Guidance

Welcome to Guidance at Paul Dwyer!

We look forward to helping you navigate your years at PD.

The Guidance Office is responsible for providing a caring, compassionate environment that is inviting to all who enter. As guidance counsellors and educators, our role has been organized into three distinct areas:

  • student development;
  • interpersonal development; and
  • career development as it relates to pathway planning.

Our counsellors are equipped to provide ongoing academic, social/emotional, and pathway planning supports for our students. We encourage students to take an active role as vibrant, positive members of our school community and lifelong learners.

Meet our team

Our Guidance team is here to help you navigate your pathways. Our office is open:

Monday to Friday                       
7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tel: 905-723-5255
Fax: 905-723-1127

Staff MemberTitle / PositionExtension
Ms. Barb Kozak

Administrative Assistant, Guidance

x 55010
Mrs. Marla Cannon (O-Z)

Curriculum Chair, Guidance

x 55012
Mr. Justin Fortier (H-N)

Guidance Counsellor

x 55031
Mrs. Karen Kelly (A-G)

Guidance Counsellor

x 55028
Mrs. Susana Pereira

Student Success Teacher

x 55032
Ms. Felicia Marshall

Intermediate Guidance Teacher

x 55011

 Our Services

Make a Guidance Appointment 
We welcome you to speak to a guidance counsellor regarding any questions you have about navigating your way through your high school experience and beyond. Making an appointment is easy.
  1. Come in to Guidance before school begins, on your spare (Grade 12 students only), or on your lunch.
  2. Ask the guidance secretary that you would like to speak with your guidance counsellor.
  3. Tell her either your last name or the name of your counsellor.

Things to remember...

  • Appointments are 10 minutes in length;
  • Only students on a spare can book an appointment during their spare. No student should book appointments
        during class time;
  • Any additional time with a counsellor can be determined between the counsellor and student; and
  • All parents should notify their child's counsellor to book either an appointment by phone or in person.
Register for School 

We welcome students of all faiths at our Durham Catholic secondary schools. Any prospective students who are new to the Durham Catholic District school Board must completed an online student application.

Once the online application is completed (above), prospective students new to Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School must complete:

  • A Pre-Admission Application package (Note: this exclude any students transferring from an associate elementary school who live within the school's boundary). 
    • Please print off the following Pre-Admission package, complete and submit to our Guidance office with all required documentation: Pre-Admission Application package 

Call our Guidance office at 905-723-5255 ext. 55010 if you have any questions.

 
Stay Informed 

We encourage you to subscribe to this page, in order to receive the latest updates and information regarding important dates and deadlines for applications.

Visit our office and listen to school announcements for the latest dates and deadlines for applications.

 

Course calendar

We offer a wide selection of courses at many different levels. Students and parents can access Dwyer's course calendar online using myBlueprint.  myBlueprint is an online tool designed to help students plan their future.

UPCOMING EVENTS / IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM GUIDANCE: 

ATTENTION FUTURE SAINTS:

Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School invites you to attend 

Grade 8 Student and Parent Night

Thursday, January 18th 2024

at Msgr. Paul Dwyer CHS

Meet at 6:30 PM in the Cafetorium for a presentation and 

self-guided tours from 7:15 PM– 8:00 PM

 

Transitioning to Grade 9 - 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.”

Head Start program runs from Monday August 19 to Thursday, August 22, 2024 (8:30 am - 1:30 pm), through the DCDSB Archbishop Anthony Meagher Catholic Continuing Education Centre

Please register at the link before before Friday, June 28, 2024:

https://www.con-ed.ca/en/non-credit-classes/transitioning-to-grade-9---head-start-program-.aspx 

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

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

 

2023/24 NIGHT SCHOOL INFORMATION:

Please visit the Continuing Education website for more details.

All Gr. 12s APPLYING TO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY!!

ATTENTION... IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

DEADLINE TO APPLY TO UNIVERSITY IS JANUARY 15, 2024
College Applications

Early October 2023: Online Application Opens

In early October, access to the online college application becomes available for programs beginning in the following academic year (August to July). You may create an account and begin your application.

November 1, 2023: Earliest Offer Date

This is the earliest date that colleges may begin to send offers of admission to programs for the upcoming academic year. Offers will continue to be issued until programs are filled or wait-lists are established.

February 1, 2024: Equal Consideration Date

Apply on or before this date in order to receive equal consideration for admission to programs starting the following fall. After this date, colleges consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until programs are full.

Note that applications to Highly Competitive Programs must be received by this date in order to be considered.

Applicants are encouraged to complete their applications well before the Equal Consideration Date, as website volumes on the online application are at their highest at this time.

Many programs continue to accept applicants after February 1. Use our Find a Program tool at any time to find programs that are still open.

May 1, 2024: Deadline to Confirm Offers of Admission

Applicants must confirm their acceptance of an offer of admission by this date. Log in to your ontariocolleges.ca account to confirm your offer.

Colleges may extend offers of admission after this date. Each college will set the deadline to confirm offers made after May 1, and this deadline will be communicated to you with your offer.

June 2024: Tuition Deposit Due at the Colleges

The colleges require payment of a tuition deposit in June to secure your spot in your program. Each college sets its own tuition deposit amount and payment deadline. This information will be communicated to you by the college.


IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU make sure to check your courses/grades in your application to make sure all classes that you are currently taking are listed and that all marks for courses that you have completed are there.
If you have any questions please be sure to contact your guidance counsellor.

College Application Information:
February 1, 2024 is the Equal Consideration Date
Apply on or before this date in order to receive equal consideration for admission to programs starting the following fall. After this date, colleges consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until programs are full.
Note that applications to Highly Competitive Programs must be received by this date in order to be considered.
Applicants are encouraged to complete their applications well before the Equal Consideration Date, as website volumes on the online application are at their highest at this time.
If you need any help with your College Application, please be sure to connect with your Guidance Counsellor