Foundational Elements
Optimizing organizational effectiveness
A key understanding that emerged through the strategic planning process was a recognition that a number of underlying Foundational Elements serve as the building blocks for organizational effectiveness and efficacy in all areas.
We are committed to creating optimal conditions for success by focussing our efforts on enhancing these elements. By doing so, we facilitate success in each area of priority 鈥� Achieving, Believing and Belonging 鈥� which will ultimately improve student achievement and well-being.
Our Goals Under the Priority of Foundational Elements:
- Improved access to services and supports for students and schools.
- Communication is clear, transparent and responsive.
- Results-based accountability and evidence-informed decision-making are the standard approaches to planning and improvement efforts.
- Stewardship of resources optimizes human, financial, physical and material assets.
- Proactive recruitment, talent growth and succession planning are aligned to student and system needs.
The annual Strategic Plan Monitoring Survey found that:
of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that HCDSB staff have opportunities for professional development and training related to their role.
of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that communication from schools/the Board office is clear, transparent, and responsive.
of staff respondents agreed or strongly agreed that HCDSB uses evidence/data to inform decisions, strategies, or initiatives.
HCDSB鈥檚 Inaugural Meeting & Installation Ceremony of the New Board of Trustees
On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, staff, students, Trustees, and members of our 嫩芽视频 (HCDSB) community gathered for HCDSB鈥檚 Inaugural Meeting and Installation Ceremony of the New Board of Trustees.
The Inaugural Meeting and Installation Ceremony took place at in Oakville, welcoming the new Board of Trustees that will serve our HCDSB community for the 2022-2026 term.
Most Reverend, Douglas Crosby, OMI, DD, Bishop of Hamilton provided blessings, remarks and commissioning of the new Board of Trustees. As part of the Installation Ceremony, the Oath of Allegiance and Declaration of Office was officiated by The Honourable Mr. J.M. Fragomeni, Judge of the Superior Court of Justice, Central West Region.
Marvin Duarte was elected as Chair of the Board, and Brenda Agnew was elected as Vice-Chair of the Board until November 2023.
Special thanks to the amazing St. Thomas Aquinas Singer’s Club for providing music and entertainment throughout the evening!
Blessing & Groundbreaking Ceremony of Milton #9 Catholic Elementary School!
On Friday, October 28, 2022, HCDSB students, staff, trustees, distinguished guests, members of St. Benedict’s Parish and the community gathered outdoors for the official Blessing and Groundbreaking Ceremony of .
As part of the ceremony, greetings were shared by Marvin Duarte, Chair of the Board and Milton Trustee; Patrick Murphy, Milton Trustee and Master of Ceremonies; and John Klein, Director of Education.
A blessing of the school site was officiated by Father Lawrence Parent, Pastor at St. Benedict’s Parish in Milton, along with an Honouring of the Land presented by Brenda Agnew, Vice-Chair of the Board and Burlington Trustee. A scripture passage was also read by Katie Bowie, Student Trustee.
Special thanks to Gordon Krantz, Mayor of Milton; Sameera Ali, Town of Milton Councillor in Ward 4; and representatives from MPP for Milton, Parm Gill’s office for attending the ceremony.
Quick Facts
- On February 2, 2022, the Ministry of Education announced capital funding for the new Milton #9 Catholic Elementary School, through the Ministry鈥檚 2021-22 Capital Priorities Program.
- Milton #9 Catholic Elementary School will be located at 390 Gordon Krantz Avenue.
- The school will accommodate 671 elementary pupil spaces, and include a 5 room child care centre.
鈥淭his Groundbreaking Ceremony marks an important milestone for our entire Milton community 鈥� a very concrete example of how working together, we will continue to meet the needs of our growing community.
Our schools continue to attract families who wish to instill in their children the gift of a Catholic education, and we are grateful for the ongoing support and commitment of the Ministry of Education through the provision of funding to help us build new school buildings to help us better serve the needs of our Milton students and families.
We value in particular the ongoing collaboration and support we have received from MPP Parm Gill. Our appreciation is extended to the Region of Halton and the Town of Milton for their partnership and ongoing support of our schools.鈥�
鈥� Marvin Duarte, Chair of the Board and Milton Trustee
For more information about Milton #9 Catholic Elementary School, please visit the School Planning website:
Official Groundbreaking & Blessing of North Oakville #4 Catholic Elementary School
On Wednesday, May 3, 2023, HCDSB staff, trustees, honourable guests and members of the community gathered outdoors for the official Groundbreaking and Blessing Ceremony of the new
As part of the ceremony, greetings were shared by the Honourable Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education; Effie Triantafilopoulos, Member of Provincial Parliament for Oakville North-Burlington; Marvin Duarte, Chair of the Board; and John Klein, Director of Education.
A blessing of the school site was officiated by Reverend Jerry Punnassery, Pastor at Mary Mother of God Parish in Oakville, along with a bible scripture passage presented by Helena Karabela, Oakville Trustee.
Quick Facts
- is located in the new residential development area of North Oakville, within the North Oakville East Secondary Plan.
- Elementary students that live within the North Oakville #4 Catholic Elementary school boundary will be welcomed to their new home school in the 2024-2025 school year.
- The school building will be a two-story building and will accommodate 671 pupil places.
- For more information about North Oakville #4 Catholic Elementary School, visit the School Planning website: .
Quotes:
鈥淥ur government is investing $15 billion over ten years to build new schools, improve existing facilities and create child care spaces to ensure young people can reach their full potential.
We believe that students deserve to learn in-person in state-of-the-art, accessible, modern facilities. The ground-breaking of North Oakville #4 Catholic Elementary School is part of our government鈥檚 investment in construction to get it done for parents, students, and communities.鈥�
– The Honourable Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education
“I was thrilled to join the Education Minister Stephen Lecce and the HCDSB at the ground-breaking of North Oakville #4 Catholic School. With the addition of 671 student spaces, the Ontario government is responding to the needs of our rapidly growing community.
Thank you to Education Minister Stephen Lecce for listening and delivering quality education for students and their families. Since 2018 the Ontario government has approved five new schools with a total investment of $142.2 million, creating more than 4400 student spaces and more than 350 childcare spaces in Oakville North-Burlington!
As we move forward, we remain dedicated to building a brighter future for students and their families.”
– Effie Triantafilopoulos, Member of Provincial Parliament for Oakville North-Burlington
“This Groundbreaking Ceremony marks an accomplishment for our entire Oakville community 鈥� a very concrete example of how working together, we will continue to meet the needs of our growing community.
Our schools continue to attract families who wish to instil in their children the gift of a Catholic education.
We value the ongoing collaboration and support we have received from MPP Triantafilopoulos, and are grateful for the commitment of the Ministry of Education through the provision of funding to help us build new school buildings to help us better serve the needs of our Oakville students and families.
Our sincere thanks and appreciation is also extended to the Region of Halton and the Town of Oakville for their continued partnership with our school board.”
– Marvin Duarte, Chair of the Board
School Climate Student Survey
In our ongoing efforts to promote safe, inclusive, and accepting schools, and in accordance with the Ministry of Education requirement, the 嫩芽视频 (HCDSB) implemented a School Climate Survey in April 2023.
School Climate Surveys are conducted every two years to gather information from students, parents/guardians, and staff to help HCDSB create and sustain safe and welcoming schools.
The survey provided feedback to each school about the extent to which students, parents and school staff felt their school supports learning and positive behaviour, and promotes a safe and inclusive environment.
2023 School Climate Survey Results
In 2023, HCDSB heard from over 20,000 respondents on all our School Climate Surveys. Most were students (9335 elementary school students and 6309 secondary school students).
Student response rates were quite high with approximately 76% of all eligible elementary students and 48% of secondary students completing the survey in 2023.
- Learn more about the School Climate Survey for Students in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
- Learn more about the School Climate Survey for Parents and Guardians in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
- Learn more about the School Climate Survey for Staff in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Secondary School Approved as an International Baccalaureate (IB) Candidate School
On June 15, 2023, was approved as a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme!
This means that St. Kateri Tekakwitha is now pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy – a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education – that we believe is important for our students.
As the school works toward becoming an IB World School, during the candidacy phase, St. Kateri Tekakwitha will be offering a Grade 9 Pre-IB Programme beginning in September 2024.
About the IB Programme
- The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme is a globally recognized programme that challenges students to excel in their studies and in their personal development.
- Students enrolled in the IB Programme study topics in greater depth, helping them develop the knowledge and the critical thinking skills necessary for success in post-secondary education and beyond.
- Schools must be authorized by IB to offer the Programme. For more information about the candidacy and authorization process, visit: 鈥嬧赌�.鈥嬧赌嬧赌嬧赌�
- If approved as an IB World School, St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Secondary School will join a vibrant and active global community of over 5,000 schools in more than 150 countries. These schools are committed to the IB鈥檚 mission of developing inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
- For more information about the IB Programme, please visit their website: 鈥嬧赌�.鈥嬧赌嬧赌嬧赌�
HCDSB Appoints a New Superintendent of Special Education Services!
In May 2023, the 嫩芽视频 (HCDSB) announced the appointment of Cassandra Jack-Caldeira as Superintendent of Special Education Services, effective August 1, 2023.
Cassandra has more than 21 years of professional experience in Catholic education. She came to us from Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, where she has served since first becoming a teacher in 2002. In 2012, Cassandra was awarded the position of Elementary Vice-Principal, and in 2014, she was promoted to the role of Elementary Principal.
Cassandra has served on a number of system-level and provincial committees, including the Initial Teacher Education Committee for the Institute for Catholic Education. At the time of her appointment to Superintendent of Special Education Services, she was serving as the Chair of the Catholic Principals鈥� Council of Ontario (CPCO) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Standing Committee.
鈥淚 am proud to join the leadership team at the 嫩芽视频,鈥� said Jack-Caldeira. 鈥淗CDSB is widely recognized as one of the top districts in Ontario across multiple measures and is distinguished as a faith community that delivers an outstanding educational program with a strong student-centred focus. With the鈥痠ncrease in student diversity within the Halton region, I am looking forward to serving the ongoing and growing needs of students, their families, and the Board’s communities as Superintendent, Special Education Services and I am thankful for this opportunity.鈥濃��
鈥淚 am delighted to welcome Cassandra to our senior leadership team,鈥� commented John Klein, Director of Education. 鈥淪he brings a wealth of expertise and experience to our district, and we look forward to learning from her as we work together to continue meeting the needs of the students and families we serve.鈥�
This appointment filled the opening on the senior leadership team that was created by the departure of Stephany Balogh, who left in March 2023 to accept a position with the Ministry of Education as Executive Director of the Provincial and Demonstration Schools Branch in the Student Support and Field Services Division.
HCDSB Appoints a Superintendent of Education, Mathematics Lead
In June 2023, the 嫩芽视频 (HCDSB) announced the appointment of Michael Skrzypek as Superintendent of Education, Mathematics Lead, effective August 1, 2023.
Michael is a Catholic educational leader with more than 20 years of professional experience. He served the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board for most of his career in a variety of roles including Teacher, System Math Teacher on the Student Achievement Team, Vice-Principal and Principal. He has also held the role of Superintendent of Education, Provincial and Demonstration Schools Branch, for the Ministry of Education.
Michael has participated on a number of system-level and provincial committees, including Board Principal Lead for the Implementation of the Ontario Elementary Math Curriculum. He is an Expert Reviewer for EQAO Math Assessments, and a past member of the EQAO Accommodations and Review Committee. Michael has also shared his expertise as a presenter at the Ontario Association of Mathematics Educators (OAME) Conference.
鈥淭he 嫩芽视频 has a tremendous reputation for excellence,鈥� said Skrzypek. 鈥淚t is an honour to be chosen to serve in the capacity of Superintendent of Education for an organization that has at its core the focus of Achieving, Believing and Belonging.鈥� I look forward to working in a faith-centered community dedicated to ensuring that all students find success.鈥�
鈥淢ichael has extensive experience in program and staff supervision as well as system and provincial level expertise,鈥� commented John Klein, Director of Education. 鈥淗e is a strategic thinker, a collaborative learner and a faith-filled leader. We look forward to welcoming him to our senior team.鈥�
The Superintendent of Education, Mathematics Lead, is a new position with a primary focus on informing and monitoring progress towards student math achievement and improvement targets.
HCDSB Recruitment
Our Human Resources Services staff were actively recruiting new hires during the 2022-2023 school year!
- Staff teams attended 9 teacher recruitment fairs across Ontario and other provinces.
- Job opportunities were posted on our Board’s website, on and other recruitment platforms, as well as on social media.
- The recruitment process continued throughout 2022-2023 to keep supply lists replenished for Occasional Teachers, Early Childhood Educators and Educational Assistants, as well as to recruit French Teachers (Core, French Immersion, and Extended French) to meet our growing system needs.
HCDSB Staff Recruitment
177
Permanent Staff
359
Supply Teaching Staff
41
Temporary Staff
Financial Information
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.