Head Start Program

The Head Start - Transitioning to High School program is available to all Grade 8 students going into Grade 9 at one of our Durham Catholic District School Board high schools. Head Start is scheduled to run in-person. Parents/Guardians are responsible for transportation to and from the secondary school.

The program involves a review of language and mathematics skills and provides students with a preview of the Grade 9 curriculum for Mathematics, English and Study Skills. Health and well-being and fun activities are also integrated into the program. This program is non-credit.

Students who took the program last year shared what they enjoyed most about the program:

“I like how well it prepared me for high school.”

“I liked how the teacher shared a lot of information about the school and classes”.

“The lessons on Study Skills were very useful.”

“The teachers were really friendly.”

Details

Dates: Monday, August 17 to Thursday, August 20, 2026

Time: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm

Locations

We offer the Head Start program for students who will be attending each of the following secondary schools:

St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School
Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School
Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
All Saints Catholic Secondary School
*Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School (program will be held at Notre Dame CSS)
Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School

*Please note that due to a construction project scheduled to take place at Arch. Denis O'Connor CHS in the summer, the school will be unable to host the Head Start Program on site. To ensure the program can continue uninterrupted, it will be hosted at Notre Dame CSS.

Registration 

Current DCDSB students and Non-DCDSB students who are attending a DCDSB secondary school in September may register for the Head Start Program.

Current DCDSB Students - Register Here

Non-DCDSB Students - Register Here

Registration will be available until June 26, 2026.

Format

Head Start will be held in class at the secondary school.  

For questions about our Summer School program, please email cont.ed@dcdsb.ca