The OCSB Communications Department is the unseen engine that keeps families, staff, and the wider community informed, engaged, and celebrated. With a mission to build connections and foster a sense of belonging, we work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everyone feels included in the OCSB family. From sharing important updates to celebrating our community’s incredible achievements, our goal is simple: to bring people together and support the education journey in a meaningful, fun, and innovative way.
Keeping Everyone in the Loop
Whether through the School Messenger App, emails, or our website, we’re committed to keeping OCSB families in the know. We share everything from important Board decisions to exciting events and timely emergency alerts, ensuring that communication is clear, accessible, and available in multiple languages. This year, we continued refining the OCSB website with a focus on user experience, adding a handy “Notices” section on the homepage and giving families quick access to updates.
Celebrating Diversity and Building Community
Creating a sense of community is at the heart of everything we do. Acknowledging significant cultural, religious, and historical events through our Days of Significance series on social media ensures that every community member feels seen and respected. These posts invite everyone to engage with causes that matter and celebrate our shared values.
We also championed the OCSB Continuing & Community Education programs, promoting them widely through our newsletters, social media, and partnerships. These programs have opened doors for many and highlighted the importance of lifelong and multilingual learning.
Welcoming Future Families
Last year, we launched a year-long campaign to welcome new families to OCSB schools. From catchy social media posts to interactive elements and our popular Birthday Club (yes, we send cards to future Kindergarten students!), we’ve been hard at work making sure families feel right at home. Our Kindergarten Information Nights have also been a big hit, offering valuable insights to parents new to the OCSB family.
Sharing Our Stories: Friday Feelings, Shout-Outs, and More
Our community is full of amazing stories, and we love sharing them! Every Friday, our popular Friday Feelings blog celebrates the positive moments from our schools. Whether it’s a student’s accomplishment or a teacher’s innovative approach, over 5,000 people tuned in this year to see if their school was featured.
We also introduced “Shout-Out Tiles” to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our staff and students. These tiles are beautifully displayed at the Catholic Education Centre, showcasing the spirit of our community.
Honouring Our Veterans
For Remembrance Day, we created a powerful initiative in which community members submitted the names of Veterans they wanted to honour. This year, 61 names were proudly displayed on our CEC digital sign—a simple yet profound way to recognize those who have served.
Recognizing Our Staff
Our team supports the annual Director of Education Commendation Awards by capturing the heart of each nominee’s contribution through photography, personal write-ups, and a blog series that highlights these outstanding individuals. In March, our OCSB Merci Campaign was a resounding success, with over 5,100 notes of gratitude shared between staff members. It was a beautiful reminder of how kindness can lift spirits and unite a community.
Bringing It All Together
From branded merchandise to award-winning campaigns, our Communications Team is dedicated to elevating the OCSB brand while keeping the focus on what truly matters—our people. Last year, we were honoured to receive five BRAVO! Awards from the Canadian Association of Communication in Education recognize our efforts in everything from mental health awareness to the Black Student Forum.
At the end of the day, the work we do in Communications is all about fostering connection and celebrating the vibrant, faith-filled community we are so proud to be part of. Here’s to another year of innovation, engagement, and, most importantly, community.