School News Highlights

Pickering HS Students Build Homes with Habitat for Humanity Students in the SHSM program at Pickering HS put on hard hats and got their hands dirty for a good cause On May 29th, students in Grades 11 and 12 in the Construction Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) program at Pickering High School teamed up with Habitat for Humanity Durham Region to participate in a Build Day. This is the second year that Pickering HS students in the SHSM program have participated in a Build Day, and plans for next year have already begun.

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Students Put Their Hands-On Skills to the Test DDSB students participate in the Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto From May 6-8, elementary and secondary students from across the province gathered at the Toronto Congress Centre to participate in the largest skilled trade and technology competition in Canada. The Skills Ontario Competition presents students with the opportunity to demonstrate their talent and aptitude in a particular field to their families, educators, industry reps, and judges.

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Bring Back the Salmon By Marissa Campbell Westcreek Public School embraces environmental stewardship as ambassadors of the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program On May 21, Grade 7s from Westcreek PS released 96 salmon fry [baby salmon] into Duffins Creek at Greenwood Conservation Area. The salmon run brought their involvement in the five-month, hands-on Classroom Hatchery Program to a rewarding and exciting conclusion.

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Supporting Student Voice in Our Schools DDSB Student Trustees for the 2019/2020 school year announced This past March and April, a two-stage election process took place within the Durham District School Board (DDSB) to elect secondary students to serve the needs of their peers and to advocate for student voice. The DDSB has three Student Trustee positions; one to represent the areas of Ajax and Pickering, one to represent the areas of Whitby and Oshawa, and one to represent the northern municipalities of Brock, Scugog, and Uxbridge.

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Sharing the Message of Perseverance and Possibilities Software Developer Rudy Lang shares his experience in STEM with the DDSB community At the Durham District School Board (DDSB) Education Centre on May 13th, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Facilitator Jane Kennedy hosted the second installment of the STEM Talks series with guest speaker Rudy Lang. “The ability to reach kids is so key, and Rudy has an important message to share with them,” explains Kennedy.

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Reflections of Me! DDSB students participate in the Annual Gay Straight Alliance Conference On International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (May 17th), Durham District School Board (DDSB) students in Grades 7-10 in their schools’ Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) gathered at the Education Centre in Whitby to celebrate who they are. The conference is organized annually by the DDSB’s Equity and Inclusive Education Department and PFLAG (formerly Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, now inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions) Durham Region.

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Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence By Marissa Campbell Durham District School Board (DDSB) reflects on a quarter century of student success as Sinclair Secondary School celebrates its 25th birthday On Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25, Sinclair SS invited past and present students, families and staff to help celebrate 25 years of excellence. The celebrations included alumni games, an art showcase, nostalgic decade rooms, live music and a BBQ.

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Around the World Before Lunch Bobby Orr Public School’s Developmental Program classes celebrate a day of fun with their 7th Annual Play Day On May 16, Bobby Orr PS invited Developmental Program classrooms from across the region to take part in their 7th Annual Play Day. Six classes from five Durham District School Board (DDSB) pubic schools attended and 36 students participated.

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Students Embrace the Journey of Identity Exploration DDSB students participate in South Asian and Asian Heritage Month conference In celebration of South Asian and Asian Heritage Month (May), over 140 Durham District School Board (DDSB) students in Grades 7-10 participated in the first ever South Asian and Asian Student Voice Conference called Be You: Explore, Discover & Re-imagine. The conference was held at Dr.

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Ajax high school student leads mentorship program An Ajax high school student is helping kids in his community by spending his own free time leading a mentorship program for young black boys. Trevin Noble grew up without his dad or a real mentor in his life, but the Grade 12 student hasn’t let that affect him.

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