Human Rights Test Alert

This is just a note to highlight where this message will be seen on the Human Rights page.

Knowing What to Do

The DDSB is committed to ensuring every student and family is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness in all school environments.

Human rights issues can happen in everyday school life, and many go unreported. Awareness, early support, and accessible reporting matter. Your experiences are important, and sharing them helps us create safer, more inclusive spaces.

We know it can be hard to talk about discrimination or raise a concern. If you come forward, we will contact you and work through it together. We will:

  • Listen to you and take your concerns seriously
  • Explain the steps we will take
  • Act as quickly as possible
  • Follow up to confirm what was done

You are not alone. You may bring a support person when discussing your concern.

We are here to help and will offer mental health, well-being, and safety supports when needed.

1. Tell Us

Tell the teacher, vice principal (VP), principal (P) or staff member you trust at the school.

Keep notes and emails of what happened and provide details. Refer to the Tips When Reporting a Human Rights Issue or Incident or Filing a Complaint document.

Contact the superintendent if the issue is about the P/VP.

2. We Will Listen

The P/VP (or superintendent) will review your concern. They may:

  • Meet with you to get more information.
  • Check if you need safety supports.
3. We Will Review

The P/VP (or superintendent) will look into what happened. They will:

  • Gather more information.
  • Seek help from the DDSB's Human Rights Office if needed.
4. We Will Act

We will take necessary action according to DDSB policies and procedures.

5. We Will Share the Steps Taken

The P/VP (or superintendent) will share what actions were taken.

We may follow up to offer further help.

Note: We cannot share private information regarding other students or staff.

If you think the concern is not addressed, file a complaint with the superintendent via the DDSB Student Human Rights Complaint Reporting Form.

Human Rights Complaint Process

Working with the DDSB's Human Rights Office, the Superintendent may:

  • Take direct action OR;
  • Try to mediate/resolve OR;
  • Involve a human rights investigator.
Investigation

If required, an investigator will:

  • Explain the investigation and next steps.
  • Meet with you and others involved.
  • Share the results of the investigation.

The Student/Family Human Rights Issue, Incident, and Complaint Resolution Procedure gives more details about these steps.

Information shared will be kept confidential, with details only shared with staff involved to help address the issue. All personal information will be protected. Everyone involved must keep it confidential.

Tell Us What Happened...

Use the DDSB Human Rights Issue form, call, email us, or tell a staff person. Help us understand your issue or concern. Describe the situation and provide as much detail as possible:

  • What happened
  • Where it happened
  • When it happened
  • How it happened
  • Why you think it happened
  • Who was involved or who may have seen or overheard what happened

Please provide as much information as possible, including:

  • Your name, school, and how to contact you (phone, email, in-person, virtual meeting).
  • Any emails, photos, or documents that help explain what happened.
  • If you already told staff, let us know who you told, when, and what they did.

Confidentiality

To keep the process fair, only discuss what happened with the staff you reported it to, or a trusted person supporting you (such as a family member or counsellor).

We Are Here to Help

If you are unsure how to describe what happened, what information toinclude, or if you need safety or other support, contact your school principal or superintendent.