OCSB Pathways

🎭✨ What happens when student imagination, creativity and technology come together?

Students from St. Gabriel School and All Saints Catholic High School recently collaborated on an incredible project that transformed original student-created characters into dramatic performances, music, immersive set designs, costumes and 3D creations. 🎶🎨🎬🖨️

Throughout the experience, students explored the connections between the arts, technological education and Artificial Intelligence while building confidence, creativity and meaningful relationships with one another.

Most importantly, students saw something powerful: their ideas mattered. ❤️

This inspiring showcase was a celebration of creativity, mentorship, collaboration and the connections that help us continue Building Bridges across our school communities.

Read the full story: https://www.ocsb.ca/2026/05/28/when-student-ideas-take-centre-stage/

🥉💙 BRONZE for Team OCSB! 💙🥉

A huge congratulations to Alex Matsybora on earning a Bronze Medal in Outdoor Power Equipment at the Ontario Skills Competition in Toronto! 👏🔧🏍️

From motorcycles and dirt bikes to small engines and precision diagnostics, Alex showed incredible skill, determination and professionalism on the provincial stage. We could not be more proud of the way he represented the OCSB with confidence, kindness and integrity.

And while the medal is exciting (and VERY well deserved 🥉✨), what makes us even prouder is the future Alex is building for himself through the Skilled Trades. The trades open doors to meaningful, in-demand careers filled with opportunity, innovation and purpose, and Alex is proof that the future is bright for young people who choose this path 💪

We also want to celebrate every single OCSB student who travelled to Toronto to compete. You represented your schools, classmates, educators, families and community so incredibly well. Watching your talent, teamwork and passion on display was inspiring from start to finish.

Congratulations Alex! Your OCSB family is cheering you on today and always 💙

Shopping for a cause? Don’t mind if we do 🛍️💙

OCSB students brought their ideas to life at the Catholic Education Centre through the Social Entrepreneurs Program (SEP), turning the Board Office into a marketplace full of purpose, creativity, and heart.

Staff were all in, proudly supporting student-run booths and the causes that matter most to them… and yes, happily spending along the way! 💸✨

Through SEP, students step into the role of entrepreneurs and changemakers. Partnering with local businesses, they explore real-world social issues, choose charities to support, and build their own social enterprises from the ground up. From pitching for seed funding to creating products and awareness campaigns, every step is student-led and rooted in the UN Sustainable Development Goals 🌍

The result? Students discovering their voice, their impact, and their power to make a difference in the world around them.

Because when students combine passion with purpose… incredible things happen. 💡

Culinary Co-op Opportunity!!!!

At the OCSB, learning extends far beyond the classroom.

Through the Skilled Meals Culinary Co-op Program, students are gaining real-world culinary experience while making a meaningful impact in the community. Each week, students prepare more than 200 nutritious meals for families, seniors and children in the Caldwell community while developing valuable career-ready skills in a professional kitchen environment.

This innovative partnership between the OCSB, Skills Council Canada and the Caldwell Family Centre helps students explore careers in hospitality and culinary arts while strengthening teamwork, leadership and confidence.

Programs like Skilled Meals show how experiential learning can help students discover their strengths, support others and build bright futures. ❤️

Read here for more details:

🔗 https://www.ocsb.ca/2026/05/13/culinary-co-op-program/

Some students dream of boardrooms. Others dream of building them. 🔨✨

At the Ottawa Catholic School Board, students are discovering meaningful and rewarding futures through the Elite Skilled Trades Academy (ESTA), where hands-on learning, innovation and community come together.

ESTA offers specialized opportunities in Automotive Service, Carpentry and Masonry while helping students build technical expertise, confidence and leadership skills.

Students can:
🔧 Attempt Level 1 Apprenticeship Certification while still in high school
🚗 Begin collecting apprenticeship hours through OYAP
📚 Earn dual credits and explore post-secondary pathways early
🧱 Learn using modern tools, technology and industry-standard equipment
❤️ Use their skills to support the community through meaningful projects

Programs like ESTA help students discover their strengths while preparing for rewarding careers in high-demand industries. As technology continues to reshape the workforce, skilled trades remain essential and offer strong opportunities for future success.

The OCSB is proud to create pathways that help students Open Doors, Build Bridges and Nourish New Beginnings while building brighter futures for themselves and their communities.

🔗 Learn more and apply: https://www.ocsb.ca/2026/05/12/building-a-future-at-the-ocsb-esta/

Getting our hands dirty in the best way 🌱

Recently, students at St. Mark dove into Roots to Trades, an initiative connecting classroom learning to real-world pathways in Green Industries and Skilled Trades. From exploring future career options to creating their own seed snails (yes… seed snails 🐌💚), this hands-on experience was a hit!

This is just Part 1… next up: school garden clean-ups and beautification projects 🌼