St. Brigid CES in Stouffville has always emphasized the importance of literacy, and in the coming months, local community members will help students grow a love of reading.��

These special guests, from various careers, backgrounds and interests, will model that reading is an exciting way for all students to explore new ideas, enjoy a story and just have fun.

Thank you to the following people who have agreed to share one of their favourite books with St. Brigid students: 

• Ian Lovatt, Mayor of Stouffville
• Adam Sgroi, Whitchurch-Stouffville Fire Department
• Miguel Torres, Staff Sergeant at the York Regional Police’s Stouffville sub-station
• Frank Ferragine, TV personality also known as “Frankie Flowers”
• Shem from Kiss 92.5
• Jim Mason, journalist and broadcaster
• Eon Macfarlene, Toronto Police Service
• Cynthia Undyantara, an artist with experience in the animation industry
• Dr. Abby Farrell, family physician and St. Brigid CES alum
• Rowan Smith and Henry Austin from the Stouffville Spirit hockey team
• Rod Black, sports commentator 
• Ron Sciulli, author
• Deacon Gordon Lee from St. Mark’s Parish, Stouffville
• David Corry, co-host on CHUM 104.5
• Sadie Caldarola, zookeeper

Catholic education thrives when schools, families, parishes and the wider community come together to support children’s education, so we are grateful to everyone who is making this initiative possible.��

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Congratulations to Francesco De Bartolo, Principal of Our Lady of Hope CES in Richmond Hill, Ont., who is among the winners of the 2026 Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario’s (CPCO) “Elementary Principal of the Year” award.

Francesco is known for his dedication to the ˿����Ƶ���� (˿����Ƶ����), and especially to  its students and staff. He is an excellent example of leadership in Catholic education and he is very deserving of this Ontario-wide recognition.��

Below is Francesco’s biography, which was submitted to the CPCO:

Francesco De Bartolo has dedicated 24 years to York Catholic, with 10 years serving as an administrator (principal/vice principal). A lifelong learner and passionate educator, he is committed to fostering inclusive, engaging and student-centered learning environments. Francesco’s leadership is guided by collaboration, innovation and a deep understanding of educational best practices. He continually seeks opportunities to grow professionally while supporting the growth of staff and students alike. Known for his dedication, integrity and approachable leadership style, he strives to create a school culture where every student feels valued, challenged and empowered to reach their full potential.

Congratulations again to Principal De Bartolo! It is excellent to see the ˿����Ƶ����’s amazing principals being acknowledged at the provincial-level for their selfless service to our community.

The Board of Trustees and Senior Team always look forward to recognizing ˿����Ƶ���� students and staff who have achieved incredible accomplishments. At the February 2026 Regular Board Meeting, the following students were recognized.

Alexa from St. Edward Catholic Elementary School in Markham, Ont., won first prize in the ShareLife School Poster Contest with the help of her teacher Mme. Dagher.

Angel from St. Agnes of Assisi Catholic Elementary School in Woodbridge, Ont., won second place in the ShareLife School Poster Contest.

This is an incredible accomplishment by both Alexa and Angel, as this contest was open to all students in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Students from Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy in Markham, Ont., were awarded second prize in the secondary school category of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association’s (OCSTA) Short Video Contest. This contest was open to all Ontario students, which is a testament to the excellent work of students Zachary, Ismael and Kishan, who were guided by their religion teacher, Ms. Alexa Marro.

You can watch their winning video by .

Congratulations to all students, their families and the staff at their schools!

St. Justin Martyr Catholic Elementary School students and staff came together this Black Heritage Month to celebrate and honour Black excellence.

Students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 in this Unionville, Ont., school had the privilege of hearing from guest artist Duane Gibson, whose engaging and uplifting presentation delivered a powerful message: Stay Driven. His visit sparked meaningful conversations amongst students and staff.

St. Justin Martyr CES also transformed its main foyer with student art, which reinforced that it is a safe, welcoming and celebratory space for the entire school community. The art display puts a spotlight on Black history, culture and achievement.

Congratulations to the St. Justin Martyr community for celebrating Black Heritage Month with creativity and beauty.

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St. Brother André Catholic High School in Markham, Ont., was proud to celebrate its student, Angelika, whose original artwork was featured at the Jean Augustine Chair in Education Black History Month Event at York University.

The event honours the legacy of the Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman Member of Parliament and cabinet minister, and brings together students, educators and community leaders to celebrate Black excellence. Angelika’s stunning artwork was displayed at the event, a remarkable recognition of her talent and creative vision.

Angelika even had the opportunity to meet and be photographed with Dr. Augustine herself.��

This wonderful achievement was made possible, in part, thanks to the support of the ˿����Ƶ����’s (˿����Ƶ����) Black Excellence Graduation Coaches, especially Saran James-Vaughan. Their dedication helps ˿����Ƶ���� students reach their full potential and access opportunities like this one.��

Congratulations, Angelika! Your talented artwork is an inspiration to the entire ˿����Ƶ���� community!

St. Justin Martyr CES in Unionville, Ont., was thrilled to welcome David Corey, co-host of the Marilyn Denis Show on 104.5 CHUM FM, into their Grade 1 class on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

David was there to meet Ms. Noronha’s class, read them a book about virtues and answer their questions. With the next day being Let’s Talk Day, the conversation included some discussion about mental health topics, which David found impressive.

Students were so excited that St. Justin Martyr’s mascot, Wolfie, came out to greet this local celebrity.

You can listen to David and Marilyn Denis discussing the visit on the radio .��

Thank you to the St. Justin Martyr staff, students and Principal Stuart for making this special day possible. And thank you, David Corey, for visiting the ˿����Ƶ����! You are welcome back anytime! 

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Each year, schools across Canada join the CBC Music Class Challenge, where students show their talents by performing a song made by a Canadian artist. With entries representing every province and territory, this competition is known for its exceptional artistry.

On Friday, December 19, 2025, CBC announced the winners of the various musical categories and St. Augustine CHS in Markham, Ont., placed first in Canada in the Intermediate Instrumental (Grades 7–9) category!

Two Grade 9 instrumental classes worked together to record a cover of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.” The students’ spirited performance showcased their exceptional abilities through this uplifting interpretation of a Canadian pop classic.
St. Augustine CHS Principal Mr. Cocchetto shared, “We are very proud of the efforts and talent demonstrated by our Grade 9 music students. We greatly appreciate music teacher, Ms. Iwanenko, for her passion and for inspiring a love of music in our students.”

Two Other ˿����Ƶ���� Finalists

The ˿����Ƶ���� (˿����Ƶ����) was delighted that two other schools were among this year’s finalists:

• St. Maximilian Kolbe CHS (Aurora) – Intermediate Vocal (Grades 7–9)
• Cardinal Carter CHS (Aurora) – Senior Instrumental (Grades 10–12)

We congratulate all the students and staff who were involved in this remarkable achievement.

St. Maximilian Kolbe CHS – Intermediate Vocal Finalist

The choir at St. Maximilian Kolbe CHS in Aurora, Ont., performed Nelly Furtado’s “I’m Like a Bird.”

St. Maximilian Kolbe’s choir leader, Ms. Doria, remarked, “We are incredibly proud of their recognition as a Top 10 National Finalist!”

And St. Maximilian Kolbe Principal Ms. Miranda added, “Since their inception last year, the choir has worked tirelessly to blend their voices and create something beautiful. We congratulate them on making the Top 10 in all of Canada.”

Cardinal Carter CHS – Senior Instrumental Finalist

The Grade 12 music class at Cardinal Carter CHS in Aurora, Ont., also impressed judges with its engaging, dynamic arrangement of “Call Me Maybe.”

Cardinal Carter CHS Vice Principal Ms. Akleh shared, “The students’ energy, dedication and musicianship shine through beautifully in their performance.”

Vice Principal Akleh also wanted to acknowledge music teacher Ms. Sharpe: “Her commitment to our students’ success has played a significant role in this achievement.”

Congratulations to every student, teacher and school community that participated in this year’s CBC Music Class Challenge. We’re all proud of your talents and hard work. You are great examples of Catholic education!

˿����Ƶ���� (˿����Ƶ����) students are encouraged to use their gifts to make the world a better place. Students at Cardinal Carter CHS in Aurora, Ont., are doing just that with a new video explaining the dangers of impaired driving that will be shown across Canada.��

Cardinal Carter CHS’s 2024-25 Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID) group was selected to be part of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s (MADD’s) official school video, which you can watch below.��

These students did an excellent job using their creativity to share an incredibly important message: that driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs is never okay. The video says that road crashes are the leading cause of death for people aged 15-24, and that half of those collisions involved alcohol or drugs.��

This video will be shown to students across Canada to help create safer communities and save lives.

In recognition of all the hard work of Cardinal Carter’s students, they were bestowed with the MADD Canada Youth Award. And Cardinal Carter student, Camila, has been named to the OSAID Provincial Youth Advisory Team.��

On October 25, 2025, Catholic educators from across Ontario gathered to honour some remarkable students who have demonstrated outstanding academic success while taking an active role in school life, community initiatives and parish involvement.��

These students, including 13 from the ˿����Ƶ���� (˿����Ƶ����), won the 2025 Catholic Student Award, which is presented by the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association (OCSTA) and the Catholic Education Foundation of Ontario (CEFO).��

Their leadership, compassion and commitment to living out our Catholic values make them deserving of this recognition.

We are delighted to congratulate this year’s recipients from the ˿����Ƶ����:

• Holly Binelli from Cardinal Carter CHS in Aurora
• Rosangela Marchello from Father Bressani CHS in Woodbridge 
• Kennedi Palermo from Father Michael McGivney CA in Markham
• Yohan Ghadiali from Holy Cross CA in Woodbridge 
• Giada Marchione from Our Lady Queen of the World CA in Richmond Hill
• Rylee Abrams-Magloughlen from Sacred Heart CHS in Newmarket
• Liann Desouza from St. Augustine CHS in Markham
• Caseyna Ponniah from St. Brother André CHS in Markham
• Tara Avsec from St. Elizabeth CHS in Thornhill 
• Kiera Da Silva in St. Jean de Brébeuf CHS in Woodbridge
• Sorayah Omoh-Thompson from St. Joan of Arc CHS in Maple
• Michael Crane from St. Maximilian Kolbe CHS in Aurora
• Kian Dela Cruz from St. Robert CHS in Thornhill

We are exceptionally proud of these inspiring young people. Their example of faith in action – in the classroom and in service to others – reflects the very heart of Catholic education.��

Congratulations to all 2025 Catholic Student Award recipients from the ˿����Ƶ����. We are confident they will continue to use their gifts and faith to make the world a better place.��

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