Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

What is the DCE summer school attendance policy?

Due to the condensed nature of Durham Continuing Education summer programming, daily attendance is essential for all students. Additionally, all courses have strict deadlines, making regular attendance mandatory.

How should I report an absence for an online course?

Please email the teacher of the course using the D2L Brightspace email tool or as instructed by the teacher.

Who should I call to report an absence during in-person courses?

Parents/guardians call the summer school office at (905-XXX-XXXX) [Number will be released on the first day of class] to report their student absence.  Outside office hours, please leave a detailed message including the students name and course, for administration. 
Note: This number is only active during July In-person summer school semester, July 1-24.

How do I sign in from an appointment or when late?

• Students sign-in at the summer school office, in the Sinclair library.
• After the appointment students should have a Parent/Guardian note to excuse the late.

How do I sign-out for a planned appointment?  

• Students who have a scheduled appointment should bring a Parent/Guardian note to the summer school office before school or during a learning break. 
• Students will provide the classroom teacher with the sign-out slip, to excuse them at the appropriate time.

How do I sign-out during class or for an unplanned appointment?  

• Parents/guardians must sign-out students by calling the summer school office at (905-XXX-XXXX) [Number will be released on the first day of class]
• The office will call the classroom teacher to excuse the student and to send the student to the office for dismissal.  

Unfortunately, we do not have cafeteria service, however, some sites may have pizza or other food sales supported by school groups or teams.  Students should bring water and a lunch or snacks to get them through the day.  Refrigeration and microwave access is NOT available.

Sinclair Secondary School - Map

Yes.  All credit courses adhere to the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum expectations and are delivered by certified teachers registered with the Ontario College of Teachers.  Summer school courses are viewed the same as those delivered during the school year.

Due to the condensed nature of summer school classes, students can only take one course at a time during each semester. This means students cannot combine July eLearning, In-person Full Credit courses or Credit Recovery at the same time.

No, all placements MUST be within Durham Region.  The limited time frame prohibits our teachers from excessive travel for placement visits.

Unfortunately, no.  The placement hours must fall between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Slightly earlier starts or finishes may be able to be accommodated.  Contact DCEInfo@ddsb.ca to verify if an accommodation can be provided.

Participants for this program are invited by the Durham Regional Police.  We do not choose the students who participate in this program.  For further information about Youth in Policing visit their website at https://www.drps.ca/join-drps/youth-in-policing-initiative/hiring-information/ 

It is up to the student to find their own summer co-op placement within Durham Region.  They may wish to contact their home school Guidance Counsellor or Co-Op Teacher for ideas of where to source placements – however, it is NOT the responsibility of the home school to find students summer placements.  Durham Continuing Education does not have a bank of placements for adolescents. Adult students who are employed may wish to explore our Co-op Works program.

Speak to your home school Guidance Counsellor for other options, such as OeLC partner board courses, etc.  

Please refer to the document “Information Sheet to take to Potential Placement Supervisors” found on the summer school co-op page.  Most questions are answered within that document.  Should that not be sufficient, please email your question to DCEInfo@ddsb.ca or call (905) 436-3211.

Unfortunately, you will need to find another placement.  The program cannot accommodate employer shut-downs.

What is a Full Credit course? 

Courses in this program are designed for students with home school approval who, during the preceding two school years, have been unsuccessful in a course and would want to recover the credit.  Students must retake the same course if they are recovering their credit– same grade and level as previously taken. For students in grades 9 or 10, only the higher mark will show on the student transcript. For students in grades 11 or 12, all attempts will show on the student transcript.

How should I submit my cooperative education placement information?

After selecting cooperative education in myBlueprint, students are placed on a waitlist pending the submission of their Co-op Placement Information Form.  Students will be emailed the link to the form and students are accepted from the waitlist only after the placement is confirmed by DCE. Acceptance is on a first-come-first-served basis so students are encouraged to submit their Co-op Placement Information Form ASAP; but before the deadline of June 11, 2025 at noon.  Note: After June 11^th, students with a confirmed placement can speak to their guidance counsellor regarding registration and availability of this program.

What is the last day I can register for Full Credit In-person courses?

Registration closes for full credit in-person courses on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 3:30 pm (EST); however, courses may fill prior to this date.  As courses near capacity students may be placed on a waiting list while final decisions regarding availability are pending.  DCE will use enrollment data to make decisions on course status at noon, June 18, 2025. Closed and cancelled course information will be updated on our website and will be communicated to affected students.  DCE will provide home school counsellors with options to access courses and students should speak to their home school counsellor regarding their needs. 

Registration closes for July eLearning courses on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 3:30 pm (EST); however, courses may fill prior to this date.  As courses near capacity students may be placed on a waiting list while final decisions regarding availability are pending.  DCE will use enrollment data to make decisions on course status at noon, June 18, 2025. Closed and cancelled course information will be updated on our website and will be communicated to affected students.  DCE will provide home school counsellors with options to access courses and students should speak to their home school counsellor regarding their needs.

Registration closes for August eLearning courses on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 3:30 pm (EST); however, courses may fill prior to this date.  As courses near capacity students may be placed on a waiting list while final decisions regarding availability are pending.  DCE will use enrollment data to make decisions on course status at noon, July 21, 2025. Closed and cancelled course information will be updated on our website and will be communicated to affected students.  DCE will provide home school counsellors with options to access courses and students should speak to their home school counsellor regarding their needs.

Registration closes for Extended eLearning courses on Monday, July 7, 2025 at 3:30 pm (EST); however, courses may fill prior to this date.  As courses near capacity students may be placed on a waiting list while final decisions regarding availability are pending.  DCE will use enrollment data to make decisions on course status at noon, June 18, 2025. Closed and cancelled course information will be updated on our website and will be communicated to affected students.  DCE will provide home school counsellors with options to access courses and students should speak to their home school counsellor regarding their needs.

Note: Students registering after the start of any summer school classes, are responsible for catching up any class assignments or evaluations.

What is the last day I can register for Credit Recovery courses?

Registration closes for credit recovery courses on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 8:30 am (EST) for Semester 1 and Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 8:30 am (EST) for Semester 2; however, courses will fill prior to this date.  As courses near capacity students may be placed on a waiting list while final decisions regarding availability are pending.  DCE will use enrollment data to make decisions on course status at noon, June 26, for Semester 1 course and July 7, for Semester 2. Closed and cancelled course information will be updated on our website and will be communicated to affected students.  DCE will provide home school counsellors with options to access courses and students should speak to their home school counsellor regarding their needs.

Note: Students registering after the start of any summer school classes, are responsible for catching up any class assignments or evaluations.

Can a homeschooled or out-of-board grade 8 student who is starting Gr 9 in a DDSB High School register for Getting Ready for High School? 

Yes, but must register in person at DCE and bring required proof of citizenship.  Note: This program is designed to welcome incoming students and is specific to the secondary school in which they will be attending in grade 9.

I am on a student visa which allows me to study in Canada during the regular school year.  Am I eligible for summer school credit courses?  What are the fees?

In most cases, the visa will allow you to attend summer school but you will need to register in person and bring your visa documents.  Depending on status, it is likely that you will need to pay the non-resident fees per course (see the registration instructions for more details).

I attend a high school outside of the DDSB.  Can I still register for in-person DDSB summer school?

No, our programming is not available for Non-DDSB students.  

I live and go to school outside the DDSB. Can I still register for eLearning? 

Yes, if you are currently registered in high school with an OeLC Partner school board.  Note, Non-DDSB students can only access DCE eLearning Full Credit Programing through PRISM.  Speak to your home school guidance counsellor regarding enrollment.  Current Non-DDSB Grade 8 students who wish to take a Reach-Ahead Course, must contact their current school board about course availability and registration process.

There is no age limit – all ages welcome.  However, most students attending summer school fall within the adolescent age group. Adults must register through DCE.

The program is open to all students who have completed grade 8 and are entering a DDSB secondary school for grade 9 in the next academic year. However, the program is designed to familiarize students with the school that they will be attending in the fall so students should register for their new home school.

Can post-secondary students apply for summer school job positions?

All positions are posted on the “Apply to Education” website starting late March each year.  Please check the site often for job postings.  You must apply to an open posting to be considered.  

Can I write the exam/summative on another day?

Unfortunately, due to the timeframe for summer school, we cannot alter the schedule. Any student completing course work at an accelerated pace will still complete their summative evaluations on these dates.  Summative evaluation dates are non-negotiable; please consider these dates when registering.

Summative assessments/exams/culminating activities are required in all programs.  Students must complete a culminating activity held on the last two days of the course.  Students MUST attend both days.  The teacher will provide details at the beginning of the course.

Most programs are free for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and approved refugees.  

ADDITIONAL Student Fees for Non-Residents – for students who reside out of the country and Visa students:

New Credit/eLearning Course: $2087.00 (non-refundable) per credit ($1044.00 for CHV2O1 and GLC2O1), payable in full at time of registration.  (Fees can change at any time)

Credit Recovery Course: $1044.00 (non-refundable) per course ($522.00 for CHV2O1 and GLC2O1), payable in full at time of registration.  (Fees can change at any time)

• Chromebook 
• Paper or notebook, pencil, eraser, and pen

• Snacks and beverages 

Is there any administration staff on site?

Lists will be posted near the front of the school.  Students should look for their name on the list – this will direct them to the proper classroom.  Staff will be available to assist students.  It is recommended that students bring a copy of their receipt with them the first day.

You may obtain help here at DCE.  A counsellor will be available Monday to Friday between 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Please note – if you come during the day, counsellors will fit you in between their regularly scheduled appointments – so you may need to wait to speak with someone.  We are offering virtual appointments as well during office hours. Please call (905) 440-4539 to make an appointment for virtual counselling.

Please email daniel.macdonald@ddsb.ca or call (905) 436-3211 to discuss options. 

Electronic report cards will follow in August (for July courses) and early-September (for August courses) to the home school for DDSB students or to the address provided for all others. Marks cannot be obtained through Durham Continuing Education office in August.

For students who are currently attending a Durham District School Board school, the course will automatically be added to your transcript.  For students outside the DDSB, reports will be emailed to your home school in August/early September and the school should add your course to your transcript (check with your school in Sept).  Recent DDSB graduates will also have the course added to their transcript automatically.

For students participating in eLearning course through the Ontario eLearning Consortium, reports will be emailed to your home school and mailed to the address on file in PRISM at the end of August/early September.  Please make sure you take the report card to your school to ensure they have a copy on file.

If you wish to withdraw prior to the start of summer school, visit your guidance counsellor. Once secondary schools have closed for the summer, use the link in the welcome email or visit www.dce.ca and complete a Withdraw Request (Link found on the home page).  

Any student who remains in a grade 11/12 course after the full-disclosure date, will have the course recorded in their Ontario Student Transcript, even if they stop attending, do not complete the course or are unsuccessful.

Will my elementary child be given a progress report/report card from summer school?

Yes, on the final day of the program.

Students who are currently in a Durham District School Board School and who have applied through their school to OCAS or OUAC, your course enrolment will automatically be transmitted in the early July electronic transfer.

All other students who require a letter as proof of registration (prior to the start of summer school), may request a this through the Proof of Mark request form. 

We try very hard not to cancel courses and therefore leave courses open for registration as long as possible.  However, in some cases, we do not have sufficient enrolment or qualified teachers to run the program and must cancel.  Unfortunately, this may result in very few alternate choices when cancellations are done.

If your course has been cancelled, make sure you check with your guidance counsellor to see if there are alternate methods to obtain your desired course.

Yes, students will be notified of course cancellations by recorded telephone message and/or by email (using the contact information as it appears on the registration account).  Course cancellations will also appear on the DCE website after the course deadlines and course decisions have been made. Students should speak to their guidance counsellors regarding potential options.

Yes, summer school transportation follows the DDSB transportation policy, visit https://www.ddsb.ca/en/our-schools/buses-and-transportation.aspx

Durham Continuing Education 905.436.3211