Guidance

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                        Summer Hours: Monday to Thursday, 8:15am - 2:45pm.
7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tel: 905-723-5255
Fax: 905-723-1127

Staff MemberPositionExtension
Ms. Barb Kozak

Administrative Assistant, Guidance

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Mrs. Marla Cannon (N-Z)

Curriculum Chair, Guidance

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Mr. Glen Dennis (F-M)

Guidance Counsellor

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Mrs. Karen Kelly (A-E)

Guidance Counsellor

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Mrs. Susana Pereira

Student Success Teacher

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Ms. Chantel Mikhael

Intermediate Guidance Teacher

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 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: 

2023 SUMMER SCHOOL INFORMATION:

Please see the following Summer School Information.  

High School Summer Credits

We offer the following high school summer credits:

If you wish to apply for summer school, please contact the Guidance office, and/or complete the 2023 Summer School form and return to your guidance counsellor.

Mrs. Kelly, A-E

Mr. Dennis, F-M

Mrs. Cannon, N-Z
Mrs. Pereira, Student Success Teacher

 

HEAD START PROGRAM: Transitioning to Gr. 9:

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.

Interested parents and students are asked to complete the online registration. For more information and registration for our Head Start Program, click here. Registration closes August 11, 2023.

 

2022 NIGHT SCHOOL INFORMATION:

Please see attached Night School Information.  Night School will begin on February 10th and will be online. If you wish to apply for night school, please complete the attached form and return to your guidance counsellor.
 

Grade 8 Student and Parent Night:

When: Thursday, January 19, 2023, 6:30pm - 8:00pm 

Meet at 6:30pm in the Cafetorium for a Presentation. Self-Guided Tours from 7:15pm - 8:00pm.

Good afternoon Gr. 8 Families,

If you are interested in information about Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School, please see the attached flyer regarding our Gr. 8 Student and Parent Night on Thursday, January 19, 2023:  

Thank you,

Guidance Department

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

ATTENTION... IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

DEADLINE TO APPLY TO UNIVERSITY IS JANUARY 12, 2023
DEADLINE TO APPLY TO COLLEGE IS FEB. 1, 2023
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, 2023 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.

University Application Information:

Reminder Deadline for University Applications is January 12, 2023.
From OUAC-Regarding University Applications
Deadlines
2023 Application Deadlines for Ontario High School Students: January 12, 2023
Deadline for Ontario high school students to submit their completed application to the OUAC.

Note: The OUAC still processes applications received after this date and distributes them to the universities; however, specific university deadlines will apply.

The initial application includes all final grades from completed Grade 11 and 12 courses and a list of all current-year courses in progress.