Brebeuf College School (Catholic Secondary School)

211 Steeles Avenue East, North York M2M 3Y6  416-393-5508

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History & Tradition

The name Brebeuf was chosen for the new Toronto Catholic high school which opened its doors to the first students in 1963 for three reasons. One of Ontario's most illustrious and heroic pioneers was Jean de Brebeuf who first came to Canada in 1625, only 17 years after the founding of this country by Champlain's French colonists in 1608. Brebeuf journeyed to the area around present-day Midland, Ontario and introduced Christian values to the Huron Indians of that area.

A second reason for selecting the name Brebeuf was because Jean de Brebeuf was a French Jesuit priest and the priests who founded Brebeuf College School in 1963 were the Jesuits of the Upper Canadian Province. Brebeuf High School's first principal was Father Robert Meagher, SJ, a native of Montreal and the Loyola tradition in that city. Brebeuf's first staff consisted of eight Jesuit priests, one Jesuit Brother and six laymen. The third reason the name Brebeuf was chosen for the high school was to provide each student and staff member with a person to emulate in his daily life. As is well known, Jean de Brebeuf was a giant among men, not only physically in his six foot plus posture, but also academically with his exceptional linguistic skills, and spiritually with his dedication, zeal and courage. In 1649 Brebeuf was martyred after serving for 16 years among the Hurons.

In May 1983, Fr. William Ryan, the Provincial of the Jesuits, announced that the Jesuits were going to give up the responsibility of operating Brebeuf College School by June 1985. This decision was made necessary by the steady decline of available priests available to assume these responsibilities. In February 1984, Cardinal Carter's office announced that the Presentation Brothers were willing to assume responsibility for Brebeuf College, and would officially take over on July 31, 1984. Thus the school is now operated by the Presentation Brothers.

How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students

Brebeuf College School offers excellence in a wide-ranging program of academic subjects and creative arts, but not without a commitment to respond to the deeper aspirations of the students. It attempt to carry its students beyond academic excellence to the meaning of their lives. For this purpose Brebeuf pursues its goals in the context of the Christian vision of life, a vision that gives everything in the school its character and direction.

Brebeuf College School offers a cooperative education program for grade 12 and OAC students. They learn to develop communication, interview and resume skills. This program allows them to explore career choices before they enter university.

Our resource program aims to:

• Merge “regular” and “special” education as much as possible
• Work side by side with classroom teachers delivering curriculum
• Focus on literacy development across the curriculum
• Empower our students to be independent community members and community builders
• Provide framework for a student's success in a non-categorical model of service

Brebeuf provides a comprehensive course of study for grade 9 students. The program we offer is structured to nurture the skills considered necessary to a student's success and the values held by the Brebeuf community. As a school community we have a common goal to provide our students with the education that will best equip them to live successfully and responsibly in a complex and changing world. As the needs of the students change, so will the program offered at Brebeuf College be adapted to respond to those needs.

School News

School Learning Plan -- 2007-2008

EQAO Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics:

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT):

The OSSLT shows the extent to which Ontario students are meeting the minimum literacy standard expected by the end of Grade 9. The test assesses the reading and writing skills as they apply to all subjects as out-lined in the Ontario Curriculum. Students must pass the OSSLT as one of the 32 requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.