St. Barbara Catholic School (elementary--Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8)

25 Janray Drive, Scarborough, Ontario M1G 1Y2

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History & Tradition

Opening date: 1959 - Addition added in 1964

First Principal: Joe Legault

Enrolment History: 1959--132; 1969--613; 1995--458

School Motto: Growing together in faith

The virgin and martyr St. Barbara is known as a protector against storms and as the patroness of architects, builders, and masons. A popular heroine of medieval legend, nothing certain is known of her life. The legend concerning St. Barbara was unknown before the 7th century and achieved its greatest popularity about the 9th century. It is most likely that she lived as early as the 3rd century.

She is said to have been the daughter of Dioscorus, a wealthy Roman, who imprisoned her in a tower. Workmen were constructing two windows in the tower--or perhaps in a building nearby--and she persuaded them to construct a third. This, understood as the sign of the Trinity, demonstrated to her father that she had become a Christian.

St. Barbara has also been considered a protector against impenitence and sudden death. Her feast day is December 4th.

At St. Barbara Catholic School, our mission is to let Christ's light shine in our midst. By our liturgies, paraliturgies our giving tree, service to one another and to each other, sense of community, inclusiveness, welcoming, compassion, love, forgiveness and foundation Good News, we hope to bring our community closer to Christ. At St. Barbara we strive for academic excellence. We hope that our pupils view St. Barbara Catholic School as a place where failure is simply a catalyst for growth.

How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students

Upon entering the school, one is welcomed by some of the symbols of our faith: the cross, good news Bible, light, water, and the cloth of baptism. A painting and short history of our patron saint adorns the front door. We are privileged with classroom visits from the priest from St. Rose of Lima Church. As well, paraliturgies are ongoing. New students and parents are welcomed at the office by the secretary and/or principal. A safe environment is fostered through general and bus/loading supervision, and by contacting parents regarding students who are absent. A code of behaviour for all students has been established, as well as a school dress uniform code.
 

Every classroom has access to two computer labs and/or individual computers. Teachers meet at regularly scheduled monthly divisional and staff meetings in order to ensure continuous renewal of program and program delivery. Teachers have been attending workshops and conferences to keep themselves current with new Ministry of Education initiatives and updated pedagogical practices.

The needs of all children at either end of the spectrum are met by appropriately designed programs which challenge them to achieve to the best of their abilities. Curriculum modification, whether enrichment or remedial, is provided when necessary.

The school-based support team (SBST) meets regularly with classroom teachers to address areas of concern with regard to the social, academic or emotional growth of children. Suggestions are made to help the teacher provide the best possible program for each child. If more intensive interventions are required, the interdisciplinary team (IDT) is convened. The team is made up of the assessment and programming teacher, the psychologist, the social worker and sometimes guidance and speech personnel, the special education teacher, the vice-principal and the principal. At IDT meetings, decisions may be made for further program modification or for either academic or social assessment. Children from grades 3 to 8 who do not speak English are helped in the English as a second language class.

If, through the Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT) and Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children - Third Edition (WISC - 3), grade four children are identified as needing a differentiated program, a one-day a-week withdrawal program is provided for them at a centre away from the school.

Peace and Pro Awards – By highlighting a virtue each month, (such as hospitality, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, justice, etc.) our students are reminded of our Catholic teachings.  Two students per grade (Grade 1 to 6) are awarded each month with a Pro or Peace Award based on their implementations of the virtue of the month.

School News

Professional Activity Days 2012

• January 27, 201
• February 17, 2012
• June 1, 2012
• June 29, 2012

PA and Exam Day Calendar 2011-2012

Schools On The Move: Light House Program
The Ministry of Education’s Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat has identified and initiated St. Barbara into the Schools on the Move: Light House Program.  This distinguished honour was given to the school because of the significant and sustained progress in student achievement.   It recognizes the high standard of learning our students are achieving and the commitment and skill the staff members have obtained in understanding and practicing the strategies that make a difference in learning.

During the next few years St. Barbara School staff will meet regularly with other Light House Schools throughout the province to share and initiate successfully practises. We will be welcoming many educators and school teams into our St. Barbara community.  Many staff members will be presenting at conferences and gatherings of educators the strategies we have implemented that have fostered the academic success of our students. 

School Learning Improvement Plan -- 2011-2012

School Learning Improvement Plan -- 2010-2011

School Learning Improvement Plan -- 2009-2010

Safe School Plan -- 2010-2011

EQAO Assessment Results

EQAO: