Introduction to System Direction

Pope John Paul II in 2004 wrote, "It is of utmost importance, therefore, that the Church's institutions be genuinely Catholic: Catholic in their self-understanding and Catholic in their identity." Add to this sweeping goal, the Ministry of Education goals, i.e., that student achievement continue to be a focus, narrowing the achievement gap among students, and continued public confidence in Catholic schools, along with our own trustee priorities, and you have a very broad area for our system to develop a System Direction.

This year, our direction is for a two-year approach that will align budget, resources, and our staff energies in a few specific strategic directions that will help us attain the target set for Catholic schools.  Our approach, this year, will see individual schools develop strategies to attain the System Direction, while also providing flexibility for schools to identify up to two goals for their school.

The System Direction includes measurable goals that will be reported back to the board in May 2009.  During the year, support will be given to faculty and staff, administrators and students, to assist them in attaining the specific focus of the board as expressed in our System Direction.  The System Direction is being presented in May to facilitate discussion at the school level and at the family of schools and corporate levels, on methods for reporting and attaining these Directions.

Dufferin-Peel continues to provide outstanding curriculum and programs for our students. But, just as important is our commitment to developing the spiritual side to each student’s mind, body, spirit and heart.  Our students bring to the community a deep awareness of social justice values, the knowledge of the importance of living a principled life based on religious truths, and the ability to engage the world because of attainment of skills.  As the System Direction indicates, Children First is more than just a motto, it is what we work towards.