St. David Catholic Secondary School
Encyclopedia
St. David Catholic Secondary School, established in 1965, is a Roman Catholic
high school
instructing students from grades 9 to 12. St. David CSS is located in Waterloo
, Ontario
and is a member of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board
. Its building is the oldest secondary school building in the board. Historically it was an a junior high school, instructing students from grades 7 to 10. St. David received full funding from the Ontario Ministry of Education
in 1985, when the school changed its educational focus to students in grades 9 to OAC
. Since the OAC year of secondary school was phased out of Ontario schools in the 2002-2003 school year, St. David CSS now teaches grades 9 through to 12. At present (2011) St. David educates 1045 students. St. David is named after St David, a 6th century saint.
The school also has approximately 84 full-time teaching staff.
biology
classes added to the course calendar in September 2005. In addition to the expansion of the science facilities, hospitality
courses were also added for students.
2007 renovations also included the removal of the sand box in the main foyer, the installation of new lights in the cafeteria, and the repaint and redo of the gymnasium floor. Audio/Visual improvements were also made to the cafeteria sound system during 2007 as well.
In 2009, a brand new $2 million sports facility was built at the school. The first use of the field was on Wednesday April 29 where the St. David senior soccer team defeated Woodland 6-1 in the opening game. Adam Staszewski scored the opening goal on the eight minute.
every day, except for the occasional dress-down day (known to staff and students as "Civies Day"). During the 2001 - 2002 school year, this policy required all students to have golf
and dress shirt
s tucked into their pants at all times, on the basis that untucked shirts did not convey the proper sense of respect for the school. http://www.wcdsb.edu.on.ca/ap_memos/PDF/APC005.pdf
During the last two weeks of June 2002, the administration of St. David made a public announcement that any student in violation of the uniform rules would be suspended for one day. In Ontario, any disciplinary action of this type is listed on an Ontario student record, which may adversely affect a student's chances of acceptance to post-secondary education. Ontario student records also are investigated by teachers when reviewing students enrolled for classes, and by staff at other schools in the event a student applies for a transfer.
No prior violations of the rules were taken into account with this policy. Suspension, as a punishment, is typically given for much more serious academic and criminal offences. However, the provincial Safe Schools Act
allows discretionary one-day suspensions for minor infractions of school policies and procedures. These suspensions cannot be formally challenged, as the Safe Schools Act does not allow for appeals of one day suspensions. http://www.wcdsb.edu.on.ca/ap_memos/PDF/APC012.pdf Nevertheless, the consequence would add to a student's record, causing any subsequent offenses within five years to be judged more harshly. http://www.wcdsb.edu.on.ca/info/safe/disciplinary_actions.html
The "tucked-in shirt" rule, though, was short-lived as at the beginning of the 2002 - 2003 school year, the policy was revised to eliminate the requirement of golf shirts being tucked in.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
instructing students from grades 9 to 12. St. David CSS is located in Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, 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....
and is a member of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Waterloo Catholic District School Board is a school board serving the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Kitchener. It is the eighth largest Catholic school system in Ontario...
. Its building is the oldest secondary school building in the board. Historically it was an a junior high school, instructing students from grades 7 to 10. St. David received full funding from the Ontario Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (Ontario)
The Ministry of Education is the agency of the Ontario government in the Canadian province of Ontario responsible for government policy, funding, curriculum planning and direction in all levels of public education, including elementary and secondary schools.This Ministry is responsible for...
in 1985, when the school changed its educational focus to students in grades 9 to OAC
Ontario Academic Credit
The Ontario Academic Credit or OAC was part of the curriculum codified by the Ontario Ministry of Education in Ontario Schools: Intermediate and Senior and its revisions. In common parlance, the term is used to describe the fifth high school year that used to exist in the province of...
. Since the OAC year of secondary school was phased out of Ontario schools in the 2002-2003 school year, St. David CSS now teaches grades 9 through to 12. At present (2011) St. David educates 1045 students. St. David is named after St David, a 6th century saint.
Staff and administration
As of October 2011, St. David has John Dietrich as principal with Daniel Hutter and Lisa Mackay as vice-principals.The school also has approximately 84 full-time teaching staff.
Renovations
As of the end of 2006, the school's renovations were completed. This is the second set of building improvements and additions since initial construction; the first set expanded the available athletic facilities and added several classrooms to the second floor. This work allows for future expansion with respect to science-related education, complementing APAdvanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
classes added to the course calendar in September 2005. In addition to the expansion of the science facilities, hospitality
Hospitality
Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. Specifically, this includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers, resorts, membership clubs, conventions, attractions, special events, and other services for travelers...
courses were also added for students.
2007 renovations also included the removal of the sand box in the main foyer, the installation of new lights in the cafeteria, and the repaint and redo of the gymnasium floor. Audio/Visual improvements were also made to the cafeteria sound system during 2007 as well.
In 2009, a brand new $2 million sports facility was built at the school. The first use of the field was on Wednesday April 29 where the St. David senior soccer team defeated Woodland 6-1 in the opening game. Adam Staszewski scored the opening goal on the eight minute.
Uniform policy (2001 - 2002)
As with the other secondary schools in the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, St. David requires all students to wear a uniformUniform
A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
every day, except for the occasional dress-down day (known to staff and students as "Civies Day"). During the 2001 - 2002 school year, this policy required all students to have golf
Tennis shirt
A polo shirt, also known as a golf shirt and tennis shirt, is a T-shaped shirt with a collar, typically a two- or three-button placket, and an optional pocket...
and dress shirt
Dress shirt
A shirt, or dress shirt in American English, is a garment with a collar, a full-length opening at the front from the collar to the hem, and sleeves with cuffs. Shirts are predominantly used by men, since women usually wear blouses...
s tucked into their pants at all times, on the basis that untucked shirts did not convey the proper sense of respect for the school. http://www.wcdsb.edu.on.ca/ap_memos/PDF/APC005.pdf
During the last two weeks of June 2002, the administration of St. David made a public announcement that any student in violation of the uniform rules would be suspended for one day. In Ontario, any disciplinary action of this type is listed on an Ontario student record, which may adversely affect a student's chances of acceptance to post-secondary education. Ontario student records also are investigated by teachers when reviewing students enrolled for classes, and by staff at other schools in the event a student applies for a transfer.
No prior violations of the rules were taken into account with this policy. Suspension, as a punishment, is typically given for much more serious academic and criminal offences. However, the provincial Safe Schools Act
Safe Schools Act
The Safe Schools Act is an Ontario bill, implemented in 2000 to provide a definitive set of regulations for punishments that must be issued for students...
allows discretionary one-day suspensions for minor infractions of school policies and procedures. These suspensions cannot be formally challenged, as the Safe Schools Act does not allow for appeals of one day suspensions. http://www.wcdsb.edu.on.ca/ap_memos/PDF/APC012.pdf Nevertheless, the consequence would add to a student's record, causing any subsequent offenses within five years to be judged more harshly. http://www.wcdsb.edu.on.ca/info/safe/disciplinary_actions.html
The "tucked-in shirt" rule, though, was short-lived as at the beginning of the 2002 - 2003 school year, the policy was revised to eliminate the requirement of golf shirts being tucked in.
Alumni
- Luca CongiLuca CongiLuca Congi is a punter/placekicker playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League....
, kicker/punter for the Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan RoughridersThe Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
. Congi was a member of St. David's senior footballCanadian footballCanadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
team in 2000 and 2001, in which years the team won the Waterloo County high school senior football championships, the first senior football championships in the school's history. - John Sullivan, safety for the Winnipeg Blue BombersWinnipeg Blue BombersThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
. - Mason Tikl, guitarist for avant-garde band What's He Building in There?What's He Building in There?What's He Building in There? was a Canadian experimental metal band, formed in 2006 in Waterloo, Ontario. The band's music combined elements of funk, avant-garde metal and progressive rock. The band, named after a Tom Waits song from Mule Variations, were known for their live show in which they...
. Tikl was a constant participant in live music events such as Coffee House and Christmas/Year end assemblies. - Michael Latta, centre for Guelph StormGuelph StormThe Guelph Storm is a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.-History:...
in the OHLOntario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
. Currently in his 3rd season.