Director’s Long Weekend Update

Dear Families,  

Welcome to the second half of the 2024-25 school year! I hope that your family had a restful winter break and a smooth return to school routines for the winter term. The Durham East Asian Network in Education (DEANE) hosted a fantastic Lunar New Year celebration on February 6 in the DDSB Education Centre. The spirit of community came through as we shared food and games, and applauded student performances. We were all captivated by the lion dance, performed by our friends from The Wushu Project who welcomed the Year of the Snake with great flair. As always, the celebration of the new year invites optimism for good things ahead.  

February is Black History Month, a time to acknowledge the diversity and celebrate the contributions of Black people in Canada, and the excellence we witness every day from staff and students across the district. Throughout February, the DDSB is actively engaged in a series of educational and cultural events that spotlight the achievements of Black individuals. The Durham Black Educators Network (DBEN) is hosting their annual Black History Month celebration on February 20 at 6 p.m. at Ajax High School, featuring food, student talent, community vendors, and more – get your tickets while you can!  

Speaking of upcoming events and observances, the Muslim Educators Network of Durham (MEND) is hosting a Ramadan Market on Sunday, February 23 at J. Clarke Richardson in Ajax from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., which will feature henna, clothing, art, gifts, and more. Entry is free. Ramadan Mubarak to DDSB families observing Ramadan starting later this month. 

Recently, the DDSB released the 2024 Annual Report, which provides a snapshot of some of the DDSB’s new initiatives launched throughout the year and is a hub for public resources developed in 2024.  

If your family has a child turning 4 or 5 this year, be sure to register for kindergarten if you haven’t done so already, and encourage your friends and family to do the same! By registering your child early, families will be able to complete the registration process with their home school with plenty of time before the summer break, one less thing on your mind. You’ll also be invited to our spring webinar series – dates coming soon! – to help prepare your little one for school.  

If, instead of kindergarten your family is preparing for high school, I invite you to take a look at our 30 Credits My Way initiative, putting families and students in control of their high school pathway. Missed the Supporting Grade 8 Transition to High School webinar? Check out our YouTube channel! 

A reminder to families that report cards will be issued on February 19 to students in Grades 1 to 8. Please take the time to review the report card, recognize your child’s achievements, and discuss areas for growth. It’s important for families to speak with students about their report card results, recognizing success and planning for improvement. We encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher to learn more. Your involvement in your child’s education is important and we thank you for your continued partnership. 

Don’t forget! If you have a budding visual artist in Grades 7-12 our Student Art Gallery is taking submissions for our 2025 exhibition, entitled ‘Belonging’.  

We are all navigating a rapidly changing world, with a constant flow of information from many platforms. In the spirit of nurturing healthy communities, we encourage our students to be careful, kind and critical in the way they produce and consume information especially in online platforms.  While we continue to remind students about the restrictions on cell phone use at school, we know that our students have access outside of school hours at home and in the community. We would like to encourage all parents/caregivers to join us in protecting our students in this area by finding some time to have a conversation with your child about responsible social media usage. Parenting in the Age of Social Media addresses a variety of new considerations for parents and caregivers while offering suggestions for keeping kids safe, responsible and ethical as they navigate online spaces. 

For me, every long weekend marks a milestone in the school year. Although winter fun is a part of our Canadian spirit, this winter season has felt quite long for many. On this Family Day weekend, as the days become noticeably longer, the anticipation of spring starts to emerge. I hope that you will be able to find a few extra moments to enjoy fresh air and outdoor activities, or some quiet time with loved ones.  

Take good care of yourselves and each other, 

Camille Williams-Taylor  

Director of Education