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We remain excited about the upcoming opening of Josiah Henson Public School, a much-anticipated addition that will serve the growing student population in the Pickering Seaton community.
While the school was originally scheduled to open in September 2025, construction delays have pushed the opening to later in the fall. DDSB staff are working closely with contractors to complete the project as quickly and safely as possible.
In the interim, students who reside within the Josiah Henson PS boundary and Josiah Henson PS staff will begin the school year at one of two schools:
- Junior Kindergarten to Grade 4 students will attend Rosemary Brown PS
- Grades 5 to 8 students will attend Michaëlle Jean PS
Once the new school building at 1100 Azalea Avenue, Pickering is complete and ready for occupancy, students and staff will transition together to their new home. We are currently targeting building completion in October 2025, with students and staff moving in shortly after. We will continue to share updates here, as well as on the school Instagram account @josiahhensonps_ddsb. We appreciate the community’s patience and support as we complete this important project, which will serve families for generations to come.
| Frequently Asked Questions - Opening of Josiah Henson Public School |
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Why is the school opening delayed?
Josiah Henson Public School construction continues to progress, however due to the extended winter and wet spring weather, there have been delays to the school’s construction. We are working with the contractor to expedite and mitigate any further delays.
Why are Josiah Henson PS students being located at Michaëlle Jean PS and Rosemary Brown PS next year?
As a temporary measure, Josiah Henson JK to Grade 4 students and staff will be located at Rosemary Brown PS and students in Grades 5 to 8 and staff will be located at Michaëlle Jean PS until the new school is completed.
Is there sufficient room at Michaëlle Jean PS and at Rosemary Brown PS to temporarily locate Josiah Henson PS ?
The Josiah Henson PS JK to Grade 4 student body and staff will be temporarily located at Rosemary Brown PS in a combination of existing classrooms supported by portables, similarly, the Josiah Henson PS Grades 5 to 8 student body and staff will be temporarily located at Michaëlle Jean PS in a combination of existing classrooms supported by portables.
Why can’t students stay where they are until the new school building opens?
The Josiah Henson PS boundary was established through the approval of a permanent attendance boundary for the school at the February 20, 2025DDSB Board meeting. Administrative staff and teaching staff have been identified and are looking forward to the establishment of this school.By taking the consolidated school and temporarily locating it at two locations, it enables the various school programs and staff to begin to establish relationships that will endure once the entire student body and staff are in the new school building.
Can the school opening be delayed an entire year, instead of moving students partway through the year?
The opening is delayed for a few weeks into the school year; however, two locations, Rosemary Brown PS and Michaëlle Jean PS will temporarily support the establishment of the new school.
Can I apply for my child to remain at their current school next year, instead of moving schools?
The DDSB’s Permission to Enrol Procedure outlines the application process for out of area students. It should be noted that transportation for out of area students is not provided.
When will we know if we have a space at Josiah Henson PS childcare centre?
Parents interested in child care at Josiah Henson PS should contact SKD Child Care directly at 905-239-6753.
Will there be more before and after-school capacity at Michaëlle Jean PS and Rosemary Brown PS to accommodate the delayed opening?
SKD Child Care is working with the DDSB to determine available before and after school care capacityto accommodate the Josiah Henson PS program while it is temporarily located at Rosemary Brown PS and Michaëlle Jean PS.
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| Message to Josiah Henson Public School Families - June 2025 |
Dear Josiah Henson Public School Families,
We continue to be very excited about the new Josiah Henson Public School, which will help support our growing student population in the Pickering Seaton community.
We are writing to inform you that, unfortunately, the opening of the new school, originally scheduled for September 2025, has been delayed. This update is being shared with families of students currently attending Westcreek PS, Elizabeth B. Phin PS, Highbush PS, and DDSB@Home – Elementary, who were scheduled to transition to Josiah Henson PS.
We recognize the delay in the opening of Josiah Henson PS impacts families in different ways, and we appreciate what families have shared about these specific impacts. Please know that we recognize these impacts and are committed to supporting families throughout this transition.
What You Can Expect:
- School Placement: Students in JK to Grade 4along with staff from Josiah Henson PS, as of September 2025, will be temporarily located at Rosemary Brown PS, at 270 Williamson Drive West, Ajax, until the new building is ready for occupancy.
Students in Grades 5 to 8 along with staff from Josiah Henson PS, as of September 2025 will be temporarily located at Michaëlle Jean PS, at 180 Williamson Drive East, Ajax, until the new building is ready for occupancy.
- Transportation: For families requiring transportation, details will be shared as plans are firmed up during the summer. Once the Josiah Henson PS building opens, regular board transportation policies will apply, with service for those living more than 1.6 km away.
- Child Care: We know that childcare planning is top of mind for many families. We are working closely with our licensed childcare partner and will share further details as soon as they are confirmed.
We are actively working with our construction partners to reduce this delay. At this time, we are anticipating the building will be completed in October 2025, with students and staff expected to move in shortly after completion. We will continue to keep families updated as the project progresses.
We want to thank families who have shared feedback throughout this process—it has been critical in helping our planning team develop a strong contingency plan. District staff are finalizing details to support students and staff during this period. Updates will be available on the DDSB website.
If you have any additional questions in the meantime, the school’s email is josiahhensonps@ddsb.ca. Staff will respond to questions in late August. You can also visit the DDSB website where we post updates.
We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to open a beautiful new school that will serve this community for many years to come.
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| Message to Michaëlle Jean PS & Rosemary Brown PS Families - June 2025 |
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Dear Michaëlle Jean PS & Rosemary Brown PS Families,
We are reaching out to families and students of Michaëlle Jean PS and Rosemary Brown PS to let you know that due to a delay in construction at the new Josiah Henson PS, located at 1100 Azalea Avenue in Pickering, students and staff from Josiah Henson PS will be temporarily accommodated at Michaëlle Jean PS and Rosemary Brown PS until the completion and opening of the Josiah Henson school building this fall.
Beginning in September 2025, classes for Josiah Henson PS students will be held at Michaëlle Jean PS and Rosemary Brown PS. When construction is complete and the new school building is ready for occupancy, Josiah Henson students and staff will transition together into their new school community.
We appreciate that hosting another school—temporarily—may raise questions about space, school routines, and community life. We want to reassure you that careful planning is underway to ensure a smooth and respectful integration of both school communities, while maintaining high-quality learning environments for all students.
As of September 2025, students in JK to Grade 4 and staff from Josiah Henson PS will temporarily be located at Rosemary Brown PS while students in Grades 5 to 8 and staff from Josiah Henson PS will be temporarily located at Michaëlle Jean PS. Students and staff temporarily at your school will be located in a combination of existing classrooms supported by portables.
We sincerely thank the Michaëlle Jean PS and Rosemary Brown PS communities for your flexibility and support as we work to complete this important project. Your cooperation plays a key role in helping us welcome a new school community and support a smooth start to the school year for all.
Sincerely,
Durham District School Board
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