From the London DCSB: Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School opened in September 2000 with Grade 9 students located at the Charles Street site, until the beautiful new building on Sunningdale Road East in North London was opened on September 3, 2002.  The school is first and foremost a Catholic high school and to that effect we proudly celebrate our faith not only through a variety of Religion courses, masses and liturgical experiences, but also through conscientiously ensuring that our messages of Christ’s Gospel are interwoven throughout everything we do at our school.  We regularly challenge our students to think of goodness and justice, and to generate random acts of kindness at every opportunity.  Our goal being that with each school experience, our students consistently share their gifts as we challenge them to be the change we hope to see in the world.

At Mother Teresa we have a reputation for our ongoing and strong commitment to academics, the arts, athletics, and extra-curriculars which have and continue to lead students to personal success. The school has a strong repertoire of programs to support student learning and achievement.  Academically, we are very fortunate to be able to offer a vast array of courses which allow students to experience their talents, desires and skills, as well as their post-secondary pathway.

The school offers both an English and French Immersion program to support the Grade 9 to 12 academic experience.  Our French Immersion program has an enrollment of almost 350 students.  As well, we have a Specialist High Skills Major program with a focus on Health and Wellness and the Medical Sciences field.  We are excited about our commitment to add to this program with new Specialist High Skills Majors in business, robotics, computer engineering, and social Sciences for September 2016.

Pre-Advanced Placement Program

Similarly, we are very excited and proud about one of our newest academic programs, Pre-Advanced Placement.  In September 2015, the school launched its Pre-Advanced Placement Program.  This is an academic enrichment program available to all Grade 9 and 10 students in the city of London.  The Advanced Placement Program (AP) provides an opportunity for motivated, prepared Grade 11 and 12 students to experience university-level curricula and examinations while attending secondary school.  We are the only secondary school in London offering this program with a direct integration into the Grade 9 and Grade 10 programs.

International Student Program

Most unique to our school is the International Student Program.  A program supporting international students from China to complete their high school education at Mother Teresa with a post-secondary partnership with Brescia University College, King’s University College, and Fanshawe College. These are exciting times at our school.

We encourage all of our students to discover new experiences beyond the regular school curriculum.  There are many opportunities to enhance and balance the classroom experience.  The classroom experience is supported by teachers who are profoundly committed to the teaching and learning process and placing students first.  Our school population of 750 students allows us to do that, while building relationships with our students and knowing them by name.  That rapport and dedication is reflected in the many successes of our students which include:

• Senior Concert Band – Musicfest London Gold Award, Musicfest National Festival Silver Award.
• String Ensemble – Musicfest London Gold Award, Musicfest National Festival Gold Award.
• Junior Concert Band – London Kiwanis Music Festival – Silver Award, School Shows, Grease and Starmites.
• 2 SPECTRA Recipients
• 6 TVRA Championships
• 3 TVRA Finalists
• 7 WOSSAA Championships
• OFSAA Individual Sports representation: Girls Golf, Cross Country, Wrestling Silver Medal, Swimming, Track & Field Gold Medal in Pole Vaulting
• OFSAA Team Sports representation: Girls Basketball Bronze Medal, Girls Hockey Bronze Medal, Boys Hockey Bronze Medal, Girls Soccer
• 7 University of Waterloo Mathematics & Computing Certificates
• 3 University of Waterloo Mathematics & Computing Medals
• 1 Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest School Champion
• 3 Podium Results at The London District Science Olympics

Addressing Mental Health Issues through the Visual Arts Program

The Visual arts program has been involved in many initiatives both in the community and within the school.  For example, this year the students will be involved in “Let’s Paint”, a project planned by Mother Teresa and community partners to raise awareness of mental health and to reduce stigma. This project will involve students from across the London District Catholic School Board.  Other past projects have included participating in Museum London’s bi-annual student shows and a large scale project called “Young Curators of the Future” with Museum London, Canadian Heritage Information Network and the Virtual Museum of Canada.  Each year, the senior students set up the Grad Art Show which showcases the work of our graduating students.  The thematic work is diverse from mental illness, environmental concerns, social justice issues, and unique personal themes of family, change, and self.  The music department contributes to the school arts program by providing music for various school functions including mass, assemblies and Music Night performances.  The band has gone on international trips to Chicago and New York to attend workshops and play for different audiences including seniors at various facilities.  These opportunities always strive to provide students with unique experiences that they may otherwise not have had.

Living the Words of Patron Saint, Mother Teresa

Each and every day our mission at Mother Teresa is to provide experiences which allow our students to live the words of our patron saint, Mother Teresa, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” 

Our school community is made up of many individuals, both students and staff, representing different faiths, cultural backgrounds, and abilities.  Our students and staff strive to celebrate the diversity of our school community through student voice initiatives.  Our annual CultureFest, Black History Month, Best Buddies, and We Stand Together events are just a few examples of our student/staff led initiatives to celebrate and support the many faces that make up our school community.  We believe our students are our greatest gift.  They are very much the energy and vitality of our school.  We are proud of our students.  We are proud of the Mother Teresa experience.

Submitted by the London District Catholic School Board