Religious Accommodation Requests-2011

 

 

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is committed to providing quality Catholic education. The Board recognizes that the school system gives pre-eminence to the tenets of the Catholic faith, congruent with the protection afforded in the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Constitution Act, 1982 and confirmed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

The Board acknowledges that any form of social or cultural discrimination is incompatible with Catholic moral principles and is in violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code. The Board and its staff are committed to the elimination of discrimination as outlined in Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy and the Ontario Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandum No. 119, in a manner which is consistent with the exercise of the Board’s denominational rights under section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and as recognized at section 19 of the Ontario Human Rights Code. 

The Board is committed to the values of freedom of religion and freedom from discriminatory or harassing behaviours based on religion and will take all reasonable steps to provide religious accommodations within the legal rights afforded to the Catholic school system. Students requesting religious accommodations must present written notice from their parents/guardians specifying their accommodation needs relating to religious observances, including holy days on which they will be absent from school.  This notice should be made in advance (preferably at the beginning of each school year) to ensure that scheduling of major evaluations, such as tests, assignments or examinations, takes the religious observances into consideration.

If further information is required regarding Religious Accommodation, please do not hesitate to contact administration at the school.