Pope Paul VI Catholic School (elementary--Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8)

270 Laughton Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M6N 2X8

• School News

History & Tradition

• Our school opened in September 1974, at a temporary site in St. Clare Catholic School and in the basement of St. Nicholas of Bari Church.
• On October 5, 1976, His Holiness, Pope Paul VI, bestowed his official blessing on the school.  At that time, the students in the primary grades moved to portable classrooms at the Laughton Avenue site while the rest of the school remained at St. Clare School.
• His Excellency, The Most Reverend Bishop Nicola De Angelis, CFIC (then a Metropolitan Separate School Board trustee) officiated at the sod turning ceremony in 1979.
• The official opening and solemn blessing of the school took place on April 26, 1981 performed by Rev. M. Mastrodicasa, Pastor, St. Nicholas of Bari Church.

Our Namesake

Our school takes its name from Pope Paul VI. He was born in Concesio Italy as Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini on September 26, 1897. He studied in Italy and was ordained in 1920. For much of his career Father Montini was a church diplomat until he was named archbishop of Milan in 1954. He became a cardinal in 1958.  On June 21^st, 1963 he was elected pope and became Pope Paul VI.

Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI presided over its final sessions and appointed commissions to carry out its reforms.

Pope Paul VI promoted ecumenism and travelled widely.  In 1964, he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, becoming the first pope in over 150 years to leave Italy, and the first pope to travel by airplane.  As pope, he visited six continents, and was the most travelled pope in history to that time, earning the nickname the Pilgrim Pope.

To the world Pope Paul VI is perhaps best known for his encyclical Humanę Vitę.  He died at the age of 80 on August 6, 1978.

How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students

• Children bring to Pope Paul Catholic School a diverse and varied set of God-given gifts, talents, abilities and home training. Each individual child we serve also has specific needs with respect to his/her own pace and style of learning. Developmentally, children progress and share common characteristics with peers their own age and this is why they are placed in grade levels where they will share a curriculum. Children are placed each year in age appropriate integrated settings within the classroom. However, at the same time, teachers are aware of the diverse abilities of the students within the classroom and these differing abilities are addressed usually through small group instruction. The school offers both an inclusive model special education program for intermediate students as well as modifications for students with above average ability.
• We know that children learn best when they are happy, comfortable, secure and when their self-esteem is nurtured. Safety practices, the snack program and accommodations in learning are all designed to promote a positive environment for optimum learning.
• A school handbook and up to date Code of Behaviour are printed in the school agenda, which is provided to each student from grade 1 to 8 as part of the School Activity Fee. The agendas serve for organizational and communication purposes. All guidelines for behaviour are designed to support a safe and welcoming learning environment.
• Pope Paul’s safe arrival program is in place, whereby the parents call in to the school and advise the office whenever a child is absent or late. When, for whatever reason, this does not occur, the parent is called and the reason for the absence is recorded on the daily attendance card. A sign-out book bears a record of details provided by parents who pick up their children before the end of school. Once students arrive at school, they are supervised from 8:45 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. Students are expected to follow all rules regarding safety practices and staff is always present to monitor.
• A state of the art computer lab is available to all students for large group instruction. Computers are present in all classrooms and we are hooked up to a local IBM network and/or a wide area integrated network. Access to the Internet and an enormous variety of programs are available.
• The artistic and esthetic growth of students is addressed through the instruction provided by a vocal music specialist teacher and an instrumental specialist teacher in grade 7 and 8. The school community is taught hymns and liturgical music to enable students to fully participate in the celebration of the Mass and the Sacraments. Children’s visual art is displayed in the classrooms and in the school corridors. Children are taken to see concerts and plays on class excursions.
• Sports teams participate in regional and divisional tournaments and Pope Paul students are encouraged by their teacher coaches to develop skill and attitudes of good sportsmanship, and are given praise for their achievements.
• The response of Pope Paul students to the programs in place for them is extremely positive, and a school spirit exists which speaks for the development of a well-rounded Christian student body. Students have the support of their family and friends, the community, the Church and the school to enable them to become the best they can be. "What Would Jesus Do?" is our motto and our way of life.

School motto:     Renew all things in Christ

School colours:   Maroon and gold

School mascot:    Panther

School News

PA Days 2010-2011

• September 2, 2010 (Faith Development/Provincial Education Priorities)
• November 19, 2010 (Parent Teacher Conference)
• January 21, 2011 (Assessment and Evaluation)
• February 18, 2011 (Parent Teacher Conference)
• May 20, 2011 (Assessment and Evaluation)
• June 30, 2011 (Provincial Education Priorities)

School Learning Improvement Plan -- 2009-2010

Safe School Plan -- 2009-2010

EQAO Assessment Results

EQAO: