Francis Libermann Catholic High School
Francis Libermann Catholic High School (alternatively known as Francis Libermann CHS, Libermann High, FLCHS, FL, Francis Libermann, or Libermann) is a Catholic secondary school (as of 2003, an elementary school as well) located in the Agincourt neighbourhood of Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada and part of the Toronto Catholic District School Board, formerly the Metropolitan Separate School Board.
| Francis Libermann Catholic High School | |
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| Address | |
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4640 Finch Avenue East , , M1S 4G2 Canada | |
| Coordinates | 43.807109°N 79.274281°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Catholic High school Catholic Elementary school |
| Motto | Inter Mutanda Constantia (Steadfast in the midst of change) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic (Holy Ghost Fathers) |
| Founded | 1977 |
| School board | Toronto Catholic District School Board (Metropolitan Separate School Board) |
| Superintendent | Kevin Malcolm Area 7 |
| Area trustee | Garry Tanuan Ward 8 |
| School number | 524 / 707708 524 / 706078 |
| Administrator | Jennifer Giannone |
| Principal | Clarence Pitterson |
| Grades | 7-12 (Non-Semestered) |
| Enrollment | 927 (2018-19) |
| Language | English |
| Colour(s) | Blackwatch plaid, Blue, Light blue, and Green |
| Team name | Libermann Falcons |
| Parish | Prince of Peace |
| Specialist High Skills Major | Health & Wellness Environment |
| Program Focus | Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Advanced Placement |
| Website | Francis Libermann CHS |
The school is named after the priest Francis Libermann, a French Jewish convert to Roman Catholicism in the 19th century and the "Second Founder" of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.[1] It was originally founded in 1977 as a semi-private school and became a public separate school since 1986. Libermann is enrolled with 927 students as of 2018-19 and ranked 148 of 738 schools in Fraser Institute Report Card.[2] The motto is "Inter Mutanda Constantia" (Steadfast in the midst of Change)
History
Since the openings of Neil McNeil High School (founded by the Spiritan Fathers) in 1958, John J. Lynch High School in 1963 and Cardinal Newman High School in 1973, most of northern Scarborough is underdeveloped before the 1970s. However, the area is served by several existing high schools: Agincourt Collegiate Institute, Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute, Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute, and nearby Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute with the latter opened the year prior.
Francis Libermann Catholic High School was founded in 1977 under the direction of the Spiritan order and the Metropolitan Separate School Board with Father John Geary CSSp as principal. Originally, Libermann was intended to be a middle school in the city of Toronto. The idea for the school usage was changed after the school was built and instead to be used by students of grades 9 to OAC.
The building was constructed in 1981 and because of this design was made to accommodate a smaller student body, the school had to deal with perpetual overcrowding, requiring the construction of additions and alterations. Portables were built for the surplus of students. Over a period of many years, the school underwent additional construction projects such as expanding the gymnasium, adding an annex, and adding an entire new section containing an office, atrium and cafetorium most notably in 2006.
From the beginning, Libermann was a mostly a private school with the MSSB assuming responsibility of educating grade 9 and 10 students. From 1985 onwards in the aftermath of the government announcement of full funding of Roman Catholic high schools, Libermann ceased to be a private school and the MSSB now has full control of the school with the Spiritans withdrawing day-to-day operations.
In 1986, the school had 1,100 students and 63 full-time staff members. During that year the school was overcrowded with students as it served an area of Scarborough with many new students. To resolve these issues, staff members devised a schedule involving required study halls for students with spare periods and separated up and down staircases. During lunch hours, only 100 or so students were able to be seated at the cafeteria and the remainder had to eat lunches at their desks.[3][4] The overcrowding resulted the MSSB establishing two new schools in the northern Scarborough area in 1985: Mary Ward in Steeles/Willowdale using two campuses and Mother Teresa in Malvern.
In the summer of 2018, 3 additional portables were built for the increase of students.
Overview
Surroundings
The school is surrounded by the Brimley Woods forest to the north, Charles O’ Bick Police Academy and a fire hall to the west, a ravine to the east, and an arterial road, Finch Avenue East to the south.
Transportation
The nearest bus stop, located outside of the school, is 39 Finch East to Finch Station. The nearest intersection is Finch and Brimley Avenue, where there are stops for the 21 Brimley, 39 Finch West/East and 939 Finch Rocket bus routes.
Programs
Libermann High offers the required courses to obtain the diploma, as well as other elective courses. Apart from having many different courses, the majority of them have different teaching and grade levels – some are prerequisite to others. Currently, Libermann High is not particularly famous for any one subject area; however Libermann holds a strong robotics program which managed to compete in provincial tournaments within the past few years.
Uniforms
During normal classes, students are expected to wear the school uniform – a combination of: grey dress pants, a white dress shirt, a golf shirt, a polo sweater, a knit sweater, a knit sweater-vest, a kilt with school colours, and black shoes.[5]
Campus
Libermann High accommodates a library and computer labs; some of the computers were donated through a Bill Gates program.
Student body
The number of students varies year to year from 750–1000, currently home to grades 9 to 12. The FL Catholic Elementary School program began in 2003 and ended in the 2018-2019 school year. Graduates may stay for a fifth year even after the termination of OAC.
Notable alumni
- Serouj Kradjian - Multiple Juno-winning and Grammy-nominated pianist, composer & arranger
- Teresa Pavlinek - actress and writer
- Dan-e-o - hip-hop artist and actor
References
- "TCDSB Francis Libermann". Archived from the original on 29 April 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/report-card-on-ontarios-secondary-schools-2019
- Ainsworth, Lynne. "Catholic school adopts survival rules." Toronto Star. January 15, 1986. News p. A6. Retrieved on August 27, 2013.
- Russell, Jim. Lunchtime crush: Students at Francis Libermann high school crowd into the cafeteria to buy lunch. About 1,100 students and 63 full-time staff use the cafeteria, which seats fewer than 100. We have to be resourceful, says the school's principal, Jean Paul Patenaude. The Roman Catholic school serves a part of Scarborough that's exploding with new homes. Toronto Star. January 15, 1986. Retrieved on February 12, 2019.
- "TCDSB Francis Libermann". Archived from the original on 25 September 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2012.