IT STARTS in the Schools

November 2009

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 3 Father Henry Carr Catholic Open House Secondary School For students in grade 8 and their parents 1760 Martin Grove, Etobicoke 7:00 p.m. 416-393-5518

November 3 Francis Libermann Catholic Open House High School For students in grade 8 and their parents 4640 Finch Avenue East, 7:00 p.m. Scarborough, 416-3935524

November 3 St. Mary's Catholic Open House Secondary School For students in grade 8 and their parents 66 Dufferin Park Avenue, 7:00 p.m. , 416-393-5528

November 4 Archbishop Romero Catholic Open House Secondary School For students in grade 8 and their parents 99 Humber Boulevard, 7:00 p.m. Toronto, 416-393-5555

November 4 Open House 721 Royal York Road, For students in grade 8 and their parents Etobicoke, 416-3935549 7:00 p.m.

November 4 Jean Vanier Catholic Open House Secondary School For students in grade 8 and their parents 959 Midland Avenue, 7:00 p.m. Scarborough, 416-393-5554

November 4 Msgr. Percy Johnson Catholic Open House High School For students in grade 8 and their parents 2170 Kipling Avenue, 7:00 p.m. Etobicoke, 416-393-5535

November 4 St. Joseph's Morrow Park Open House Catholic Secondary School For students in grade 8 and their parents (girls' school) 7:00 p.m. 3379 Bayview Avenue, North York, 416-393-5516 November 5 Father Henry Carr Catholic Field of Dreams Gala Dinner Secondary School 6:00 p.m. La Jardin Conference Centre 8440 Highway 27, Woodbridge, 416-393-5521

November 5 Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Open House Merton Catholic Secondary For students in grade 8 and their parents School 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 1515 Bloor Street West, Toronto, 416-393-5545

November 5 Cardinal Newman Catholic Open House School For students in grade 8 and their parents 100 Brimley Road South, 7:00 p.m. Scarborough, 416-393-5519

November 5 Loretto College School Open House 151 Rosemount Avenue, For students in grade 8 and their parents Toronto, 416-393-5511 7:00 p.m.

November 5 Michael Power/St. Joseph Open House High School 105 Eringate For students in grade 8 and their parents Drive, Etobicoke, 416-393- 7:00 p.m. 5529

November 6 Our Lady of Grace Catholic Park Clean-Up School Various classes will cooperate to clean Brimley Woods 121 Brimwood Blvd., Park throughout the day Scarborough, 416-393-5372

November 6 The Angel Foundation for 5th Annual Evening to Feed the Soul Dinner Event Learning 6:00 p.m. Da Vinci Banquet Hall 5732 Highway #7, Unit 33 Woodbridge 416 222 8282 ext. 2195

November 7 TCDSB Special Services Education and Community Resource Fair Department & Special 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Education Advisory Committee CEC, 80 Sheppard Avenue East 416 222-8282 x 2286

November 10 St. Elizabeth CSAC sponsored evening for parents 5 Redcar Avenue, Etobicoke Author, Alma Fullerton will speak to parents about 416-393-5278 reading with their children. 7:00 p.m.

November 10 Open House 490 Queen's Drive, For students in grade 8 and their parents North York, 416-393-5509 7:00 p.m.

November 10 Father John Redmond Open House Catholic Secondary School For students in grade 8 and their parents and Regional Arts Centre 7:00 p.m. 28 Colonel Samuel Smith Parkway, Etobicoke 416-393-5540

November 10 Madonna Catholic Secondary Open House School (girls' school) For students in grade 8 and their parents 20 Dubray Avenue, 7:00 p.m. North York, 416-393-5506

November 10 Marshall McLuhan Catholic Open House Secondary School For students in grade 8 and their parents 1107 Avenue Road, Toronto 7:00 p.m. 416-393-5561

November 10 Senator O'Connor College Open House School For students in grade 8 and their parents 60 Rowena Drive, North York 7:00 p.m. 416-393-5505

November 11 St. Mary Catholic Secondary Remembrance Day Assembly School 66 Dufferin Park Avenue, Toronto, 416-393-5528

November 11 Open House 211 Steeles Avenue East For students in grade 8 and their parents North York, 416-393-5508 7:00 p.m.

November 11 James Cardinal McGuigan Open House Catholic Secondary School For students in grade 8 and their parents 1440 Finch Avenue West 7:00 p.m. North York, 416-393-5527

November 11 Pope John Paul II Catholic Open House Secondary School For students in grade 8 and their parents 685 Military Trail, 7:00 p.m. Scarboroughm 416-393-5531

November 11 St. Patrick Catholic Open House Secondary School For students in grade 8 and their parents 49 Felstead Avenue, Toronto 7:00 p.m. 416-393-5546

November 12 Open House 60 Playfair Avenue, For students in grade 8 and their parents North York, 416-393-5522 7:00 p.m.

November 12 Mary Ward Catholic Open House Secondary School For students in grade 8 and their parents 3200 Kennedy Road, 7:00 p.m. Scarborough, 416-393-5544

November 12 Neil McNeil High School Open House (boys' school) For students in grade 8 and their parents 127 Victoria Park Avenue, 7:00 p.m. Scarborough, 416-393-5502

November 12 Notre Dame High School Open House (girls' school) For students in grade 8 and their parents 12 Malvern Avenue, Toronto 7:00 p.m. 416-393-5501

November 12 St. Basil-the-Great College Open House School For students in grade 8 and their parents 20 Starview Lane, North York 7:00 p.m. 416-393-5513

November 12 Our Lady of Grace Catholic Scientists in the School School Grade Six “Clued into Forensics” 121 Brimwood Blvd., Scarborough, 416-393-5372

November 14 TCDSB CEC Annual CSAC/TAPCE Parent Conference 80 Sheppard Avenue East 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (416) 760-7784 Partnering with Parents with keynote speaker is Dr. Betty Boult, Author of 176 Ways to Involve Parents. Including a variety of workshops on topics which are relevant to parent engagement.

November 18 Our Lady of Grace Catholic Junior Achievement for grade 8's "The economics of School Staying in School" 121 Brimwood Blvd., All day Scarborough, 416-393-5372

November 23 TCDSB CEC TAPCE Commissioning Ceremony 80 Sheppard Avenue East 7:00 p.m. 416-760-7784

November 25, Cardinal Carter Academy for Performance of Footloose 27 & 28 the Arts 7:30 p.m. 36 Greenfield Avenue, Tickets: $20 North York, 416-393-5556

November 27 St. Bruno Catholic School CSAC Family Movie Night 402 Melita Crescent, Toronto 7:00 p.m. 416-393-5376

November 27 St. Dominic Savio Catholic Tree Bee Competition School Grade 6 to 8 students 50 Tideswell Blvd., Toronto 416-393-5467

November 27 Cardinal Carter Academy for Performance of ‘Footloose’ the Arts, 7:30 p.m. 36 Greenfield Avenue, Tickets: $20 North York, 416-393-5556

November 28 Cardinal Carter Academy for Performance of ‘Footloose’ the Arts, 7:30 p.m. 36 Greenfield Avenue, Tickets: $20 North York, 416-393-5556

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

Michael Power/St. Joseph’s 5th Annual Wellness Day On Wednesday, October 14, 2009 Michael Power/St. Joseph Catholic School held their 5th Annual Wellness Day for staff and students.

With the assistance of professionals from the community as well as in house experts, the day offered information, demonstrations, and hands-on-experience in the areas of mental, physical, spiritual and nutritional well being for staff and Grades 10 and 11 students.

Some of the featured presentations were sushi making, healing through colour, reflexology, baseball, yoga, healthy eating, chiropractic procedures, facials, tai chi, lung capacity, meditation, and more.

In addition, $2864.00 was collected and presented to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Great fun was experienced by all, but more importantly, life lesson seeds were planted in over 1300 students.

Fifteen TCDSB Teachers Nominated for Award The following TCDSB Teachers were nominated for the Toronto Star Teachers Award: Laura Berardi, St. Leo Catholic School; Michelle Bottos, Regina Mundi Catholic School; Carol Budden, St. Florence Catholic School; Simone Burgher, St. Alphonsus Catholic School; Filomena Giosa, St. Timothy Catholic School; Vania Grober, Blessed Sacrament Catholic School; Ian Hedley, Senator O'Connor College School, Christine Hughes-Butler, Senator O'Connor College School; Lisa LaRose, St. Boniface Catholic School; Donna Patterson, Holy Name Catholic School; Cecilia Policelli, St. Leo Catholic School; Marilyn Rudd, St. Bonaventure Catholic School; Joe Sala, St. Mary Catholic School, Josephine Virgilio, St. Jane Frances Catholic School; Donald Walker, Bishop Allen Academy.

St. Martha and St. Francis De Salles launch Solar Powered Pontoon Boat In late September staff and students from St. Martha Catholic School and St. Francis De Sales Catholic School participated in the inaugural launch of the first solar powered pontoon boat at Lake St. George conservation area. The ceremony took place on October 2, 2009 and was attended by the Minister of Education, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne. The craft will allow for further study of the natural water resources in the area and will serve as laboratory for student learning about our Eco Footprint.

An OASIS start to the school year On September 1st, volunteer staff and students welcomed new grade nine students and their parents to an orientation session on the daily life at Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School. Activities included a scavenger hunt and guest motivational speaker Stu Saunders. This marked the beginning of a series of events run by the OASIS committee whose mandate is to ensure early success for all grade 9 students.

On September 24th, the entire grade 9 community continued their orientation with after-school activities run by senior OASIS leaders which focused on team building. Afterwards, they led fun curriculum activities such as an evening star-gazing in the school yard, a Science Parachute challenge, Mythology and Story telling by the English department and Spiritual reflections by the Religion department. A short snack followed by a sleepover concluded the day.

The next morning the grade 9s where bused to Camp Robin Hood where the entire day was spent building self confidence and team building strategies.

Hanna Cabaj, receives TESL award TCDSB Coordinator of Continuing Education, Hanna Cabaj was awarded the TESL Honorary Life Membership Award for her outstanding service in the field of English as a Second Language. Hanna was unanimously nominated by TESL at the Teachers of English as a Second Language (TESL) Canada 2009 Conference which was held in Banff, Alberta during October 1st to 3rd, 2009,

Over the years, the field has benefited from Hanna’s in depth understanding of the issues critical to English as a Second Language teaching and learning. Her expert opinion is frequently solicited by funders, professional associations and colleagues. For the past ten years, Hanna has been serving on a number of federal and provincial advisory groups where she has capably advised funders and other stakeholders concerning matters that are central to language training and other upgrading programs for adults in ESL, LINC, and LBS programs in Ontario.

TCDSB Congratulates Winners of the Catholic Student Award Students from across the Toronto Catholic District School Board were among the honourees at the 26th annual Father Patrick Fogarty Awards dinner on October 24th. Recipients of the Catholic Student Award, which recognizes young people who best exemplify the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations were awarded.

The annual event, hosted by the Catholic Education Foundation of Ontario, celebrates the outstanding contribution of Catholic education in the province. This year’s Medal of Honour was presented to Mary-Eileen Donovan, former TCDSB Superintendent of Education.

TCDSB Catholic Student Award winners include: • Bianca Firth, Archbishop Romero C.S.S. • Jennifer Jugowiec, Bishop Allen Academy • Catherine Franey, Loretto Abbey C.S.S. • Ricky Rodrigues, Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton C.S.S. • Lisa Tran, Loretto College School • Christine Oliver, Blessed Mother Teresa C.S.S. • Amanda Marji, Madonna C.S.S. • Molly Babad, Marshall McLuhan C.S.S. • Zachary Ryan Lawrence, Brebeuf College School • Sele Akioyamen, Mary Ward C.S.S. • Annie Flaherty, Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts • Dino Bertani, Msgr. Percy Johnson C.H.S. • Falen S. Fernandes, Cardinal Newman C.S.S. • Kevin Pettit, Neil McNeil High School • Daniel Dalessandro, Chaminade College School • Camille Veloso, Notre Dame High School • Josie Franchi, Dante Alighieri Academy • Marion Jesuthasan, Pope John Paul II C.S.S. • Lisa Aversa, Don Bosco C.S.S. • Marie Emmanuel, Senator O'Connor College School • Ranya Majeed, Father Henry Carr C.S.S. • Geoffrey Gabriel, St. Basil-the-Great College School • Natalya Rybenchuk, Father John Redmond C.S.S. • Jessica Vieira, St. Joseph's College School • Emanuel Aquino, Francis Libermann C.H.S. • Mary Grace Dicuangco, St. Joseph's Morrow Park C.S.S. • Josue Velasquez, James Cardinal McGuigan C.H.S. • Andrew Paton, St. Michael's Choir School • Katrina Lazo, Jean Vanier C.S.S. • Basel Bar, St. Patrick C.S.S.

Anthony De Sa, Toronto Book Awards finalist

Anthony De Sa, TCDSB Teacher, was selected as a finalist for the Toronto Book Awards for his story collection, Barnacle Love. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Toronto Book Awards, and are presented in partnership with the Toronto Public Library. Barnacle Love, shortlisted for the 2008 Giller Award, is Anthony’s first book and he is now working on a novel.

Loretto College School Teacher finalist for the 2009 Governor General Awards for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History Congratulations to Diane Vautour, Teacher at Loretto College School who has been selected as a finalist for the 2009 Governor General’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History. Through local interactive field trips and pictures of the world’s Great War memorials, Ms. Vautour’s Grade 10 students are building their own tribute to the soldiers of the First World War. Ms. Vautour’s Grade 10 class is also creating a historical record of Canada’s battle experience through visual scrapbooks and narrative diaries.

McLuhan welcomes Archbishop Collins! On Wednesday September 30th, Marshall McLuhan Catholic Secondary School had the privilege of welcoming His Grace, Archbishop Thomas Collins to their school. The Archbishop first greeted staff in the chapel, bestowing a beautiful, affirming blessing, encouraging them to continue serving in the footsteps of Jesus. The Morning Prayer over the PA was then lead by Archbishop Collins, where everyone in the school was inspired and challenged to take care of one another.

His Grace addressed senior level students in an assembly, where the topic was “The Culture of Life.” This important topic resonated with students, as they often bear witness, on our city streets and in the media, to the culture of death. Everyone was inspired by Archbishop Collins’ words and warm presence. In this intelligent, compassionate, humorous and what the students described as “real” individual, the school community was re-energized to be a people who always supports the culture of life.

Loretto Abbey Fundraising Raises $12,000 Justice, Integrity and Freedom -- these are the guiding principles of the Loretto sisters and their founder, Mary Ward. The Loretto sisters have various ongoing projects in assisting the less fortunate in the local community. Last year, Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School focused their fundraising efforts on assisting the Loretto sisters with two such projects. They began by helping the Loretto sisters with the commitment they made to Becoming Neighbours who assist recent immigrants and refugees in Toronto. Through various efforts they raised for them $10,000 to be used in the purchase of gift certificates for groceries to immigrant families and refugees. Later in the year we were told Arrabon House was in need of a new van. Arrabon House is a community based service helping young women in Toronto who need safe shelter, positive life skills and emotional support. Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School was able to raise a total of $12,000 to be used toward the purchase of this new van.

St. Gregory Supports Free the Children Free the Children held their first "We Day" rally of 2009 in Vancouver on September 29. It was an inspirational event featuring speakers Mia Farrow (actress), Jane Goodall (activist/author) and the keynote address by the Dali Lamai. Marc and Craig Kielburger enthused and inspired the crowd of 16 000.

TCDSB teacher, Claire Suhay from St. Gregory Catholic School was in attendance representing the TCDSB community. She had the unique opportunity of meeting with Craig and Marc Kielburger prior to the rally.

St. Gregory Catholic School has been a long time supporter of Free the Children, and has even sent former students to their Windsong Leadership Centre in Arizona. Last year, St. Gregory raised $8500 to build a school in Sierra Leone.

Anthony Petitti, OPHEA Award of Distinction Every year, the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) presents a number of awards recognizing outstanding contributions to the fields of health, physical activity and education. The TCDSB community is pleased to announce that Anthony Petitti, Acting Superintendent Area 9, is this year’s recipient of the OPHEA Award of Distinction, which is presented to an individual who is a leader in the successful advancement of active, healthy living opportunities for children and youth in Ontario school communities.

As a leader and change agent in the advancement of active, healthy living opportunities for children and youth, Anthony Petitti has assessed, planned and implemented many new programs for students, teachers and Ontario school communities. Mr. Petitti’s work with Health Actions Teams and Professional Learning Networks within TCDSB will make a long-lasting, sustainable contribution to improving the health and well- being of Ontario’s children and youth. He proposed and developed the Health Action Team initiative, whereby school communities identify health issues impacting student learning and develop plans to address these issues; this initiative has been so successful it was used as a model by the Ministry of Education in developing its own Healthy Schools Recognition Program. TCDSB has more schools registered in this ministry program than any other board in the province, largely because Mr. Petitti introduced Health Action Teams to TCDSB in 2004.

St. Matthew Catholic School Celebrates Feast Day St. Matthew Catholic School proudly celebrated the Feast Day of its namesake on September 21st. To mark this special occasion, the Grade 6 and 6/7 classes organized, planned, and implemented a number of theme-based activities.

A week prior to hosting a jubilant student-planned mass, the grade 6 and 6/7 classes engaged in an in-depth analysis of the life of St. Matthew. Following, student leaders arranged visits to each classroom from grades 1 to 8, and shared the gospel’s message of love and forgiveness, which Jesus showed toward St. Matthew. Collectively, the student leaders and the classes to whom they presented, identified images and symbols which best reflect the identified themes. Putting faith into action, each class took part in a large-scale community chalk art project, which consisted of multiple class artistic interpretation of the story of St. Matthew coming together as one inspiring mosaic.

The day, which was inspired by an activity presented by Ralph Peter during this past summer’s Religious Education, Part III course, was an overwhelming success for the Grade 6 and 6/7 student leaders, and for St. Matthew School as a whole. Celebrating the school’s namesake was a wonderful opportunity for the students to bring alive our gospel values and to feel a sense of pride for their outstanding collaborative artwork.

TCDSB Promoted Peace and Harmony at 25th Anniversary of Peace Garden Over 4,000 students from Toronto Catholic schools gathered in Nathan Phillips Square on September 29th for the 25th Anniversary of the Peace Garden. Keynote Speaker, Justin Trudeau, MP, challenged the students to be “leaders today”. His father, the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, turned the sod for the Garden twenty-five years ago.

Archbishop Thomas Collins, Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne and Mayor David Miller also addressed the students. Several distinguished guests who have contributed to race relations and unity in TCDSB schools and communities were also in attendance.

Retired Social Worker, Order of Canada recipient and Hiroshima survivor, Ms. Setsuko Thurlow, shared her tragic experiences during World War II and urged students to take up the challenge of nurturing peace.

The celebration was hosted by the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Student M.C.’s Angelica Dourado (Loretto College School) and Connor Rollit (TCDSB Student Trustee – Chaminade College School) welcomed the large gathering. Veronica Fantaccione (Stella Maris C.S.) and Ricky Rodrigues (Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton C.S.S.) read speeches they had prepared for the occasion. Veronica stated that the only way to bring about change is by changing oneself. She urged students to learn about peace and practise it. Ricky urged his fellow students and adults to accept one another’s differences.

St. Michael’s Choir School led the gathering in the English and French versions of O Canada and performed later in the program. A group of students from Dante Alighieri Academy, under the direction of Teodoro Dragonieri, performed a dramatic interpretation of a prayer for the Earth. The steel band from Holy Name Catholic School, under the direction of André Rouse, performed as well as the band from Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School (conducted by Andrew Rozbicki). The event also launched the TCDSB “Peace Ambassador” program which will see the appointment of a Peace Ambassador in each TCDSB school. The Peace Ambassador will have one obligation: to spread the word of Peace. An award in memory of St. Peter Claver, the Patron Saint of Race Relations, will be granted each year to the Peace Ambassador who has inspired peace and harmony in his or her school.

The Peace Garden symbolizes peace and understanding among all peoples and reflects the Board’s Mission and Vision for all of its students and staff. In particular, it speaks to the goals of its Race and Ethnic Relations and Multiculturalism Policy that embraces the Board’s diverse student population and teaches respect and understanding for the racial, ethnic and cultural plurality of its school communities and society at large.

Father Massey Lombardi initiated the concept of a Peace Garden with Toronto City Council in 1983. The garden’s impressive history includes a blessing by His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1984 when he lit the eternal flame in the garden with embers from the Memorial for Peace in Hiroshima, Japan and poured a vial of water from the rivers in Nagasaki into the garden’s pool. Father Lombardi personally carried the embers and the water from Japan. Later that year, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II formally dedicated the garden.

The event concluded with a presentation to Father Lombardi by the Urban Alliance, thanking him for his work in creating the Peace Garden and his commitment to peace and race relations. Mr. Trudeau lit a symbolic candle at the Peace Garden and the Archbishop gave the final blessing.

Peace………amen

“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 90,000 students from diverse cultures and language backgrounds in its 201 Catholic elementary and secondary schools and serves 474,876 Catholic school supporters across the City of Toronto.

Toronto Catholic Schools Faith in Your Child

November 2009 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]