The outside of Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School.

Our School

About Us

Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School is a vibrant, dynamic learning community that provides excellence in Catholic Education. With a faculty of talented and dedicated professionals, a strong and supportive parent community, an involved and successful alumnae, we offer our students an incredible opportunity to reach their full potential academically, socially and spiritually. We are a school with a difference! There is a spirit of community, creativity, and generosity that is clearly evident in every aspect of life at Mary Ward.

At Mary Ward, we embrace a philosophy and vision of education that is rooted in Gospel Values, acknowledges the unique gifts of each individual, and focuses on a personalized approach that ensures self-directed, lifelong learners well poised to meet many challenges of secondary school and beyond.

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Photo of the school building

How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students

Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School sincerely follows the Mission and Vision statements as articulated by the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). Further, we as a school community are also committed to the code of beliefs on which our school was founded.

Code of Beliefs

Because we believe in the worth and dignity of all human persons, we, the members of the Mary Ward school community, declare the following:

  • We affirm the multicultural and multiracial dimension of our community; prejudice, stereotyping, and jokes and language which insult or ridicule another culture or race, are not acceptable to use. We pledge our commitment to raise awareness, to realize we have a problem and to change our old ways.

  • We affirm the full equality of persons, male and female. Stereotyping, negative language and attitudes which see women as inferior to men, or which expect men to be “macho” are not acceptable to us. We pledge our commitment to raise awareness, to realize we have a problem and to change our old ways.

  • We affirm that the hope of humanity lies in peace and reconciliation. Physical and emotional violence, gossip, bullying and selfish behaviour are not acceptable to us. We pledge our commitment to raise awareness, to realize we have a problem and to change our old ways.

We, the members of the Mary Ward community declare our willingness to continue the many positive things we have been doing to build a better society. When abuses occur, we pledge that we will act with courage and concern to stop negative behaviour. We make our commitment to this declaration in the name of Jesus, who modeled this behaviour, and whose spirit guides our actions.

The school meets the academic needs of the students by means of the following:

  • Offering a full component of courses at the advanced, general and basic level of studies.

  • Developing a strong teacher advisory program assisting each student.

  • Providing gifted, extended French, English as a Second Language (ESL) and resource programs to better meet the individual needs of our students, and academic programs from enriched calculus to visual arts technology with animation and videography.

  • Teaching the responsibility of learning and good time management with use of the agenda booklet and the “directions for life” credit.

The school meets the co-curricular needs of the students by offering:

  • An extensive athletic program with over 30 inter-school competitive teams for serious athletes along with vibrant and diversified intramural programs for all students.

  • A sophisticated visual and performing arts program with major musical and dramatic productions such as “West Side Story”, “Guys and Dolls” and “The Women”. Student participation involves acting, singing, set design and construction, promotion and musical performance.

  • Musical bands and several different choirs hold numerous concerts across the city.

  • Student government with an active student council who plan and organize activities along with the Catholic School Parent Council (CSPC) and the school steering committee.

As a school community, we believe we must allow our students to maximize their growth potential in all areas within the framework of a school community shaped by beliefs and commitments such as those indicated above.

Our History

Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School was founded in 1985 by the Metropolitan Separate School Board (MSSB), now the TCDSB. The school is named after Mary Ward, founder of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loretto Sisters) and carries the traditions of Christian community and excellence in education that have been developed by the Loretto Sisters. The school occupies a wonderful new building at the corner of McNicoll Avenue and Kennedy Road in Scarborough.

Founded in 1985, the school is one of only seven in Canada which offers a unique mode of curriculum delivery emphasizing individualized learning and self-paced progress. The individualized learning is coupled with a unique and highly acclaimed teacher advisor-student program. A complete slate of academic programs is offered at all levels of study. Programs of a specialty nature such as English as a Second Language, gifted studies, extended French, cooperative education, technology, music, drama and visual arts are also available. In addition, the school offers a full range of co-curricular athletics, student clubs and spiritual programs which form an integral part of the entire school curriculum.

At Mary Ward, our students are taught the responsibility of learning and the value of appropriate time management.