Notre Dame High School (Catholic Secondary School)

12 Malvern Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4E 3E1

• School-designed Website

• Alumnae Website

• School News

Homework Website

History & Tradition

Notre Dame High School was founded by the Congregation of Notre Dame in 1941 to provide excellence in education for young Catholic women. The Sisters of the Congregation have been teaching at the school throughout its 65-year history.

Since 1941, the school has grown. In 1963 O'Connor Hall was built and then in the 70's with enrollment at 1,111, Notre Dame moved into the second and third floors of the neighbouring St. John' Catholic School. At present all three buildings are in use.

These years also saw the canonization of Marguerite Bourgeoys, the founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame and now the school's patron saint. Her feast day is celebrated annually with special events coordinated by the school's chaplaincy team. An educator herself, Marguerite's legacy lives on as she serves as an important role model for staff and students alike.

Most recently, Notre Dame has entered into an arrangement with its brother school, Neil McNeil to share courses at the grade 12 level.

History and tradition are important at Notre Dame and the involvement of the members of the alumni association in the life of the school attest to this.

How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students

We believe in the success and leadership of young women in the family, in the Church and in the global community.  Founded on Gospel values, the school’s annual theme becomes a rallying point for the ongoing discussion of relationship with God, of self-respect to mutual respect and of personal right to social responsibility.

We are committed to guiding students so they not only achieve their academic potential, but that they also discover their talents and gifts, which in turn will help them select  a school program pathway that enables them to make a smooth transition to the post-secondary destination of their choice. 

The Success for All initiative addresses the needs of those students who require additional help in a credit intervention situation or in credit recovery. Thus students who are at risk of falling behind in accumulating their credits toward graduation are given sustained support.  

Technology is integrated into the curriculum, which offers a balance of courses ranging from science and mathematics to physical education and the arts. With the support of the Guidance counselors, chaplaincy team, student and teacher tutoring and student mentors, the girls find encouragement as they pursue their interests and future plans.

The schools comprehensive program offers a full range of programs that prepare students for university, college and the world of work.  Programs and support services are offered to special education students. Programs are also available to students who are designated gifted and enrichment courses are also offered.  Teachers also prepare students to write examinations in various subjects for equivalency standing and advanced placement at major Canadian and U.S. universities a 

Curriculum initiatives

The transition to high school initiative welcomes grade nine students to our school with the assistance of student leaders (M.O.S.T.) who help mentor them through the first few weeks of school. Student mentors also offer after-school tutoring, help new students prepare for formal examinations and provide opportunities for community building. 

Grade nine students are also engaged in a three-day orientation/retreat program at an outdoor facility.  Student leaders under staff supervision conduct activities and workshops that focus on faith development and spiritual reflection, school spirit, leadership skills, self-advocacy and outdoor education, as well as the Safe Schools program.  

The school’s EQAO preparation initiatives in Grade 10 Literacy and Grade 9 Numeracy have resulted in a consistent three-year performance that has exceeded both the provincial scores and TCDSB scores.  The 2005 Mathematics results placed the school with the highest Grade 9 scores in the TCDSB. 

The Women’s Health, Wellness and Nutrition program is an initiative that encompasses the school’s funded breakfast program (a consistent, nutritious menu alternative offered in the school cafeteria) and a student-run fitness program.  The annual Girls’ Night Out event involving the Department of Health and many health and wellness professionals from the school community supports the school’s commitment to encouraging a healthy, active life style for young women.

Co-curricular programs

A number of students have excelled at mathematics and essay-writing contests, science fairs, Canada Skills and robotics competitions.  Students with an interest in the arts have received outstanding performance awards at the Sears Festival Drama competition and visual arts competitions and have celebrated their talents at the annual Arts Night.  Other clubs and activities include: Yea God Club, yearbook, photography, band, Multicultural Club, school newspaper, math league, Debating Club, Knitting Club, Social Justice Club, Black History Club and M.O.S.T.   

The school offers a broad spectrum of team and individual sports such as: cross-country, hockey, basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer, badminton, tennis, track and field, swimming and golf.  Numerous gold medals and participation at OFSSA in various sports attests to the success of the school’s sports program.

School News

School News

Witness to Faith Cross Comes to Notre Dame
The Toronto Catholic District School Board is ushering in the new school year with a celebration to launch “The Year of Witness”, the third year of the Board’s three-year pastoral plan focusing on Word, Worship and Witness.

For the year of Witness, the students at Neil McNeil Catholic Secondary School have created a travelling cross, which will journey across the school system throughout the year, with each school having an opportunity to spend a day with the cross.

Notre Dame High School students welcomed the cross to their school on January 20.

Les Dames in Montréal
Notre Dame High School brings young women to Montréal to empower them as leaders in French and in Science and to learn about our Catholic roots. 15 female students, a French teacher, and a Biology teacher at Notre Dame High School, ventured on a 4 day tour de force in Montréal from November 17th to 20th to explore French culture, connect to faith, and learn about biodiversity.
By day students wandered through the maze of the city‟s Biodôme, seeing monkeys and penguins side by side, while in the evening they went to a light show at Basilique Notre Dame to learn about the history of the church and about our school‟s patron saint Marguerite de Bourgeoys. Students resided at Oratoire Saint Joseph during the excursion and participated in French mass on Sunday to conclude the trip.
As part of this cross-curricular, social-scientific trip, students identified both environmental damage in Bangladesh at the Musée McCord, and strolled the urban environment along Rue St. Catherine bargaining in French as they shopped for les chandails and les jeans.

Notre Dame French program is featured in the January 10 edition of Beach Metro News - article

Silver Medal Winner at Canadian Science Fair
Chanelle Mitchell received a sliver medal at the 2011 Canadian Science fair. This is the second consecutive chemistry award picked up by a Notre Dame Student from a science program that promotes Scientific Investigative strategies. The science program is uniquely sculptured to promote girls into science by doing and applying science in society. Chanelle's idea of studying human behaviour is a testament to the successful investigative program which began her grade 9 science courses and kept with the exploratory strategies. She is graduating this year and hopes to pursue her tertiary education in the field of biochemistry. Chanelle was the only one student from All of Toronto (even the Catholic schools) to win the chemistry national award with a $3000 scholarship to University of Western Ontario and cash a award of 750. Chanelle plans to further her education at University of Western Ontario.

Juliana S. received a Student Achievement Award at the annual TCDSB Awards Night on May 4, 2011 for her Honourable Mention at the Canada-wide Science Fair in May of 2010.

The Notre Dame High School community has planned various activities during the month of February to celebrate the African Canadian History Month and to honor the legacy of black Canadians, past and present.

• Staring February 1, we will be playing authentic African music over the PA for about 10 minutes before the William Tell Overture, or as part of your P.A. morning announcements, we will read “Did You Know” factual notes that speak to the African Diaspora as part of culturally responsive pedagogy

• We have teamed up with the Cafeteria staff, and once or twice a week during February they will be offering us African/Caribbean “specials”

• To gain insight into the experiences of black Canadians, we have invited Corey Atkinson from “Dimensions of Leadership” to speak to our students and staff on Friday, February 4. Ms. Jack’s Drama students will perform at the beginning of the assembly: they will sing a song from Sierra Leone and tell a short traditional West-African story.

• To bring us closer to African traditions and to be able to fully experience and engage in a remarkable study of human character, we have invited the AfriCan Theatre Ensemble to Notre Dame; we will watch a play “The Engagement” written by a world-acclaimed Nigerian playwright, Femi Osofisan

• Our dress up day on February 25 will also be a celebration of the African heritage; we are inviting all staff and students to dress in African dresses/prints and celebrate
 

Notre Dame Students "Can" Make a Difference
It has been a long standing tradition of Notre Dame High School students and staff to generously donate non-perishable food items to their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. This year, we have chosen to donate the food items to Rosalie Hall abd ti St, John Church. The school community collected over 3000 food items within the two weeks of the food drive, exceeding last year's goal!

School Learning Improvement Plan -- 2011-2012

School Learning Improvement Plan -- 2010-2011

School Learning Improvement Plan -- 2009-2010

Safe School Plan -- 2010-2011

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.