Most of the 27 000 students at Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) schools head back to school on August 29. Those at École élémentaire catholique des Deux-Rivières in Arnprior and École secondaire catholique Sainte-Marie-Rivier in Kingston are even starting the year in brand-new schools.
Marc Bertrand, Director of Education, along with Marie-Diane Dallaire, Principal of École élémentaire catholique des Pionniers and Ryan Perry, vice-principal
Early start
Students and staff at Bernard-Grandmaître and Jonathan-Pitre Catholic elementary schools were back in action on August 15th because they follow a balanced calendar that starts earlier in August and ends later in June but includes more time off throughout the school year. Students and staff at École secondaire catholique de l'Innovation also started a week earlier than most on August 22nd.
Engage to elevate
To set the tone for this school year, the CECCE has selected a new theme inspired by one of the three core values in the board's strategic plan. Students, their families and staff are encouraged to spread the word about all the ways they and their community members engage throughout the 2023-24 school year. 'Engage to elevate'' is about feeling proud, driving action and celebrating people and their resulting initiatives.
Time to celebrate
This year marks the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est's 25th anniversary. Canada's largest francophone school board outside Quebec was founded in 1998 and has been inspiring students to discover their passions, develop their talents and contribute to humanity for a quarter of a century. Now that is worth celebrating!
New and noteworthy at the CECCE
The 2023-24 school year ushers in the first Culinary Arts Academy cohort at École secondaire catholique de l'Innovation in partnership with the 1 Elgin restaurant as well as the Musical Theatre FOCUS program for Grade 11 and 12 CECCE students. The board is also expanding its Passion Arts program to Grade 4 students (in addition to Grade 5 and 6 students).
"The Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023. I love the fact that 60 French-language schools in Ontario serve almost 27 000 students every single day. Over the past two and a half decades, thousands of families in the Centre-Est region have chosen French-language education for their children. As a proud Franco-Ontarian, I am hopeful that an even better future lies in store for Ontario francophones thanks to the efforts and engagement of staff members who do an incredible job of providing the best education to CECCE students," said CECCE Chair Johanne Lacombe.
"It is important to recognize how engaged our staff are in educating our future change-makers and how committed families are to ensuring their children become assertive, mature, engaged and ethical adults capable of critical and creative thinking. CECCE communities work in synergy to create opportunities for students to learn and grow. This year, we are doubling down on that engagement in all schools as well as with the new École élémentaire catholique des Deux-Rivières in Arnprior, which will enable even more students to access a Catholic francophone education of choice," said CECCE Director of Education Marc Bertrand.
For more information
4000, rue Labelle
Ottawa Ontario
Canada K1J 1A1
www.ecolecatholique.ca
