News from the Boardroom

Dual credit programs are intended to assist secondary school students in completing their Ontario Secondary School Diploma and making a successful transition to college and/or apprenticeship programs. The primary focus is on students who face significant challenges in completing the requirements for graduations but have the potential to succeed. This group includes disengaged and underachieving students who have the potential to succeed but are at risk of not graduating, and students who left school before graduating.

Dual credit courses count twice: once towards postsecondary certification and once towards a secondary school diploma and fall into two broad categories:

1. College-Delivered
2. Team-Taught

Dual credits are based on the principles of collaboration and accountability in partnership between Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board and Conestoga, Fanshawe and Mohawk colleges. Dual credits extend learning, which can expand students’ life opportunities and available  pathway choices.

Did you know?

St. Mary Catholic Learning Centre is designated for alternative programs which includes supervised alternative learning, re-engagement of students age 18+, long-term suspensions, virtual learning, wellness, transition, and dual credits/School Within a College Program.

2022-2023 Semester 1 Statistics

• Total Dual-Credit Enrolment: 157
• Total Credits Earned: 141 college /148 secondary

The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board is committed to the health and safety of all staff. The Board works closely with the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) fostering employee health and safety in the workplace through cooperation and joint efforts in the design and implementation of educational programs for employees; investigation and resolution of safety concerns; training and support of committee members; and development and promotion of enhanced awareness of occupational health and safety matters.

Semi-annual reports are presented to the Board providing a summary of the types of employee accidents and/or incidents for the preceding six months. These reports are presented to the Board of Trustees twice per school year (as of February 28 and August 31).

If employees want more information about Health and Safety, please connect with your site representative and they will assist.

Interim financial reports are presented to the Board to assist Trustees in their monitoring of the financial well-being of the school board. These reports are presented to the Board of Trustees three times per school year (as of November 30, February 28 and May 31) and a final year-end report (as of August 31) is provided with an external audit report in the fall.

Changes have been made to the year-end forecast for the Board as a result of updated information compared to revised budget as presented to the Board of Trustees in December 2022.

Changes to the forecast were as a result of:

• Increase in average daily enrolment (ADE) as of March 31, 2023.
• Additional Partnership and Priority Funds (PPF) related to digital math tools.
• Increased salary and wages for coverage of staff long-term and short-term leaves.
• Cancelled/postponed professional development resulting in staffing shortages.
• Reduced hydro and other energy consumption.
• Various budget efficiencies identified (travel costs, supplies, printing).

As of February 28, 2023, projected ADE is expected to increase by about 57.0 ADE. ADE is comprised of actual enrolment reported on October 31, 2022 and projected at March 31, 2023.

This report looks on the exciting new developments from St. John’s College (SJC), Assumption College School (ACS) and Holy Trinity (HT). For the months of March and April, the main student related events that have taken place are Student Council elections and Spring/ Summer activities.

School News

Holy Trinity

To start off, HT celebrated their Holy Week Mass on April 4, 2023, and had a wonderful summer attire dress down day on April 12. HT’s Student Council has also formed its 2023-2024 council. The student body has elected their new Co-Presidents on April 1^st. Adam Chambers and Aadi Kakoty were elected the new 2023-2024 Presidents. HT has begun a new club called the Advocacy, Community and Empowerment club or the ACE club. They are currently trying to plan a Culture Day during May.

As for sports, HT’s curling team competed in the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations tournament (OFSAA) and played really well. Their badminton team also competed last week. Soccer practice and rugby practices are currently ongoing.

Finally, HT will be hosting the Catholic Leadership Awards on May 1.

Assumption College School

For ACS, the week of March 6th to 11 consisted of spirit activities including hat day, team spirit day (a day where students were encouraged to wear college/university sweaters or jerseys), casual dress day, monochrome day, and flannel pajama day.

On April the 12th ACS hosted 2 liturgies throughout the day to accommodate the entire student body. On that same day, ACS’s mascot the lion handed out Easter chocolate to everyone at lunch. Applications for the 2023-2024 Co-Prime Ministers went out the week after March break and have been chosen as of April 13. Students, Mia Martorelli and Phrabroop Kaur were elected. During the week of April 24 to the 28 ACS is had their third spirit week of the year, as well as a rock-climbing course being held all week for students taking gym classes. ACS’s Semi-Annual Coffee House is being held on May 4 and on May 17 their student council is running a Spring Concert. May 18 is also the night of the student council run ACS Glow Dance. Lastly, there is one casual dress day coming up on April 19 for Cancer Society, and another on May 17 where donations will be collected to go to United Way Centraide, a non-profit organization that helps children and families overcome poverty.

St. John’s College

For SJC, a great last dance for the year took place on March 29. It was a successful Spring Fling dance where students dressed in pastel, flowery clothes. For the entire month of April, Student Council elections for the 2023-2024 Student Council are taking place. On April 20, a group of STEM students are helping out the community by planting trees locally and a slumber party themed pep-rally is taking place. The slumber party themed pep rally allows students to come to school in school appropriate pajamas and play games to earn prizes. The pep rally also focuses on hyping up the school for the upcoming summer sports. As for social justice, SJC’s ACE club plans to hold a Cultural Dress Day on April 25 where students can come to school wearing clothes that represent their culture.

Lastly, in sports, the SJC girls’ volleyball team played amazingly in the OFSAA tournament and the SJC Badminton team played well in the Athletic Association of Brant Norfolk (AABHN) tournament.

UPDATE

After the last Board meeting, the BHNCDSB Student Trustee elections were held….

Introducing BHNCDSB’s newest Student Trustees; Mia Martorelli, a grade 11 student at Assumption College School and Caroline Goveas, a grade 11 student at St. John’s College.

Shout out to all Student Trustee Candidates for a job well done.

L-R: Student Trustees – Caroline Goveas, Halaena Buenviage (outgoing), Mia Martorelli.

May 1 – 5:00 pm – Catholic Student Leadership Awards

May 2 – 7:00 pm – Celebration of the Arts

May 4 – All Day – Opening of the Indigenous Art Exhibit

May 10 – 3:00 pm – Executive Council Meeting

May 16 – 1:00 pm – Special Education Advisory Committee

May 16 – 3:00pm – Accommodations Meeting

May 16 – 7:00 pm – Committee of the Whole

May 23 – 7:00 pm – Board Meeting

May 26 – 9:00 am – Student Transportation Services BHN

May 30 – 1:15 pm – Accessibility Steering Committee

View a list of Days of Significance during the month of May.