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

14 Broadway Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4P 1T4

• School News

• Student Transportation Services (Bus Routes)

Homework Website

History & Tradition

St. Monica is one of the oldest schools in the Toronto Catholic District School Board with a history stretching over 87 years. In 1915, members of St. Monica Parish approached the Separate School Board to ask for a portable school on Broadway Avenue close to St. Monica Church. In 1916, the Ministry of Education lists two sisters of St. Joseph as having been the first teachers at St. Monica. In 1918, there were 138 pupils enrolled in the school. At some point in later years, by 1935 at the latest, the school came into the care of the Loretto Sisters. A permanent building was erected on the site by 1925, with additions in 1955, 1963, and 1966. 

The school is named after St. Monica, who was the mother of St. Augustine. She was born into a Christian family in 332 A.D. Through prayer and sacrifice, St. Monica dedicated her life to her son’s, St. Augustine, spiritual rebirth.  She was a woman of great inner resources anchored by a profound faith. Her faith, hope and love were heroically tested and proved pure in the crucible of suffering.  St. Monica is a woman whose powerful example as a wife and mother can be an inspiration and a model. She is the patron saint of parents, married women, and widows. She is believed to have a special significance for parents experiencing difficulties. 

School's Mission

In a school community formed by Catholic beliefs and traditions, the mission of St. Monica, in harmony with the mission of the Toronto Catholic District School Board, is to educate students to their full potential. This is achieved by providing a safe and welcoming learning environment that is an example of a Christian community, by the integration of Gospel Values into the total learning experience and by providing continual feedback on students’ progress.  We seek to provide a Catholic education that will enable our students to become responsible, self-discipline, life-long learners and members of a caring local and global community.

We envision students who:

·        are formed in the Catholic faith;

·        are physically, emotionally and spiritually balanced to be open to and apply Christian values to life’s opportunities, challenges and choices;

·        strive for personal academic excellence in literacy, numeracy and technology;

·        display self-worth and self-respect;

·        display a concern and respect for others;

·        demonstrate skills for developing and maintaining personal wellness;

·        demonstrate global perspective and community responsibility.

Our school community believes that, by demonstrating our faith in God and respect for each other, we can create a safe, caring and collaborative environment that promotes life-long learning and celebrates the uniqueness of all individuals.

How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students

At St. Monica we continue with the tradition and history of being an inclusive community.  We are proud to be wheelchair accessible, to host a Developmentally Delayed Classroom, a Gifted Centre and to provide daily Special Education and ESL instruction to identified and struggling students.  We are committed to continuously learn and work cooperatively with all partners in education to improve student learning.   

The following initiatives and activities represent some of the ways that we intend to serve our Catholic school community: 

·        Religion Program

·        Liturgical  and Sacrament Celebrations

·        Faith In Action: Charity Fundraisers

·        Instrumental and Vocal Music Instruction

·        School Choir

·        History/Science Fair

·        Geography Challenge

·        Junior and Intermediate W5H

·        Destination Imagination

·        Variety Village Enrichment Programs

·        Winter Carnival Celebrations

·        Healthy Action Initiatives (i.e. Dance-a-Thon; Jump Rope for Heart; Terry Fox Walk-a-Thon)

·        The Boomerang Litterless Lunch Program

·        Twinning Projects with Schools Across Canada (i.e. Toronto/Nunavut)

·        High School Partnerships (i.e. Reading Buddies; Literacy and Numeracy)

·        Learning Partnership (i.e. Entrepreneurial Program)

·        Intramural Sports (i.e. Floor Hockey, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer)

·        Sports (i.e. Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Soccer, Cross Country, Track-and-Field)

·        Co-Curricular Activities (i.e. Presentations by Heath Canada and by Police Liaison)

·        Extracurricular Activities  (i.e. Board wide sports and championships)

·        University Teacher Education Partnerships

·        Satellite Day Care Centre

·        Before and After School Program

·        CSAC Partnership and Activities (i.e. Fall Fair, Dance-a-Thon)

·        St. Monica Catholic School Foundation (i.e. Indigo Night Fundraiser) 

At St. Monica we continue our long existing tradition of excellence and community where all are welcome.  We are a community that embraces our school motto, “Learning and Walking with Jesus”.

School News

PA Days 2008-2009

• October 24

• November 14

• December 5

• February 13

• March 13

• June 26

Charity Begins at Home
St. Monica staff support their students by generously donating $1000.00 to offset the cost of students attending weekly programs at Variety Village.

Through fundraising efforts of the classroom teacher, Ms. Cooke, and the staff, the students in the DD class have attended Variety Village for the past four years free of cost.  The programs enable students in the DD class to participate and develop gross motor, social and physical skills.

Over the past four years, St. Monica staff, through “Jean Friday for Charity”, have donated and supported The Angel Foundation, The Cancer Society, Breast Cancer, The Heart and Stroke Foundation, The Terry Fox Run, Juvenile Diabetes and Share Life.

December 2007 Newsletter

.