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| Total enrolment | 776 |
| Principal | Rob Merolle Tel: 416-393-5528 Fax: 416-393-5498 |
| Superintendent |
Dr. Jim Saraco Tel: 416-222-8282 ext. 5371 |
| Parish | St. Anthony Catholic Church 1041 Bloor Street West Toronto, Ontario M6H 1M4 416-536-3333 |
| Local Trustee | Barbara Poplawski Tel: 416-512-3410; Fax: 416-512-3410 e-mail: barbara.poplawski@tcdsb.org |
| CSAC Co-Chairs | Maria DeAngelis Maria Medeiros Voice Mailbox #88528 |
History & Tradition
St.
Mary’s Catholic Secondary School was founded to serve the increasing
population of the Bloor - Dufferin Catholic community. In 1984, the
Metropolitan Separate School Board (now the Toronto Catholic District School
Board) asked the Sisters – Faithful Companions of Jesus – to establish a
secondary school under the leadership of Sister Bonnie Moser. St. Mary’s
occupied the J.J. McGrand Elementary School building, located in a quiet
residential neighbourhood.
In keeping with the religious order’s spirit and desire to educate the whole person, St. Mary’s has been guided by the idea "that they may have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10). Thanks to the Faithful Companions of Jesus, St. Mary’s carries on the tradition of nurturing the lives of all young people, bringing to them a distinctive Christian presence.
Philosophy of the
School
Educators at St. Mary’s are
nurturers of life and joyful messengers of hope and love, bringing the
promise of Jesus: “I have come that they may have life and have it to
the full” (John
10:10).
The school community provides a stimulating and supportive environment, challenging each student to develop to his/her greatest potential. All educational programs and activities emphasize the formation of the whole person – intellectually, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. The Christian education of youth is a privileged opportunity to form apostles – enabling persons to experience Jesus, as they direct their gifts towards the service of others, for the transformation of society.
Our belief in the success for all students frames our programs, initiatives, and celebrations. It is the recognition that all students have the potential to succeed that motivates the staff and students of this unique community.
How We Meet
the Diverse Needs
of Our Students
The St. Mary’s community is built on our Catholic Gospel values, which are the foundation of our school philosophy. It is for that reason – our commitment to being witnesses of our faith – that we nurture the spiritual and religious development of all members of our community. Our commitment to our religious journey is marked by several important community-building traditions, including daily prayers, regular school masses, and liturgies. In addition, we have an active Chaplaincy Team that provides support to our community as we nurture the development of the whole child.
In conjunction with our Chaplaincy Team, St. Mary’s has established a Student Success Team. This team is comprised of Administrators, Guidance Counsellors, the Student Success Teacher, Credit Recovery Teachers, the Literacy and Numeracy Lead Teachers, and LOG teachers. This team focuses on meeting the needs of at-risk students by bridging the gap between elementary and secondary school, forging mentoring relationships, and providing students with academic and emotional support. Resource Personnel, Child Youth Workers, and Educational Assistants, all of whom are committed to student success, complement this team.
We believe that all students, including those who have been identified with exceptionalities, have the right to full and active participation in our community. Our inclusive model facilitates this, allowing all of our students to develop to the best of their abilities. Through the necessary accommodations and/or modifications, our students are successful whether their goal is the workplace, college, apprenticeship, or university.
St. Mary’s offers students a breadth of courses that are as diverse as are the needs of students. Students have the opportunity to explore the arts, modern languages, and technology while completing their core courses. Most recently, St. Mary’s was selected as a Specialist High Skills Major provider in the area of Transportation Technology, allowing students who are interested in the automotive industry to deepen their theoretical and practical understanding. As well, we offer an extensive cooperative education program and comprehensive English as a Second Language courses to meet the needs of our English language learners. To meet the growing computer literacy interests of today’s students, St. Mary’s also has five computer labs. Our state-of-the-art science labs are also equipped with computer interface technology.
In 2000, St. Mary’s received the Exemplary Practice Award for our outstanding initiatives surrounding literacy. This commitment to literacy development continues to frame our activities as we refine our practices. Our cross-curricular Literacy Committee orchestrates various initiatives, including writing workshops, that are supported by staff and students committed to literacy development. To further support students’ academic success, St. Mary’s offers free tutorial services to students in the Homework Hub.
Our students are challenged to reach their potential in their academic and extra-curricular achievements. Through the Achievement of Excellence, students are recognized for their contributions to our community, as they build their repertoire of skills. St. Mary’s offers students a multitude of opportunities outside the classroom. We compete at the varsity and intramural levels in several sports, including soccer, track and field, volleyball, and basketball. We also showcase students’ artistic talents through dramatic productions, band and choir performances, and art showings. We also offer students the opportunity to actively participate in many leadership activities and clubs, including a thriving ESP (Empowered Students Partnership) team, which has received municipal recognition for its contribution in supporting a safe school community. And in keeping with our commitment to uphold Gospel values, we provide our students with many volunteer opportunities both locally and internationally to work with the less fortunate and marginalized of society.
St. Mary’s is a place that promotes responsibility, respect, civility, and academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment. All students, parents, and staff have the right to be safe, and feel safe, in the school community. The Ontario Schools Code of Conduct sets clear provincial standards of behaviour. It specifies the mandatory consequences for student actions that do not comply with these standards. St. Mary’s code of conduct complies with the Ontario Schools Code of Conduct. As such, our students are expected to follow these regulations and TCDSB policies.
School News
PA Days 2009-2010
- September 2, 3
- February 12
- June 28, 29, 30
Exam Dates 2009-2010
- January 26, 27, 28, 29
- June 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
November 3
Open House for Grade 8 students
7:00 p.m.
St. Mary’s Secondary
Welcomes Congueros
The music program at St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary
School continues to engage students by inviting various musicians into the
classroom. Most recently, music students had an opportunity to enrich their
musical horizons with the syncopated sounds of conga drumming. The
percussion workshop, very popular among young adults, provides students with
the opportunity to perform together with the artists. The guest
percussionists performed several rhythmic patterns while sharing their
personal stories with staff and students.
Conga drum musicians Nigel Pitt, Marcus Chonsky, and Abbiyaahwu Asha
performing at St. Mary’s Catholic SecondarySchool
St.
Mary’s Secondary Remembers Veterans
St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary
School observed Remembrance Day with a memorable commemoration on November
11th, 2008. Staff and students listened as the moving letters of
soldiers were read aloud. A dramatic production captured the agony and pain
as events of World War II were recounted. Tadeusz Gosinski, Eight Army in
Montecassino, 2nd Corps, under General Anders and Eric Orshulik, Lieutenant
of 1st Polish Pancer Division from the Royal Canadian Legion, General W.
Anders Branch 621, laid a wreath in memory of all those in the armed
services.
St. Mary’s Secondary honours Remembrance Day.
Crime Prevention Week--Toronto Police Service
St.
Mary’s Secondary Welcomes Parents at Student Success Information Night
St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary
School proudly welcomed nearly 100 parents, guardians, and students to the
school for the second annual Student Success Information Night.
Greeted by members of the school’s Catholic School Advisory Council (CSAC),
Administrators and members of the school’s Student Success Team and Literacy
Committee, parents were introduced to the many deliberately personal student
success strategies employed in the school, including the Homework Hub – an
after-school tutorial centre in the school library offering students
academic assistance. Additionally, the evening highlighted the school’s
focus on numeracy and literacy development, student engagement
opportunities, and the newly-introduced Specialist High Skills Major in the
area of transportation technology. Equally important, the evening allowed
parents/guardians to pose their questions and discuss their next steps as
the community, working in partnership with parents, continues to support the
success of every student.
Students from across the Toronto Catholic District
School Board will be among the honourees at the 25th annual
Father Patrick Fogarty Awards dinner on October 25th. They will
be among the recipients of the Catholic Student Award, which recognizes
young people who best exemplify the Ontario Catholic School Graduate
Expectation. Congratulations to Amanda Passos
School Learning Plan -- 2008-2009
EQAO Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics:
Academic Year | Academic | Applied |
| 2007 - 2008 | ||
| 2006 - 2007 | ||
| 2005 - 2006 | ||
| 2004 - 2005 | ||
| 2003 - 2004 | ||
| 2002 - 2003 | ||
| 2001 - 2002 Description | ||
| 2000 - 2001 | ||
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT):
The OSSLT shows the extent to which Ontario students are meeting the minimum literacy standard expected by the end of Grade 9. The test assesses the reading and writing skills as they apply to all subjects as out-lined in the Ontario Curriculum. Students must pass the OSSLT as one of the 32 requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
| Year | Grade 10 |
| 2007 - 2008 | |
| 2006 - 2007 | |
| 2005 - 2006 | |
| 2004 - 2005 | |
| 2003 - 2004 October | |
| 2002 - 2003 October Description | |
| 2001 - 2002 February | |