November 9, 2015For Immediate Release

York Catholic schools hold special events to commemorate Remembrance Day

Students, staff, and community members from Catholic schools across York Region will mark Remembrance Day by paying tribute to war veterans and current members of the Canadian Forces through special events and activities, including school assemblies, visits from veterans, dramatic presentations, and liturgies on Wednesday, November 11, 2015.

Below is a list of various Remembrance Day tributes taking place in York Catholic schools.

AURORA

St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School to mark Remembrance Day with an assemblyArts students at St. Maximilian Kolbe CHS are honoured to present a variety of performances to remember those who served and continue to serve our country in times of need. Through expressions of spoken word, song, and dance, the school will celebrate the values of liberty, safety and diversity that our veterans sacrificed their lives to preserve and protect. When: Tuesday, November 11, 8:45 a.m. & 10 a.m.Where: St. Maximilian Kolbe CHS, 278 Wellington St. E., Aurora, ONContact: Karen Murphy, Head Secretary, 905-727-5652

St. Joseph students to visit the Aurora Cenotaph for Remembrance Day Grades 3-8 students from St. Joseph CES in Aurora will mark Remembrance Day by walking to the Aurora Cenotaph to pay tribute and honour our veterans. In the afternoon, St. Joseph Aurora students will attend a school based Remembrance Day liturgy focusing on peace, reconciliation and forgiveness. When: Tuesday, November 11, 11 a.m. at the Aurora Cenotaph; 1:15 p.m. in the school gymWhere: St. Joseph CES, 2 Glass Drive, Aurora, ONContact: Christine deHaas, Principal, 905 727-5782

KING

St. Patrick CES in Schomberg to host Remembrance Day liturgySt. Patrick Catholic Elementary School will host a Remembrance Day liturgy in its school gym on November 11th to recognize and remember members of the Canadian Forces and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.When: Wednesday, November 11, 2015, 11 a.m.Where: St. Patrick CES, 51 Western Ave., Schomberg, ONContact: Fran Hill, Principal, 905-939-7753

MARKHAM

Remembrance Day Prayer Service at St. Matthew CES in UnionvilleStudents and staff at St. Matthew CES in Unionville will mark Remembrance Day with a prayer service in its school gym. The school’s parent community is invited to attendWhen: Wednesday, November 11, 10:45 a.m.Where: 75 Waterbridge Lane, Unionville, ONContact: Janis Moores, Principal, 905-475-0517

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St. Augustine CHS to host and broadcast Remembrance Day ceremonyOn Wednesday, November 11th, students and staff at St. Augustine Catholic High School in Markham will participate in a Remembrance Day ceremony that will feature student-cadets, poems, a wreath procession, prayers, “The Last Post,” and a moment of silence. Thanks to the school’s Technology Department, the ceremony will be broadcast over YouTube, so that the entire school community and beyond will be able to witness the event.When: Wednesday, November 11, 2015Where: St. Augustine Catholic High School, 2188 Rodick Road, Markham, ONContact: Antonella Rubino, Principal, 905- 887-6171

St. John XXIII school to participate in Unionville BIA Remembrance Day ceremonyOn Wednesday, November 11th, Grade 8 students from St. John XXIII Catholic school will participate in a Remembrance Day ceremony organized by the UBIA (Unionville Business Improvement Area). The ceremony will be held on Main Street Unionville. It will begin at the corner of Fred Varley Dr. and Main Street at the bandstand shelter at approximately 10:20 a.m.When: Wednesday, November 11, 2015, 10:20 a.m.Where: Main St. Unionville, ONContact: Chris Mills, Principal, 905-477-3288

Remembrance Day ceremony at St. Joseph CES in MarkhamStudents and staff at St. Joseph CES in Markham will participate in a Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11th. Prayers and reflections will be led by the school’s Grade 7 and 8 Ministry Leaders, while students in Grades 2 - 4 will recite “In Flanders Field,” and accompany a soloist who will sing, “A Note to God.” The school’s parent community is invited to attend. Earlier in the day, the school’s Grade 3 and 7 students will also participate in a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Markham Theatre.When: Wednesday, November 11, 1:30 p.m.Where: St. Joseph CES, 388 White’s Hill Ave., Markham, ONContact: Rose Polak, Principal, 905-294-4045

Remembrance Day Recognition Assembly at St. Patrick CES in MarkhamParents are invited to attend the St. Patrick CES Recognition Assembly and Remembrance Day Service on Wednesday, November 11th commencing at 10 a.m. in the gymnasium. Students will wear red and/or white clothing for this special day. Recognition certificates will also be awarded to deserving students. The Grade 6 students in Ms. Iacobellis’ class and the Grade 7 students in Mr. Clement’s class are organizing the assembly and will be making presentations. The service should last approximately one hour.When: Wednesday, November 11, 10 a.m.Where: St. Patrick CES, 5607 Highway 7, Markham, OntarioContact: Brent Matthews, Principal, 905-727-5652

Liturgical Celebration at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Elementary School in MarkhamSt. Kateri Tekakwitha CES will be holding a Remembrance Day liturgy on Nov. 11th at 10:45 am. It is a solemn time for prayer and reflection where the school’s students and staff will take the time to think about the many men and women who fought for our freedom. The school will pray for their families who lost loved ones and pray for a future where war is not an option. It invites its parent community to the liturgy.When: Wednesday, November 11, 10:45 a.m.Where: St. Kateri Tekakwitha CES, 230 Fincham Avenue, Markham, ONContact: Jenny DiMaria, Principal, 905-471-4477

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RICHMOND HILL

Our Lady of the Annunciation to become a sea of red & white, as students fundraise for Project Hope The intermediate students and staff at Our Lady of the Annunciation school in Richmond Hill invite its school community to attend a Remembrance Day liturgy in the school’s gym at 10:45 a.m. Students at the school will dress in red and white to symbolize their Canadian identity and at 11 a.m., the intermediate students will engage the audience by playing “The Last Post”, followed by a moment of silence. Liturgical dances, choral readings and special presentations about peace will be shared. Also on this day, students at Our Lady of the Annunciation will participate in a fundraiser for ‘Project Hope.’ Students who are part of the school’s Luke 4:18 social justice committee will visit classes to speak about the Archdioceses of Toronto’s ‘Project Hope,’ in support of Syrian and other refugees abroad. When: Wednesday, November 11, 2015, 10:45 a.m.Where: Our Lady of the Annunciation School Gym, 30 Bayswater Ave., Richmond Hill, ONContact: Linda D'Andrea, Principal, 905-773-5592

St. Theresa of Lisieux CHS in Richmond Hill to host dramatic Remembrance Day ceremonySt. Theresa of Lisieux CHS will pay tribute to the many men and women who fought and gave their lives for their country with a special ceremony on November 11th. The school’s Grade 12 dramatic arts class has created a performance that includes monologues, narration, and tableau to honour and remember the fallen soldiers in a creative and respectful manner. Music students will also perform a song that is a tribute to war heroes, and “The Last Post” will be played by a senior music student, followed by a moment of silence. The school’s entire community will be afforded the opportunity to reflect, remember, and pray together on this important day.When: Wednesday, November 11, 2015, 8:30 a.m.Where: St. Theresa of Lisieux CHS, 230 Shaftsbury Ave., Richmond Hill, ONContact: Joseph Servidio, Principal, 905-787-1407

Remembrance Day liturgy at St. Anne CES in Richmond HillSt. Anne Catholic Elementary School invites its parent community to attend a special Remembrance Day liturgy at the school, which will feature kindergarten students reciting a poem; the Grade 4/5 class reciting “In Flanders Field,” and songs performed by intermediate students. When: Wednesday, November 11th, 2015, 10:45 a.m.Where: St. Anne Catholic Elementary School, 105 Don Head Village Blvd., Richmond Hill, ONContact: Vera Zucchi, Principal, 905-883-0311

Students to Lead Remembrance Day Activities at Corpus Christi CES in Richmond HillOn November 11th at 10:45 a.m., Corpus Christi's Luke 4:18 Social Justice Committee will gather will lead its school community in an assembly of remembrance, awareness and reflection. Students have worked hard to prepare a presentation including history, prayers and an inspirational slideshow presentation themed 'Peace Begins with Us'. Students have also been collecting poppy donations and preparing entries for a Remembrance Day Poster/Poem/Essay contest.When: Tuesday, November 11, 10:45 a.m.Where: Corpus Christi Catholic Elementary School, 35 Squire Drive, Richmond Hill, ONContact: Joseph Cordi, Principal, Corpus Christi CES, 905-770-8713

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VAUGHAN

Jean Vanier CHS to honour veterans and Canada’s contribution to peace during meaningful Remembrance Day assembly Jean Vanier Catholic High school will have a Remembrance Day assembly to remember soldiers and service men and women who fought, died and suffered in wars. A cadet-student from the school will dress in uniform and carry the Canadian flag. Drama students will do a dramatic presentation of the "effect of the war on veterans." There will be a rose recognition ceremony for deceased soldiers and a slide show featuring relatives of the school’s staff members who served in one of the Great Wars. The school’s ESL students will present on "What does Canada mean to me," and a staff member will also speak about his experience this past summer in Normandy. When: Wednesday, November 11, 10 a.m.Where: Jean Vanier Catholic High School, 10475 Bayview Ave., Richmond Hill, ONContact: Silvana Wong, 905-770-8656

Holy Cross Catholic Academy to welcome Royal Canadian Navy Commander Michael J. BoweHoly Cross Catholic Academy will welcome Royal Canadian Navy Commander Michael J. Bowe as the keynote speaker at its school Remembrance Day assembly the afternoon of November 11th. In the morning the school will participate in a ceremony broadcast over its PA system. When: Wednesday, November 11, 1:20 p.m.Where: Holy Cross CA, 7501 Martin Grove Road, Woodbridge, ONContact: Iolanda Faraone, Principal, 905-851-6699

Students to form Peace Chain at St. Emily Catholic Elementary School in WoodbridgeSt. Emily CES will commemorate Remembrance Day on Wednesday, November 11th starting at 10:40 a.m. when the school will create a connected peace chain in the hallways as students reflect on the meaning of the day to music. The Grade 5s will then lead the school community and deliver a prayer service over the PA system as the school honours all those men and women who have died serving our country. At 11 a.m., the school will observe a moment of silence while the school’s staff and students listen to the playing of “The Last Post.” Students will then return to their classes and participate in a series of activities designed to help them reflect on the significance of the day. When: Wednesday, November 11, 10:40 a.m.Where: St. Emily CES, 60 Vellore Wood Blvd., Woodbridge, ONContact: Lucy Rizzi, Principal or Stella Carella, Teacher, 905-303-4554

Thornhill’s St. Joseph the Worker CES to welcome Warrant Officer Carmine Corrado at its Remembrance Day Liturgy St. Joseph the Worker CES will host a special liturgy for Remembrance Day that will feature a Question and Answer session with special guest, Warrant Officer Carmine Corrado. The Liturgy will also include a video montage, scripture readings, the “In Flanders Field” poem, and a moment of silence during the playing of “The Last Post.” All members of the school community are invited to attend.When: Wednesday, November 11, Where: St. Joseph the Worker CES, 475 Brownridge Drive, Thornhill, OntarioContact: Catherine Donovan, Principal, 905-738-5703

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Remembrance Day activities for Blessed Trinity CES in MapleThe Grade 3 classes at Blessed Trinity Catholic Elementary School in Maple have organized a Remembrance Day service for the school’s Grade 1-6 students that will be held in the gym starting at 10:40 a.m. The school’s parent community is invited to attend. Kindergarten students will participate in age-appropriate activities and observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. The school’s Grade 7 and 8 students will attend the Freedom Day event hosted by the The Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto.When: Wednesday, November 11, 10:40 a.m.Where: Blessed Trinity CES, 230 Hawker Road, Maple, ONContact: Anna Maria Di Giammarino, Principal, 905-303-7150

Remembrance Day Prayer Service at Holy Jubilee CES in MapleOn Wednesday, November 11th, Holy Jubilee Catholic Elementary School will recognize RemembranceDay with a prayer service in its school gymnasium. The Grade 7 students have prepared a beautiful service to commemorate those who sacrificed- or continue to sacrifice their lives in war, so that we can enjoy our freedoms. It will also include prayers as a community, for peace in our world. Everyone in the Holy Jubilee school community is welcome to attend.When: Wednesday, November 11, 10:45 a.m.Where: Holy Jubilee CES, 400 St. Joan of Arc Ave., Maple, ONContact: Karla Bebie, Principal, 905- 303-6121

Blessed Scalabrini RemembersBlessed Scalabrini Catholic Elementary School invites parents of its students to attend its Remembrance Day assembly. The school will reflect upon the 100th anniversary of John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields.” Students have been preparing postcards to send to soldiers who continue to serve our country and the school choir will sing ‘Hallelujah,’ as Blessed Scalabrini reflects upon hope, conflict resolution, and peace.When: Wednesday, November 11, 10:45 a.m.Where: Blessed Scalabrini CES, 290 York Hill Blvd., Thornhill, ONContact: Dayna Fitzpatrick, Principal, 905-886-3272

On Wednesday, November 11, staff at the school board’s Catholic Education Centre will also host their annual Remembrance Day liturgical service at 10:30 a.m., and observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. to remember.

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The York Catholic District School Board is one of the top-performing school boards in Ontario. It delivers educational programming to over 55,000 students in 105 schools throughout York Region. For more information, visit www.ycdsb.ca or follow us on Twitter @YCDSB.

Media Contact: Julia Seeratan, Communications OfficerJulia.Seeratan@ycdsb.ca905-713-1211 ext. 13020