Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School

For schools of a similar name, see Loreto College (disambiguation).
Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School

Cruci Dum Spiro Fido[1]
Throughout My Life, I Shall Place My Hope in the Cross
Address
101 Mason Boulevard
Hoggs Hollow, North York, Ontario, M5M 3E2
Canada
Coordinates 43°44′28.71″N 79°24′40.40″W / 43.7413083°N 79.4112222°W / 43.7413083; -79.4112222Coordinates: 43°44′28.71″N 79°24′40.40″W / 43.7413083°N 79.4112222°W / 43.7413083; -79.4112222
Information
School type Catholic High school
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
(Loretto Sisters)
Founded 1847
School board Toronto Catholic District School Board
Superintendent John Shain
Area 4
Area trustee Maria Rizzo
Ward 5
School number 510 / 728055
Principal Anita Bartolini
Vice Principals Giuseppina Pannozzo
Anyta Kyriakou
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 930 (2012-13[1])
Language English
Colour(s) Double Blue         
Mascot Gator
Team name (Loretto) Abbey Gators
Parish St. Margaret
Specialist High Skills Major Non-Profit
(Awaiting approval from the board)
Program Focus Extended French
Advanced Placement
Gifted
Website lorettoabbey.tcdsb.org

Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School (sporadically known as Loretto Abbey CSS, LACSS, Loretto Abbey, LAT, Loretto Abbey Toronto or Abbey) is an all-girls Catholic high school in Hogg's Hollow[2] neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. Established by the Loretto Sisters in 1847, it is one of Toronto's oldest educational institutions and is part of the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

Loretto Abbey operates on the non-semestered system offering Academic and Applied courses; approximately 85% of the school's courses are offered at the Academic level, educating girls to university-entrance standards. The school offers Co-operative Education, Extended French, Advanced Placement Programmes and Special Education (Resource and Gifted)

History

The school was originally established as a private school in 1847 by the Sisters of Loreto from Ireland (founded by the Venerable Mary Ward in 1609). Mary Ward advocated excellent education for young women so that they might “do great things” and this has always formed part of the ethos of Loretto schools.

The Loreto Sisters arrived in Toronto from Rathfarnham, Ireland, in 1847 at the invitation of Michael Power, the first Catholic bishop of Toronto. The school was named after their previous home of Loreto Abbey near Dublin. The first Superior of the Toronto community and principal of the school was Mother Teresa Ellen Dease, I.B.V.M.

Originally located on Duke Street, Loretto Abbey moved to a Bathurst Street site and then to Bond Street in 1860. In 1867 the school relocated to the former mansion of Attorney General Robert James on Wellington Street. In 1927, the school moved to its current home, a Gothic Tudor style building on Mason Boulevard.[3] The school is attached to Loretto Abbey, the motherhouse of the Loretto Sisters in Canada.

At one time, the Mason Boulevard building housed boarders and a private primary school in addition to the secondary school. The primary school, which was also run by the Loreto Sisters resident in the attached convent, closed in 1985. In 1967, at the request of the Ontario Bishops, students in Grades 9 and 10 were placed under the Metropolitan Separate School Board and no longer had to pay tuition. Fees were still charged for Grades 11-13. In 1985, the Ontario government began funding the last three years of high school and the Abbey ceased to be a private school.

2009-2010 EQAO results

85% of Grade 9 Academic math students were at Level 3 or 4. There were 193 students in the Grade 9 Academic classes during this time frame, 2% of whom were students with Special Education Needs (excluding gifted).[4]

22% of Grade 9 Applied math students were at Level 3 or 4. There were 36 students in the Grade 9 Applied classes during this time frame, 22% of whom were students with Special Education needs (excluding gifted).[4]

95% of students were successful in the Grade 10 literacy test, an increase of 1% from the previous year[5]

Fraser Institute ranking

Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School has a ranking of 97 out of 691 in the most recent five years as follows: 7.8 in 2007; 6.9 in 2008; 7.8 in 2009; 7.5 in 2010, and 7.8 in 2011.

The Fraser Institute's 2010/2011 report on Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School gave it an overall grade of 7.8/10, ranking it at 84 of 718 secondary schools in Ontario.[6]

Campus & facilities

The historic Tudor-gothic school building is located in a green neighbourhood adjacent to the Don Valley. The school has access to the Chapel in the Abbey, a pool, a gymnasium, computer facilities, a library, a 300-seat auditorium, a courtyard, a prayer garden and grotto, and a playing field.[7]

In 2011, the Loretto Sisters agreed to a sale of the entire Abbey to the Toronto Catholic District School Board, with the exception of the infirmary, and this will greatly increase the space available for classrooms and other facilities.[8] The sale to the school board preserves one of the oldest Catholic schools in Canada.[9] Sr. Evanne Hunter, the Loretto Sisters' provincial leader, said, "With about 1,000 students in one wing of the Abbey property... the school is in great need of space...Our members made many sacrifices to ensure that Catholic families could avail themselves of a Catholic education for their children, and we are pleased that this beautiful building, so rich with history and tradition, will continue to operate as a Catholic school for young women."[8][10]

Toronto City Council intends to designate the lands and buildings known municipally as 101 Mason Boulevard (Loretto Abbey), under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. "[11][12]

The campus was used as a filming location for the 2002 Disney movie, Cadet Kelly.

Co-curricular programme & traditions

Loretto Abbey offers a wide range of service, social, and athletic activities to develop students to their full potential.

Clubs and Teams: Abbey Singers, Abbey Times, Asian Association, Multicultural Club, Volunteer's Club, Sewing Club, Amnesty International, Anime Club, South Asian Association, Build to Learn Club - B2L, Current Issues, Debate Team, Dance Team, Economics Club, ESP (Empowered Student Partnership), Environmental Club, Filipino Club, Image Arts Club, Improv Team, In the Driver’s Seat, Irish Club, Italian Club, Knitting Club, LAT Concert Choir, LAT Voice, Loretto Leaders, Mock Trial, Peer Tutors, Portuguese Club, Reach For the Top, Sailing Club, Science Club, Skills Canada Team, Spanish Club, Urban Nations, Women Against Violence, Yearbook Club, Music Council, Concert Bands, Jazz Ensemble, Loretto Abbey Peace and Development.[13]

Sports: badminton, basketball, cross country, curling, field hockey, golf, hockey, ski team, soccer, soft ball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field, volleyball.[1]

Some annual traditions at Loretto include: Mother & Daughter Tea, Loretto Abbey Film Festival, Christmas Baskets, International Picnic, Multicultural Night, Father and Daughter Barbecue, Academic Awards Night, March Break Trips (International), Musical Performance at the Cardinal's Dinner, Semi-Formal, Multicultural Night, Spring Concert, Annual Drama Production, Fashion Show and many more.[14]

Overseas programmes

Loretto Abbey students participated in the 2009 India Study and Leadership Programme. The students participated in service learning and volunteered at Loretto schools in Calcutta, Darjeeling, and New Delhi. This excursion was in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Loretto Sisters and marked an ongoing involvement of the Sisters in maintaining the Mary Ward ethos at the school.[15] The third trip occurred in March, 2012.[16]

The Abbey also fundraises every year for Loretto schools overseas and for charities in need. In 2007, for instance, $25,000 was raised for Loreto St. Vincent's Primary School in Darjeeling. $10,000 was raised for the new Loreto school is South Sudan in 2012.[17] Proceeds from events like dances and civies day go towards the annual charity.[18]

Alumnae

Gallery

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Loretto Abbey C.S.S. - Homepage
  2. ↑ "Our Home Hogg’s Hollow :: Toronto, Ontario :: Hogg’s Hollow Overview, History, Parks and Recreation, Schools, Local Business, Restaurants and Bars". Ourhometoronto.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  3. ↑ Loretto Abbey School website
  4. 1 2 http://www.tcdsb.org/assessment/Secondary%20Web%20Data/EQAO%20Math%202010/Public/0510.pdf
  5. ↑ "Ontario Academic school ranking". Ontario.compareschoolrankings.org. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  6. ↑ "Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School Toronto Ontario Academic school ranking". Ontario.compareschoolrankings.org. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  7. ↑ Loretto Abbey Yearbook 2010
  8. 1 2 http://tcdsb.org/homePage/Tabs/TCDSB%20purchase%20Loretto%20Abbey,%20March%209,%202011.pdf
  9. ↑ http://tcdsb.org/schools/Loretto%20Abbey/Letter%20to%20Loretto%20Abbey,%20November%2012,%202012_purchase%20approval.pdf
  10. ↑ Archived June 10, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ "City of Toronto: Get involved - Public notice - Heritage land". Toronto.ca. 2011-12-02. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  12. ↑ Mosleh, Omar (8 February 2012). "City looks to designate Loretto Abbey". Town Crier. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Loretto Abbey Peace and Development: Water Depletion". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ "The 2009 India Study and Leadership Program | Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Canadian Province". Ibvm.ca. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  16. ↑ "Adventure Learning Experiences". Adventure Learning Experiences. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  17. ↑ "Loretto Abbey ties one on for Sudan school". Catholicregister.org. 2012-04-11. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  18. ↑ http://www.tcdsb.org/lorettoabbey/text_files/July7AbbeyNews.pdf
  19. ↑ "O’NEILL, MARGARET, named Mother Agatha - Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online". Biographi.ca. Retrieved 2013-03-26.

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