Dear Parents and Guardians,
As part of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB)’s commitment to fostering Christ-centered learning environments where all children feel safe, valued, and able to excel, the HWCDSB will be developing its’ first HWCDSB Dignity of the Human Person Equity Action Plan. This letter is designed to provide you with more information about the plan, its’ goals and the consultation process.
What is the HWCDSB Dignity of the Human Person Equity Action Plan?
On September 15, 2017, the Ministry of Education released Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan aimed to identify and eliminate systemic barriers and discriminatory biases in schools. This plan was shaped by the provincial priorities outlined in the Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy launched in April 2009. Both plans established the foundation upon which school boards were directed to build action-oriented system frameworks that outline concrete steps to build inclusive, equitable school environments.
The plan is designed to capture four core pillars of focus: Organizational Culture, Leadership, Governance and Human Resources, School and Classroom Practices and Data Collection, Integration and Reporting. These pillars represent core themes such as student achievement and well-being, ongoing staff training and development, data-driven decision making and fostering meaningful partnerships with families and community partners.
Why is the HWCDSB creating a Dignity of Human Person Equity Action Plan?
Our schools are home to students with diverse experiences, cultures, strengths, and needs. This system framework will be designed to better equip us to identify and remove barriers to student success, ensure students feel heard and supported, promote a culture of belonging grounded in Gospel values and establish a clear model for tracking progress towards our Dignity of the Human Person and Equity priorities.
Consultation Process for Parents and Students
As parents/guardians, your voice is essential to the development and ongoing evaluation of this system framework. We invite you to participate in the official online consultation survey using the link below:
Parent Survey Link
Secondary students will also have the opportunity to share their voice as part of this consultation process. Your child will be provided with time during the school day to complete the anonymous survey on a date assigned by their school principal. The survey will include 8 short questions and your child’s participation is voluntary. You and your child may review the survey questions in advance using the link below:
Grade 9-12 Student Survey Questions
HWCDSB_StudentEquityConsultationSurvey-Gr9.pdf
St. Mary students will be participating in this survey consultation on April 28th during period 4 class.