Bi-Line Newsletter

Student Services

Skills Canada Ontario Pin contest

Congratulations to Kevin Witkowski for his success in the Skills Canada Ontario Pin contest. Kevin completed his coop placement last semester in a graphics placement at the Nicholas Mancini Centre. He entered a competition to design a pin for Skills Canada. He won the competition and the official pin, based on Kevin’s design, will be manufactured for the upcoming 2010 Ontario Technological Skills Competition. This pin will be distributed to all competitors, volunteers and partners involved with this year’s competition. Kevin will be presented with a gold medal and the pin that he inspired at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex on May 19.

Graduation 2010

Graduation is only a few months away. It is a time to recognize the accomplishments of our graduating students and to share in the joy of their success. Outlined below are the graduation activities that have been organized by our staff and our graduation committee at St. Thomas More.

Graduation Mass – Cathedral of Christ the King
Monday, June 28, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
Graduation Brunch & Rehearsal – Hamilton Convention Centre
Monday, June 28, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (for graduates only)
Graduation Ceremony (Distribution of Scrolls & Awards) – Hamilton Place
Monday, June 28, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. (students to arrive at 6:15 p.m.)
Graduation Dinner/Dance– Liuna Station
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. to Midnight

To participate in the 2010 Graduation, eligible students must pay their Graduation Fees between May 3rd and May 7th, 2010. Students will receive their guest tickets for Hamilton Place when they submit their fees. All tickets for Hamilton are reserved seating.

Specialist High Skills Major

The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is a Ministry-approved program that provides students with the opportunity to customize their high school experience and build on their strengths and interests. We currently have over 120 students registered in the SHSM program at St. Thomas More. SHSM allows students to focus their learning on a specific sector while meeting the requirements for their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Upon graduation SHSM students will receive an Ontario Secondary School Diploma with an embossed red seal that identifies completion of the SHSM program. Students will also receive formal recognition on their Ontario Student Transcript.

At St. Thomas More, we are currently running SHSM in three different sectors – Arts & Culture, Business and Construction. In September 2010, pending Ministry approval, St. Thomas More will be offering a fourth SHSM sector – Social Justice/Community Development.