The Newman Mission
At St John Henry Newman
Catholic High School, we are committed to making a difference in the lives
of our students. We are a community that celebrates the unique gifts of
every student. We are dedicated to developing the whole person —
intellectually, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.
Our
programs and activities create an environment that enables students to
grow in faith and truth. We believe that individual growth fosters a
reverence for life that empowers students to heed the Christian call to a
life of service. We encourage young people to embrace the values of
Jesus Christ and to participate, with the grace of the Holy Spirit in
establishing the Kingdom of God.
Students in the St. Johns Chapel
Our emphasis on community indicates
the high level of cooperation and mutual support that a successful
school has with its parents and guardians. Our Catholic School Parent
Council meets on the second Monday of most school months and we
encourage the participation of all parents in the development of a
positive school environment.
St John Henry Newman Catholic High School enjoys a
long standing reputation for excellence in Academics, the Arts and
Athletics with an emphasis on service, community building and gospel
values. Within our regular program, the unique needs of every student
are supported through:
Enriched Courses, Advanced Placement, Extended French and Gifted Programs;
Challenging and active Technological Studies and Science programs;
A tradition of excellence in the Arts including, Drama, Music and Visual Arts;
An extensive spirited Athletic program;
Cooperative Education opportunities including the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP);
Resource support and individualized education planning with an emphasis on student success;
Vibrant student leadership initiatives through our Chaplaincy
Department, Student Council and Athletic Association including: Camp
Olympia, Peer Helping, Grade 9 Mentorship, Free the Children’s "Me to We
Project" and many community outreach opportunities.
(Clockwise) Respect For Life, Development & Peace, Resource Dept Mini-Olympics, Christmas Food Baskets, (Bottom Arrow) The Many Faces of Newman
How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students
Our mission statement shows our
commitment to the intellectual, spiritual, physical, emotional and
social development of our students, and to a fully inclusive model of
education that is grounded in Gospel values. Common attitudes, values
and beliefs bind our community and ultimately have a positive effect on
the quality of life enjoyed by both teachers and students.
We have established program
initiatives within our community to assist the development of all. These
include curriculum modifications such as individualized programming,
integration and enrichment. Our academic program offers a wide range of
subjects, and our courses are offered at levels of difficulty
appropriate to each student: full inclusion is both a philosophical
commitment and a strategy. In 1995, the School received a Ministry of
Education Exemplary Practice Award for our work with exceptional
students, confirming our status as a model for this type of education
within the province.
What really brings the school to
life, are the multitude of co-curricular programs, which are a vital
component of a student's well-rounded development. Our student services
department has developed peer counseling and peer tutoring programs to
serve all students in the community and to promote their personal and
interpersonal growth. We have a well-developed sports program with
competitive league teams ranging from rugby to racquet sports, and an
intramural program open to all interested students. Our clubs cater to
every interest from our Stage Band to Reach for the Top to snowboarding and skiing and our competitive Hype dance group.
A strong tradition of involvement within the arts has been
nurtured over the years. Art shows provide a showcase for our visual
arts students, annual concerts provide a forum for our musical ensemble
and choirs, and our drama club's work over the years has encompassed
everything from Broadway musicals to serious theatre. The variety of
co-curricular activities offers all students the opportunity to explore
individual talents, to develop skills, and to enrich the entire
community.
(Top Right) School Play - Spelling Bee; (Middle) Student Art; (Bottom) Stage Band, School Play - Coarse Acting Show In making the school a safe,
welcoming and developing environment, Newman has implemented a variety
of programs and services through different groups in the school. The
Newman Knight Watch initiative provides an ongoing liaison with our
community police officers, and seeks to make the school safe and secure
in a proactive way.
“One Community” celebrates the distinctiveness of
our unity in the midst of our cultural, racial and ethnic diversity. The
“Newman Helps” group makes students aware of our local community
through involvement with those less advantaged. Scar Trek, our annual
walkathon, is both a celebration of the school community and a
development of our awareness as global citizens. In all of these
initiatives we strive to engage our students and to meet their needs in
an increasingly diversified and changing society
Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) Mission and Vision
St John Henry Newman Catholic
High School is part of the larger Toronto Catholic District School Board
(TCDSB) community and supports the Board’s Mission and Vision for each
student.
Mission
In a school community formed by
Catholic beliefs and traditions, our Mission is to educate students to
their full potential by providing:
Leadership is the shared
responsibility for education that exists among the school, the student,
the family, the parish and the community;
A safe and welcoming learning environment that is an example of Christian community;
Role models of Gospel Values and Catholic doctrines, teaching and beliefs;
Guidance in what students need to learn;
Instruction in the learning process itself;
Religious, academic and technical instruction;
Integration of Catholic, Christian beliefs into the total learning experience;
Feedback on the student’s proficiency and progress;
Demonstration of global perspective and community responsibility; and,
Demonstration of relevant knowledge and ability.
Vision of Our Students
We envision students who:
Are formed in the Catholic faith;
Apply Christian values to life’s opportunities, challenges and choices;
Display self-esteem and self-respect;
Strive to be the best they can be; and,
Demonstrate skills for nurturing a healthy family life.
Vision of the TCDSB
To provide students with the qualities they will require, our Vision of TCDSB is a school system that:
Is Christ-centered;
Is student focused;
Demonstrates a clear sense of purpose;
Is visibly Catholic;
Reflects empowering leadership;
Applies collaborative decision making;
Is innovative; and,
Provides role models among all stakeholders for all of these qualities.