St. John Paul II Catholic Secondary School

For other uses, see St John Paul II Catholic School (disambiguation).

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School in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

St. John Paul II Catholic Secondary School

Address

685 Military Trail

Toronto

Ontario

M1E 4P6

Canada

Coordinates| 43°47′23″N 79°11′58″W﻿ / ﻿43.789829°N 79.199549°W﻿ / 43.789829; -79.199549
Information
Other names|

* SJPII
* St. John Paul II
* SJPIICSS
* JPII

Former names|

* Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School (1983-2011)
* Blessed Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School (2011-2014)

School type|

* Catholic high school
* IB World School

Motto| Latin: Laudetur Jesus Christus
(Praised be Jesus Christ)
Religious affiliation(s)| Roman Catholic
Founded| September 6, 1983; 40 years ago (1983-09-06)
School board| Toronto Catholic District School Board
(Metropolitan Separate School Board)
Superintendent| Ryan Peterson
Area 8
Area trustee| Nancy Crawford
Ward 12
School number| 531 / 751537
Principal| Scotula Navaratnasingham
Faculty| 44
Grades| 9–12
Enrollment| 1,267 (2022-23)
Colour(s)| Navy, silver, white
Mascot| Panthers
Nickname| Pope
Team name| Pope Panthers
Newspaper| Off The Wall
Feeder schools| Alvin Curling Public School
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Catholic School
Cardinal Leger Catholic School
Chief Dan George Public School
Eastview Public School
Galloway Public School
Henry Hudson Senior Public School
Highland Creek Public School
Highcastle Public School
Jack Miner Senior Public School
John G Diefenbaker Public School
Joseph Brant Public School
Joseph Howe Senior Public School
Meadowvale Public School
Military Trail Public School
Morrish Public School
Sacred Heart Catholic School
St. Barbara Catholic School
St. Bede Catholic School
St. Brendan Catholic School
St. Dominic Savio Catholic School
St. Edmund Campion Catholic School
St. Florence Catholic School
St. Gabriel Lalemant Catholic School
St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic School
St. Malachy Catholic School
St. Margaret's Public School
St. Martin de Porres Catholic School
St. Thomas More Catholic School
St. Urusla Catholic School
Tecumseh Senior Public School
West Hill Public School
Parish| St. Thomas More
Specialist High Skills Major| Arts and Culture
Business
Health and Wellness
Sports

Program Focus|

* International Baccalaureate
* Extended French
* Broad-based Technology
* Gifted

Website| www.tcdsb.org/schools/stjohnpaulii

St. John Paul II Catholic Secondary School (occasionally known as SJPII, St. John Paul II, SJPIICSS, JPII, or in short, Pope); known as Blessed Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School and Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School before the beatification of John Paul II is a publicly funded high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It serves the West Hill and Seven Oaks neighbourhoods of Scarborough. It is administered by the Toronto Catholic District School Board. The motto for Pope is Laudetur Jesus Christus which translates as "Praised be Jesus Christ".

## History

[edit]

### Pontiff

[edit]

Main article: Pope John Paul II

John Paul II is considered by some authorities to have helped to end Communist rule in his native Poland and eventually all of Europe.[1] John Paul II worked to improve the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. He was criticised by progressives for upholding the Church's teachings against artificial contraception and the ordination of women, and by traditionalists for his support of the Church's Second Vatican Council and its reforms.

He visited 129 countries during his pontificate, beatified 1,340 people, and canonised 483 saints, more than in all of the preceding five centuries. He named many cardinals, consecrated or co-consecrated many bishops, and ordained many priests.[2] A stated goal of his papacy was to transform and reposition the Catholic Church, and "to place his Church at the heart of a new religious alliance that would bring together Jews, Muslims and Christians in a great [religious] armada".[3][4] On 19 December 2009, John Paul II was proclaimed venerable by his successor Benedict XVI; he was beatified on 1 May 2011 and canonised, together with John XXIII,[5][6] on 27 April 2014, Divine Mercy Sunday.[7]

### Background

[edit]

In September 1955, the first high school in the area West Hill Collegiate Institute opened to serve the growing communities of West Hill, Guildwood and Highland Creek years after the end of World War II. Over the years, several catholic separate schools in the Metropolitan Separate School Board (later became the Toronto Catholic District School Board) were established: St. Martin De Porres and St. Ursula in 1964, St. Thomas More in 1968, St. Malachy in the 10-acre site in 1969, St. Edmund Campion in 1971, St. Bede in 1978, and Cardinal Leger in 1988. The adjacent Military Trail Public School was built in 1968.

Realizing the overcrowding in Cardinal Newman to the south and Francis Libermann to the north due to the growing population of Roman Catholics in the West Hill area, the Metropolitan Separate School Board began establishing a high school within the boundaries of St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church. On September 6, 1983, the MSSB established Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School with the first 135 students in twelve temporary, portable classrooms next to the closed St. Bede. Paul M. Howard served as its inaugural principal for the first four years. The student population doubled in 1984, as did the number of portable classrooms over the years.

By 1985, Pope began construction of the current physical structure accommodating 1,074 pupils with the first 12 classrooms. Until its completion in September 1988, the building now consists of the gymnasia, library, cafeteria, tech shops, and additional classrooms. Although Pope's current building was opened and blessed in early 1989, 23 portables were placed due to the growing student population.

The board approved the renaming of the school to Blessed Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School on June 16, 2011, following John Paul II's beatification the previous month.[8] In June 2014 the board renamed the school to St. John Paul II Catholic Secondary School after John Paul II's canonization.[5][9][10]

## Overview

[edit]

### Campus

[edit]

New tracks built for Toronto 2015 Pan American Games

St. John Paul II sits on a 14-acre land once held by the former St. Bede. The facilities consist of a baseball diamond-like structure building with 41 classrooms, seven science laboratories, three gymnasia, a large library, a student services area, a drama room, two music rooms, a drafting room, two tech shops, and two art rooms as well as a 400m eight-lane track and athletic field regularly found in public secular collegiate schools. To meet the demand for overcrowding, there are 13 portable classrooms in place. As of 2022–23 school year, there are 1267 students attending SJPII.

During the 2015 Pan American Games, St. John Paul II received a newly paved track and hosted the roller speed skating competition.

### Programs

[edit]

SJPII, a publicly funded separate high school, provides a religious studies program in each year. The school was accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization in 2002 with its first class of IB Diploma students graduated in 2005. The school also provides gifted, cooperative education, and extended French programs, as well as English and French Writing Clinics, a peer helper program (P.A.S.S) and a Math Help Centre.

### Student life

[edit]

Various councils run the majority of SJPII's inter and extracurricular activities. These councils are the Executive Student Council (ESC), Safe Schools Council (SSC), DECA, Art Committee and the Environmental Council. Following in their lead of student engagement are a multitude of clubs including the Health Action Team who runs the Breakfast Club. There is also a school newspaper by the name of "Off the Wall", that is published four times a year.[11]

Ninety percent of SJPII graduates go on to post-secondary education. About 1 in 20 graduates does so with a scholarship.[12]

### Administration

[edit]

As of 2023[update], the current principal is Scotula Navaratnasingham, who previously was the vice principal of St. Patrick Catholic Secondary School. The former principal of SJPII is Andrea Magee, who was the former principal at Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School for several years.

## Notable students

[edit]

This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations. (March 2021)

|

* Stephanie Beard, actress and voice actress
* Kareem Blake, hip-hop artist performing as Choclair
* Jordan Hamilton, Professional soccer player, currently playing for Canadian Premier League team Forge FC[13][14]
* Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, Olympic medalist
* Hazel Mae Cagulada, Sportsnet personality
* Andrew Ornoch, former professional soccer player
* Adrian Serioux, former professional soccer player
* Cam Woods, professional lacrosse player

## See also

[edit]

* Education in Ontario
* List of secondary schools in Ontario

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Lenczowski, John. "Public Diplomacy and the Lessons of the Soviet Collapse", 2002
2. ^ "Pope John Paul II". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
3. ^ Odone, Cristina – Catholic Herald, 1991
4. ^ Geller, Uri – The Jewish Telegraph, 7 July 2000
5. ^ a b "Report: Pope Francis Says John Paul II to Be Canonized April 27". National Catholic Register. September 3, 2013. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
6. ^ "Popes John Paul II, John XXIII to be made saints: Vatican". Reuters. Archived from the original on July 8, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
7. ^ Povoledo, Elizabetta; Alan Cowell (September 30, 2013). "Francis to Canonise John XXIII and John Paul II on Same Day". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
8. ^ "Board meetig agenda" (PDF). www.tcdsb.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
9. ^ "S07 | Toronto Catholic District School Board". www.tcdsb.org. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
10. ^ "School name change" (PDF). www.tcdsb.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
11. ^ "Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School". Toronto Catholic District School Board. Archived from the original on November 2, 2005.
12. ^ "Official website". Archived from the original on November 2, 2005.
13. ^ "Jordan Hamilton Joins First Team". Toronto Catholic District School Board. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014.
14. ^ "Jordan Hamilton | Toronto FC". Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* St. John Paul II Catholic Secondary School

* v
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Secondary education in Toronto

English-language public schools

Toronto District SB|

* A. Y. Jackson
* Agincourt
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* SEE
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* South East
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* Subway Academy I
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* Student School
* Tabor Park*
* Thistletown
* Timothy Eaton†
* Ursula Franklin
* Vaughan Road*
* Victoria Park
* Vincent Massey*
* W. A. Porter
* West Hill
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* West Park*
* Western
* Weston
* Westview
* Wexford
* William Lyon Mackenzie
* Winston Churchill
* West End
* Woburn
* Yorkdale
* York Humber  (Emmett)
* York Humber  (Humber Blvd.)*
* York Memorial
* York Mills

Toronto Catholic District SB|

* A.P.P.L.E
* Bishop Allen
* Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton
* Brebeuf
* Brother Edmund Rice†
* Cardinal Carter
* Chaminade
* Dante Alighieri
* Don Bosco*
* Father Henry Carr (Marian Academy)
* Father Henry Carr (Kipling)†
* Father John Redmond
* Francis Libermann
* James Cardinal McGuigan
* Loretto
* Loretto Abbey
* Madonna
* Marshall McLuhan
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* Michael Power/St. Joseph
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* Neil McNeil
* Notre Dame
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* Senator O'Connor
* St. Basil-the-Great
* St. Joan of Arc
* St. John Henry Newman
* St. John Paul II
* St. Joseph's
* St. Joseph's Morrow Park
* St. Mary
* St. Michael's Choir
* St. Mother Teresa
* St. Oscar Romero
* St. Patrick

French-language public schools

CS Viamonde|

* Étienne-Brûlé
* Le Collège français
* Toronto Ouest

CS catholique MonAvenir|

* Monseigneur-de-Charbonnel
* Père-Philippe-Lamarche
* Saint-Frère-André

Private schools

Non-religious|

* A.R.S. Armenian
* Abelard
* Arrowsmith
* Bayview Glen
* Beach*
* Bond
* Branksome Hall
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* Crestwood
* Dragon*
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* Lycée Français
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Religious|

* Bialik Hebrew
* Bishop Strachan
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* Crawford Adventist
* De La Salle
* Havergal
* Hawthorn
* Mariyah Islamic
* Netivot HaTorah
* North Toronto Christian
* Royal St. George's
* St. Clement's
* St. Michael's
* Tanenbaum Community Hebrew
* Tiferes Bais Yaakov
* Whitefield Christian

Miscellaneous

Lists|

* List of secondary schools in the Toronto District School Board
* List of schools in the Toronto Catholic District School Board
* List of schools of the Conseil scolaire Viamonde

Italics \- Alternative school or adult secondary school | * - Non-operational | † - Demolished or sold off

* v
* t
* e

Pope John Paul II

* Born Karol Józef Wojtyła, 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005
*     * Pope (1978–2005)
* Archbishop of Kraków (1963–1978)

| Timeline|

* Emilia Wojtyła (mother)
* Karol Wojtyła (father)
* Early life
* Papal conclave
* Assassination attempt
* Death and funeral
* dignitaries
* Beatification and canonization

Coat of arms Pope John Paul II

|
|

Acts as pope|

* Apologies
* Cardinals created
* People venerated
* People beatified
* Saints canonized
* Papal mediation in the Beagle conflict
* Pastoral visits
* Ireland
* Nicaragua
* United Kingdom
* World Day of the Sick
* World Youth Day

Relations|

* Eastern Orthodox Church
* Judaism

Other topics|

* Abbà Pater
* Criticism
* Family home (historic house)
* Health
* John Paul II Foundation
* Monuments
* Totus tuus

* Bibliography
* Teachings

| Apostolic constitutions|

* Sacrae disciplinae leges
* Pastor bonus
* Ex corde Ecclesiae
* Fidei depositum
* Universi Dominici gregis

|

Apostolic exhortations|

* Catechesi tradendae
* Familiaris consortio
* Redemptionis Donum
* Reconciliatio et paenitentia
* Christifideles laici
* Redemptoris custos
* Pastores dabo vobis
* Ecclesia in Africa
* Vita consecrata
* Une espérance nouvelle pour le Liban
* Ecclesia in America
* Ecclesia in Asia
* Ecclesia in Oceania
* Ecclesia in Europa
* Pastores gregis

Ecclesiastical letters|

* Dominicae cenae
* Salvifici doloris
* Mulieris dignitatem
* Ordinatio sacerdotalis
* Tertio millennio adveniente
* Letter to Women
* Ad tuendam fidem
* Novo millennio ineunte
* Misericordia Dei
* Rosarium Virginis Mariae
* The Rapid Development

Encyclicals|

* Redemptor hominis
* Dives in misericordia
* Laborem exercens
* Slavorum Apostoli
* Dominum et vivificantem
* Redemptoris Mater
* Sollicitudo rei socialis
* Redemptoris missio
* Centesimus annus
* Veritatis splendor
* Evangelium vitae
* Ut unum sint
* Fides et ratio
* Ecclesia de Eucharistia

Books|

* Love and Responsibility
* Crossing the Threshold of Hope
* Memory and Identity

Other writings|

* The Jeweler's Shop
* Theology of the Body
* "Roman Triptych"
* Testament

Documents endorsed|

* Catechism of the Catholic Church
* Quattuor abhinc annos
* We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah
* Dominus Iesus

Related|

* Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah
* Political views
* Scriptural Way of the Cross

* Eponymous places
* In popular culture

| Secondary schools|

| United States|

* Huntsville, AL
* Boca Raton, FL
* Tallahassee, FL
* Slidell, LA
* Hyannis, MA
* Greenville, NC
* Royersford, PA
* Hendersonville, TN
* Corpus Christi, TX
* Plano, TX
* Schertz, TX
* Dumfries, VA
* Lacey, WA

|

Other countries|

* Australia: Sydney
* Canada: London
* Canada: Toronto
* New Zealand: Greymouth
* New Zealand: Rotorua
* Poland: Tarnów

* Colleges
* Universities

* John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
* John Paul II Institute
* John Paul II Minor Seminary
* John Paul the Great Catholic University
* Pontifical University of John Paul II
* Pope John Paul II College of Education

Airports|

* Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport
* João Paulo II Airport
* John Paul II International Airport Kraków–Balice

Bridges|

* El Puente del Papa
* John Paul II Bridge, Puławy
* Juan Pablo II Bridge
* Third Millennium John Paul II Bridge

Other places|

* Saint John Paul II National Shrine
* Ioannes Paulus II Peninsula
* John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization
* John Paul II Center for Interreligious Dialogue
* John Paul II Foundation for Research and Treatment
* Museum of John Paul II and Primate Wyszyński
* Museum of John Paul II Collection
* Pope John Paul II Park Reservation

Films|

* Pope John Paul II
* The Papal Chase
* Have No Fear: The Life of Pope John Paul II
* The Pope's Toilet
* Nine Days that Changed the World

TV miniseries|

* Pope John Paul II
* Karol: A Man Who Became Pope
* Karol: The Pope, The Man
* In Search of the Pope's Children

Other media|

* The Planet Is Alive...Let It Live!
* Red Rabbit
* The Pope's Children
* Credo: John Paul II

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