Putting a Catholic voice in schools
![John Kostoff, director of education with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, has authored a book on keeping the Catholic identity in schools. john kostoff](/images/stories/education/education10/johnkostoff.jpg)
Kostoff had seen a newspaper photo of a child from Nigeria holding a sign reading “Thank you, Neil McNeil.” That sealed the deal for Kostoff, who chose Neil McNeil High School because of the school’s active involvement in helping survivors of the 1967-70 Nigerian Civil War.
Prom Night a rite of passage for all teens
![Jenny Lawlor, left, and her sister Nicky take in a rite of passage for all teens — Prom Night. At top, the girls check into the prom for Ajax, Ont.’s Archbishop Dennis O’Connor High School. At left, the sisters share a limo ride. (Photos by Michael Swan) Prom Night](/images/stories/education/education10/promnight.jpg)
Lawlor has Down syndrome and is one of about 25 special needs students at Archbishop Denis O’Connor High School in Ajax. Every year a few of the special needs kids attend the prom along with the graduating students.
The special needs students are no less a part of 900-strong student body than any one else, said principal Mary Curran. That’s simple and obvious.
Court ruling affirms freedom of religion for Quebec Catholic school
![Justice](/images/stories/misc/misc08/justice.jpg)
On June 21, Quebec’s Superior Court slammed the “totalitarian” approach of the Quebec government and ruled that Loyola High School can not be forced to teach the controversial Ethics and Religious Culture course because it infringes upon their charter rights of free expression and religion.
De La Salle (Oaklands) Cadet Corps forms character
![Grade 6 student Aiden McCarthy goes over the edge, rappelling down De La Salle College’s two-story library. McCarthy’s mother said he was nervous, but that she wanted him to take risks. (Photo by Sheila Dabu) Grade 6 student Aiden McCarthy goes over the edge, rappelling down De La Salle College’s two-story library. McCarthy’s mother said he was nervous, but that she wanted him to take risks. (Photo by Sheila Dabu)](/images/stories/education/education10/mccarthynonato.jpg)
He is one of 12 students — 11 boys and one girl — who are part of the De La Salle (Oaklands) Cadet Corps program. Now in its 100th year, the program is one of the few remaining — if not the only — Catholic cadet corps in Canada. It is part of a century-old tradition of training leaders at the private Catholic school for Grade 5-to-12 students run by the De La Salle Brothers.
The peace of St. Francis comes to high school
![Art teacher Patrizia Montefiore is joined by students who helped build a mosaic of their school’s patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, at James Cardinal McGuigan High School. Other students and staff also contributed to the project by bringing in tiles or cutting them in the shape of doves, flowers, a wolf and St. Francis. (Photo by Sheila Dabu) Art teacher Patrizia Montefiore is joined by students who helped build a mosaic of their school’s patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, at James Cardinal McGuigan High School. Other students and staff also contributed to the project by bringing in tiles or cutting them in the shape of doves, flowers, a wolf and St. Francis.](/images/stories/education/education10/montefiore.jpg)
The St. Francis mosaic has become an instrument to spread the saint’s message of peace, charity and environmental stewardship at the school.
Students take charge at Toronto pro-life conference
![Kelden Formosa, a Grade 12 student at Toronto’s Bishop Allen Academy, addresses a student leadership day at the University of St. Michael’s College May 11 during Respect for Life Week. (Photo by Carolyn Girard) Kelden Formosa](/images/stories/education/education10/keldentalks.jpg)
The TCDSB hosted it’s annual Respect for Life Week but turned its usual keynote address into a student leadership day which drew more than 70 students to learn about the issues and how to take action.
New OCSTA president seeks equity for Catholic schools
![OCSTA’s president Nancy Kirby OCSTA’s president Nancy Kirby](/images/stories/education/education10/kirbynancy.jpg)
Kirby, 57, was elected OCSTA’s president at its annual conference in Thunder Bay April 30.
Toronto school rescues Iraqi refugees
For Iraqi families that have endured months and years living as refugees in Damascus and Beirut, just landing in Canada doesn't solve all their problems.
But the Ontario's publicly funded Catholic schools come close. Take a virtual visit to St. Andrew's Catholic School in Etobicoke.
Northern project helps aboriginal students succeed
![North West Catholic District School Board](/images/stories/schoolB_logos/northwestcdsb.jpg)
Kelly, Northwestern Catholic District School Board Director of Education, facilitated a presentation on the Oral Language Project at the 80th annual general meeting of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association from April 29 to May 1 in Thunder Bay, Ont.
100 years of memories celebrated at Toronto's St. John's School
![Old St. John's school](/images/stories/education/education10/oldstjohns.jpg)
Carroll is now a teacher at her old school on Kingston Road in Toronto's east end and will be joining alumni in celebrating St. John's centenary milestone May 8. Carroll says the event will be special, not only because she is an alumni, but her husband also attended the school, and their children are now students there.
Celebrate the gift of our distinct Catholic system
![Our Catholic school system is unique and should be celebrated by Catholics. (CNS photo/Martin Lueders) Catholic school](/images/stories/education/education10/schools4.jpg)
At times it could also be gut wrenching. Prayer petitions about everything from cancer, family break ups, job losses, to the death of a dear pet, tugged at our hearts. But in those moments of prayer, on Friday’s at lunch time, we had each other and our faith.