Dear families,
As we enter the final month of the school year, I want to thank you for your continued support and partnership. June is a special time in our schools as we celebrate learning, growth, and the many accomplishments of our students.
The month of May was filled with many blessings, including Catholic Education Week. I had the privilege of joining Catholic Education Week Mass at St. Paul the Apostle in Kingston and celebrating Mass with our students and staff. Each year, we create a short video, highlighting what Catholic education means to our students and I am excited to share that video with you, sharing voices from St. Theresa Catholic Secondary, Holy Name of Mary, St. Mary (Read), Georges Vanier, and Sacred Heart (Marmora) Catholic Schools.
Watch the video here: ALCDSB Celebrates Catholic Education Week | 2026
This past month, I also had the privilege of joining the St. Paul Catholic Secondary School Relay for Life (raising over $47,000 for cancer research!), and the St. Thomas More Catholic School fish fry community event. These events at our schools are beautiful examples of how Catholic education brings faith, service, and community together in meaningful ways.
In addition, the month of June in the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board provides many opportunities to celebrate faith, diversity, and learn about true history.
Sacred Heart of Jesus: June is widely recognized as the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We reflect on the sacrificial, unconditional and generous love that Jesus has for every one of us.
National Indigenous History Month: We recognize the rich history, resilience, and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Our work in schools, this month and throughout the year, is guided by Indigenous voices and rooted in a commitment to honour truth, perspective, and lived experience.
Pride Month: Throughout pride month, and the entire year, we celebrate the diversity and gifts of all members of the ALCDSB. Our priority in Catholic education is to ensure that all students, staff, and community members can learn in environments that are safe, inclusive, and welcoming.
Finally, we prioritize and promote student voice because we believe by listening and learning from students we can respond in more meaningful ways to student needs. A beautiful example of student leadership is the work of our Student Trustees, who, through a project with the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association, have created a Charism of the Saints resource that will be shared with staff and students across our schools. We are very proud of their initiative, and we know their work will inspire students through the charisms and witness of Catholic Saints.
As we end the month of the Blessed Mother, thank you for your continued partnership throughout this school year, and I pray that the weeks ahead are filled with joy, celebration, and many blessings for your family.
Carey Smith-Dewey
Chief Executive Officer/Director of Education