 2021 theme for International Day of People with Disabilities was:
Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.
How HCDSB Celebrated International Day of People with Disabilities
Here are some of the themes and topics that were recognized:
- Viewing disabilities (both visible and invisible) through a different lens
- Promoting meaningful acceptance and inclusion in our schools (i.e., building friendships and fostering independence)
- Celebrating intellectual disabilities
- Mental health related to disabilities
- Removing systemic barriers
Special Education Summer Learning Program for Students in Grades 4-12+
From July 4 鈥� 22, 2022, the 嫩芽视频 (HCDSB) offered a Special Education Summer Learning Program for students in Grades 4-12+!
The Special Education Summer Learning Program was geared towards students who would benefit from enhancing functional literacy, functional numeracy, social skills and communication skills.
The program was taught by a Special Education Teacher, and also included a Speech and Language Pathologist/CDA, Child Youth Counsellor, Educational Assistant and/or a Behaviour Analyst.
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Speaker Session with Author Dana Geall
On April 13, 2022, the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) hosted a speaker session with Dana Geall.
is a teacher and author of the book 鈥淪ee Me for Me鈥� which was inspired by her triplets, Taylor, Cole, and Brody, who were born prematurely, and as a result have cerebral palsy. Although the children face tremendous challenges, they share a positive attitude and great personalities.
In this presentation, Dana shared her story, talked about the importance of empathy and inclusion in schools, how tools like her book can help start important dialogues for children at a young age which can help create a more inclusive environment in schools, and the importance of disability awareness literature being a part of our curriculum.
The virtual session was live-streamed and was available for viewing on the Board鈥檚 YouTube channel.
Mental Health Week at HCDSB
The designates the first week in May as Mental Health Week. From May 2-8, 2022, and the 嫩芽视频 (HCDSB) joined organizations across Canada in raising awareness about mental health.
The HCDSB Mental Health team designated Get Real About How to Help: This is Empathy as the theme of the 2022 Mental Health Week.
The HCDSB Mental Health team suggested a daily focus for each day during Mental Health Week:
Monday: Naming Our Emotions and Keeping it Real
Tuesday: Compassion for Self & Others
Wednesday: Positive Mindset
Thursday: Kindness is Contagious
Friday: Reaching Out
Throughout the week, on our HCDSB social media channels, we shared resources and tips while encouraging members of our HCDSB community to help support mental wellness.
Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (CPIC) Hosts Parent & Child Emotional Well-being Speaker Series
From March through June, 2022, the Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (CPIC) at HCDSB hosted a three-part speaker series called You & Your Child’s Well-being Matters with Sara Westbrook!
CPIC is a group of parents, trustees and Board staff who actively support parent engagement and involvement throughout the 嫩芽视频.
CPIC provides an opportunity for Catholic School Council members to network, offer input and facilitate informative presentations on a number of education related topics throughout the school year.
For the health and safety of our HCDSB community, all sessions were offered virtually.
Indigenous Art ~ Family Paint Nights
In partnership with Grandmother鈥檚 Voice, the HCDSB Indigenous Education Team hosted several virtual paint nights to learn more about Indigenous art throughout the 2021-2022 school year.
The sessions were open to all in the HCDSB community, and were lead by Indigenous artist, Moses Lunham.
In each session, Moses provided step-by-step instructions on how to create a painting at home. No prior artistic experience was necessary to get involved.
Thank you to our Indigenous Education Team, Grandmother鈥檚 Voice and Moses Lunham for organizing and leading the paint nights, and thank you for providing fun and educational opportunities for our community while at home!
See some beautiful artwork created by our HCDSB community below.
Bishop Reding Pilots History Course about the African Canadian Experience
In February 2022, piloted the first ever history course about the African Canadian experience at the 嫩芽视频 (HCDSB). The course was developed by HCDSB teacher, Doreen Bonsu, recipient of the English Language Arts (ELAN) Ontario Award, which is awarded to teachers who are committed to equity, student achievement, and well-being.
The course, Origins of Citizenship (African Canadians), highlights the diversity of African cultures, the effects of the transatlantic slave trade, and systemic racism. It also explores the roots and impact of Black Canadians on society.
As part of the course, students were given the opportunity to collaborate with to produce videos that focused on anti-Black racism.
Alpha Education is a non-profit charitable organization that contributes to peace and reconciliation and supports efforts in promoting awareness for the history of World War II in Asia.
Bishop Reding students Sephrah, Jonathan, Talia and Shannel were awarded first place for their video titled 鈥淩acism – The Mutating Monster鈥�, and received a prize of $260!
鈥淲e appreciate being given the opportunity to create a piece of work that we hope will create uncomfortable conversations and foster change throughout Halton,鈥� said Grade 11 student, Jonathan.
鈥淚t is always difficult to discuss Black trauma and suffering, but we believe these conversations are important. Nonetheless, we are grateful that Alpha Education provided us a platform to talk about these issues.鈥�
Throughout the course, students participated in a variety of interactive activities, allowing them to infuse art with history. The first activity they worked on was creating Egyptian Clay art, led by Patricia Carrasquilla, from StreetDog Art Studio. While learning the nuances of clay art, students also learned important information about the Egyptian Civilization.
Local Milton artist, Omar 鈥淥ms鈥� Hopkinson, facilitated an interactive art session where students were able to use their creativity while being inspired by music associated with the Black experience.
The class has also had exceptional guest speakers, such as award-winning author Ekiuwa Aire, who taught students about Queen Idia, from the Kingdom of Benin, as well as Lawrence Hill, who shared his experiences making his novel The Book of Negroes into a mini-series.
Congratulations to student winners Sephrah, Jonathan, Talia and Shannel! Kudos to Ms Doreen Bonsu for creating this course that offers such interactive and educational experiences for our students!
Human Rights and Equity Training for Staff
50
Training Sessions
8660+
Total Participants
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.