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 worked to strengthen connections and create opportunities where everyone feels valued, included, and listened to.
Embracing Hope
Our Catholic faith is more than just a part of the curriculum; it is at the heart of everything we do as a school board. Throughout the year, we provide numerous opportunities for students and staff to express and live out their faith through lessons, events, and activities. This faith can be seen in many places—such as school chapels, classroom prayer tables, student artwork, and our community events during Catholic Education Week.
In the third year of our Spiritual Theme, “Gratitude Rooted in Joy, Fills Us with Hope,” our focus was on hope. Through acts of service and social justice, our students embraced the spirit of supporting others, sending help and hope to those in need. Examples of those who benefited include food banks, women’s shelters, and children undergoing treatment at CHEO.
This year, our staff and retirees generously donated $280,000 to the Catholic Education Foundation of Ottawa (CEFO), bringing hope to families in need across our community.
Our Religious Education department dedicated part of last year to developing our new Spiritual Theme for 2024-2027. The theme, “We are called to open doors, build bridges, and nourish new beginnings,” is rooted in Revelation 3:20. This theme will enhance the enriching aspects of our previous one while also guiding us in addressing the diverse challenges we face in our communities and the wider world.
Equity and Inclusion: A Year of Impactful Initiatives
Our Equity team continues its work on fostering inclusivity, understanding, and diversity across our school board. Guided by our 2021-2024 Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Framework, we have strengthened our commitment to equity by implementing targeted strategies and building partnerships, helping us better support our students, staff, and communities.
Our organization is committed to reflecting the diversity of the population we serve at every level. The Equity team and HR department have worked together to identify effective strategies for attracting and hiring a more diverse range of candidates across the system. Furthermore, we have appointed a new superintendent to oversee Equity and Indigenous Education, highlighting the Board’s dedication to this mission.
We have recruited an additional Graduation Coach and hired several staff members in Indigenous Education roles to support the growing initiatives within the Board. Our focus on awareness and learning continues, with bias-awareness training conducted for all staff members. This year, we also launched two Employee Resource Groups: the Network of Asian Employees (NAE) and the Queer Employee Network (QEN), both of which provide essential support and community for our staff.
The number of student associations, including Asian and international student associations, grew over the year. While most of these are at the high school level, we have seen growing interest at the elementary level and more collaboration with students in high school mentoring those in their feeder schools. Our Equity team supported and mentored these student groups, providing presentations on topics such as race, racism, and identity.
Our Board continues to support the UN International Decade for people of African descent through initiatives such as incorporating the history of African people into the K-12 curriculum, encouraging diverse culturally relevant and responsive pedagogical (CRRP) practices, and embedding equity and diversity professional learning within the New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP). Other initiatives, such as our summer program for Black students, United in Black Day, our Black Students Advisory Council (BSAC), and our Black Student Forum all contribute to raising awareness and addressing anti-black racism in our schools.
The OCSB remains committed to addressing all forms of hate, including antisemitism, anti-Palestinian racism, Islamophobia, anti-Indigenous racism, homophobia, and anti-Black racism. This year, we implemented the Ontario government’s mandatory Holocaust education for Grade 6 students through the powerful story of Simon Wiesenthal. Additionally, we have supported our principals and staff in engaging all communities affected by current conflicts in the Middle East.
Part of the work done in 2023-24 was developing a new EDI Framework for 2024-2027 to continue our work in dismantling discriminatory practices and systemic barriers and driving change within the organization’s culture. The new framework with provide a strategic roadmap for continuing the work of celebrating diversity and empowering every student and staff member to thrive.
Summer Programs Keep Students Engaged
The Ottawa Catholic School Board offers a wide variety of summer programs through its Continuing & Community Education department, catering to learners of all ages. These programs are designed to keep students engaged in both learning and fun activities throughout the summer.
Our Summer Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) program provided learning opportunities to 732 students this summer, and 3,739 students throughout the school year. We saw a 21% increase of learners in our Summer International & Indigenous Languages Program – Elementary, with 1,729 students across the city of Ottawa. Our OCSB Summer Camps welcomed a record 5,147 campers, the Focus On Youth program supported 84 high school students, and OCSB Summer School provided courses to 3,109 students.
OCSB Family Welcome Centre
The OCSB Family Welcome Centre assists newcomer families in registering their children for school and integrating into the Ottawa Catholic School Board community. In the 2023-2024 school year, we welcomed 1,767 students from 81 countries around the world through the centre. Newcomer students and their families enhance our schools with their diverse cultures and life experiences.
Amplifying Student Voices
We strive to ensure that student perspectives are heard. Our Student Senate meets four times a year, giving student leaders from all our high schools a chance to interact with each other and OCSB central staff. Last year, at one of those meetings, students reviewed and discussed the proposed new EDI Framework, giving them a chance to impact Board-level decisions. The students highlighted the areas that they felt were important and provided input on what should be added or changed. As the Board’s focus turned to addressing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and adopting AI tools, student voices were intentionally included. Our student trustees took part in an AI book club with teachers, providing insight into true student perspectives. The OCSB AI Summit, a professional development event for educators, included a panel discussion made up of six students who showcased their use of AI. Our student trustees also worked hard to build bridges between schools, using social media to highlight events and activities organized by student associations throughout the Board as a way to inspire others and foster communication between schools.
Empowering Parent Engagement
The OCSB is proud to have three dedicated parent organizations that keep families connected and advocate for their interests. The Catholic School Parents’ Association (CSPA) represents school councils and provides parents with valuable resources, communication, and support. The Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) offers advice to foster and enhance parent engagement across the board, while the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) advises on matters related to special education. In 2023-2024, these groups collaborated with each other and OCSB staff to ensure that parents stayed informed and engaged. Board staff actively supported CSPA, regularly contributing to their monthly newsletters and assisting in promoting their initiatives. Throughout the year, the parent groups facilitated 13 events for parents and families, with 21 individual parent sessions and over 1,600 registrations. OCSB staff members also presented at several events, equipping parents with practical resources and support.