St. Conrad Catholic School (elementary)

610 Roding Street, North York, Ontario M3M 2A5

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History & Tradition

On May 15, 1980, the Metropolitan Separate School Board (now Toronto Catholic District School Board), at its regular meeting decided to lease Roding Public School to establish St. Conrad Catholic School. At that time it was estimated that the pupil enrollment for September 1980 would be 300 pupils. However, that number was actually 390 by the end of September of that year. St. Conrad is situated in a residential area adjacent to Roding Community Centre and Roding Park Arena.

When the school opened, a very active senior adult group was using a classroom in the school for recreational activities. Because of the large enrollment in the first moth North York Parks and Recreation was informed of the problem with the senior citizens and the need for the school to use all the available space, hence, the following year the seniors were relocated to the community centre next door to the school.

The official opening and school blessing took place on April 21, 1981

Our school is dedicated to St. Conrad of Parsham, a Capuchin Friar born in Germany. In 1842, Conrad jointed the Order of the Friars Minor Capuchin. From 1852 until his death in 1894, he served as a porter at Convent of Altoetting, working with the poor. On April 21, 1894 he became very ill and died. In 1930 he was canonized by Pope Pius XI. We celebrate his feast day on April 21. Because of his works of charity with the poor and their families, we have chosen as our school motto: “We are a family”.

How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students

Strategies used to:

Ensure a Catholic environment

• Prayer is a daily feature of life at St. Conrad.  Each class from JK-8 rotates through a weekly cycle of leading prayers as part of each day’s morning PA address.  Classes in partnership organize monthly Masses for Grades 3-8 and a Liturgy of the Word is celebrated for our K-2 students.  Our Parish is St. Philip Neri and the Capuchin Fathers visit regularly.  Father Raj is currently our celebrant and the liaison for the students enrolled in the Reconciliation, Eucharistic and Confirmation preparation courses.  Each year we gather as a community for our Advent Mass at St. Philip Neri Church. At this time each class donates childrens’gifts to our parish to assist families over the holiday season. Our Student Council organizes two food drives throughout the year—one is held during the Advent season and the second is held during Lent.  Last year almost 3 tonnes of food were collected.
• During Lent as well the school has presented the Stations of the Cross to wider audiences in our community.
• Each year the community selects three charitable events: in the Fall we support the Terry Fox Run…in the past two years over $10 000 has been collected.
• In the second term we participated in the Jump Rope for Hearts and the Hoop for Hearts. Approximately $5600 was pledged.
• The final event of the school year is the Annual Community Barbecue where 50% of the monies are donated to the Children’s Wish Foundation at the Hospital for Sick Children.  Last year a donation of $1800 was raised.

Safe and welcoming environment

• Student safety is a priority at St. Conrad and we have a Safe Arrival program in effect.  Our school property is fully secured with fencing and gated entrance points.  All visitors must enter the school via a video monitored entrance during school operating hours.
• Most grade levels benefit from our involvement with our Community Liaison officers from Division 31 (Officers Trish and Laura).  Programs include Elmer the Safety Elephant for our JK students, Bike Safety, Stranger Danger, Cyber-bullying, Bullying Prevention, Drugs and Substance Abuse, Gangs and Street Crime and Youth and the Law.
• Fostering the Creation of a Caring Community is our goal at St. Conrad.  Special presentations provided through a very generous CSAC have featured performances by Q-Mack, Spider Jones, and plays such as the Performance of One.

Curriculum initiatives:

• St. Conrad is entering its third year in the Health Action team program in conjunction with the Toronto Public Health Department. 
• Literacy and Numeracy initiatives are implemented across all divisions of the school. Special classes for students with specialized learning needs exist across all three divisions.  St. Conrad has a very successful Fifth Block program, ESL and enrolment in the Gifted program at St. Frances de Sales.
• Special programs are supported by Educational Assistants and a half-time School-based Child and Youth Worker for Social Skills and programming in classes as needs arise
• Computer literacy - each classroom has at least two computers to work on and our library features a full computer lab.
• Instrumental Music is offered in the Intermediate division featuring brass, woodwind and percussion instruments.  Vocal music is offered from K-6.  Both groups perform in the TCDSB Festival of the Arts each spring.
• Extra curricular events include: Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball (Junior and Intermediate, Cross Country, Track and Field, Baseball, Skating at Roding Community Centre (Grade 2-8) from November to March, Chess, Junior and Intermediate W5H teams, French Public speaking, and Junior House LeaguesHH
• We are an International Language School (Italian)
• Each year our Intermediate classes travel to either Stratford or the Shaw Festival
• Classes have enjoyed the artist in the school projects funded by the Toronto Catholic District School Board.
• Special presentations include: Scientists in the Schools, trips to the Science Centre, Chudleigh’s, Willowgrove Farm, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Huronia, Ottawa/Quebec, Reptilia, Junior Achievement classes, Harbourfront School by the Water and Casa Loma.
• Through collaboration of Staff and CSAC, appropriate presentations are offered throughout the year depending on the specific needs and interests of the students.  The CSAC is instrumental in assisting with the cost of these presentations as well as funding of excursions. 

School News

Thursday, May 1st, 2008
Welcome to Kindergarten
7-8:30 p.m.
This evening welcomes our new JK/SK students to St. Conrad. Each child will receive a gift pack of learning materials to help ease the transition of our youngest students to school next fall. RSVP: 416-393-5396

June 26
PA Day

St. Conrad Receives New Altar
St. Conrad Catholic School celebrated the Feast Day of its patron saint—Conrad of Parzham.  The community gathered for Mass involving students from Grades 3 to 8 and, later in the day, the Kindergarten to Grade 2 students assembled to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word.  The day was made even more special with the donation of an altar for the school.  The altar was designed by Dino DiStefano of Second Generation Furnishings.  Anna DiStefano teaches French as St. Conrad and their two children attended the school.  The family donated the altar which was consecrated by Brother Paul, affiliated with our St. Philip Neri parish.  The school CSAC will be purchasing the chalice, ciborium and palates for the new altar and the coverings have been created and designed by Mrs. Toni Raimondo.   

L to R:Mrs.  Raimondo, Brother Paul, Mr. and Mme. DiStefano

School Learning Plan -- 2007-2008

EQAO Assessment Results

EQAO: