Our School
Page Content At St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School we believe that the foundation of Catholic education is strengthened by the co operative relationship between home, school and parish. We have always been proud of the range of programs we have made available to our students to help them prepare for post secondary options and careers.
Our new state of the art facility features upgraded academic, athletic and technology facilities including
- vocal and instrumental Music rooms
- upgraded science, design, and communication technology labs
- a 345 seat theatre
- Fitness/weight room
- dance studio
- indoor track
- artificial turf field and track
Our building also features a partial Green roof, a rain water storage system, a grey water management system and solar panels for the hot water system.
Student Success Programs
Student Success Supports Recognizing that the transition to secondary school is an important factor in determining academic success, St. Thomas has established a number of programs for grade 9 students to welcome them to our school. Our incoming students are provided with orientation activities during their grade 8 year and at the end of August. Many of our incoming students have been involved in our PJ dances, or associate school athletic tournaments.
Once a student enters grade 9, they are assigned a Counsellor who is available for both academic and personal counselling throughout their high school career. Our students are also supported by our school Chaplain, Child and Youth Counsellor, school Social Worker and our Student Success Team and a mentoring program.
In September we welcome our grade 9s with a number of activities to help them feel part of the St. Thomas family. In terms of academics, our students have access to after school and online homework help as well as literacy and numeracy programs, credit recovery and credit rescue options.
Program Highlights
Program Highlights St. Thomas Aquinas is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World school, currently offering the Diploma Programme. IB World Schools share a common philosophy - a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that St. Thomas believes is important for our students. For further information about the IB organization and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org, or our information page at http://sta.hcdsb.org/IB_Program/IB.html
We also offer
- Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) in Health Care
- Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) in Cosmetology
- Co-operative Education
- Extended French Program
Clubs
Clubs We are very pleased to offer a wide choice of clubs, teams and activities for our students as a way to make new friends and explore new interests. The following co- curricular activities may be offered:
- Athetic Council
- Badminton
- Baseball
- Dragon Boat
- Band
- Vocal Music
- Student Council
- Pastoral Team
- School Theatre Production
- Peace and Justice Club
- Field Hockey
- Softball
- Rugby
- Graduation Committee
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Volleyball
- Tennis
- Golf
- Football
- Hockey
- Mathematics and Accounting Contests
- Model United Nations
- Track & Field
- Cross Country
- Anime Club
- Environmental Club
- Web Page
- Pro Life
- Domincan Republic Mission Trip
Before and After School Programs
Before and After School Program Involvement in the life of the school outside of the classroom is one of the keys to becoming engaged in the secondary school experience. St. Thomas offers a wide variety of co curricular activities that meet the needs and interests of all our students.
Our athletics program is recognized throughout Halton and the province for its successes. In the past five years alone the STA Raiders have competed and won either gold, silver or bronze medals at the provincial level in Track, Badminton, Soccer, Basketball and Hockey.
We also provide opportunities for students to develop their skills in our Visual Arts, Drama and Music.
Curriculum Focus
Curriculum Focus St. Thomas honours all student pathways in our academic program. The majority of our graduating students choose university and college programs as their post secondary destination. Our graduates have been awarded numerous scholarships and bursaries to continue their studies. To further enhance the offerings to our university bound students, St. Thomas is now a candidate school to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Students who are successful in this internationally recognized program can receive advanced standing in their first year university programs.
Our Board mission statement charges us with the responsibility to help produce students who are “enabled to transform society”. In partnership with our parishes and guided by our Gospel values and the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations ,we emphasize the development of Catholic leadership in our chaplaincy program, our classrooms and co curricular activities. All of our students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities we offer through grade level retreats, leadership training, community outreach programs and our religious studies program. At the grade 12 university level, students can also develop their leadership skills in one of our unique Interdisciplinary courses in Leadership, Human Rights or Peer Tutoring.
Environmental Focus
Environment Focus
Parent Community Involvement
Parent Community Involvement
|
Parish
Principal
Dwight Jonker
Vice Principal
Jeff Crowell
Teresa Castellarin
Secretary
Teresa Castellarin
Superintendent
Toni Pinelli
School Council Members
School Council Members Chair - Rose Prevost
Director of Education
Michael W Pautler
Secondary School
Bell Times
7:40 am
8:10 am
8:30 am
2:27 pm
2:40 pm
7:40 am
8:10 am
8:30 am
2:27 pm
2:40 pm
Our Vision
The Halton Catholic District School Board is a model learning community, widely recognized as distinctively Catholic, providing exceptional education, while nurturing the call to love and to serve as a people of faith, living out God's plan. |
|
Our Mission
The Halton Catholic District School Board, in partnership with home and Church, is dedicated to providing excellence in Catholic education by developing Christ-centred individuals enabled to transform society. |
|
|
Our Governing Values
At the Halton Catholic District School Board we know that:
- our school community exists to foster and exemplify Catholic values;
- the education of our students is a necessary investment in society;
- education is a lifelong process that fosters the worth of the individual;
- education is a process involving a partnership of students, home, school, Church and community;
- the education of everyone toward their fullest potential creates a better future;
- an effective learning environment fosters in each student a sense of unique value, self-esteem and importance to society;
- dedicated teachers and staff ensure a positive and caring learning environment enabling students to reach their full potential;
- the ability to understand, manage and direct change is essential to success; and
- we are accountable to the community for the effective management of our resources.
|
|
|
|