Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School

Last updated
Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School
Crest-austin.jpg
Address
Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School
1020 Dryden Blvd.

Whitby
,
Ontario
,
L1R 2A2

Canada
Coordinates 43°54′43″N78°56′15″W / 43.91194°N 78.93750°W / 43.91194; -78.93750
Information
School type Separate (Catholic) high school
MottoExcellence, Faith, Community
Religious affiliation(s) Catholic
Founded1989 (1989)
School board Durham Catholic District School Board
Area trusteeTricia Chapman
John Rinella
School number710083 [1]
PrincipalColleen Plouffe
Grades 9-12
Enrolment990 [2]  (2019/2020)
Language English and French
Colour(s) Red, Black, Grey and White     
MascotWildcat
Team nameWildcats
Feeder schoolsSt. Matthew the Evangelist Catholic School, St. Bernard Catholic School, St. Theresa Catholic School, St. Paul Catholic School, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School (Regular and Extended French), St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School (Extended French), St. John the Evangelist Catholic School (Extended French), St. Leo Catholic School (Extended French)
ParishHoly Family Catholic Church (Whitby)
St. Leo the Great Catholic Church (Brooklin)
Website Official website

Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School (also known as Father Leo, Leo J. Austin, FLJA, or Austin for short) is a coeducational, Catholic, secondary school located in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, and it is managed by the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB). Today, it is an active school and is open for students grade 9 to 12. It’s one of the Catholic high schools in the DCDSB to offer the French Immersion program which draws students around the Durham Region.

Contents

History

Father Leo J. Austin was a priest born in Toronto on June 3, 1939. He was a priest at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church located in Giffard Street in Whitby. Before coming to Whitby in 1956, he served in several Toronto parishes. Catholic education was of particular interest to Father Austin: in 1959 he brought the Grey Sisters, a teaching order of nuns, to Whitby; under his guidance, St. Theresa Catholic School was built, and St. Leo Catholic School in Brooklin; he built four additions to St. John the Evangelist Catholic School, and started Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School in 1964 in Whitby (was moved to Ajax in 1984). Because of his great contribution to the community of Whitby, the school, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School, was created and named after him.

The building currently housing Father Leo J. Austin was officially opened following the Thanksgiving weekend of 1990, though classes had been ongoing since the Labour Day weekend of 1989 in 2 separate temporary locations.

In 2014, the school celebrated the 25th anniversary of its opening in 1989. [3]

Academic programs and features

Pre- and Advanced Placement (AP)

The AP program of Austin is recognized by universities in both Canada and the United States. One can earn advanced standing at university in mathematics through their AP advanced functions, and calculus and vectors courses. Enriched (pre-AP) math credits are also available in grades 9, 10, and 11, as they are prerequisites for students if they wish to take the Advanced Placement Exam in their grade 12 year.

Specialized High Skills Major (SHSM)

The SHSM is a program provided in the school that lets students focus on a career path that matches their skills and interests while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

SHSM programs that are offered in the school:

Extended French program

At Austin, the Extended French program is offered from grades 9 to 12 which provide students with the means to develop more advanced French skills, enabling them to communicate effectively in speech and in writing. In this program, there are courses that provide opportunities for students to speak and interact in French in a variety of real-life and personally relevant contexts.

Only students that have received a minimum of 1,260 hours of extended French instruction by the end of their grade 8 year may be enrolled in this program.

Religion program

At Austin, religion is not an elective and must be taken. Religious education is an academic subject that strengthens religious literacy and critical thinking. At the end of the term, there is a religious exam for the course. Students must take this course seriously like they would in any of their courses as four credits of Religion is needed for students to receive a secondary school graduation diploma.

For the students in grade 9, 10, and 12 the Religion course they must take invites them to study Catholicism and to have a deeper understanding of following Christ and living out the call to discipleship as students study the Sacred Scriptures.

In grade 11, students must take World Religion which allows students to explore various world religions and belief traditions.

Co-curricular activities

There are many co-curricular activities that are offered to the students at Father Leo J. Austin. Austin has a traditional Student Council which students are encouraged to join and are elected to be part of. Student Council represents the student body voice, initiates school and social events for students, and help distribute/collect funds from fundraising events. Student council helps form events along with the Leadership class at the school.

The other student activities and organizations that are offered at the school include Photography Club, Guitar Club, Salsa Club, Choir, Junior and Senior Concert Band, Jazz Band, Reach for the Top, Renaissance, Amnesty International, Just Youth, Fitness Friends, Peer Ministry, Prefects, OSAID, Robotics, The Slant (Newspaper), Austin Rights Club, Yearbook, C.A.S.H. (Caring About Student Health), Animal Care Crew, Drama Club, Austin Spirit Team and Retreat Leaders, White Pine Reading, Black History Month Committee, Prom Committee, The Tech Crew, The Green Team, Athletic Council, Art Club, robotics club, Writers circle, LGBTQ club and The Pro-Life Club, and a League of Legends team.

Athletics

Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School offers a fairly wide range of athletic teams including soccer, basketball, ice hockey, badminton, curling, volleyball, lacrosse, rugby, track and field, cross country, varsity girls fastball, varsity boys baseball, golf, tennis, dance, and table tennis. [5]

Uniforms

The uniform is a source of honour and a builder of the school community at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School. When enrolling at the school, all students agree to wear it neatly and uniforms must be in good repair. Uniforms must not be altered in any way as to change design or style of the clothing.

Notable alumni

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitby, Ontario</span> Town in Ontario, Canada

Whitby is a town in Durham Region. Whitby is located in Southern Ontario east of Ajax and west of Oshawa, on the north shore of Lake Ontario and is home to the headquarters of Durham Region. It had a population of 138,501 at the 2021 census. It is approximately 45 km (28 mi) east of Toronto, and it is known as a commuter suburb in the Greater Toronto Area. While the southern portion of Whitby is predominantly urban and an economic hub, the northern part of the municipality is more rural and includes the communities of Ashburn, Brooklin, Myrtle, Myrtle Station, and Macedonian Village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Joseph Secondary School (Mississauga)</span> Separate high school in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

St. Joseph Secondary School, colloquially known as St. Joe's is a Catholic high school located in the Streetsville community of Mississauga, Ontario. The school is administered by the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. St. Joseph Secondary School is one of few schools in the province of Ontario to offer Pre-Advanced Placement courses starting in grade 9 while most schools offer the option of Advanced Placement (AP) level classes in grade 12. Students who graduate in any course with an AP level exam completed will earn university level credits in said course. The school is also a provider of the Business and Transportation Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM), granting students who complete the major with a Ontario Secondary School Diploma including a recognized seal for employment opportunities after graduation.


Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School is a coeducational Catholic high school in Burlington, Ontario Canada. It was founded in 1989 by the Halton Catholic District School Board and enrols students from the 9th to 12th grades. However, many grade 12 graduates return for an optional 5th year of secondary school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluevale Collegiate Institute</span> High school in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Bluevale Collegiate Institute is a secondary school in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, run by the Waterloo Region District School Board. As of the 2019–2020 school year, Bluevale has an enrollment of 1,240 students. The school opened in 1972 under the direction of principal Robert Chilton, and vice-principal Charlie Wilson, initially with grades 9 through 11, adding grades 12, and then 13 in subsequent years. Bluevale's new school boundary took in students previously registered at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute, Kitchener–Waterloo Collegiate, and Waterloo Collegiate Institute. As of 2022, the principal is Deborah Tyrrell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School</span> Catholic school, high school in Canada

Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic high school located in Ajax, Ontario, Canada, within the Durham Catholic District School Board. It is named for Archbishop Denis T. O'Connor, a priest who was born in Pickering in 1841, and who became the third Archbishop of Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1899. The school has students in grades 9–12 and offers a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities. The current enrolment is approximately 600 students. The school colours are green and yellow, and its motto is Nil sine fide et labore, which is Latin for "Nothing without faith and work."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School (Oakville)</span> Separate secondary school in Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School is a separate school located in North Oakville in the River Oaks area within Oakville, Ontario, Canada. The 2019-2020 school year has around 1330 students enrolled in the school. Holy Trinity is a member of the Halton Catholic District School Board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Joseph's Secondary School (Cornwall, Ontario)</span> High school in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada

St. Joseph's Secondary School (SJSS) or St. Joseph's Catholic Secondary School (SJCSS) is a separate secondary school in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. Falling under the jurisdiction of the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, it shares its building with the newly amalgamated Sacred Heart Catholic School and grade 7-8 wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School</span> Separate secondary school in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School, commonly referred to as Dwyer, is a Catholic high school in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada within the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB). The school offers curricula for students in grades 9–12 and a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities. The school prides itself on its athletic and art programs, with several alumni becoming athletes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Toronto Academy</span> High school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Central Toronto Academy (CTA); formerly Central Commerce Collegiate Institute and originally High School of Commerce and Finance is a public, semestered secondary school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located in the Palmerston-Little Italy neighbourhood, it is operated by the Toronto District School Board. Before 1998, the school was part of the former Toronto Board of Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Dominic Catholic Secondary School</span> High school in Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada

St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School is a high school in Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada that serves all students from the Muskoka and Parry Sound area. Opened in 1995, the school campus has seen several stages of expansion to accommodate the school's growth in programming and population. St. Dominic C.S.S. is part of the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School (Oakville)</span> Separate secondary school in Oakville, Ontario, Canada

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School is a high school located in the western part of Old Oakville in Oakville, Ontario. St. Thomas Aquinas is a member of the Halton Catholic District School Board. There are over 1100 students attending the school in grades 9 through 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School</span> High school in Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada

Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School is a high school in Bracebridge, Ontario. It serves approximately 900 students, grades 9 through 12, from Bracebridge and surrounding areas in Muskoka; attached to it is the Bracebridge Sportsplex and the Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durham Catholic District School Board</span> Catholic school board

The Durham Catholic District School Board is a Catholic school board located in Durham Region, east of Toronto, Ontario. It currently runs 39 elementary schools and 7 secondary schools. The board also runs one Adult Education Centre in Ajax and one Continuing Education Centre in Oshawa.

Donald A. Wilson Secondary School is a high school located in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 2004, the school hosts students in grades 9-12 and offers a wide range of academic and extra-curricular activities. The school mascot is an alligator and the school colours are orange, blue, and silver. It is adjacent to All Saints Catholic Secondary School.

Humberview Secondary School is a high school in Bolton, Caledon, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the four secondary schools in Caledon, the others being Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School in Caledon East, Ontario, St. Michael Catholic Secondary School in Bolton, Ontario, and Mayfield Secondary School. The year 2003 was a double cohort year for the school.

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School is a Catholic secondary school located in the southern part of Lindsay, Ontario. It is currently the only Catholic secondary school in the City of Kawartha Lakes. The school was opened in 2000, and celebrated its 10th anniversary on March 29, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints Catholic Secondary School</span> Separate high school in Whitby, Ontario, Canada

All Saints Catholic Secondary School is a secondary school located in Whitby, Ontario, Canada open for students in grades 7–12. It offers a broad range of academic programs including Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), Cooperative Education (Co-Op), Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), Advanced Placement (AP), Head Start, Centre for Success/Reconnect, and Electronic learning. It is adjacent to Donald A Wilson Secondary School.

E J Lajeunesse is a French-Catholic high school in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It belongs to the Conseil scolaire catholique Providence and is named after Father Ernest Joseph Lajeunesse. Serving students from grades 7/8 through 12, the school's current principal is Natalie Julien MacAdam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School</span> Catholic high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School is a secondary school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is named after James Charles McGuigan, a Canadian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and the Archbishop of Toronto from 1934 to 1971. The school was founded by the order of the Franciscan Fathers, who recognized the need for a Catholic School in the Keele-Finch Community. It serves the Downsview neighbourhood of North York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholson Catholic College</span> Secondary school in Belleville, Ontario, Canada

Nicholson Catholic College (NCC) is a Catholic secondary school in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. The school operates under the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, and teaches students the Ontario Secondary School Diploma Curriculum as well as curriculum from the International Baccalaureate Programme. NCC is named after Monsignor J.F. Nicholson, V.G., P.A., with whose help and guidance a Catholic high school was first opened in Belleville. Monsignor Nicholson was the pastor of St. Michael's parish.

References

  1. ↑ "Father Leo J Austin Catholic Secondary School (710083)". Secondary school profile. Ontario Ministry of Education. 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  2. ↑ "Father Leo J Austin Catholic Secondary School (710083)". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  3. ↑ Shawn Cayley (2014-05-27). "Former staff, students celebrate 25 years at Father Leo J. Austin in Whitby". Whitby This Week. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
  4. ↑ Navigating Your Future: Pathways for Student Success Handbook (2008–2009) Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB)
  5. ↑ "Co-Curriculars". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.