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

20 Markanna Drive, Scarborough, Ontario M1M 2J1

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Our Patron Saint
Saint Boniface, called the Apostle of the Germans, was actually born in England in 672, at Crediton in Devon, and baptized Winfrid. He received his theological training in the Benedictine monasteries of Adescancastre. He taught in the abbey school and at the age of thirty became a priest. He wrote the first Latin grammar book produced in England.

His first mission was in 716, when he set out for Frisia, which today is the Dutch province of Friesland. An ongoing war in the area frustrated  his attempt to convert the Frisians, and he returned to England.

In 718, he visited Rome, and was commissioned in 719 by Pope Gregory II, who gave him his new name of Boniface, to evangelize in Germany and reorganize the church there. Five years later, on November 30, 722, he was elevated to bishop of the German territories.

Following a third trip to Rome, Boniface went to Bavaria and founded the bishoprics of Salzburg,  Regensburg, Freising and Passau.

He was also involved with the growth of Christianity in modern-day France.

Still hoping to convert the Frisians, he set out in 754 with a small retinue for Frisia. He baptized a great number, and summoned a general meeting for Confirmation at a place not far from Dokkum, which is today a Dutch town in the province of Friesland. However, a group of armed men appeared instead, who martyred the archbishop and all those with him.

His remains were eventually buried in a shrine beneath the high altar of Fulda cathedral, in the abbey of Fulda, which is near the German city of Frankfurt. Saint Boniface is the patron saint of Germany and of the archdiocese of Saint Boniface, Manitoba. He is also the patron saint of World Youth Day.

His feast day is June 5.

History & Tradition
St. Boniface Catholic School opened its doors for the first time, as a 12-classroom school, on September 1, 1960. A gymnasium and two new classrooms were added to the original structure in 1966. A final building addition, which presently houses the school library and two kindergarten classrooms, was completed in 1968.

An increase in the student population over the years has resulted in the addition of a number of portable classrooms. We currently have a school population of about 400 students from JK-8. Our students reflect the multicultural diversity of our city.

How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students
Spiritual
St. Boniface Catholic School strives at all times to be a community enlivened by the spirit of the Gospel. It is a place of living as well as learning; a community which seeks to provide excellence in its pursuit of learning and to assist young people in developing their natural talents and abilities. Essential to the mission of our school is the union of the true Christian community-family, school and church working closely together.

Within the religious education, guidance, health and family life programs, the importance of prayer and celebration of our Catholicity are constantly stressed.  Students are encouraged to know and understand themselves and develop a positive self-image. Time is devoted by staff to the counselling of students vis-à-vis their moral, social, emotional and intellectual development. In addition, we have Masses to celebrate the Eucharist as a community. Further, we have a Rosary program throughout the year, conducted by parishioners of St. Boniface.

We are continuing to promote anti-bullying awareness, as well as a more general Safe Schools policy, to ensure that St. Boniface students work and play in a caring, secure environment.

We are promoting character development through our “What Would Jesus Do?” theme, which is woven into daily activities here at the school

Educational
We are presently in the fourth year of a pilot program in which students attend SK for a full rather than half day. Results have shown significant improvement in students’ academic readiness for Grade 1.

Our English as a Second Language and Special Education programs address the needs of students. A reading partners program matching primary and intermediate students is conducted weekly to provide more opportunities for individualized attention for our primary students and to expose them to a richer variety of reading materials.

With a full computer laboratory in our school library, as well as computers in classrooms, the students at St. Boniface are becoming more familiar with their use of modern technology. This will assist them to become confident and creative problem-solvers.

We are part of the Professional Learning Network, which promotes the sharing of professional expertise among educators and continuous instructional improvement.

Community
St. Boniface joined the Best Start program in the fall of 2006. The Best Start program, which caters to kindergarten-aged children, is a comprehensive early learning and care strategy that offers integrated services for children. Its mandate covers the standard working day (7 am-6 pm).. It is publicly funded and not-for-profit. It includes parenting components (e.g. Ontario Early Years Centre programs and family resource programs), optional nutrition programs, and the integration of a variety of programs from community services and agencies. In addition, we have the after-school ARC program, a snack food program and a daily milk program.

Our school is  involved with the Merry-Go-Round program. Its website describes the program as a volunteer effort which brings together members of the educational, policing and corporate communities to share their expertise by donating complete state-of-the-art home computer systems including internet access to those children who are observed by teachers to embody a passion for learning and the potential to excel academically if given more opportunity. Merry–Go-Round has been one of the most successful initiatives within our school community.

St. Boniface has promoted a series of Family Night programs. These have included parenting programs conducted by Aisling Discoveries Child and Family Centre, and a Family Math Night in which parents and caregivers had an opportunity to experience the current mathematics program. In addition, we have had a Reading Night, which promoted the joys of shared reading between adult and child. All were successful in promoting community involvement.

St. Boniface sends many students to summer camps such as Four Winds Boys’ Camp and Marygrove Girls’ Camp. These camps give our students an opportunity to live and grow within a non-urban environment over the summer months.

We also liaise with the police service though programs such as “Values Influences and Peers” for our Grade 6’s, and anti-gang presentations for our intermediates.

Extracurricular
Our students are involved in many extracurricular activities from sports to field trips, such as our Grade 8 Trip to the Albion Hills Conservation Site, which are designed to enhance our goal of teaching the whole child.

In addition, we have initiated, through our French Department, a Winter Carnival which has been one of our most enjoyable activities.

St. Boniface has a welcoming environment, with a staff concerned with the promotion of the spiritual and academic growth of all students.

School News

PA Days 2008-2009

• October 10

• October 24

• December 5

• February 13

• March 13

• June 26

Award winning student
On the evening of Wednesday, May 7, 2008, staff from St. Boniface School and members of the Di Donato family were proud to honour one of their own, DANIEL DI DONATO, at the “Catch the Wave!” Awards Dinner.  This event is sponsored by the Council for Exceptional Children, Toronto Chapter 56.  It was held at the National Yacht club at 1 Stadium Road, in Toronto.  This Awards Dinner recognizes the amazing accomplishments of exceptional people.  Daniel Di Donato, a thirteen-year-old, grade seven student, was one of nine students in Toronto to receive the “Yes I Can Student” award. 

Although Daniel has no hands or feet, his exceptionality is not what makes him exceptional.  After a few minutes with Daniel, one forgets that he is physically challenged and enjoys him as the true boy he is.  He experiences life to the fullest, participating to the best of his ability in all activities.  Mrs. De Giorgis, Daniel’s language resource teacher, nominated Daniel to receive this award because of the amazing gains Daniel has achieved in reading.  He has blossomed from a shy boy to a personable, outgoing young man.  He embodies the true meaning of the “Yes I Can!” student and all of us here at St. Boniface School, as well as his family, are proud of him.  Way to go Daniel!

Brushamania 2008
Students at St. Boniface Catholic School took a few minutes out of their daily school routine to learn about proper oral hygiene as part of the Brushamania event on April 4th. Among the many special guests on hand were TCDSB Trustee Paul Crawford, Carlton the Bear from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dr. Larry Levine, incoming president of the Ontario Dental Association, Hon. Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotions and Dr. Raffy Chouljian.

More photos

School Learning Plan -- 2007-2008

EQAO Assessment Results

EQAO: