Toronto St. Patrick School embraces art and media

Another Toronto Catholic school is now slated to become an arts, media and technological school through new programming to begin in fall of 2011.

St. Patrick Catholic Secondary School in Toronto’s east end was selected for a Grades 9-12 arts, media and technologies centre after a review of five city schools including Cardinal Newman, Jean Vanier, Neil McNeil, Notre Dame and St. Patrick’s.

“St. Patrick’s is very pleased with the outcome of the (Accommodation Review Committee’s) process,” said Tracey Parish, the school’s principal. “It recognizes the existing strengths of our school community, as well as the future potential. We have the capacity to grow this program and create a balance in the programming options that are available to students in this part of the city.”

St. Patrick’s will join an elite of only three other schools that currently offer arts programming for students: Cardinal Carter Academy in the north, Father John Redmond in the west and Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton in the downtown area.

“This was a creative solution to what could have become a divisive process,” said director of Education Ann Perron. “It was wonderful to see all the school communities working collaboratively for the benefit of all students.”