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 HCDSB offers faith formation opportunities for its staff.
of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that 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.
HCDSB’s New Theological Theme!
Every 4 years, our HCDSB community introduces a new theological theme to guide our Catholic learning environments, staff,鈥痗urriculum鈥痑nd faith community.鈥�
On Faith Day 2022, held across all schools and offices in our district on Friday, October 7, 2022, we unveiled the new theological theme ~鈥�鈥淲hat Does the Lord Ask of You?鈥�
The theme was chosen as an appropriate follow up to our previous theological theme 鈥撯��Do You Love Me?鈥� We responded to Jesus鈥� question with a resounding yes! And now, through the words of Micah 鈥� God tells us what that should mean in terms of our response.鈥�
After the stresses and separations that we faced collectively as we lived and learned through a global pandemic, the committee felt that during the first year of this new theme (2022-2023) our work should focus on鈥�rebuilding community, and that the central unifying place for us as Catholics is the Eucharist. The following years will focus on鈥�Justice (2023-2024),鈥�Kindness (2024-2025)鈥�补苍诲鈥�Walking Humbly (2025-2026), in conjunction with developing greater familiarity with our sacraments, our Church and its place in the world.
The artwork for the new theological theme was created by Sarah Edwards a student at Christ the King Catholic Secondary in Georgetown.
Grade 12 Student Received Catholic Student Award!
In October 2022, HCDSB announced that Grade 12 student, Ava Wynhofen, was selected as the recipient of the highly esteemed Catholic Education Foundation of Ontario (CEFO) Catholic Student Award! This school-nominated award is given to a candidate who enhances the spirit of the school community and demonstrates Catholic values.鈥�
Ava was recognized for her service to both her school and community.鈥疉s an honour roll student, Ava maintained a high鈥痑cademic average while balancing numerous extra-curricular and volunteer activities. She was part of the Bishop Reding band, eco club and volleyball team. She had made notable contributions to the life of our school community through her involvement in Student Council and STEM.
Congratulations to Ava for her dedication and efforts in demonstrating Catholic values, both at school and in her community!
And the Keeping Christ in Christmas Winners Are鈥�
Students at the 嫩芽视频 (HCDSB) were invited to participate in the 10th annual Keeping Christ in Christmas contest, which began in October 2022.
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 October 28 and all entries were due by November 21, 2022.
Quick Facts:
- The response was overwhelming, with over 400 student entries and over 6,220 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 6, 2022 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 2022 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.
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 raise over $6,000 dollars to support families in our HCDSB community!
CPIC Event ~ Opening The Doors Of Advent
Members of the community were invited to a virtual Advent presentation hosted by the Halton Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (CPIC): Opening The Doors Of Advent ~ What Are You Waiting For? The event was held on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.
CPIC is a group of parents, trustees and staff who actively support parent engagement and involvement at the 嫩芽视频 (HCDSB). The committee provides opportunities for networking and hosts informative presentations on a number of education and parent related topics throughout the school year.
In preparation for the Advent season, this session discussed how HCDSB families can honour and celebrate the gifts of family and community, and learn about the meaning of Advent from a theological perspective.
The session was presented by Gillian Federico, System Chaplain and Faith Formation Lead; and Patricia Dal Ben, Religious Education Curriculum Consultant at HCDSB.
Tiny Home Project at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School!
The Tiny Home Project for the 2022-2023 school year was a great success at
In September 2022, students enrolled in Mr. Nason鈥檚 construction class, as well as student volunteers, began a construction project of building a Tiny Home to gain valuable hands-on experience and to offer affordable housing for communities in need.
This project was possible with the support and continued partnership of
This initiative was featured on CBC News Toronto for the outstanding work taking place at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School!
At the end of the school year, the completed home was transported to an Indigenous community in need and was used for housing.
“We are Many, We are One” Catholic Education Week
During the week of April 30 to May 5, 2023, the Halton Catholic District School Board (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 (CEW) was “We are Many, We are One”, inspired by the following:
- The Church’s 鈥渟ynod on synodality鈥� which centres on intentional listening; listening to one another and meeting others where they are at to consider what steps the Holy Spirit is inviting us to take.
- The Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the importance of Indigenous culture and spirituality as we move forward together.
- The Ministry of Education鈥檚 focus on Equity and Inclusion as we serve all of God鈥檚 children.
- The personal and spiritual well-being challenges we face as individuals and as a community, heightened by the uncertainty of the current global crisis; and the timing of Mental Health Awareness Week, which coincides with Catholic Education Week.
The five sub-themes for Catholic Education Week illuminated the path to being many and one:
Monday: When we see
Tuesday: When we listen
Wednesday: When we reflect
Thursday: When we learn
Friday: When we act
Journeying with Jesus During Catholic Education Week
In honour of Catholic Education Week, HCDSB鈥檚 Journeying with Jesus took place on Thursday, May 4, 2023.
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.
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鈥檚 Parish in Oakville, and a Reading of the Gospel by Father Larry, Pastor of St. Benedict’s Church in Milton.
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 .
础蝉蝉耻尘辫迟颈辞苍鈥檚&苍产蝉辫;Crusading 4 Cans Food Drive!
In October 2022, hundreds of students from gathered to collect and package non-perishable food items to donate to the Burlington Food Bank. This is a yearly tradition that Assumption students have named 鈥楥rusading 4 Cans鈥�.
Over 84 groups of approximately 400 Assumption students were involved in the initiative on Halloween night. The drive resulted in over 12,000 lbs of food that was collected and packaged by the students!
The Crusading 4 Cans initiative began 12 years ago, beginning in Cosmetology class with only a few groups of students. Each year moving forward, hundreds of students have gathered to organize the food drive as early as September.
Some students were involved in the food drive for their 4 years in high school, and some alumni return on Halloween night to see the event, bring in cans and reminisce about the good times had at Assumption Catholic Secondary School.
Congratulations to all students who made the Crusading 4 Cans Food Drive a huge success!
Loyola Culinary Students Raised $800 for Angel Campaign through Loyola Lasagna!
In December 2022, students in Jeff White鈥檚 Culinary class at raised over $800 through the sale of home-made lasagnas for the school鈥檚 Angel Campaign!
Each Christmas, staff and students at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School raise money for families in-need. In December 2022, Mr. White and his students took the campaign to the next level.
School President Tabitha Stephenson and students Emma Low, Alice Gonzales and Isabella Keller created a logo, posters, social media posts and an online ordering system for the initiative.
Over the next 4 days, culinary classes made noodles and sauce from scratch, and assembled and packaged the lasagnas. Their hard work resulted in 166 lasagna orders, and raising over $800!
In total, students and staff at Loyola raised over $13,500 for the local community.
Thank you to Mr. White, culinary students, and the entire St. Ignatius of Loyola community for giving back to the community!
The 2022-2023 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.