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 The Spirit is
alive in our school community as witnessed daily in our students’
and staff’s commitment to one another and to Christian service to
those in need. This past term began on a very positive note with a warm,
welcoming atmosphere for all, especially our Grade 9 students and all
newcomers.
We participated as a faith community
in a very reverent and prayerful opening mass held outdoors and celebrated
by Father Jim Vulk. Wednesday morning masses continue to
be celebrated by local priests in our chapel.
Our annual Halloween for Hunger Campaign
was again an overwhelming success, surpassing our ambitious goal (54,321
lbs of food and $3,000 in monetary donations). This year over 500 student
volunteers and over 100 staff, parents and STM alumni raised over 56,000
lbs of food and $4,900 in monetary donations to stock the shelves of our
local Neighbour-to-Neighbour food bank. Students also organized a K. D.
Dominoes event which resulted in almost 4,000 boxes of macaroni and cheese
as an additional donation. Our Prefects also organized a “spooktacular”
Haunted House to support the work of H4H.
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This tenth
anniversary campaign kicked off with a fundraising concert that was attended
by representatives of all three levels of government as well as representatives
from Free the Children, who brought greetings and words of support.
On November 11, our school community
took time to reflect on the horror of war and to pray for peace in a reverent
and meaningful observance of Remembrance Day, including
poignant guest speaker, Bob Hart, who recounted his life living as a teenager
through wartime.
Our Peer Leadership students are training before they take their anti-bullying
message to Grade 9 classes.
The Student Council retreat, and both
the one-day and overnight Grade 12 retreats continue to be very successful
and meaningful for our students. STM is the only high school in our system
to offer overnight retreats, and though this is at a significant cost
to the school, we are confident about their positive impact on our students.
Christian outreach programs have also
been very active this year. For example, our Knights for Cures
has raised $500 for the Cancer Assistance Program and promoted support
for the Kidney Foundation of Canada Walk encouraging sponsorship of an
STM student participant. They are currently involved organizing the Mitten
Tree for our Christmas Miracle. Co-Instructional Council
raised $1500 for CHML’s CityKidz Fund.
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Our Student
Council showed Catholicity in action organizing a Thanksgiving food
drive on behalf of The Good Shepherd and Neighbour-to-Neighbour.
Our More Outreach Program
is in full operation, seeking to assist our neediest students and their
families through an onsite food bank, used uniform items, basic school
supplies and some transportation support. This group of dedicated staff
and students welcomes donations.
Our More
Earth group is demonstrating great leadership in our call
to be good stewards of the earth. We are hoping to become certified as
an ECO school, and so the group is busy recycling, implementing energy
saving strategies, and has also organized two campus and neighborhood
clean up days.
Our Utopia students participated in the Ghandi Walk for Peace and the
Youth Forum in October, and recently hosted our annual Java Knight to
support free trade farming in the Dominican Republic.
Our Culture
of Life group has been very active, participating in the diocese’s
Respect Life Chain. They also hosted a guest speaker, Dr. Clement Persaud,
a world-renowned specialist in bioethics and strong supporter adult stem
cell research. Recently, this group also organized a Day of Silent Solidarity
to show recognition of and respect for all those whose voices have been
silenced by abortion.
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Hundreds
of STM students participated in our board’s Pilgrimage Walk
with Christ, Justice for the Poor event in October, raising money
for anti-poverty initiatives in Uganda and Haiti. Our new Knight Runners
club is combining a love of running with a sense of service by entering
local charity runs / walks to such as the recent Road2Hope Run. Finally,
we look forward to our Advent mass which will be celebrated by His
Excellency Bishop Anthony Tonnos on December 4, and our inspirational
Christmas Miracle Campaign which will provide gifts to approximately 300
needy children and teens and gift baskets for their families.
Guided by prayer and our Gospel values,
our school community continues to focus on this year’s theme and
God's invitation: “Abide in me as I
abide in you. I am the vine, you are the branches….go and bear fruit,
fruit that will last.” Jesus in central in our lives,
and in everything we strive to do as a faith community. |
| Academically,
we are at the halfway point of the semester, and I hope that the Midterm
Report Card distributed November 13 indicates success. Further communication
about your child’s progress will certainly be available at Parent-Teacher
Interviews Thursday, November 19 (1 – 3 p.m. and 6 – 8:30
p.m.). Appointments can be made at your request through your son / daughter.
Honour Roll certificates were presented to students at the grade level
assemblies during the first week of school, based on the previous year’s
results.
The Grade 9 Curriculum Night
on September 28 was well attended, very informative and much appreciated
judging by the positive comments received.
In early November, Patricia
Amos, new Director of Education, visited with us to present the
Director’s Awards of Excellence to students for academic achievement,
excellent effort and Catholic leadership. |
The Board’s After-hours
Tutoring Program is in full swing, running Tuesdays and Thursdays
3 – 4:30 p.m. Our Prefects offer additional support to students
through lunch-hour tutoring in the Library.
Grade 10 OSSLT and Grade 9 EQAO
math results have been received indicating that STM continues to lead
other secondary schools both in our Board and across the province in achievement
and in improvement in most areas of testing.
Staff will be continuing the implementation
of new curriculum in various subject areas, as well as the implementation
of our school goals for the year. Cross-curricular literacy and Student
Success initiatives continue to be Board and school priorities with committees
hard at work to support classroom goals and strategies. Staff is involved
in numerous in-service sessions, professional development activities and,
as always at STM, continues to work collaboratively to ensure consistency.
STM continues to be on the leading edge of curriculum development as is
demonstrated by the success of assistive technology in courses where students
can benefit from this classroom accommodation. |
The
co-instructional program at STM continues to shine! Many teams have now
completed successful seasons, while newly formed teams will soon begin
their seasons. Various reports are found throughout this newsletter highlighting
the accomplishments and success of our students and teacher coaches. All
of our teams have been very competitive.
Congratulations to the outstanding
season and team spirit of our Senior Football team, Field Hockey
team and Cross-Country team. Congratulations to our Midget
and Senior Girls Basketball teams who advanced to the semi-final
round and only narrowly defeated. Our best wishes to our Junior
Girls Basketball team and our Junior Football team
as they advance to the championship round which at the time of printing
has not yet taken place.
Certainly, the success of our teams is due not only to the exception
athleticism of our students, but also to the talent, dedication and time
commitment of our fine teacher coaches and advisors. Well done STM!
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| Student Council
has organized three successful dances, two spirit weeks, and an opening
welcome assembly, numerous community-building lunch time activities, a
Thanksgiving food drive, and is currently planning our upcoming Prom.
The Prefects have shown
their leadership through events such as the Grade 8 Orientation in August,
a Club Fair in September to promote school involvement among Grade 9s
and all new students, a Blood Donor Clinic and various tasty charity bake
sales.
The Co-instructional Council has been busy enhancing school
spirit by promoting school teams and sports events, and raising funds
for charity including our own More Outreach Program. |
The Yearbook
Project distributed what will be a cherished memento of the 08-09
school year, and are hard at work planning this year’s edition of
the Squire.
Our Diversity group
participated in the Board’s annual conference in mid-November and
is busy planning a number of initiatives.
Each of our award-winning Vocal
Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band and Guitar Band are all working
hard, making preparations for many performances this year, including feeder
school concerts, school masses, church concerts, music competitions and
sports events.
The CMOR Crew has been
diligently producing and telecasting morning announcements of amazing
professional quality, while our Stage Crew works tirelessly
to offer technical support and set up for assemblies, concerts and numerous
other events.
Our Cheerleaders have
certainly enhanced school spirit at sports events and pep rallies, and
have experienced a growth spurt as their numbers and performances have
multiplied. |
Our Dance Squad
is having a strong year including a performance for over 5,000
participants at the Board’s Pilgrimage Walk.
The Live It Up Girls Club
is a fun and active group involving girls in fitness activities in a social
setting.
Our More Gardens group
is now running and is a great opportunity for students who wish to develop
a bit of a green thumb!
The Animé Knights Club
meets regularly to share their love of Japanese animation as well as to
try their hand at this art form.
Work has begun in earnest in preparation
for this year’s musical, Bye Bye Birdie, with over
100 auditions taking place in November and rehearsals set to start in
December for performances in early May. |
Even our future STM
students from our five feeder schools can get involved in STM activities.
Those who wish to learn a musical
instrument as part of our First Knights Concert Band meet
weekly and will eventually perform for their families and friends at the
end of the session.
With over 80 clubs, teams and groups
and STM, there is opportunity for everyone to find something to get involved
in the extra-curricular life of the school! As always, positive parental
support for our co-instructional activities is appreciated. |
STM CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL 09-10
- Co-chairs Nancy Cupido
Donna Marcaccio
- Secretary George Montague
- Treasurer Terri Howarth
- Directors Diana Burrows
Daniela Del Monaco
Sharon Principi
Catherine Raso
- Teaching Staff Representative Julie
Silvestri
- Community Representative Anna Barbati
- Student Representative Emily O’Rourke
- Non-Teaching Staff Rep. Marsha
Cino
- Parish Representative Sue Hamilton
- Principal Susanna Fortino-Bozzo
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- September 24, 2009
- October 6, 2009
- November 10, 2009
- December 8, 2009
- January 12, 2010
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- February 9, 2010
- March 9, 2010
- April 13, 2010
- May 11, 2010
- June 15, 2010
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Please help your child
plan for final exams!
As the semester draws to an end in
January with Friday, January 22 as the last day of classes, it is important
that students plan in advance to prepare adequately for exams. Students
will receive instructions, strategies, review material and study tips
from their teachers. They will also receive their own personalized exam
schedule and Semester End Information Sheet which we hope you will post
in a visible area of your home to help your child plan ahead. Please be
aware that board / school policy does not permit students to miss a designated
final exam date for any reason other than certified medical reasons. Please
ensure that winter vacations are not scheduled during exam week.
* Please note: Final exam dates are printed incorrectly in the Student
Agenda book. Final exams will take place
JANUARY 25 – 29 (not Jan. 20-26). |
A note about parking on campus!
When visiting STM, please ensure that you heed the fire route signs posted
on campus. When dropping off students, please proceed to into the parking
lanes. Do not stop in fire route zones such as in front of the main entrance.
We are required by law to keep driveways and paths clear at all times, so
that in case of fire or other emergency, access to these areas is not an
issue for emergency vehicles. Also, buses for our students with special
needs must have a clear entry and exit path several times each day. We
have been informed that By-law enforcement officers will regularly visit
our school and will levy $75 fines to drivers who park in unauthorized areas.
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