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

14 Pharmacy Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario M1L 3E4

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History & Tradition

Our school is named after St. Dunstan (born circa 909), an English monk from the town of Glastonbury. After serving at the royal court, he joined the monastery of Glastonbury, where he became Abbot around 943. He carried out a thorough reform of the monastery, making it a famous centre of learning. In 957, he was made Bishop of Worcester. Later on, he became Bishop of London and in 961, Bishop of Canterbury. He died on May 19, 988, after 27 years as bishop.

St. Dunstan Catholic School opened in September, 1923, in the form of a portable, two-room school. To give you an idea of what it was like, I quote Miss Hilda Myers, the first principal: “Without any foundation--a flat roof and tinned walls set in a spacious field--the school was the rendezvous (point) of the cold winds that swept down from those open spaces to the north. I don't think we shall ever forget that first winter. We would gather around the old stove to thaw out before class began and I think it was here that the wonderful spirit of friendliness and loyalty--the true spirit of St. Dunstan's--was born.

In 1945, construction started on a permanent structure, which today forms the south portion of the school. In 1967, a new section was added to the north end of the 1945 structure to form the building as we see it today.

At St. Dunstan the staff and students work very hard to nurture that wonderful spirit of friendliness and loyalty that the first principal mentioned, and to combine that with high standards of academic excellence.

How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students

The religion and family life programs, which are part of the regular curriculum, provide the basis to ensure that students learn in an environment which stresses spiritual, social, emotional, physical and academic development. The values, skills and attitudes which are stressed by the religion and family life programs, are incorporated into all areas of the curriculum.

Students need to know that their school provides them with a safe and welcoming environment. Our safe arrival program makes sure that all students are accounted for each day. Parents are contacted if a student is absent. St. Dunstan's school code of behaviour tells the students that there are appropriate and inappropriate ways of behaving. Good behaviour is encouraged and rewarded through the weekly and monthly recognition of students who display appropriate behaviour. Inappropriate behaviour is discouraged through counseling and interviews with students, meetings with parents and by following up with appropriate and logical consequences.

The school has attempted to build on the students' technological skills by ensuring that every classroom has at least two computers, that every student has access to the computer lab in the library, and by the purchasing of manipulative materials to be used to enhance the regular program.

Because all students have different needs, the staff attempts to meet these needs through programs in special education, English as a second language, gifted education, vocal and instrumental music. Where students are experiencing difficulty, their program is modified so that they can learn and achieve success. Excursions to many places in and around Toronto are also used to enhance the regular program.

The dedicated staff attend workshops, in-services and other professional development activities to foster their professional growth, thus enabling them to better meet the needs of their students. They also give very generously of their free time to teach the children cooperative, social and physical skills, as well as sportsmanship, through house league activities and inter-school tournaments and competitions.

School News

School Learning Improvement Plan -- 2009-2010

Safe School Plan -- 2009-2010

EQAO Assessment Results

EQAO: