Embracing diversity and inclusion while promoting equity, we are guided by faith-based Catholic social teachings and learning partnerships that create safe and welcoming places for all.
Our school communities found ways to reinforce the ties that bind our community together and seek opportunities for everyone to feel included and heard.
Gathering Together in Faith
Our annual Catholic Education Week Mass was held in person in May at the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica for the first time since 2019. The theme for Catholic Education Week 2022 was Restore. Rebuild. Renew. Together in Gratitude. Most Reverend Archbishop Marcel Damphousse presided over the Celebration of the Eucharist. He encouraged all to practice Gratitude daily by spreading the hope and joy of Christ to everyone we encounter.
Welcoming Auxiliary Bishop Yvan Mathieu, S.M., to the Community
The OCSB encourages and supports the collaboration of the parish/school relationship. Together we can support our Catholic learners in their faith development.
The Pope’s appointment of Father Yvan Mathieu, S.M., to the auxiliary bishop is welcome news to the school system as he assists Marcel Damphousse, Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall. Pastors, Principals, Chaplaincy Leaders, the Board’s Religious Education Coordinator, and Consultants meet regularly to share best practices. The focus of the Committee is to help meet the faith needs of the school communities, students, families and staff and to encourage commitment to Catholic education.
Bishop Mathieu is originally from Québec City. However, he spent many years in Ottawa for studies and is currently a Saint Paul’s University professor. We know students and staff will warmly welcome him.
Mark Mullan – A Leader in Catholic Education
OCSB Chairperson Mark Mullan was appointed to the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association’s Board of Directors at the association’s 2022 Annual General Meeting. The membership also elected him to represent Ontario Catholic School Trustees on the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association’s Board of Directors.
In his winning speech to the conference delegates, Trustee Mullan said, “Catholic schools are about relationships at their most fundamental level. Our schools are not just a collection of buildings, timetables, and technology but are places where students, educators, and administrators have faith in each other and God. In my opinion, that defines what makes Catholic education so distinctive!” Mark has been a longtime champion and advocate of Catholic education in Ottawa, the province, and the country. The OCSB is proud to have a chairperson who is so engaged and active in promoting the importance and vibrancy of Catholic education in Canada.
OCSB Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Framework – The Work Continues
At the Ottawa Catholic School Board, there is an intentional focus on embracing diversity and promoting equity and inclusion while being mindful of Catholic social teachings to create welcoming places for all. We know there is more work to do, and we are dedicated to listening, learning and growing together.
In response to some of the challenges created due to the Covid pandemic, we reviewed and updated the OCSB EDI Framework. Over the next three years, keeping students at the heart of what we do, the Ottawa Catholic School Board will seek to build awareness, change practice, and expand capacity in three areas: leadership and human resources, school and classroom practices, organizational structures, and accountability.
Knowing Who We Serve
As a Board, we are committed to equity, inclusion, and ensuring everyone feels welcome in our school communities. Catholics are called to build collaborative relationships between the school and the broader community. The Ministry of Education student census initiative was an opportunity to help us better understand student identity. We launched the census in May, promoted it through a student-focused video, and provided a FAQ to help address any concerns that arose.
Each response helped us learn more about our students’ backgrounds, experiences, and what we can do to improve their school experience. We’ll use the feedback to identify potential barriers or gaps and determine how to better eliminate discriminatory biases in our classes and schools as outlined in the Ontario Education Equity Action Plan.
To demonstrate the OCSB’s ongoing commitment to honouring the dignity of every person, we also launched our first staff census in 2022. A greater awareness of who makes up our workforce will allow us to develop policies and procedures from a lens of equity and inclusion. The information will help ensure we continue to inform our recruitment practices better, expand our employee communication channels, and offer enhanced employee support.
Ensuring Parent Voice
The OCSB is fortunate to have three active board-wide parent organizations that keep parents informed and champion their interests. The Catholic School Parents’ Association represents our school councils and serves as a resource to all parents through education, information, and communication. The Parent Involvement Committee acts in an advisory capacity to support and encourage parent engagement. The Special Education Advisory Committee provides essential advice on matters regarding special education. In 2021-2022 these organizations partnered with each other and with OCSB staff to keep our communities informed and engaged. Board staff supported CSPA by regularly contributing to their monthly newsletters for parents and assisting with publicizing their activities. Over the year, the parent groups facilitated 25 different events. Many of them included OCSB staff as presenters who provided practical resources for parents.
Tutoring Support Programs
The tutoring support funding from the Ministry of Education in the spring of 2022 allowed us to hire over 400 tutors to provide personalized learning and help OCSB students enhance their skills and boost their confidence. Our broad-based programs ranged from in-class literacy support at almost every OCSB elementary and intermediate/secondary school to in-class mathematics and French support. In small group sessions, after-school tutoring programs were available to students at all grade levels. Providing this kind of support took a village, and the OCSB partnered with many community organizations to provide student support. These partnerships built lasting relationships with students, staff, parents, and the greater community.
Our Growing Community Footprint
As a Board, we continue to grow to meet the needs of Ottawa’s expanding population. We collected feedback on the proposed attendance boundary changes through public consultations with the Fernbank and Barrhaven South communities. The schools are scheduled to open in September 2023.
Trustees and CSPA advocacy for more Catholic schools in Findlay Creek and Riverside South communities was heard and acted upon. In December 2021 and April 2022, the Ministry of Education announced funding for constructing new elementary schools in those communities. Both these schools will have space for 507 students and include childcare centres. Currently, the planned opening date for both schools is September 2024.