Fall Reflections: Director's Update

Dear Families,

After a beautiful, warm September, the Fall weather seemed to arrive almost by surprise this week, forcing us to pull out sweaters and jackets and prepare for the chillier days ahead. For me, this season is a wonderful time to reflect on the year so far. I enjoy taking long walks with my beagle, seeing the magnificent colours of the leaves as they change - a great reminder of the beauty in change and growth. 

Speaking of growth, the Durham District School Board continues to grow alongside our vibrant community.? This September, we welcomed students into two new schools: our new Beaver River Public School in Brock Township, and Maamawi iyaawag in North Oshawa. Both schools are beautiful and light-filled, which will provide a wonderful learning environment for our students. Additionally, we also opened a new addition to our Mary Street Public School at the start of the year, featuring spacious, modern learning spaces to deliver 21st century curriculum in the heart of Oshawa.  

In September, we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day serves as an important reminder of the historical and ongoing impact of colonization on Indigenous peoples and their territories. We continue to reaffirm our collective responsibility to bringing Indigenous presence and voice into our schools. We are dedicated to creating opportunities for Indigenous students and staff while fostering mutual respect and reconciliation. We also honour the survivors of Residential and Indian Day schools and acknowledge the lasting impacts they face as we strive to dismantle systemic barriers affecting Indigenous communities. The orange shirts worn by many of us on September 30th symbolize our responsibility to learning the truth and acting in reconciliation every day of the year. 

Fall can be a particularly busy time for many. In light of World Mental Health Day yesterday, October 10th, I want to remind our students and caregivers that if you’re feeling overwhelmed or are struggling with your mental health, there is a team of professionals, including social workers, psychologists, and community-based mental health workers, available to support you. You can connect directly with our mental health team on our website, where we also provide information on community-based Support and Crisis Lines.  In this spirit of support, yesterday secondary students from across the district joined us at the Education Centre to help assemble "Well-Being Kits".? Over 150 students joined us in the atrium Thursday, assembling 24,000 kits which will be distributed to their own peers in secondary schools in the coming weeks.?  

I’d also like to extend a special shout-out this month to our staff at the Ignite Durham Learning Foundation (IDLF), who have been nominated for the Canadian Choice Award for Top Charity! Operating with just two staff members and a team of volunteers, the IDLF works directly with school staff to support students facing financial barriers by providing essentials like food, school supplies, clothing, and more. If you’re in need, please reach out through a staff member to access the foundation’s support. If you are able to help, you can donate through the IDLF website.

Whether it's through our IDLF foundation, our students, or through our interactions with our wonderful families, we are grateful for the kindness, generosity and goodwill that help to build a strong and supportive school community. Thank-you for your ongoing support as we continue to work together to create a welcoming and inclusive learning environment where our students can grow and thrive.

I do hope that this coming long weekend will be safe, restful and refreshing for all of you. 

Warm regards, 

Camille Williams-Taylor 

Director of Education  

Durham District School Board?