From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brebeuf College School
Studio Gradum Faciant To Win Merit Through Study
Address
211 Steeles Avenue East Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Information
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic
Principal	Nicola D'Avella
School type	separate
Campus	Suburban
Mascot	Redmen (1963-2003) Bulls (2003-Present)
Colours	Red, White and Black
Established	1963
Enrollment	990

Brebeuf College School is a Catholic boys' school founded by the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) in 1963 and located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Brebeuf College has a tradition of devotion to Christian values and academic excellence, which prepare students for university and to be "men for others".

Students participate in a wide spectrum of activities, including music, and drama productions, as well as a variety of athletic programs at both the intramural and extramural levels. Extended French, Gifted, ESL, and Co-operative Education programs are available for students with appropriate qualifications. As well, Brebeuf offers an Advanced Placement program that allows students to study enriched materials and to develop university level skills. In many cases they may also earn advanced placement (credit) for university, while still in high school. Students in this 4 year program will study an enriched curriculum in areas such as English, Mathematics, Science and History.

The school uniform is a distinctive black blazer, black fleece polo top, crested black v-neck sweater, or black vest, and grey pants. Black or white golf shirts may also be worn in the appropriate seasons. The school tie is red with black and white stripes, and is replaced with the black grad tie when students are in their final year. The school crest, in the school colours of red and white, bears the motto, “Studio Gradum Faciant.” The school operates on the semester system and has an enrolment of approximately 900 students.

The name Brebeuf was chosen for the new Toronto Catholic high school that opened its doors to the first students in 1963 for three reasons. One of Ontario's most illustrious and heroic pioneers was St. Jean de Brébeuf who first came to Canada in 1625, only 17 years after the founding of this country by Champlain's French colonists in 1608. Brebeuf journeyed to the area around the present-day Midland, Ontario and introduced Christian values to the Huron Indians of that area.

A second reason for selecting the name Brebeuf was that Jean de Brebeuf was a French Jesuit priest and the priests who founded Brebeuf College School in 1963 were the Jesuits of the Upper Canada Province. Brebeuf High School's first principal was Father Robert Meagher, S.J., a native of Montreal and a follower of the Loyola tradition in that city. Brebeuf's first staff consisted of 8 Jesuit priests, 1 Jesuit brother and 6 laymen.

The third reason the name Brebeuf was chosen for this high school was to provide each student and staff member with a person to emulate in his daily life. As is well known, Jean de Brebeuf was a giant among men, not only physically with his six-foot plus posture, but also academically with his exceptional linguistic skills, and more so spiritually with his dedication, zeal and courage. In 1649 Brebeuf was martyred after serving for 16 years among the Hurons.

Jean de Brebeuf died at the age of 56 years for the faith he hoped to implant in the hearts, minds, and the souls of his Huron brothers. In 1956 his grave was discovered by Father Denis Hegarty, S.J. at the present site of Ste.-Marie-among the Hurons, near Midland, and a simple, hand-etched lead plaque told the story of this heroic life:

P. Jean de Brebeuf

Brûlé par les Iroquois

Le 17 de Mars, 1649

This school named after the Jesuit missionary, Jean de Brebeuf, opened with one hundred Grades 9 & 10 students in September, 1963. Their Excellencies, Bishops Philip F. Pocock and Francis A. Marrocco presided at the official opening and solemn blessings on January 5, 1964. Brebeuf's first graduation class in 1966 consisted of 30 students, among them Mr. Michael Daoust presently the head of mathematics at Brebeuf. The 1967 year had 74 graduates, one of whom was Mr. Robert Lato formerly the head of guidance at Brebeuf.

Father Jean de Brebeuf who spent three periods of his life in Huronia in the 17th century (1626-29, 1634-42, and 1644-49), less than 150 miles from the present site of Brebeuf College School, is now honoured permanently as patron of Brebeuf College School.

In May, 1983, Father William Ryan, the Provincial of the Jesuits, announced that the Jesuits were going to give up responsibilities for the operation of Brebeuf College School by June, 1984. This decision was made necessary by the steady decline of available manpower. Immediately, Cardinal Gerald Emmett Carter and the staff of the Archdiocese of Toronto began to explore the possibilities to ensure the continuing operation of Brebeuf. In February, 1984, Cardinal Carter's office announced that the Presentation Brothers were willing to assume responsibility for Brebeuf College, and would officially take over on July 31, 1984. Brother Lawrence Maher FPM was the new Principal. Thus the school is now operated by the Presentation Brothers.

The Presentation Brothers of Mary is a religious congregation founded with a single intention -- to work for the Christian education and the formation of youth. The Order was founded in 1802 in Ireland by Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, a wealthy and well-educated businessman in the city of Waterford. By the age of forty, Edmund Rice was noted as a generous alyman, particularly concerned with the plight of the poor. After entering a monastery in Europe, he realized that his real vocation lay with the uneducated and poverty-stricken youth of Waterford.

It was in 1802 that Edmund Rice gave up his personal wealth and by 1822 he had become the founder of the Presentation Brothers and the Congregation of Christian Brothers. Brother Edmund Rice died in 1844 but the work he began continued throughout the world.

Today the Presentation Brothers operate elementary and secondary schools in the United States, South America, the West Indies, England, Ireland, Africa, and Canada.

In 2002, the Toronto Catholic District School Board announced funding for a new building to replace Brebeuf's outdated facilities. Under Principal Michael Pautler '76, the Brebeuf community was temporarily housed in the former Bathurst Heights Collegiate while the new building was being constructed. On January 5, 2004, exactly 40 years after Bishop Pocock presided over Brebeuf College School's Solemn Blessing, staff and students began classes in the new state-of-the-art facility at the old campus.

The Brebeuf Crest was designed by Father Robert Meagher S.J., Brebeuf's founding Principal. It symbolizes the rich heritage and history of Brebeuf.

The black bull is taken from the family coat-of-arms of St. Jean de Brebeuf.

The cross of St. George and maple leaves are taken from the arms of the Province of Ontario.

The blazing sun forms the arms of the Society of Jesus who founded the school, and of which Brebeuf was a member. The flames on the circle symbolize the infinite love of Christ, and the little cross, the pinnacle of that love. The Greek letters "iota", "eta," and "sigma" are the first three letters of Jesus' name.

The angel's wings behind the large cross are those of St. Michael, the patron saint of the Archdiocese of Toronto. The five small crosses on the larger cross represent each of the five Canadian Jesuit Martyrs (Jean de Brébeuf, Gabriel Lallemant, Antoine Daniel, Charles Garnier, and Noel Chabanel).

The Latin motto "Studio Gradum Faciant" is translated "To win merit through study", emphasizing the academic nature of the school.

1. Father Robert Meagher S.J. (1963-1972)
2. Father Clement Crusoe S.J. (1972-1976)
3. Father Ken Casey S.J. (1976-1979)
4. Father Winston Rye S.J. (1979-1984)
5. Brother Lawrence Maher F.P.M. (1984-1996)
6. Mr. Joseph Brisbois, B.B.A.,B.Ed.,M.Ed. (1996-2002)
7. Mr. Michael Pautler '76, B.A.,B.Ed.,M.Ed.,M.A. (2002-2004)
8. Mr. Nicola D'Avella, B.A.,B.Ed.,M.Ed. (2004- )

Brebeuf College School is a community of faith integrating Christian principles and Catholic values with all living and learning experiences in an environment which recognizes the spiritual dignity of each individual as a child of God.

Brebeuf College School is a family of student-teacher-parent-alumnus working together to encourage excellence, integrity, responsibility, initiative and respect for the other in the classroom, on the playing field and in the larger community of parish, municipality and country.

Brebeuf College School stands for an education that develops soundness in mind, soul and body. Brebeuf pursues an educational philosophy centred on academic and moral discipline. Brebeuf encourages the spirit to soar and the imagination to inquire. Brebeuf nurtures the sense of wonder in each student's unique development. Brebeuf College School rewards hard work and eager application. Brebeuf expands all members of its family to realize the fullness of the potential given by God.

Brebeuf believes that the way, the truth and the life informed by the teachings and life of Jesus lead one to success, to happiness and service to the other. Brebeuf's hallmarks are friendship, faith, discipline and hard work.

Brebeuf College School offers a number of different courses giving students a breadth of choice in various disciplines. Each course falls into one of the following Academic Departments.

1. The Arts
2. Business Studies
3. Canadian and World Studies
4. English
5. French
6. Guidance and Career Education
7. Health and Physical Education
8. Mathematics
9. Religious Studies
10. Science
11. Social Sciences and Humanities

Oh we're the Men of Brebeuf

And we never give in!

Men of Brebeuf

And we just like to win!

Men of Brebeuf

Out to win every game!

Men of Brebeuf

Constant victory's our aim!

And we're the Men of Brebeuf

On the road to success!

Men of Brebeuf

Always more never less

We'll shout it aloud

'Til our hearers are deaf!

(first time...) Victorious Men of Brebeuf!

(last time...)

Victorious Men of...

Victorious Men of...

Victorious Men of...BREBEU...U...UFF!!!

"Once a Brebeufian, always a Brebeufian". The school has an active alumni association which recently raised $200,000 to aid the school in achieving its mission of excellence. Annual alumni events include golf, hockey, and floorhockey tournaments and reunions.

Some prominent alumni include:

• Joseph Boyden, author of "Three Day Road".
• Kevin Sullivan, a film director of such Canadian classics as "Anne of Green Gables" and "Road to Avonlea".
• Gar Knutson, former MP and Minister of the Crown.
• Marc Kielburger, co-founder of Free the Children and Leaders Today.
• Mike Murphy, former coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs and VP of the NHL.
• Larry Uteck, CFL player and former deputy-mayor of Halifax.
• Phil Horgan, President of the Catholic Civil Rights League.
• Fabrizio Filippo, a well-known Toronto actor.
• Bill Hutchison, CTV News Anchor for the evenings news.
• Larry Uteck, former CFL player, CUAA coach, and deputy mayor of Halifax.
• Richard Mahoney, former President of the Liberal Party and lawyer.
• Aldo DiFelice, President of the Telelatino Television Network.

• Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, in Montreal also a Jesuit school but with no other direct affiliation

• Brebeuf College Official Website
• Brebeuf Alumni Association