St. Christopher Catholic School Updates - Oshawa Program and Boundary Study

Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers,

We are writing to provide an update on the Durham Catholic District School Board Oshawa Program and Boundary Study. We have compiled information following the December 18, 2023, Regular Board Meeting, to keep families informed of the next steps and upcoming changes for French Immersion students at St. Christopher Catholic School.

Oshawa Program and Boundary Study Background Information

The Oshawa Program and Boundary Study was initiated to address potential program and service delivery models at one or more Durham Catholic District School Board schools in Oshawa which are being impacted by the increased growth in north Oshawa, and due to the Ministry of Education announcement in July of 2020 to replace Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School with a Grade 7-12 school.  

Board Approved Motions for St. Christopher Catholic School

At the Regular Board Meeting held on June 19, 2023, the Durham Catholic District School Board of Trustees approved the recommended program and boundary revisions as a result of the Oshawa and Program Boundary Study.

The following recommendations were approved that will impact French Immersion students at St. Christopher Catholic School:

• St. Christopher Catholic School will become an English Kindergarten – Grade 8 elementary school with its existing French Immersion program being re-located to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School. Through future consultation, implementation details including date this will take effect, and any potential legacy students (i.e., may allow Grade 7 & 8 students to graduate out, if numbers are viable), will be determined. Consultations will begin in September 2023. Please see map for details. 
• Upon the opening of the new Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School, St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School would become a Kindergarten – Grade 6 dual track facility with Grade 7 and 8 (English/Regular and French Immersion) being accommodated at the new Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School. The Grade 7 and 8 French Immersion program at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School will also be moved to the new Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School French Immersion program upon the school’s opening leaving St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School as a Kindergarten – Grade 6 dual track facility.

At the Regular Board Meeting held on December 18, 2023, the Durham Catholic District School Board of Trustees approved the following recommended change associated with St. Christopher Catholic School French Immersion program: 

• St. Christopher Catholic School will become a regular Kindergarten – Grade 8 Catholic elementary school with its existing French Immersion program being relocated to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School. Implementation will begin in September 2024 with the Grade 1 to Grade 4 French Immersion students. Grade 5 to Grade 8 French Immersion students in September 2024 will be able to graduate out of St. Christopher Catholic School in the appropriate year, pending the opening of the new Grade 7 to 12 Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School.

St. Christopher Catholic School Consultation

Since the start of the 2023-2024 school year staff have distributed a letter to parents on September 25, 2023, and a reminder on October 18, 2023, and requested parents complete a survey. Board staff also conducted a community meeting on October 3, 2023, to allow for any questions related to the survey. There were over 40 parents in attendance and various comments and questions were received and reviewed.  

All questions and comments by the public during the entire process, either at the public meetings or through email and/or phone, that are relevant to the study, have been posted on the website, and are attached as an appendix. All questions where an email address was provided have received a written response. 

The survey questions and response summary can be found in the Board report.

What Does This Mean for My Child?
St. Christopher Catholic School will become a regular Kindergarten – Grade 8 Catholic elementary school with its existing French Immersion program being relocated to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School.  

Kindergarten – Grade 8 English (Regular Track) students will remain at St. Christopher Catholic School.

If your child is currently in Grade 1 – Grade 3 and is currently in the French Immersion program, and intends to remain in the program, they will be relocated to either St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School or St. Kateri Catholic School for the 2024-2025 school year, based on your home address. View the new French Immersion boundary map here.

If your child is currently in Grade 4 – Grade 7 French Immersion, they will be able to graduate out of St. Christopher Catholic School in the appropriate year, pending the opening of the new grade 7 to 12 Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School.

• As an example: a Grade 5 FI student in September 2024 will be at St. Christopher and continue as an FI student at St. Christopher in Grade 6 for September 2025. Anticipating the opening of the new Monsignor Paul Dwyer 7-12 Catholic High School in September 2026, would mean this student would graduate from the St. Christopher FI program in June of 2026, and would enter Grade 7 FI at the new Monsignor Paul Dwyer. Should for any reason the new school is delayed, this student would remain at St. Christopher for Grade 7 in September of 2026, until the new school opens.  

If your child is currently in Grade 8 French Immersion and intends to stay in French Immersion for Grade 9, they will complete course selection at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School.  

If your child is currently in Grade 8 French Immersion and will be enrolling in Regular (English) Track for Grade 9, they will enroll at either Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School or Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School, based on your home address. Please click here to view the Oshawa Regular (English) Track Secondary School boundary map.

For current Grade 3-7 French Immersion students, we have compiled a table below to outline the school(s) they would be attending in the next four years based on the Oshawa Program and Boundary approved recommendations. 

Timelines 
To ensure a smooth transition for students, staff, and families the following timelines, materials and activities are being implemented: 

• Monday, December 18, 2023 – Report to Board of Trustees at the Regular Board Meeting.
• Tuesday, December 19, 2023 – Letter to St. Christopher families regarding approved motions and next steps sent.
• January/February 2024 – Current Grade 8 French Immersion students, classroom teachers and Intermediate Guidance Teachers will coordinate with the Guidance Department and administration at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic Secondary School to help with registration and course selection.
• Spring 2024 – Current Grade 1 to Grade 3 French Immersion students will be automatically enrolled to either St. Kateri Tekakwitha or St. Thomas Aquinas for the fall (September 2024), dependent upon home address within the new French Immersion Boundaries. 
• April/May 2024 - St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Thomas Aquinas will share information with current Grade 1 to 3 French Immersion families, welcoming students to the new school, providing details on school procedures and bell times, and Catholic School Council. This may also include opportunities for welcoming activities and an orientation to the new school for students and families. 
• May/June 2024 - St. Christopher staff will facilitate transition meetings with St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Thomas Aquinas staff to ensure learning profiles of students are shared as necessary.   

Student Transportation

Student transportation will be provided to eligible students in accordance with the Student Transportation Policy PO429. Further details will be shared with families regarding any impacts related to transportation in August 2024 via the Durham Student Transportation Services Parent Portal or 24-hour automated phone line (1-866-908-6578).  

To view the full report to the Board of Trustees at the December 18, 2023, Regular Board Meeting, please click here. Updates will continue to be provided to families via School Messenger and on the Oshawa Program and Boundary Study webpage. 

If you have questions or comments regarding the Oshawa Program and Boundary Study implementation process or transition process, please complete the feedback form, contact us via phone at 905-576-6150 ext. 42252, or send an email to planning@dcdsb.ca. 

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.   

Sincerely, 
 

Scott Grieve                                        Mike O’Neill                                        Jim Wilson                   
Superintendent of Business,          Superintendent of Education           Superintendent of Education
Finance and Facilities Services