At Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School, it is our mission to be an inclusive Catholic learning community that inspires every student to achieve their full potential through faith and education. We recognize our call to love and serve from our Master teacher Jesus Christ, and we are committed to creating a Catholic learning community under the protection of Mother Mary.
The Catholic Graduate Expectations are our foundation as we strive for academic excellence and the acknowledgement of those who achieve it. We recognize God as the source of all life and actively work to focus on social issues within our local and global communities.
We celebrate the diversity within our community with a collaborative approach to learning, in cooperation with parents, the Catholic faith community, and other organizations that recognize the value of our mission. Within the context of Catholic teaching and Sacramental living, our school community strives to demonstrate respect and reverence for all life, thus nurturing a safe, Christian environment for the entire school community.
| School Year Calendar |
| Our Board's School Year Calendar is now available. Please subscribe to our school calendar web page to receive the latest updates and emails on upcoming events and activities happening at school. |
| School's Colours |
| Our school colours are black and red. |
| Father Leo J. Austin |
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Father Leo J. Austin was born in Toronto on May 23, 1918. He attended schools in Toronto and St. Augustine's Seminary in Scarborough. He was ordained a priest in Toronto on June 3, 1939. Father Austin served in various parishes and came to St. John the Evangelist Church in Whitby in 1956. He served as parish priest at St. John's from 1956 to 1975. Because of his intense interest in education, he supervised the building of a new church. Father Austin was instrumental in establishing several area schools: St. Theresa Catholic School in Whitby, St. Leo Catholic School in Brooklin, and Whitby's first Roman Catholic high school, Archbishop Denis O'Connor. Prior to the appointment of a resident chaplain, Father Austin served as a Catholic chaplain at the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital. Being an enthusiastic boatman, Father Austin later became chaplain of the Whitby Yacht Club. Poor health forced him to retire in October 1975. The town declared Father Austin Day, and the retiring priest was honoured by hundreds of parishioners and school and community representatives. Father Austin died in 1984. Bishop Clune summed up Father Austin's life in the following words: "His spirit was too big for his body. He was a real people person. He was always going." To mark this long time influence in the life of Whitby and his distinguished and lasting service to the Roman Catholics of Whitby, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School in Whitby was named after him in 1989. |
| Philosophy |
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As Catholic educators, we live according to our Father's code and to lead our students, by example, to live the basic truths of the gospel message. This is an awesome, yet inspiring challenge which we share with the parents of our young men and women. Children learn what they live. Each day we have the opportunity to teach our students:
However, a person cannot give what he or she does not have. Unless we are living the Gospel message, we cannot lead our students to do so. There are many hallmarks of a Catholic educator, including:
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| Links |
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Below are links to resources to help you achieve success while at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School. |
| Child Care Partner - P.R.Y.D.E. Learning Centre |
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Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School is proud to partner with the P.R.Y.D.E. Learning Centre to to offer a full service child care centre and before and after school child care service. |
| Contact Us |
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We welcome your questions, comments and concerns. Principal: Colleen Plouffe
Follow us on Twitter @FatherAustinCSS |
