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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On Thursday, March 5, 2026, the Minister of Education placed the ˿����Ƶ���� (˿����Ƶ����) under supervision. While under supervision, all decisions that would normally be made by trustees, with the exception of denominational matters, will now be made by the appointed Supervisor, Carrie Kormos.

You can read a letter from the Minister of Education by and .

You can read the Minister of Education’s vesting order by .

The Mandate of the Supervisor can be read by .

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 Minister of Education has approved updates to the Grades 7, 8, and 10 History curriculum, which will take effect in the 2026-27 school year.��

These updates are described by the Ministry of Education as:

Students will learn about significant contributions of Black individuals and communities to Canada’s foundation as a nation, and the obstacles they faced in the pursuit of building an inclusive and prosperous country.��

The Grade 10 History course will also have new learning on extreme political and social ideologies, the Holocaust and rising antisemitism, and the Holodomor famine in Ukraine.

Parent overviews are available for the and the .

We encourage all parents and guardians to visit the , which is full of useful information and resources.

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!

As part of our Lenten observances, the ˿����Ƶ���� (˿����Ƶ����) community is proud to share that our schools will participate in a board-wide fundraising initiative to support Christian schools in the Holy Land. In late February and early March, students are asked to donate a toonie in exchange for an additional civvies day or a special school-based activity.

The money raised will support the Latin Patriarchate school system, which educates nearly 19,000 students of all faiths in 44 K–12 schools in Jordan, Palestine and Israel. This school system and the local Christian community have experienced significant financial hardship due to the pandemic and recent regional conflicts.

All funds raised by the ˿����Ƶ���� will be donated to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ). This lay Catholic organization is raising $12 million to repair school buildings and pay teacher salaries.

For more information on this initiative, please a video from the EOHSJ or an info sheet.

Thank you for your generosity. Together, we help the children in the Holy Land and create a brighter future for all who live there.