Academics / Arts / Ath let ics / Fai th / Technology In the Service of the Community

Congratulations, students, on your achievements during this 2015-16 school year! We have arrived at the end of our annual journey - my first one among you, the members of this vibrant community. It has been a momentous journey this year as we have welcomed many staff, students, and family members; yet, we find our-selves bidding farewell to not only our graduates and retirees, but also a number of staff who will be transferring to other school communities. We want to recog-nize and express our sincere gratitude for their many contributions to the JVCSS community over their years with us. We also want to let them know that parting with those whom we love is always a challenge even though the circumstances for them are joyous as they plan for the next phase of their life. Graduates, you have approached the in-tersection of high school life and a world beyond these doors that will soon open up before you, offering you a plethora of experiences and choices. It is the hope of all staff at Jean Vanier that you have been rooted on solid ground and taught well to set high expectations for yourself and your future - to embrace all possible op-portunities for continued growth and suc-cess. Retirees, the end of this year marks the virtual conclusion of your career journey in the Toronto Catholic District School Board and at Jean Vanier C.S.S. It is with bittersweet admiration that we bid you farewell, and we wish you all the best of continued health and happiness. Departing staff, please know that the

gains made by your new schools are most certainly our losses! We extend to you a heartfelt thanks for all of your contribu-tions to the JVCSS community. Wishing you the best of luck in future. Admin colleagues, a sincere thank you for your generosity of spirit and support that you have selflessly provided for both staff and students. Teachers and Support Staff, thank you for all of the creative and exciting contribu-tions that you have made to our school community this year. Your tireless efforts to fulfill the mission and vision of Jean Vanier along with your high expectations for student success have truly been ap-preciated. All staff, you have been very welcoming and have shared a warm presence with all visitors and newcomers alike. Students, you, too, have been a blessing in the life of this community. You are the heart of our existence. From the first mo-ments that people walk through the door until the time they depart, your kindness and goodwill have been felt and cher-ished. Wishing every one of you a blessed and enjoyable summer that is filled with rest,

relaxation, and rejuvenation. A bientÔt! Mrs. L. Maselli-Jackman, Principal

Jean Vanier C.S.S.

959 Midland Avenue Toronto, Ontario M1K 4G4

Ph. 416-393-5554 Fax. 416-397-6152

ACADEMICS

Once again this year, Jean Vanier competed in The Canadian Mathematics Competitions. These annual international contests challenge and enrich students with both an interest and aptitude for mathematics. The 2016 Pascal (Gr. 9), Cayley (Gr. 10), Fermat (Gr. 11), and Euclid (Gr. 12) Contests were written by more than 78,000 students from over 1,500 high schools in 50 countries around the world registered for these contests. Forms of the competition also appear in Germany, Israel, the USA, Australia, Botswana, Ireland, and Great Britain. Thousands of these contest writers over the years have gone on to further develop their problem-solving skills and apply them to rewarding careers. This year a total of 62,000 students partici-pated in the Pascal Contest (Gr. 9), Cayley Contest (Gr. 10), and Fermat (Gr. 11) Contests from over 1,500 schools. Every student scoring in the top 25% of all competitors receives a certificate of Distinction. Each School Champion receives a Contest Medal. This year, the Gr. 9-11 University of Waterloo Mathematics Contests were held on February 24, 2016 and the Gr. 12 Euclid Contest was on April 12, 2016. The following students competed in their respective grades:

The Winners of 2016 Mathematics Contests at Jean Vanier were:

1. Venkateshwar Udayakumar (Gr. 9) who will receive a medal & a certificate of distinction,

2. Cher Martinez (Gr. 10) who will receive a medal & a certificate of distinction,

3. Angelina Joy Tan (Gr.11) who will receive a medal and a certificate of distinction. 4. Zeen Luo (Gr. 11) who will receive a certificate of distinction.

5. Tristy Dai (Gr. 12) who received a medal and a certificate of distinction. We wish them the best and say “Good Luck” to our young mathematicians of future who participated in these demanding international mathematics competitions. The Mathematics Department Mr. Sarkissian (Head of Mathematics Department)

Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 No.

Venkateshwar Udayakumar

Clarissa Paguirigan Angelina Joy Tan Tristy Dai 1

Gabrielle Olano Cher Martinez Angelito Elipse Kathleen Maitland 2

Saran Bharathi Liam Kelly Rafael Repato Yuwei Chen 3

Chiara Malandrino Gian Raymundo Nathan Liu Coleen Beatrice Henson 4

Erik Vrezina Catherine Fornal Paula Lamaj Walid Khneisser 5

Vithushan Vigneswaran Mithusan Perananthanuban

Zeen Luo Paolo Hermogenes 6

Aaron Dimuculangan Niko Tolentino Nathan Vales Jose Albarico 7

Kapisan Kumarasriskandar

Linda Abraham Lawrence Pablo 8

Evelyn Guo Jasmine Saw Michelle Ai 9

Angelica Galangco John V Lal 10

Carolyn Minty Dulitha Amarasingha 11

Janesh Sritharan 12

Christopher Recillo 13

14 Shanghe Yang

ACADEMICS

Euclid Grade 12 Math Contest Participants and Mr. Sarkissian Math Department Head

University of Waterloo Math Contest Grade 9 participants

University of Waterloo Math Contest Grade 10 participants

From the Special Education Department On April 20, staff from the Special Education Department met with Special Education teachers and administrators from several of our feeder elemen-tary schools as part of our SSLN on Special Education where we discussed how to even further support students with IEPs to successfully transition into High School. The comprehensive discussions included sharing differences and similarities regarding Special Education between the Elementary and Secondary Panels, aligning programming to better match expectations at the secondary level, and describing what school life in High School looks like to help stu-dents with IEPs better prepare. Specific items discussed outlined the supports available to IEP students at Vanier and how students can access these supports. Also, discussion fo-cussed around the importance of developing self-advocacy skills so that students more fully understand and communicate their own learning profile and necessary supports. Moreover, appropriate program placement of students in Grade 9 was highlighted to demonstrate the importance of selecting the best program in order to ensure the student’s best opportunity for success. Furthermore, the discussion stressed how critical the Exchange of Infor-mation Meetings are in this process in order to determine what supports to put in place in advance of the student commencing High School, thus best aligning services as the student enters Gr. 9. Also, the differences between accommodations and modifications at the Secondary level were explained, specifically with respect to obtainment of Secondary School credits. Overall, it was a successful day of practical, professional, collaborative, and meaningful discussion.

ACADEMICS Truth and Reconciliation -- A Vanier Response to Attawapiskat “They want their desperate cries for help to be heard…” - a statement made by a Grade 11 student at Jean Vanier C.S.S. in response to the question, “Why are youth taking their own lives in Aboriginal communities?” This has been a question echoed throughout the term as students grapple with the harsh issues presented in the fictional works and non-fiction texts explored in Ms Mikailian’s and Ms Heit’s Native Studies English classes: cultural genocide, broken families, lack of access to essential services and resources, stereotypes, assimilation, cyclical violence, lack of awareness of First Nations history – and the list goes on…. This time, the question emerged as post after post of headline news articles revealed a horrifying trend --- increasing and even planned, group suicides in Attawapiskat. Much time and care has been spent in group discussions exploring the historical, economic and social factors contributing to this epidemic, but students and staff have expressed a feeling of helplessness on their part. After all, what could be done at a local level, at Vanier, to help? The question was answered by Frank Pio, lead for FNMI studies at the TCDSB; letters of support and encouragement for the students and community members of Attawapiskat were requested. Students in both Ms Heit’s and Ms. Mikailian’s class responded with letters which incorporated inspirational quotes, symbolic images of peace highlighting First Nations imagery, heartfelt messages of hope, and words of solidarity with their fellow Canadians. One letter stated, “ The truth of the past is already coming out, and the truth of what is happening is, too… Stay strong”, while another featured an acrostic poem formed from the name ‘Attawapiskat ‘ with the letter “A” stating, “Anxiety --- CRUSH IT!” Others featured pictures of valiant eagles soaring to great heights, and an Inuksuuk plastered with phrases like,“You are not alone” on the figure’s outstretched arms. Education and awareness is the gateway to the future, and the students at Jean Vanier CSS continue to both study and reflect on real, current social justice issues in their own backyards as they plan their next area of inquiry: What does the future of First Nations peoples look like, and how can we as Canadians help shape a brighter future for those who have been disenfranchised? More of our local contributions to the Truth and Reconciliation process will be on display next October, as Mr. Zachar’s Gr. 11 Visual Art students have collaborated with Ms. Mikailian’s Native Studies English class to create an Installation Art piece to showcase the issue of Violence against Aboriginal women, in the upcoming “Red Dress Project”. Look out for the display this Fall. Ms. Mikailian NBE3C

ACADEMICS

Poetry In Voice This year, we had our first student finalist at the National Student in Voice Poetry Competi-tion. Paolo Hermogenes practiced his poetry all year as a member of the Vanier Poetry Club. He submitted three poems as part of the competition, and was one of 18 finalists se-lected from fifty thousand participants across Canada. The finalists were flown to Toronto, provided with two nights’ accommodation, and participated in events around the city. The competition took place at the University of Toronto’s Isabel Bader Theatre, and the winner won five thousand dollars. Paolo performed two poems for a full house, and made Vanier proud. Congratulation’s Paolo on this great accomplishment! Mrs. Dobrovolski

From the Canadian & World Studies Department

YPI Students in Gr. 10 Civics put their advocacy skills on display in the library on May 12 while competing in the Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) school finals. Participants in the YPI connect with local charities that address social issues impacting the daily life of Torontonians. The program is used as the culminating project in Civics. The day’s presenters were the top five presentations from semesters 1 and 2. After visiting their chosen charity and meeting with the staff, the groups created a ten-minute presentation in which they assess the impact their organization has on the community. This year’s finalists delivered presentations on Nelly’s Women’s Shelter, Pregnancy Care Centre, Street Health and Silent Voice. The panel of judges awarded the $5000 grant to Silent Voice, an organization that creates barrier-free programs for deaf young people and their families. Congratulations go out to all the participants but particularly the winning group; Linda Abraham and Jamaica Ocampo who spoke eloquently on behalf of the charity. Understanding Canadian Law, Grade 11 Accomplishments Each semester, students in Ms Fracassi’s Gr. 11 Canadian Law class participate in the Ontario Bar Association’s Law Day photography contest. Law Day which is part of Law Week is a celebration of the passage of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The contest requires students to take a picture of a Charter Right of Freedom and provide a short write up explaining their work. This year, Sheneise Hector-Rose was awarded an honourable mention and was invited to attend a Law Day reception at the Ontario Bar Association where she received a certificate and small cash prize for her work entitled “ Black Lives Matter“ in which she captures the importance of Freedom Expression. Well done Sheneise. Further congratulations go out to Ivan Guarin and Uvina Persaud who were both awarded scholarships to participate in the Youth Summer Law program at the University of Toronto. Ivan and Uvina will be spending one week in August living on residence and taking classes covering ad-vanced legal concepts, learning about the reality of the Canadian legal system, and applying their knowledge in a variety of environments. The Ca-nadian and World Studies Department wishes you the best of luck. Ms Fracassi

A T H L E T I C S

ATHLETICS

Congratulations to all our 200+ student athletes who have represented Vanier in such a positive manner, and have fully embodied our school spirit over the past year.

WINTER Our Winter season finished with a flurry of success for our Maverick teams. Our Jr. Girls volleyball team, led by the sensational play of Gr. 9 girls Shyanne Mitchell & Keyome Ellis, made the TDCAA "B" division finals. The Jr. Boys Basketball team, powered by the play of Isaiah Lee and Marcus Miller lost in the semi-finals. Lastly, we could not have been more proud of our Sr. Boys Basketball team. Led by the dynamic play of Molik Young and Isaiah Cromwell-Wright, a group of gritty hardworking players made it to the TDCAA "AAA" finals for the first time in several years.

SPRING The spring season athletic season was both a busy and exciting time for our Maverick athletes and teams. Led by a committed, dependable and dynamic group of coaches, our Mavericks were well prepared for their seasons. *Ms. King and Mrs. Rickets led the charge, guiding a dedicated TRACK & FIELD team to personal best times and numerous medals. Special acknowledgment goes to Shyanne Mitchell and Keith Dadson, for Qualifying for OFSAA in Windsor. Good Job Mavs!! *Mr. Lam and Mr. Correia were pleased with their Indoor soccer season and are excited for next season. *Mr. Caputo and Mr. Meehan had encourag-ing seasons from their Co-ed & Jr. Boys Volleyball. * Boys & Girls Softball coached by Mr. Resanovic, Mr. Zuccala, Mr. Fisico, Mr. Man-none, Mr. Kusatz and Mr. Gonsalves, fought hard in their league play, but fell just short of the playoffs. * Vanier cricket took flight this year, winning the first ever board wide cricket tournament. *Lastly, our perennial powerhouse Badminton team, coached by Mr. O'Connor and Ms. Foley, had another outstanding season. Special congratulations go out to Nicole Granada & Melanie Maala for winning TDCAA Silver medals, Sheena Dagan & Mark Valencia for winning TDCAA bronze medals and to Czarmalagne Guce and Angelina Tan who won TDCAA Silver medals and qualified for OFSAA. Great work, ladies!!

A T H L E T I C S

TIP TOP THURSDAYS Tip top Thursdays started a school wide awareness program aimed at healthy eating. Organized by Mrs. Sisca, and with the help of the fitness leadership class, and cooking club. The program focused on encouraging students to bring healthy lunches to school, by demonstrating that healthy lunches are delicious, budget conscious, and simple. The initiative provided free samples of these healthy lunch options to over 400 students during two Thursday sessions.

WEIGHTROOM

The Vanier Fit Club was a great success this year. The fit club is a growing community of Vanier students who are looking to improve their overall fitness and well-being. All members of the Vanier community were welcomed and encouraged to join. The fit club operates weekdays 7:30am-8:30am and 3:00pm-4:00pm. Thanks to a dedicated host of Educational assistants ( Vilma, Praj, Michelle, Mina, Reena and Giovanni) and teachers Mr. Correia, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Resanovic, Mr. Archibald, Mr. Gonsalves for supervising the weight room. Lastly, a huge thanks to our dedicated staff volunteers, for their countless hours in morning practices; weekend tour-naments, games, evening practices, mentorship, and weight room supervision. Your efforts go well beyond our school walls, and the opportunities, memories and connections you are creating will last a life time! Thank-You Please follow us on instagram@mavericks.athletics for upcoming highlights. KEEP FIT, EAT HEALTHY AND HAVE A GREAT SUMMER! Love, Vanier Phys. Ed Department

PHYS-ED INTRAMURALS

Intramurals were successful again. The Vanier Basket-ball Association (VBA) organized by commissioners Mr. Meehan and Mr. Gonsalves had 60 dedicated students battle every Wednesday night in competitive games. In addition, the Vanier Soccer League got off to a great start. Thanks to league founder Ms. Mirabelli for her continued success with running the league.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION The Mavericks stormed the beach on Friday, May 20th for an amazing afternoon at Ashbridges bay. Over 150 students enjoyed a beautiful day filled with fun, music, sun and beach volleyball. A special thanks to Mr. Gonsalves Gr. 12 fitness leadership class, Ms. Mirabelli, Mr. Meehan and Mr. Stephenson for helping organize the day.

A T H L E T I C S

JVCSS Cricket Team

TCDSB Champions

TCDSB held it's first ever Cricket tournament at Centennial Park on May

30th,2016. Many high schools participated and Jean Vanier took them on to

become the first Champions in the board. Not only did they claim first title but

also winning best batsman was Sarujan Yogeswaran (Captain), best bowler -

Nawishka Jayamaha and MVP - Jeremy Karkada. They were showcased on

CTV news as well as CP24. Congratulations to all players.

Ms. Navaratnasingham & Mr. Gonsalves

A R T S What a jam packed semester it has been for Vanier Arts! Check out all the highlights below…

The Giver This year’s school play was very well received and praised for its thought-provoking subject matter and message. Katie Maitland, a graduating student and cast as the title character reflects on her experience of The Giver: “Being part of The Giver was a life changing experience. Through the course of rehearsals, tech week and the show itself I was able to make some great friends; near the end we really became a family. The Giver was such a special show because of the wonderful message it has. It teaches the audience as well as the actors about the consequences of actions, community and most importantly, love. The show had a lot of heart and it was a joy to help bring it to life. I’m honoured that this was my last production.”

The Giver Cast

Mr. Stevenson - Department Head of Arts

Ms. Brooks - Child & Youth Worker

A R T S Sight and Sound All Around This Spring’s Festival of Sight and Sound really tried to emphasize the festival aspect of the evening. For the first time in its history the evening un-folded in various performance spaces throughout the school. It was an exciting evening featuring the variety of talents of Vanier students in Music, Drama, Visual Arts, Media Arts and Dance. Those in attendance had a great time!

Music The Music Department provided an accomplished variety of performances at this spring’s Sight and Sound. The Guitar Club’s premiere perfor-mance included two songs and an instrumental piece, The Man Who Sold the World, More Than Words and Seven Years. Melissa Alconcel in Grade 11 also entertained us with some beautiful solo piano pieces. The Vanier Vocals Ensemble did an impressive encore performance of Penta-tonix’s arrangement of Mary Did You Know. The Vanier Vocals Choir performed a Renaissance setting of Ave Maria by Tomas Luis de Vittoria in polyphonic four-part harmony. The Choir also sang this piece at their very first TCDSB Music Festival performance in April to high acclaim from the audience and adjudicator. After the Funk Band performances, Vanier Vocals Choir joined the Funk Band on stage to bring down the house with a rocking performance of Tribute to Queen, a medley of some of Queen’s most popular songs. The year culminated with an exciting opportunity for our music students to tour and record in a professional recording studio! There are many musically talented students at Vanier and we will be exploring an even more thrilling repertoire next year!

Media Arts Kenneth Manuel, Rico Matias, Saim Aurangzeb, Shagabthan Ramesh and Praveen David Harris were finalists at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) – Jump Cuts. Their film Student Life was among the top 20 films from across the province. Students were invited to a spe-cial reception and screening at Bell TIFF Lightbox on May 9th. The film was produced as part of the Grade 12 Communication Technology class and chronicals the daily struggles student face. The winning film in the drama category had a Kickstarter campaign and a budget of $10 000 so to be a finalist in this category with a budget of zero is quite the accomplishment. On behalf of the entire Vanier Arts team I wish all our creatively talented students an enjoyable, safe and memorable summer and to the Vanier Arts teachers a restful, rejuvenating and family-oriented summer break… You deserve it! Mr. Jeff Stevenson Drama Teacher, Head of Vanier Arts

T E C H N O LO G Y

It only took the first 20 minutes of the competition for the girls to earn the respect of their competitors. Representing Jean Vanier in the 17th annual Skills Competition conducted by Centennial College, the team of Nerissa Dsouza and Sunny Manoharan were faced with the most difficult challenge of the competition at the onset of the day. A total of 21 teams were each sent to their stations in order for the competition to begin at 9:00 am. The on-car chal-lenge required teams to solve a series of faults in 120 minutes, the girls decided to tackle the hardest condition to solve first. The challenge was to identify and correct the reason which prevented the 2016 VW Jetta from starting. It was quite obvious that the first all female team in the history of the Competition was one to watch as they suc-cessfully had the vehicle running in exactly 20 minutes, a challenge only completed by 4 other teams that day. The next closest competitor took 45 minutes to solve the same challenge. The girls impressed the judges and instilled fear in the competition as they completed each task presented throughout the day. What the competition didn't see was that the success of this team was two years in the making. Beginning in the Gr. 10 Transportation program with Mr. Caputo and transitioning into seniors under the guidance of their Teacher, Coach and Mentor Mr. Isaac Ozah, Sunny and Nerissa have spent countless hours preparing for the competition. After the scores were tallied the top teams were separated by only a few points and at the end of the Competition the girls achieved a very re-spectable 3rd place, well done ladies. This is only the beginning for the girls, thanks to the TCDSB's CITI-Motive OYAP Program the girls have already been registered and are recognized as Automotive Apprentices. The future is bright as both are well on their way to successful careers in the Automotive Industry.

Mr. Ozah, Nerissa D’Souza and Sunny Manoharan

F A I T H “A faithful life is one lived in the presence of God. It involves an awareness of God’s presence in our everyday experiences.”

TCDSB Virtue for June - Faithfulness

CHAPLAINCY The second semester began with the celebration of Mass on Ash Wednesday at St. Maria Goretti Church commencing the Season of Lent in preparation for Easter. Virtue of the Month Medallions Congratulations to the following students who received medallions this semester in recognition of their example to the school community of the respective Virtue of the Month: Samantha Tolentino and Osmar Sanchez Flores – the Virtue of Love – February 2016 Steven Grant and Joel Miranda – Forgiveness – March 2016 Shinegga Kugendran and Lacksana Puvanendran – Justice – April 2016 Meghan Garvida and Nina Rose Balanon – Compassion – May 2016 Shanya Murzello and Ivan Guarin – Faithfulness – June 2016 Retreats In May, the Gr. 12 students attended a retreat at Youth Leadership Camps Canada, Orillia. The keynote speaker, Andy Thibodeau was enthusiastic, energetic and humorous as he presented to students “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) …”Now, go and shine!” He gave them life skill tips as they are about to enter a new phase of learning. In the early afternoon, there were outdoor activities, fellow-ship and community building for students and staff. This was followed by a joyful celebration of Mass presided by Fr. Eugene Morishita-Miki with music lead by Mr. Nagy, Mr. Dabbagh and Ms. Cannon. During the second semester, students in Gr. 10 and 11 Religion classes participated in a day of reflection/retreat with faith development and community building. Sacrament of Reconciliation The Sacrament of Reconciliation was celebrated during Lent on March 9 with an Examination of Conscience and an invitation to Confes-sion in the Chapel. Holy Thursday On Holy Thursday, school assemblies began with Ms. Cannon’s Choir singing “Ave Maria”, followed by a Liturgy of the Word lead by our students. There was a symbolic washing of students’ feet by Administration and Chaplaincy Leaders. A poignant dramatization of Good Friday was presented by students in Mr. Stevenson’s class. School Year-End and Mass with Graduands On June 2, students and staff celebrated Mass presided by Fr. Eugene Morishita-Miki at St. Maria Goretti Church with joyful music by the Jean Vanier Choir directed by Ms. Cannon. Our Principal, Ms. Maselli-Jackman addressed students, staff and those about to retire. Graduands were blessed as they embark on new beginnings. Also blessed were Retirees: Ms. Brooks, Mr. Gostynski, Ms. Puopolo, and Ms. Tomayer. Among the Gradu-ands were Kathleen Maitland and Elaine Corpus who have faithfully served as Altar Servers during school Masses for the past four years. The Year of Mercy Catholic Education Week Prayer: Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association

“God of Love and compassion, help us to open the door of mercy in our school communities, in our families and in the world. Let mercy guide our living and bring us closer to the heart of the Gospel. May we live as Jesus with mercy that welcomes, loves, forgives and calls us to live the Gospel joyfully. Amen.”

C O M M U N I T Y

On May 6th, Students student dancers who took part in Multicultural Night attended TCDSB's Woodbine centre, Fes-

tival of the Arts. Our students were the only dancers representing the TCDSB and showcased their multitalented and

multicultural dances for all mall attenders and fellow students and teachers.

Ms. Navaratnasingham

C O M M U N I T Y Dear Staff and Students, Following the celebration of the Jean Vanier school community’s final mass of the 2015-16 school year, I had the privilege to offer my remarks in honour of the Graduands, Retirees, and departing staff. Before communicating my thoughts about those individuals, however, I was able to share my appreciation for the hard work and year-long contributions to all of those who dedicated their time and expertise to making our school masses the success that they were. My remarks included the follow-ing: To Fr. Eugene, Ms. Tedesco, Ms. O’Leary, staff/student musicians, and the student Chaplaincy team, please accept my sin-cere thanks for your generous contributions all year. You have succeeded in bringing home to us the living Word. You have magnified the Spirit of the Lord in our hearts and minds; and for that we are grateful to you. Fr. Eugene, your homilies always left with us something historical that helped to contextualize a faith-based concept. It is difficult to believe that we have almost reached the end of another school year – and my first one among you the staff and students of this vibrant community. The circle of life has made itself manifest among us as we have welcomed many staff, stu-dents, and family members; yet, it has now come time to honour the accomplishments of and bid farewell to our graduands and retiring/departing staff. Parting with those whom we love is always a challenge, though the circumstances might be joyous for those who are planning for the next phase of their life. That is the case with both our graduands and departing staff retirees. Graduands You, graduands, are approaching the intersection of high school life and a world beyond these doors that will soon open up before you offering a plethora of experiences and choices. It is my hope and the hope of all staff at Jean Vanier that you have been rooted here on solid ground and taught well to set high expectations for yourself and your future and to embrace all pos-sible opportunities for continued growth and success. For four of our beloved colleagues, this day marks the virtual conclusion of a wonderful career journey in the Toronto Catholic District School Board and at Jean Vanier C.S.S.

Retirees Ms. Brooks… You have dedicated a lifetime to supporting students in need. Having gained a wide variety of experienc-es in your personal and professional existence, you have earned your stripes. You have developed an incredible capacity to understand others and to feel compassion for their very being. Students have come to trust you and to regard you as source of inspiration and encouragement. In your retirement, may you enjoy the richness of all that life has to offer! Best wishes on the journey of life and whatever path you chose to follow. Good luck and Godspeed. Mr. Gostynski… You are number 1. On the Gr. 9 Orientation retreat I learned that from you; and on the Gr. 12 retreat last week, that was confirmed. Thank you for all of your service to the Math Department and Jean Vanier dur-ing your years in this community. Your youthful approach to leadership and teamwork, especially during outdoor education activities, has been an inspiration for students and staff alike. You have shown us how to “toe the line!” (Those high ropes are no challenge for YOU!). May God bless you on your journey through the next chapter of your life. Good luck and Godspeed.

C O M M U N I T Y

Departing Staff

Jeanette Buckley (St. Michael’s Choir school) Krisztina Csermely (TBD) Melissa DeAngelis (Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton) Kalowti (Reena) DeMille (TBD) Mary Dobrovolski (St. Patrick’s) Mike Fanning (Michael Power/St. Joseph’s) Vilma Garnett (TBD) Anne Marie King (St. John Paul II) Mary Martin (Area 7 Itinerant EA) Reg Ramlogan (St. Charles Garnier) Giovanni Sollazzo (Blessed Mother Teresa) Kasia Zaton (Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton)

Welcome to new staff: Virginia Chow (from Monsignor Fraser College, Midland Campus) Marion Duarte-Monteiro (from St. Mary’s) Anna Inparajan (from St. Patrick’s) Evan Jin (From Fr. Henry Carr) Peter Reiter (from Dante Alighieri) Sarah Zammit (from Blessed Archbishop Romero) LTOs: Stefan Burella, Sheena Resplandor, Sheena Shelley, Vince Zuccala.

Retirees

Ms. Puopolo, L… For many years you have enabled your students to enjoy enriched educational experiences through second-language as well as Co-op experiential learning. In a familiar environment and deeply caring way, you have shown students that suc-cess is not always knowing right away what you want to do in life…but that success is found also in discovering what you don’t want to do beyond high school. Your warm and amiable interpersonal connection with others has also enabled you to establish excellent and long-lasting relationships with community partners for the benefit of students’ experiential learning. Bonne chance a l’avenir et je te souhaite un bon voyage. Maintenant, en verite, on ne doit dire “A Dieu”; il faut dire, seulement, “Au revoir.” A bientot! Good luck and Godspeed. Ms. Tomayer… For years in your work with our very special students, you have embodied the spirit of L’Arche. Jean Vanier has nothing on you! Seriously…you have lived with, loved, and cared deeply about the development of the whole student. You have worked closely with an excellent team of colleagues as well as numerous outside agencies and families to ensure that, in their life beyond high school, students will continue to enjoy meaningful and productive experiences. Our students are happy because they have been loved; and that is in no small part because of you! Some of those students will very soon, too, be moving on beyond the walls of our school. As Jean Vanier has taught us (and you have embodied), “In the end, the most important thing is not to do things for people who are poor and in distress, but to enter into relationship with them, to be with them and help them find confidence in themselves and discover their own gifts.” Good luck and God-

speed.

C O M M U N I T Y

Vanier Alumnus, Michael Dacanay is Broadway Bound!

Former student Michael, will star in Miss Saigon in New York City next March, 2017. Mi-chael studied drama from 1996 to 2001 with Ms. Heit (formerly Shepherd). Michael vis-ited Heit's classes on June14th and has offered to return next fall to speak to more stu-dents. In addition to his exciting live theatre debut, Mr. Dacanay works as lead cameraman for Spike Lee in New York. Spike discovered Michael's film talents through his company "40 acres and a mule". Fourteen years of film work and his love of musical theatre in-spired Dacanay to learn the show stopper "American Dream" and fly to England with friend Leah Solonga. In London, he auditioned for director/producer Cameron MacIn-tosh. Michael competed with fifty international actors for the prized role. Solonga, en-couraged Dacanay every step of the way. . . Paying it forward, Mr. Dacanay has offered to return with Spike this September to speak at Vanier. Both artists will be attending TIFF for Lee's film "Thriller", a new documentary on the life of Michael Jackson. Broadway is the big league, Michael. As the song goes: "If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere." Thank you for your kind words and generosity of spirit. Your phone call this May, 15 years later is the highlight of my teaching career. It was an hon-our to be a small part of your exciting story. We are all so proud of your success here at Vanier. There are no small parts, only small actors! Break a leg! Sally Heit

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C O M M U N I T Y

On May 30th, 2016 students from Jean Vanier Catholic Secondary School took part along side police officers in the annual Motor Day trip. Please copy the link below into your browser to view photos and read about this unique event for our students.

http://tpsnews.ca/blogs/2016/06/kids-cops-conquer-dirt-bikes/

GRADUATION 2016 The Canadian Pacific Afghanistan Memorial Plaque Program The Canadian Pacific Afghanistan Memorial Plaque program is the idea of a local motive engineer who works out of Calgary Alberta. Mr. Darrel Sunholm, upon entering his daughters high school in Calgary noticed tributes to fallen soldiers from WWI and WWII and thought why not attribute to those fallen soldiers who serviced in Afghanistan. Corporal Stephen Frederick Bouzane, a former student of Jean Vanier has been honoured with a plaque in his memory from the Canadian Pacific Afghanistan Memorial Plaque Program. The falther of Stephen, Mr. Frederick Bouzane and Stephen’s sister Mrs. Kelly Bouzane-Thomas were in attendance at the Jean Vanier C.S.S. graduation ceremony to present the memorial plaque in Stephen’s name to Ms. Maselli - Jackman. We were honoured by their presence at our graduation ceremony. The presentation of the plaque in Stephen’s name made our ceremony mean that much more to all in attendance.

Presentation of the memorial plaque to Jean Vanier Catholic Secondary School

Mrs. Kelly Bouzane-Thomas, Mr. Frederick Bouzane and Ms. Linda Maselli-Jackman

Presentation of the Corporal Stephen Frederick Bouzane Citizenship Award

Mrs. Kelly Bouzane-Thomas , Mr. Frederick Bouzane and the award recipient Meghan Garvida

GRADUATION 2016 Graduation ceremony was held on June 29th, 2016 at the Canada Christian College

Jean Vanier C.S.S.

959 Midland Avenue Toronto, Ontario M1K 4G4

Ph. 416-393-5554 Fax. 416-397-6152

Website: http://www.tcdsb.org/Schools/jeanvanier

Toronto Catholic District School

Board Trustees 2015-2016

Wards Name

1. Joseph Martino

2. Ann Andrachuk

3. Sal Piccininni

4. Patrizia Bottoni

5. Maria Rizzo

6. Frank D’Amico, Vice-Chair

7. Michael Del Grande

8. Garry Tanuan

9. Jo-Ann Davis

10. Barbara Poplawski

11. Angela Kennedy, Chair

12. Nancy Crawford

Karina Dubrovskaya, Student Trustee

Allison Gacad, Student Trustee

GRADUATION 2016