IT STARTS in the Schools
November 2015
UPCOMING EVENTS
November 1 – TCDSB Board-wide Secondary School Open Houses November 5
November 2 TCDSB OAPCE Commissioning 80 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto Ceremony and Principal of (416) 222.8282 Excellence Awards 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
November 4 TCDSB Take Our Kids to Work Day 80 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto (416) 222.8282
November 6 TCDSB Board-Wide Bullying Awareness & Prevention Month Launch
November 11 TBA Senior Boys Volleyball Finals
November 11 TCDSB TCDSB Remembrance Day 80 Sheppard Ave. East, Toronto Service (416) 222-8282
November 11 St. Basil-the-Great College St. Basil School Remembrance 20 Starview Lane, Toronto, ON Day Service (416) 393-5513 8:45 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
November 13 Riviera Parque Banquet Hall The Angel Foundation for 2800 York Regional Rd 7, Learning Evening to Feed the Concord, ON L4K 1P3 Soul Gala (416) 987-4400 November 15 - St. Basil the Great College School Bullying Awareness and November 20 20 Starview Lane, Toronto, ON Prevention Week Launch (416) 393-5513
November 16 St. Malachy Catholic Elementary Official Opening of New School School Addition 80 Bennett Road, West Hill, ON 2:00 p.m. (416) 393-5336
November 17 St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Councilor Filion visit to St. Elementary School Paschal Baylon 15 St Paschal Ct, North York, ON 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. (416) 393-5283
November 18 St. Henry Catholic Elementary School Creating Relationships Not 100 Bamburgh Circle Bullies Parent Engagement Event Scarborough, ON, M1W 3R3 (416) 393-5395
November 18 Etobicoke Centennial Stadium Boys Football Championships 256 Centennial Park Rd, Etobicoke, ON (416) 394-8750
November 19 TBA Girls Basketball Championships
November 20 TCDSB Board-wide Tree Bee Competition
November 20 St. Henry Catholic Elementary School The Anti Bullying Magic Show 100 Bamburgh Circle Workshop Scarborough, ON, M1W 3R3 (416) 393-5395
November 21 Distillery District Our Lady of Lourdes Students 55 Mill Street Perform at the Distillery District Toronto, ON M5A 3C4 Christmas Market 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
November 23 TBA OAPCE/CPIC Parent Networking Night
November 24 TCDSB TCDSB Memorial Mass 80 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto 7:00 p.m. (416) 222-8282
November 24 St. Stephen Catholic Elementary Family Peace Mass and School Reception 55 Golfdown Drive, Rexdale,ON 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (416) 393-5284
November 27 TCDSB Board-wide Holodomor Memorial Day
November 29 TCDSB Board-wide Advent Begins
November 30 TCDSB Caucus Meeting (Swearing in of 80 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto new Board of Trustees; election (416) 222-8282 of Chair and Vice-Chair)
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
TCDSB Staff and Students Celebrate Youth Making a Difference at We Day 2015 Over 20,000 students and teachers attended the 2015 We Day on October 1st at the Air Canada Centre to celebrate youth making a difference in their local and global communities.
We Schools is the yearlong program that nurtures compassion in young people and gives them the tools to create transformational social change – to take social action, empower others and transform lives—including their own.
The event featured live performances from world-renowned speakers and A-list performers, including Demi Lovato, Hozier, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Nina Dobrev, Hedley, Carly Rae Jepsen, Nick Jonas, Shawn Mendes, Marlee Matlin and Henry Winkler.
The Director of Education, Angela Gauthier, together with TCDSB Senior Staff members Gary Poole, Geoff Grant and Dan Koenig joined in the celebration. “We Day at the Air Canada Centre inspires our students to care and act to better our world”, says Angela Gauthier.
TCDSB schools part of the We Schools program were given an exclusive invite to attend We Day. Through the We Schools program, schools and groups are given access to free educational resources to help them complete one local and one global action relating to any social justice issue they choose. To find out more about the We Schools program, visit www.weday.com/we-school
We thank the We Day community for their good work and look forward to seeing how TCDSB school groups will continue to make a change in both local and global communities.
Click here to view photos.
Toronto Star Teacher of the Year: Paul Andreacchi at Loretto Abbey Congratulations to Loretto Abbey teacher Paul Andreacchi, also a graduate of TCDSB Don Bosco and St. Eugene, who has been selected as the Star Teacher of the Year.
Click here to read the full article.
Celebrating “Breakfast Day in Canada” at St. Joseph’s College
The students and staff of St. Joseph’s College (Wellesley) began their morning in celebration as the inaugural “Breakfast Day in Canada” was launched on October 6, 2015. The goal of Breakfast Day in Canada is to raise awareness of the importance of student nutrition programs in schools and the effect they have on student academic achievement and well-being.
St. Joseph’s College welcomed Deputy Premier charity of the Toronto Catholic District School Deb Matthews, TCDSB Chair of the Board Mike Board, administers Student Nutrition Programs Del Grande, Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan- in TCDSB schools, serving 45,000 TCDSB Wong, representatives of Breakfast Clubs of students each school day. The Angel Foundation Canada (in partnership with Minute Maid) and for Learning receives funding from Breakfast members of The Angel Foundation for Learning. Club of Canada annually. As part of their usual morning routine, the students of St. Joseph’s College received a “We are excited to expand to more Ontario healthy breakfast meal as they made their way to communities and help more students succeed. class. We know the benefits of a Breakfast Club go far beyond the school walls. Evidence has shown 26 school locations across Ontario welcomed that schools with breakfast programs see representatives of Breakfast Club of Canada improvements in attendance and punctuality, as which provides support to 500 Ontario schools, well as in behavior and concentration” – Susan and 34 First Nations schools in the Province. The Wright, Breakfast Club of Canada. Angel Foundation for Learning, an official
Click here to view photos.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Class Featured in the Toronto Star Matthew Tonks’ class at Our lady of Guadalupe Catholic School were featured in the Toronto Star for their Student Vote program created by Civix Canada and the Toronto Vital Signs Report.
Student Vote informs students about government and the electoral process, encourages research into the parties, candidates and issues, and fosters dialogue among Photo credit: Thomas Bollmann and Toronto Star students and their families. The report encourages students question how politicians are addressing issues and to start a dialogue with their families.
Click here to read the article.
Marian Procession Celebrating Feast of the Holy Rosary D’Arcy McGee Catholic School celebrated the Feast of the Holy Rosary a day early with a Marian procession that took the students from the school to their parish of St. Thomas Aquinas for a mass of celebration.
It was a great event, uniting Parish, Family and School. School staff made the banners used in the procession, and the principal's husband made the banner poles and the platform. A family at the school donated the statue. Click here to read more.
TCDSB Students Answer the Call through A Catholic Call to Serve (ACCTS) Over 150 TCDSB secondary students participated in A Catholic Call to Serve (ACCTS) day of service on October 7, 2015. The day was dedicated to touching the lives of those most in need and giving back to the community by participating in a variety of diverse service projects.
The students and staff, together with Trustee Jo-Ann Davis began their journey at Holy Rosary Parish for a service lead by Father Michael Lehman. Following the mass, the participants proceeded to the parish hall where they formed groups and selected an agency located in the GTA to visit and complete their act of service. This year’s ACCTS agency partners included the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Romero House, Street Patrol and Adams House. Click here to view photos.
St. Augustine Tree Planting Students of St. Augustine’s grade 4 and 4/5 classes participated in a tree planting initiative along with their city councilor. Click here to view photos.
Living Rosary a Celebration of Family Francis Libermann Catholic Secondary School hosted a presentation of the Living Rosary and a luncheon for families of students who are developmentally delayed or have multiple exceptionalities. It was a wonderful celebration that was a testament to the board’s Year of the Family where all are welcomed and all belong. Jeremy Tanuan introduced the Living Rosary, and students in the MID and DD/ME program who can read had the reading parts, supported by the school’s CFL ministry members. Click here to read more.
Father Henry Carr hosted Thanksgiving Lunch for students in the DD/ME program and their Families The DD/ME program at Father Henry Carr hosted a Thanksgiving Lunch for 25 people. Families of the students were invited to celebrate and eat the food that the students had cooked all week. The students served turkey, rice, mash potatoes, stuffing, carrots, cranberry sauce, gravy and pies. Click here to view photos.
Fill Mrs. Tropea’s Pick-up Food Drive Challenge The students and staff at St. Elizabeth Catholic Elementary School were invited to participate in a unique Thanksgiving week challenge - to fill Principal, Mrs. Tropea’s pick-up truck with non-perishable food items. The school accepted donations of canned foods and non-perishable food items until the end of October 30th. Mrs. Tropea brought her truck full of food to a local fire station where it was then picked up by the food bank to support families in need.
Hospitality and Tourism Principals Lunch At Blessed Cardinal Newman on Tuesday, Oct. 13, the grade 12 Hospitality and Tourism class prepared and served lunch at the principals' meeting for our superintendent Mr. Grant and his principals. The lunch was well enjoyed by all.
Click here to view photos.
Delegation of Principals from New Zealand Visit St Stephen School
A delegation of school principals and curriculum fitness circuit designed for primary students. coordinators from Aukland New Zealand spent a They savoured the delicious snacks from the full day at St. Stephen school on October 8, 2015. school nutrition program and learned about the The day consisted of learning the strategies for role of the nutrition coordinator and CSAC chair. developing a school learning culture and about After enjoying outdoor recess with St. Stephen the three part problem solving lesson structure, students, they each provided an informal talk by observing a grade 6 taught by Lisa Mior and about New Zealand. Their day ended with a grade 7 public research lesson taught by Kathy discussion with Area 1 Superintendent, Adrian Kubota-Zarivnij. They experienced a grade 8 Della Mora about the ways principals can language lesson, the intricacies of the Early strategically contribute to school improvement. Learning Program, as well as participated in a A fabulous day of learning for everyone!
Goretti Student’s “Blue Jays Dream” Comes True A student at St. Maria Goretti was the lucky recipient of tickets to a Toronto Blue Jays game, the first post-season game in 22 years for the Toronto Blue Jays! Elijah Tenger was taken by surprise when the Jays Care Foundation van picked up him and his family and whisked them away to the Rogers Centre. The opportunity comes about from a partnership with Toronto Community Housing. Elijah’s brother, Jesus, and his sister, Angel as well as their mother were invited to the game. They all got jerseys with their name on the back and a hat. Click here to read more.
CIBC Youthvision Scholarship Winners Ananya Xavier (Left, Mary Ward C.S.S.) and Vea Capiral (Right, Senator O’Connor) are winners of the CIBC Youthvision Scholarship, which grants recipients up to $38,000 in combined work placements and tuition. Winners receive six summer internships through the YMCA, beginning right after Grade 10, and a $4,000 annual contribution towards tuition for four years. These students continue to receive ongoing mentoring from either Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada or the YMCA until they graduate from their post-secondary education. Click here to view photos.
TCDSB Schools Celebrate “Blue Jays Spirit Day” It was a rare occasion when an entire city, or indeed a whole country, joined together as “One Family” to celebrate success. In this case, our beloved Toronto Blue Jays. The Toronto Catholic District School Board announced that Friday, October 9, 2015 was officially declared BLUE JAYS SPIRIT DAY. To recognize this special occasion in our city’s history, students, staff and parents were encouraged to wear something “Blue” to school on October 9, 2015. Blue Jays fever has captured the imagination of the entire country, and schools found some creative ways to enjoy and share this spirit. Click here to view photos.
Songs for Syria Fundraiser for Syrian Refugees
The Mary Ward community hosted “Songs for Syria” on October 23rd to raise $27,000, the funds needed to sponsor a Syrian refugee family. The main attraction for the event were Mary Ward grads and Juno nominees DALA. The M.C. for the event was award-winning Television journalist, Tom Hayes. Conditional Zero and student bands also added to the evening’s festivities. Funds will be directed to a family through www.lifelinesyria.ca Click here to read more.
CSPC and School Administrator Workshop TCDSB was pleased to welcome parent councils, OAPCE Toronto members and CPIC members to the first major event of the school year—the annual workshop for Catholic School Parent Councils and School Administrators. It was a wonderful evening that provided some valuable opportunities to share ideas and information, to learn about the roles of OAPCE and CPIC, and for school councils to dialogue with one another. Special thanks to OAPCE and CPIC for hosting the welcome barbecue.
Click here to read more.
St. Simon Principal Braves the Shave for Good Cause Congratulations to Mario Boccia, principal at St. Simon, who shaved his head to honour a bet he made with the students of St. Simon. Our school raised $1, 707.30 for the Terry Fox Foundation. Mr. Boccia invited all the students to see him "brave the shave". The St. Simon community commends their students' fundraising efforts, along with their Principal who “braved the shave”. Click here to read more.
St. Vincent de Paul Intermediate Students Take Part in a Mock Election The intermediate students of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School took part in a mock federal election voting process. The students tallied the results and will release the mock winner of federal election next week! St. Vincent de Paul was one of many schools taking part in the studentvote.ca election. Click here to view photos.
Federal Election Candidates Attend Debate at St. Cecilia Local candidates Peggy Nash, Arif Virani, Carol Royer, and Adam Phipps attended a debate held by the students of St. Cecilia Catholic School recently.
After listening to the candidates and asking questions, students had the opportunity to cast a ballot the following day, using Student Vote by Elections Canada, a parallel election for students who have not yet reached voting age. The elections provided students with an opportunity to experience the voting process firsthand and build the habits of informed and engaged citizenship. Click here to view photos.
St. Marcellus Celebrates 50 Years of Catholic Education The St. Marcellus Catholic School community gathered to celebrate 50 years of Catholic education on October 18th with parents, students, former staff and administrators and the parish of Transfiguration of Our Lord. Fathers Doug and Mike, who are alumni of the school, con-celebrated the Mass which was also attended by Director of Education Angela Gauthier and Superintendent Doug Yack. Of special note in the gathering was the first principal of the school, Ruth McDonald, and the first teacher hired to teach at the school, Colette Livingstone. Click here to view photos.
Madonna Religion Class Students visit St. Jude’s Academy The students of the Madonna Grade 10 Religion class paid a visit to St. Jude's Academy for the Arts! It was a fantastic day of prayer, community-building, reflection and an opportunity for our girls to serve many adults with diverse intellectual and physical needs. Click here to view photos.
Congratulations to TDCAA Winners Elementary (Regional) Cross-Country Junior Boys Soccer Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Sorrows, St. South – Neil McNeil Brendan and St. John. North – Chaminade East – St. John Paul II & Brebeuf Elementary (City) Cross-Country West – Dante Alighieri Academy St. John – City Champions OL of Sorrows – City Finalist Girls Field Hockey Blessed Sacrament – City Finalist Bishop Allen – Champions St. Anselm – City Finalist Michael Power – Silver Medal St. Joseph’s Morrow Park– Bronze Medal Secondary Girls Field Hockey West – Michael Power/St. Joseph Boys Soccer East – St. Joseph’s Morrow Park Chaminade College
Jean Vanier Wins Flag Football Marshall McLuhan Wins Congratulations to the girls’ flag football Ultimate Frisbee (West) team from Jean Vanier Catholic Congratulations to the Ultimate Frisbee Secondary School—TDCAA teams from Marshall McLuhan, TDCAA Champions for 2015 champions for 2015 Click here to view photos. Click here to view photos.
Senator O'Connor Tennis Team Brings Home Gold and Silver Medal Congratulations to: TDCAA Jr. Girls Doubles Gold Medal winners- Melissa Melvin and Katelyn Graham and TDCAA Silver Medal winners! Julie Harris and Michelle Goodwin. Click here to learn more.
Visit the TDCAA website for more information on TDCAA scheduled events and standings. Kids Cops and Computers - Program Launch at St. Rose of Lima Kids Cops and Computers launched October 16, 2015 at St. Rose of Lima. It was well attended by guests from title sponsor HP, City of Toronto Police officers, and celebrity photographer SoTeeOh who took many pictures. Students were so excited to receive a brand new state of the art laptop, as well as meet their police mentors who they will be connecting with over the course of the year! Click here to view photos.
St. Fidelis Students Participate in Hearing Solutions Project at new Humber River Hospital The St. Fidelis Grade 5 Class participated in a Hearing Solutions Art Project for the new Humber River Hospital. Hearing Solutions established a new hearing clinic for children at the new hospital and invited the St. Fidelis students to paint 25 canvasses for display in the new clinic. The theme of the art project was “ears and the cool things ears can do.”
Hearing Solutions came into the classroom to provide instruction on the theme as well as to provide supplies for the artwork – paint and canvases. Also on hand was Mr. Carmelo Cucchi, TCDSB Arts Resource Teacher, who provided the students with artistic and technical instruction for their paintings.
The canvasses painted by the students will be on permanent display at the new Hearing Solutions Children’s Clinic at the new Humber River Hospital. Click here to view photos.
Bishop Allen Students Winners Featured in History Now Four students from Bishop Allen Academy were among the 225 winners in the History Now— Government of Canada History Awards for Students. Congratulations to Abby Buller, Madeline Eskandari, Ava McBrearty and Mila Solaja for their winning essays. Click here to read more.
The Unveiling of the St. Leo Learning Garden
The Catholic School Parent Council celebrated the opening of the New Learning Garden at the school with partners from TCDSB, Humber College, Icon Homes and Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation. Click here to view photos.
Carter Student Youngest Winner at International Music Festival Tony Yang, a Grade 12 student at Cardinal broadcast live from the Warsaw Philharmonic. Carter Academy for the Arts, was invited to Tony came 5th at the Chopin Competition in Poland for the17th International Fryderyk Poland. He placed fifth out of the six final prizes Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. This awarded at the competition and was the youngest year there were 78 pianists chosen from world- recipient ever to be awarded. wide to enter this prestigious event.
The Chopin competition in existence since 1927, and pianists such as Lev Oborin, Bella Davidovich, Adam Harasiewicz, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, Garrick Ohlsson, Mitsuko Uchida, Krystian Zimerman, Yundi, have been some of the past winners.
Following the Third Stage (third round) of the competition, Tony Yang, representing Canada, was Click here to watch Tony’s full performance. one of ten candidates selected to participate in the Grand Finale of the Chopin Competition which started on Oct 18.The Grand Finale was
Blessed Mother Teresa Receives Etching Blessed Mother Teresa welcomed back their founding principal George Iantorno, vice-principal Peter Murphy, as well as Associate Director Gary Poole as they celebrated the acquisition of a piece of artwork depicting Blessed Mother Teresa. Click here to view photos.
Bringing the Magna Carta to Life at St. Florence Magna Carta is one of the most famous documents in the world. St. Florence students have been exploring its 800-year old legacy during their first few months of school. Reenacting the first story of why the people rose up so long ago in unrest to confront the unfairity of how they were being treated allowed for the Magna Carta; a list of rules to be born. Congratulations to Ms. Walsh’s grade 2 class at St. Florence who performed this story extremely well and with much enthusiasm! Click here to read more.
Our Lady of Lourdes’ Library Makeover The Our Lady of Lourdes school community is pleased to share photos of their new library learning commons. The students and staff enjoy all of the new books, specifically the new scholastic books.
Click here to view photos.
School community celebrates blessing of new addition On Sunday, October 25th, 2015, Our Lady of Peace celebrated the blessing of its new kindergarten addition. A short history of our school: Our Lady of Peace Catholic School is a parish school. In 1951, Father Percy H. Johnson was asked by His Eminence to take charge of the new parish. The name was changed from St. Albert the Great to Our Lady of Peace. The school and church were designed by architect James Haffa and in September 1953 Our Lady of Peace School was formally opened. The original school had 10 rooms and a gymnasium, but with the continued growth of the community four additional rooms were added in 1965. A third addition was added in 1968 consisting of the present gymnasium and one room. During the 1990's the school began to grow far more rapidly than expected. Much of the growth was due to young families returning to the area. A new wing was built. With the introduction of full day kindergarten, another addition was necessary. The new kindergarten wing began in the summer of 2014 and was completed August, 2015. The OLP parent council worked closely with school Board personnel and with our trustee to design the new addition. Through the years, the school has maintained strong ties with the parish and the community at large. Click here to view photos. Don Bosco students participate in the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada’s “Roots and Shoots” weekend Only 10 educators from across Canada were invited Jane Goodall Institute of Canada’s “Roots and Shoots” weekend from October 23 to 25. The students had opportunity to meet Jane Goodall and artist Robert Bateman. This year-long program will equip youth with the knowledge, skills and support they need to design and implement a project of their choosing that will bring about meaningful change.
Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots is the youth-led community action and learning program which builds on the legacy and vision of Dr. Jane Goodall to place the power and responsibility for creating community- based solutions to big challenges in the hands of the young people. Through the program, young people map their community to identify specific challenges their neighborhoods face. From there, they prioritize the problems, develop a plan for a solution, and take action all while developing the skills and attitudes to become part of the next generation of Dr. Jane Goodalls. https://www.rootsandshoots.org/about
Our Lady of Guadalupe Students Spread the Hallowe’en Spirit Mr. Tonks’ Grade 5/6 class at Our Lady of Guadalupe recently practiced their collaboration skills in a team building exercise that involved carving pumpkins. Mr. Tonks incorporated mental math activities in this exercise. It was also an opportunity to review Most importantly it was a fun activity for all students, especially those who are experiencing their first Halloween in Canada. Former Member of Parliament, The Rt. Hon. Mr. Alan Tonks’, joined the class and helped throughout the event. Click here to learn more.
OAPCE and CPIC Parent Summit The first 2015/2016 Board wide parent event hosted by the Toronto Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (CPIC) and the Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education (OAPCE) took place on Saturday, October 24th at the CEC.
The inspirational keynote speaker was Father James Mulligan, Author of A Pastor’s Journal. Attendees received a complimentary copy of his book. CPIC Chair Geoff Feldman; OAPCE-Toronto Chair President Annalisa Crudo-Perri; Chair of the Board, Michael Del Grande and Director of Education Angela Gauthier were in attendance along with various senior staff and trustees. Click here to view photos.
St. Patrick Secondary School Receives Michael Carty Award At the 32nd Annual Father Patrick Fogarty Awards Dinner organized by CEFO (Catholic Education Foundation of Ontario), St Patrick C.S.S was one of the recipients of the Michael Carty Award for 2015.
Their project is entitled: The St Patrick House System - Building & Fostering Positive Relationships. Congratulations! Click here to view photos.
Author Neil Pasricha Visits St. John Vianney; Students Receive 1500 Free Books from First Book Canada New York Times Best-selling author, Neil Pasricha, visited St. John Vianney on October 27th. The visit was arranged as a result of a partnership between First Book Canada, Rakuten Kobo and Penguin Random House. He read his new book “The Book of Awesome” to the students.
St. John Vianney Catholic School was the only TCDSB school and 1 of 5 in all of Ontario to host a visit by the author. The students were presented with 1500 free new books to take home and the school was given a $1000 credit for the purchase of e-readers for a total of approximately $20,000 in resources for the school. The windfall for the school came about as a result of the ongoing work of 5th Block Teacher, Rosie Lucentini, who is an incredible advocate who pursues opportunities that will promote literacy for the students. In attendance was Director of Education Angela Gauthier, Superintendent Adrian Della Mora, Councillor Crisanti, Tom Best from First Book Canada and representatives from Rakuten Kobo. Click here to view photos.
Chef Michael Smith Visits St. Mary Catholic School for Half Your Plate World renowned Chef Michael Smith visited the students of St. Mary Portugal Square for an event promoting healthy eating habits. The event, in partnership with Half Your Plate, was streamed live and available to all TCDSB schools on October 28, 2015. Geared towards grades four to six students, the Half Your Plate Campaign was launched in January 2015 by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and health partners the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Public Health Association, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. This healthy living initiative empowers Canadians of all ages to eat more fruits and veggies to improve their health while providing simple and practical ways to add a variety of produce to every meal and snack. Click here to read more.
Parent Engagement Assembly at St. Charles Garnier Catholic Elementary School The staff, students and parents spent the morning celebrating mass as part of a parent engagement assembly at St. Charles Garnier Catholic Elementary School on Tuesday, October 27, 2015. The students shared their insights about the Ontario Catholic School Graduate expectations through oral presentations, a PowerPoint presentation and a display of beautiful posters throughout the school depicting the graduate expectations. The level of parents engagement was heartening as parents made their own connections to the Ontario Catholic School Graduate expectations, pledging that they will support their children, our students, by putting faith into action with their families at home. Finally, all students and staff pledged that we would be witnesses of the expectations in all that we do through work, play and community building during the Year of the Family. Click here to view photos. Firefighter Visit to Transfiguration The FDK students were very excited to meet with a local firefighter who spoke to them about the importance of school fire drills and safety. The classroom teacher, Ms. Martin also had the opportunity to dress up as a firefighter. Click here to read more.
Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Students Visit Niagara Falls and Welland Canal Bishop Marrocco students went to Niagara Falls and the Welland Canal Locks for a field trip on Tuesday. The goal was to let students see, many for the first time, one of the wonders of the world. Students also gained an appreciation for nature and conservation on the White Water Walking tour led by Niagara Falls Conservation. Click here to view photos.
TCDSB Newcomer Conference The theme for this year’s TCDSB Newcomer Conference was An Evening with the TCDSB Family: Welcoming our families who are new to Canada and our International Students.
The Director of Education and Chair of the Board invited our newcomer families, international students, parent council representatives, homestay families and school staff to an informative evening about our educational system and support services available in TCDSB schools. Guests were invited to share a family meal with the Director and Chair and were encouraged to participate in an exchange of information in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Our staff and representatives from various outside agencies provided support and valuable information regarding programs and services plus tips for navigating our Catholic education system. The evening also encouraged interactive discussions designed for staff and Parent Council members on how to effectively engage our newcomer students and families in our schools and communities. Click here to view photos. Hispanic Canadian Heritage Month Mass and Cultural Expose The Hispanic Canadian Heritage Month celebration was held at St. Jude on October 29th. The event brought together students and parents from both St. Jude and St. Basil the Great and included live music and performances to add to the festivities. Chair of the Board Mike Del Grande, along with Superintendents Dan Koenig and John Shain were also in attendance. Click here to view photos.
OAPCE Toronto 2015 Commissioning Ceremony & Principal of Excellence Awards The Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education (OAPCE) Toronto is hosting its 10th Anniversary Commissioning Ceremony of Catholic School Parent Council OAPCE Liaison Representatives on Monday, November 2, 2015.
This celebration of Catholic education focuses on the support and encouragement OAPCE Toronto provides to parents and guardians of children in our publicly funded system. One of the highlights of the evening will be to recognize and congratulate the outstanding principals who were nominated by their parent communities for the 2014/15 Principal of Excellence Awards. These awards acknowledges Principals who have made extraordinary contributions to their school, and have worked collaboratively with their parent community to combine their passion for education with the ability to lead, challenge and support the dignity of an inclusive environment in our Catholic Schools.
This year’s nominees are: Katherine Banfield -- Blessed Sacrament Elementary Anne Bellisimo -- Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts Frank Bergougnou -- Holy Redeemer Elementary Mario Boccia -- St. Simon Elementary Michael Caccamo -- St. Fidelis Elementary Maria Leitao -- St. Gerald Elementary Sally Rivers -- St. Paschal Baylon Elementary Lillian Ugrin -- St. Leo Elementary Erica Wilson – Madonna Catholic Secondary School
We applaud our Principals for their outstanding service to Catholic education and congratulate them on their nomination. Click here to learn more.
St. Matthias’ Annual Halloween Barbecue St. Matthias held their annual Halloween Barbecue on October 29, 2015. The event was a great success. The school also organized a Parent Engagement evening, a wonderful opportunity for the community to increase involvement while having fun at the same time. Click here to view photos.
““IT STARTS IN THE SCHOOLS” is published monthly throughout the school year. Events, locations and times are subject to change. For more information, call 416-222-8282 Ext. 5314. This publication can be found on the Internet at www.tcdsb.org, see “news”.
The Toronto Catholic District School Board educates more than 92,000 students from diverse cultures and language backgrounds in 201 Catholic elementary and secondary schools, serving close to half-a-million Catholic school supporters across the City of Toronto. As the world’s largest publicly funded Catholic school system, we educate students in an inclusive learning community rooted in the love of Christ, where they are challenged to grow in grace and knowledge and to lead lives of faith, hope and charity. At Toronto Catholic we transform the world through witness, faith, innovation and action.
Toronto Catholic Schools November 2015
Toronto Catholic District School Board, 80 Sheppard Ave. E., North York, ON M2N 6E8 phone: 416-222-8282 website: www.tcdsb.org email: [email protected]