St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School

Durham Catholic District School Board

Motto: “Learn More, Teach More, Love More!”

In the Beginning The summer of 1982 saw a great debate over the possible development of a new separate school within the 10 acres of Shady Brook Park. Originally, the land was designated as a future public school site, but when the Durham Board of Education turned down its option to build on these 10 acres, the town picked up the land for park purposes.

During this time, the closest separate school, St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School, was over capacity just one year after opening. Two hundred and four Dunbarton/ Amberlea students were being bused to St. Isaac Jogues C.S., so the Durham Catholic District School Board proposed to purchase three acres of Shady Brook Park to build a new school to relieve the overflow from St. Isaac Jogues C.S.

Divisions were quickly established. The Preserve Our Park Committee wanted to maintain the current status of the park, and to continue with the city’s plan to add more trees, a tobogganing hill, jogging trails and a baseball diamond. Proponents for the new school wanted a building within walking distance for the whole family that would be available for the entire community. This would allow a facility to be

1 used during the regular school day for classes, and at all other times be available to the community for its own use.

After much debate, heated at times, the residents voted. They agreed 162 to 146 that a separate school should be built on the 10-acre park site. A school/park agreement was established between the City of Pickering and the Board, allowing three acres of the site to be devoted to the new school, while the remaining seven acres would contain the original park and would be open to the addition of any new park projects. The new school was scheduled to open in September 1983.

What’s in a Name? Now that the plans were finalized to build the new school on the Shady Brook site, it was time to select a name. During this time, Pope John Paul II announced the canonization of Blessed Marguerite Bourgeoys. As she was the foundress and teacher of the first school in Canada, it seemed very appropriate to name the new school after her. This name also fit nicely into the community, since the new school would help to alleviate the overcrowding of St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School, named after one of the Jesuit martyrs who had been active in the Great Lakes area around the same time Marguerite first came to Canada.

The new site for St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School in June 1983, just three months before the scheduled opening.

Construction had begun and the site had already changed as of June 28, 1983.

As originally scheduled, Phase I of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School was completed by September 1983. This was quite a feat, considering that the actual site was marked by only a few stakes as late as June 30 of that year.

However, on September 6, 1983, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School opened its doors and heart to 300 students and 15 staff members. The school became home to students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 4. There were 12 classrooms, a science room and washroom facilities. Plans were made to have Phase II completed by the following September.

Meanwhile, during the previous summer, principal John Brown was visiting Montreal. While there, he went into a store selling religious articles and admired a statue of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys. He told the storeowner that he was the principal of a new school that would open in September and that he would love to have this statue for the school to honour our patron saint.

Imagine his surprise and dismay when the statue arrived soon after school began! He had not realized that his comments were taken as a request to purchase the statue, and now he was faced with a sizeable invoice. When relating the story to a small group of parents, he said that finding the money to pay for the statue would be a problem, since much of the start-up budget had been spent on school supplies. The mothers told Mr. Brown not to worry. They would find a way to get

3 the needed money. And that is how St. Marguerite Bourgeoys C.S. Hot Dog lunches began.

This small but tightly knit community had the support of the original “pioneer” parents who worked with founding principal John Brown and his staff to provide the students with many traditional school activities, such as lunch days, athletic teams and the infamous Christmas concert on the hill (described later in this history).

Phase II was completed as planned by September 1984. The school was now home to 24 staff and 450 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. The addition of a foyer and office area, gym, Kindergarten wing and art room made the school complete. The official opening and blessing of the school was celebrated on December 4, 1984, with the Most Reverend Robert Clune officiating.

The school continued to grow in the spirit of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys. In September 1985, the school population grew to 570 students, and saw the addition of its first portable.

Founding principal John Brown enjoying a strategic game of chess with some of the students.

My, How St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School has Changed As the City of Pickering continued to grow, so did St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School. An increase in the student population saw the addition of a four- classroom port-a-pac along with numerous portables as the need arose. In the spirit of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, the school welcomed the students of St. Monica Catholic School in September 1987 as they waited for the construction of their school to be completed.

Other additions over the last 30 years have included the addition of the Peace Garden at the front west corner of the school in 1998. This school-wide project turned an empty space in the schoolyard into a peaceful, more natural place

4 where students and community neighbours alike can come to relax and be close to nature. It has also been used as an outdoor classroom and a special setting for many school liturgies and celebrations.

The site of the new Peace Garden in the front west corner of the schoolyard.

The new Peace Garden was ready in time for the primary students’ Mary Celebration in May 1998.

In 2000, the “Chapel” was created in the front foyer as a space where staff and students could pray, celebrate their faith and gather as a community of believers. It is the first thing you see as you enter the front doors of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School, and is a constant reminder of the warm, inviting and caring values that Marguerite demonstrated in her first school in Ville-Marie.

The Chapel at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School on the occasion of the school’s 25th anniversary

Changes to the school also included the removal of the brick wall that separated the parking lot from the school’s east sidewalk. As the student population began to decrease, a number of portables were removed from the site. The spring of 2009 saw a major change to the school when the four-classroom port-a-pac was removed, leaving behind the original building that was completed during Phase II in 1984.

Just as there have been structural changes to the school, the St. Marguerite Bourgeoys C.S. community experienced changes to its stewardship values. St. Marguerite Bourgeoys C.S. was extremely proud to become an EcoSchool during the 2009–2010 school year. Thanks to a lot of hard work, dedication and education, the school was awarded Silver status in its very first year of participation. This tremendous accomplishment was repeated in 2010–2011 and the school received Gold status in 2011-2012.

Traditions …. Traditions … Traditions … It all began that first Christmas in 1983. The community of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys C.S. wanted to have a Christmas concert, but since the school did not have a gym, the concert was held outside. It took the form of a nativity play and was held on the back hill – an outdoor stage. Parents arrived with flashlights in hand, bundled up against the winter weather to watch their children perform. The outdoor nativity play became so popular that in time, neighbours – both Catholic and public ratepayers – would gather together to celebrate the birth of Christ. In later years, the Christmas concert moved indoors, but memories of those first few years on the hill remained in the hearts of many. Recently, the school choir has continued this outdoor tradition with Christmas concerts outside, weather permitting. Once again, many neighbours come over to join our school community to celebrate this happy and holy season.

Over the years, numerous activities have become traditions at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys C.S. As mentioned earlier, student lunch days hosted by the Parent Council began that very first year to help pay for the new statue of St. Marguerite that graced the foyer. Many more fundraising events have been held over the last 30 years. The school has sold candy, chocolates and wrapping paper; participated in walk-a-thons, read-a-thons and dance-a-thons; had fun fairs, and bingo nights; all to support the needs of students and the school. Monies raised purchased the school-sponsored stained glass window above the altar in St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church, SmartBoards for many classrooms, athletic wear for school teams, and paid for many activities, such as Scientists in School, winter skating days, author visits, and celebrations for students who were receiving the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation.

Traditions have evolved over the years, but what hasn’t changed are the wonderful memories they leave behind for staff and students alike. Who can forget the following: spirit days, cake walks, staff versus student sporting competitions, craft club, chess club, talent shows, Kindergarten concerts, McDonald’s family nights, Family math nights, play days, the Volunteer Tea, pizza lunches, winter carnivals, and the endless number of school trips (did you figure out the Caramilk secret during your Grade 5 trip to the Cadbury factory?)

Lights, Camera, Action The school’s first big production was Oliver! in May 1989. It was a whole school production, and all the hard work and practising resulted in a fantastic display of the talent found within the school community. Each performance saw the gym

7 packed with family members and friends, all rising to their feet at the end of each performance in a display of admiration and appreciation.

As the years went by, the voices and musical talents of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys C.S. students resounded in the gym during a number of variety and talent shows. The annual Kindergarten Christmas concert is always a much-anticipated event that highlights the talents of the youngest members of the school. Choirs have performed at Christmas (both inside and outside of the building), at retirement homes and in competitions at the Pickering Town Centre. In 2004 and 2005, they were finalists in this prestigious competition and performed on the compilation CD.

A variety of musical productions have been showcased over the years at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys C.S. Students followed the yellow brick road during The Wizard of Oz and watched Joseph arrive with his amazing technicolor dreamcoat. They strived to Save the Earth during Earth Day celebrations, celebrated A Beautiful Day, remembered to believe in The Polar Express and met Alice in Wonderland.

Little Alice and Big Alice

Oliver!

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! Athletics have always been an important part of the St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School community. From competitive teams to intramurals, the goal is always to develop active minds through active bodies. Throughout the years, students have demonstrated a keen sense of responsibility, sportsmanship and teamwork. These characteristics, coupled with athletic skill, have led many teams to a number of banners and pennants over the years. Championships have included Senior Boys soccer, Junior Girls and Boys volleyball, Senior Boys basketball, and Senior Girls volleyball, to name just a few.

Students have been active participants in many OFSSA/DDECAA events, such as track and field, volleyball, basketball, soccer, cross country, flag football and tchoukball. The school has also been represented in skipping and folkdance competitions. Who will ever forget the walk over to St. Mary Catholic Secondary School to participate in the school’s track and field day, or the line of students running around the field to prepare for the upcoming cross country meet? In September 2011, a team of over 100 students participated – one third of the student population. Way to go, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys C.S. students!

Last-minute words of encouragement … Go Mustangs Go!

Celebrating 25 Years at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School The planning began in January 2009 with less than a year to prepare for the silver anniversary of the official opening of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School in 1984. The ideas and excitement began to flow. It would take more than one evening to celebrate the “Spirit” of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, and so it was decided that a school Mass would be celebrated on the actual anniversary of the official blessing of the school, and students and staff would honour Marguerite, and the school community named after her, on her feast day, January 12, in 2010.

As a school community, comprised of both present and former members, everyone gathered in the school gym on Friday, December 4, 2009, to celebrate Mass to mark the school’s 25th anniversary. An overwhelming sense of pride, jubilation and humility filled the room in honour of this holy and special patron of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys C.S. The angelic sound of the students’ voices singing “Children of the Light” provided the perfect ending to this very blessed celebration.

The “Spirit” of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys had always been present within the walls of 1765 Meadowview Avenue, but the committee wanted to ensure that a visual reminder would be created as a lasting tribute to our patron saint. A member of

10 the community, Mr. Stickley, volunteered his services as an expert mural painter. He did not know the story of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, and so listened to how she started the first school in Canada in an abandoned stable. Within days, he had created a mural covering a full wall in the school library. The mural depicts St. Marguerite standing in front of her stable school holding a small statue of Mary in her hands. Little did the artist know that Marguerite did indeed possess a small wooden statue of Mary that was very dear to her, just like the one in the mural. Mr. Stickley was also inspired to paint a well in the picture, unaware of the fact that St. Marguerite often compared God’s love to a deep well of water. Clearly, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys was providing our artist with some wonderful inspiration. Finally, at the foot of St. Marguerite, the artist painted a present-day teacher and some students engaged in learning. This was to show that the spirit of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys continues to live on as educators today share the Good News of the Gospel with students in the school.

As a school community, everyone gathered in the gym on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 to honour St. Marguerite Bourgeoys on her feast day and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the school. Following tradition, Mrs. Wright entertained everyone with her latest version of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys’ life story and students led the liturgy with special prayers and songs to honour the school’s patron saint.

Daytime celebrations continued on into evening celebrations. The present St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School community gathered with former students, staff and friends to honour this special and holy saint. Everywhere you looked, you could see the influence of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys. Bulletin boards were adorned with artwork representing her life and values. Classrooms were open to share the learning experiences that she valued as a teacher. A special room for adoration was created to house relics of St. Marguerite and to give guests an opportunity to spend a few quiet moments in prayer and reflection. Mr. Stickley’s incredible mural was blessed by Father Calhoun as visitors gathered in the library. Former students found themselves in graduation pictures and old class photos. Laughter spread throughout the building, old memories were shared, and some new ones were made.

One of the relics located in the Devotion Room during the 25th anniversary celebration.

Blessed Marguerite Bourgeoys … through the eyes of a child

Final Thoughts St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School was officially opened on December 4, 1984. Over the past 30 years, the community of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School has been through many changes and challenges. Together students, staff and their families have celebrated their successes and supported each other in times of need. One constant and guiding force has always been St. Marguerite Bourgeoys herself. Perhaps the best way to thank her for all of her support and guidance over the years would be to follow the message and examples she exhibited during her time in Ville-Marie, living out God’s plan for her.

Our Patron Saint

Marguerite Bourgeoys was born in Troyes, France, on April 17, 1620. She was the sixth of 12 children in a devout Catholic family. In 1653, she arrived in Ville-Marie (now Montreal) as a missionary. She taught and guided the colonists while waiting to open her first school. She was given a stone stable to use as a school and dwelling in her mission to teach others. Marguerite strongly believed in Christian education, through the school and family, for all children. She died on January 12, 1700. On October 31, 1982, Pope John Paul II declared her a saint. She was the first woman in Canada to be canonized.

School Prayer

Blessed Marguerite Bourgeoys, may we … find peace in you, be of one mind and purpose as we strive to model your faithful and serving ways, be guided to do God’s will at all times, be strengthened by your grace, follow your example in all that we do. Amen.

Principals John Brown (1983–1987) Bob Hanna (1987–1989) Elaine Lopes (1989–1994) Chris Hurst (1994–1998) Tom Haslam (1998–2003) Suzanne Roche (2003–2005) Lisa Sarna (2005–2008) Catherine Hermans (2008–present)

Contributors: Jodi Genoway Lori Graham Catherine Hermans Fran Pereira Emily Povolo Theresa Wright