Bernadette Buzz

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Alleluia! He is risen! As we celebrate the joyful season of Easter, we rejoice in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ—the ultimate sign of God’s love, hope, and new life. Easter reminds us that even in moments of challenge, light overcomes darkness and love is always stronger than fear. May the Risen Christ fill our school community with renewed faith, compassion, and peace. We give thanks for our students, families, faculty, and staff who bring Christ’s presence to life each day through acts of kindness, learning, service, and prayer. As we continue our journey together, may Easter inspire us to be people of hope, to care for one another, and to live the Gospel values that shape our Catholic identity. Wishing you and your families a blessed and joy‑filled Easter season.

Direction of School Support - Municipal Property Taxes

You can choose how your municipal property taxes support education. By directing them to the English Separate (Catholic) system, you support faith-based learning in our community and have the opportunity to vote for Catholic school board trustees in municipal elections. By supporting Catholic education through your School Support Designation, it helps strengthen and protect publicly funded Catholic education in our community. In Ontario, every property owner and tenant is required to designate which school board they choose to support. This designation determines your eligibility to vote in school board elections and ensures that education funding is directed to the school system you support. In accordance with provincial legislation, school support is assigned by default to the English Public school board unless you actively choose otherwise. All Catholic families and supporters are encouraged to review their current designation and, where appropriate, update it to English Separate (Catholic) to reflect your commitment to Catholic education. Updating your designation helps ensure that your tax support and voting rights align with your intention to support Catholic education in Durham Region. How to Check Your Current Designation Your existing school support designation can be found by:

• Checking the assessment section of your Property Assessment Notice
• Checking your last Voter Information Card received during a municipal election year

How to Update Your Direction of School Support School support designations are managed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). You can easily review or update your designation by:

• Changing your school support through the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) Online School Support Designation Portal: https://school-support.mpac.ca/ 
• MPAC has a customer contact centre to assist with the online school support tool: https://www.mpac.ca/en/contact
• Download the fillable PDF application form and follow the mailing instructions on the application.

Learn more about directing your school taxes on the MPAC website: 

• PDF Application: Direct Your School Support
• MPAC School Support Guide

Anti-Black Racism and Black Excellence (ABR & BE) Advisory Committee Seeking Nominations for Chair and Vice-Chair.

The DCDSB's committee’s mandate provides a medium for effectively addressing and dismantling disadvantages and discrimination, historical or otherwise, experienced by Black students, staff and families in our Board.  Elections for the Chair and Vice-Chair of the ABR & BE Advisory Committee will take place during our May 21, 2026 committee meeting. All persons who seek to be elected as Chair will be allowed five (5) minutes each before the election commences to address the committee on their plans. Candidates seeking election as Vice‑Chair will be provided up to three (3) minutes each. To be eligible for nomination, candidates must:

• Be a parent, guardian/caregiver of a student currently enrolled in one of the Board’s schools for the period of the tenure for which they seek to be elected.
• Demonstrate either expertise, lived experience, or a genuine commitment to learning about anti-Black racism, diversity, inclusion, and human rights - with the goal of dismantling anti-Black racism and promoting Black Excellence within our Board.

Nomination Period:

• Nominations open on March 30, 2026, and closes on May 11, 2026
• Nomination forms can be submitted online using Anti-Black Racism & Black Excellence Advisory Committee Nominations - 2026-2027 – Fill out form
• If you are nominating someone else, please ensure you have their consent and that they are willing to run for the position. All submitted nominations will be confirmed via email.