School Objectives for the Year
To bring the presence of Christ into every area of school life, by providing opportunities to participate in the liturgical life. We also try to encourage our school community to have a greater appreciation and understanding of local and global issues as well as individual responsibilities as global citizens.
How we live our Catholic Faith: Our Belief
The Father Bressani Catholic High School, A School for International Studies and Advanced Placement Centre of Excellence, community believes that a Catholic high school is one in which the teachings of Jesus Christ are integrated into the day to day curriculum and social fabric of high school. The life roles, knowledge, skills and attitudes outlined in the Ontario Catholic School Graduates Expectations (Institute for Catholic Education) describe the seven distinctive expectations that the Catholic Community has for graduates of Catholic secondary schools. We have many opportunities to pray and demonstrate our Catholic faith including: prayer services, classroom liturgies and Sacramental Life, daily prayer, an active pastoral team, opportunities for individual student reflection in our chapel, and retreats for staff and students.
Chaplaincy Team: M. Di Nardo, N. Federico
We live our Catholic Faith by focusing on service, relationships, the Word of God, and lay witness and leadership. Our Chaplaincy Team co-ordinates with local pastors the many areas of our faith life. We also have Catholic symbols throughout our school and our parish representative is our liaison with the parish.
Demonstrating our Faith
Our faith is shown by: liturgical celebrations, reconciliation, outreach to Catholic organizations (St. Francis Table & Scott Mission). We have contributed through fund-raising: Children’s Wish Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, World Youth Day, Consolatta Missions Cian Food For Children and Sheepfold School of The Good Shepherd School in Port-Au-Prince Haiti and Sharelife.
Christian Service is a component of every Religion course at Father Bressani. As important as learning about our faith, is putting our faith into action. One important way of putting our faith into action is service (e.g. students are expected to perform 10 hours of service each year).
“Whatever you do even to the lest of your brothers and sisters, you do to me” (Jesus of Nazareth)
York Catholic District School Board – Mission
The Mission of the York Catholic District School Board is to educate each student to reach full potential in a dynamic, Christ-centred learning community which accentuates our unique Canadian identity in partnership with home and Church.
Guidance Information
Guidance Department Head: Tania DiPaola
Guidance Secretary: Christina Marascio
Telephone Number: 905-851-0977
The Guidance Department assists students in making informed educational and career decisions. Counsellors help students to select high school courses to ensure that students will have the prerequisites for post-secondary studies. Working with individuals or small groups, counsellors will also assist students in resolving personal, social, and academic concerns.
School
Semestered: Semester One: September to January
Semester Two: February to June
Number of Students: 1300
Number of Full Time Teachers: 73, plus 4 Administrators
Number of Support Staff: 21
Catholic Graduate Outcomes
The ultimate goal of the educational thrust at Father Bressani Catholic High School is to develop the mind and also to nurture the soul of our students. Our graduates will attain the skills and knowledge needed for success in post-secondary study and employment in our technological society. Equally important, our graduates will have the “character” of a Catholic citizen with an understanding of values, attitudes, morals and duty expected of our young catholic adults.
The expectations of a graduate of Father Bressani are summarized as follows:
- A student who is successful academically;
- A discerning believer formed in the Catholic Faith community who celebrates the signs and sacred mystery of God’s presence through word, sacrament, prayer, forgiveness, reflection and moral living;
- An effective communicator, who speaks, writes and listens honestly and sensitively, responding critically in light of gospel values;
- A reflective, creative and holistic thinker who solves problems and makes responsible decisions with an informed moral conscience for the common good;
- A self-directed, responsible, lifelong learner who develops and demonstrates his/her God-given potential;
- A collaborative contributor who finds meaning, dignity and vocation in work which respects the rights of all and contributes to the common good;
- A caring family member who attends to the needs of family, school, parish, and the wider community; and
- A responsible citizen who gives witness to Catholic social teaching by promoting peace, justice and sacredness of human life.
Facilities
School Chapel, Communications Technology Lab, Three Gyms, Teaching Library with a Computer Centre, Computer Labs, Science Labs, Drama Room, and Chaplaincy Centre.