Loretto College School
Encyclopedia
Loretto College School is a Catholic high school for young women in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. It was founded by the Loretto Sisters Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1915, whose founder, Blessed Mary Ward
, advocated excellent education for young women so that they might “do great things”. The name “college” refers to the school's association with Loretto College, a component of the University of St. Michael's College
, part of the University of Toronto
.
The school building (built in 1954) and convent (built 1915) were located on Brunswick Avenue in the Annex neighbourhood and the school was usually known as "Loretto Brunswick". By the 1980s, there was also a building on Bathurst Street to accommodate overflow from the main campus.
The school was relocated to a new building in the Dufferin/St. Clair area in 2006. Part of that building had previously been a primary school called R.W. Scott.
Loretto's special education services are delivered through integrated programming in the mainstream classroom.
In addition to the academic program of study, students are encouraged to explore and develop the full range of their talents and interests by participating in athletics, student government, peer ministry, yearbook, leadership, drama, dance and musical activities.
Mary Ward and the Loretto Sisters are role models.
99% of our students met or exceeded Ministry standards for grade 9 reading. Our drama productions regularly win awards at the Sears Drama Festival. Our school athletic teams compete with the rest of the city and more,
The student population has grown in recent years however, we remain a small school in a small facility. This setting creates a “family” atmosphere where all members know that they belong.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was founded by the Loretto Sisters Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1915, whose founder, Blessed Mary Ward
Mary Ward
Mary Ward may refer to:* Mary Ward , 1585 - 1645, foundress of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an order of Roman Catholic nuns...
, advocated excellent education for young women so that they might “do great things”. The name “college” refers to the school's association with Loretto College, a component of the University of St. Michael's College
University of St. Michael's College
The University of St. Michael's College is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1852 by the Congregation of St. Basil of Annonay, France. While mainly an undergraduate college for liberal arts and sciences, St. Michael's retains its Roman Catholic affiliation through its postgraduate...
, part of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
History
Loretto College School was founded as a private school by the Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1915. The roots of the school go back to 1847 when the Loretto Sisters from Ireland opened a boarding and day school for young Catholic women in Toronto. The boarding school eventually became known as Loretto Abbey and the day school as Loretto "Bond Street" and then Loretto College.The school building (built in 1954) and convent (built 1915) were located on Brunswick Avenue in the Annex neighbourhood and the school was usually known as "Loretto Brunswick". By the 1980s, there was also a building on Bathurst Street to accommodate overflow from the main campus.
The school was relocated to a new building in the Dufferin/St. Clair area in 2006. Part of that building had previously been a primary school called R.W. Scott.
Student Life
Loretto College is a semestered school. Students select a program of study from courses at the academic, applied, open and locally developed levels. In Grade 11 and 12, courses are selected based on the student's post-secondary choice of destination- university, college, apprenticeship or the workplace.Loretto's special education services are delivered through integrated programming in the mainstream classroom.
In addition to the academic program of study, students are encouraged to explore and develop the full range of their talents and interests by participating in athletics, student government, peer ministry, yearbook, leadership, drama, dance and musical activities.
Spiritual Life
As at all Loretto schools, students at Loretto College School take a religion course each year. The school's faith life also includes retreats, liturgies, charitable works and Catholic perspectives across the curriculum.Mary Ward and the Loretto Sisters are role models.
Academics
One out of six students are on the school's honour role. 84% of our applicants have been accepted into post-secondary education in recent years. 100% of our students met or exceeded Ministry standards for grade 9 writing,99% of our students met or exceeded Ministry standards for grade 9 reading. Our drama productions regularly win awards at the Sears Drama Festival. Our school athletic teams compete with the rest of the city and more,
The student population has grown in recent years however, we remain a small school in a small facility. This setting creates a “family” atmosphere where all members know that they belong.
Youth and philanthropy at Loretto College
On April 27, Loretto College hosted its final Youth and Philanthropy Initiative presentations for the 2008-2009 school year. Each group advocated on behalf of a grassroots charity. Silent Voice is a not-for-profit charitable organization that offers community and family-based support to deaf children and adults. It provides social-recreational programs for deaf children and their hearing brothers and sisters and teaches hearing family members the language of American Sign Language. Also, it offers special assistance and outreach services to disadvantaged deaf adults living in the community. This is a very deserving charity and the winning group did a lot of work preparing for this presentation.Alumnae
- Marilyn BellMarilyn BellMarilyn Bell Di Lascio is a retired long distance swimmer, born October 19, 1937, in Toronto, Ontario. She was the first person to swim across Lake Ontario and later swam the English Channel and Strait of Juan de Fuca.-Swimming career:...
, the first person to swim across Lake Ontario. - Barbara GreeneBarbara GreeneBarbara Greene is a Canadian politician. She served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1993 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. She was previously a municipal politician in North York, and campaigned for mayor of the city in 1985...
, former Member of Parliament and city councillor. - O R Melling (G.V. Whelan), author.