At St. Brendan Catholic School, we believe that every child is unique and has individual talents and needs. We strive to maximize the potential of each of our students and foster Christian values, self-esteem, and respect. The catechetical program, as approved by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, is the foundation for the instructional program in religious education. Among a variety of strategies employed to ensure a Catholic environment, we practice the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Acts of charity such as participation in food drives, the Share Life campaign, ME to WE and supporting families in need, both within the local community and global community, are encouraged as gestures of Gospel values at work.
A vital component of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) vision is the desire to foster a save and welcoming learning environment that is an example of Christian community. Our safe arrival program is one example of this mission in action. Through cooperative parent-school communication, parents advise the school regarding their child's absence. In the event that the school is not notified and absence occurs, parents are contacted immediately in order to determine the whereabouts of their child. In addition, every effort is made to attend to the health and safety of the students. We encourage parents to notify us of health conditions which may affect their child at school. We also strive to keep parents and guardians informed of issues and situations which impact on their child's health and safety. It is our desire to make all members of our school community feel welcome when entering St. Brendan Catholic School. We are pleased to provide information about our school and community, and maintain collaborative communication with all educational stakeholders.
Clear expectations for student behaviour are another important element of school life. General guidelines for student deportment are presented to the students in a variety of formats including Bruin Pride assemblies, newsletters, announcements, and classroom discussions. Regular review and reinforcement takes place throughout the year. The violence prevention policy of the TCDSB reflects our serious commitment to the well-being of all members of the school community.
The curriculum emphasizes principles and methods that allow us to accommodate the various abilities, needs, and interests, as well as the differing racial and ethno-cultural backgrounds, of all the students in the community. At St. Brendan we have undertaken a review of the program area of personal and social development: self and society. This is consistent with our school's desire to focus on peaceful conflict resolution and problem-solving strategies for our students. In addition, St. Brendan is enhancing technological education and computer literacy through on-going staff in-service, the acquisition of new equipment and increased emphasis on computer skills.
In order to meet the wide-ranging needs of individual students, teachers modify programs within the regular class and consult with school staff and other resource personnel in order to provide appropriate programs. Special programs support students with specific and exceptional needs.
St. Brendan offers a full range of extra and co-curricular activities. Musical productions, choirs concerts, and drama clubs offer students venues to display their artistic talents. School chess and W5H teams provide opportunities for friendly competition to students who excel in these areas. An extensive house league program, where participation is the essential component, provides opportunities for students to have fun, develop skill, and learn sportsmanship. Inter-school sports have long been a focus at St. Brendan. We have a tradition of excellent and competitive teams, particularly in hockey, soccer, volleyball and cross-country. A school swim club is also available for all entrusted students.
