As another outstanding school year has closed and we embark on another, we would like to thank and acknowledge our community for their continued support and dedication to our school. The collective work of so many individuals has made this an incredible year.
St Vincent De Paul of Brant, Save A Family, Development and Peace, the Salvation Army, the Santa Clause Parade Organizing Committee, St Andrew's Soup For The Soul, Hamilton Diocese Pro-Life Student Conference, the United Way, the Guatemala Encounter Mission Trip, Carpe Diem Social Justice, student led campaigns in support of countries that endorse education for girls and women, the National March For Life in Ottawa. Our annual Pennies from Heaven campaign raised $20,000 for families in need and relay for life secured $67 000 for cancer research. The local soup kitchen will again be a yearlong focus for our community and we look forward to assisting St. Vincent de Paul with the move to their new location.
Assumption College Prefects continue to contribute to the community in many ways. These senior students are called to serve within the school and local community. They are student leaders who share their God given talents to improve student achievement, foster Catholic faith formation, as well as develop a safe and inclusive school. We look forward to making the 2017-18 school year a better one for all.
Our Lions continue to benefit from co-curricular academic enrichment offered by L.E.A.P. (Literature Enrichment Advanced Placement), an enrichment opportunity, provided by the Department of English, that challenges motivated students from grades 9 through 12, to pursue their love of "words, words, words" (Hamlet 2.2) in oral, written and spoken form. Students experienced guest speakers, writing contests, and trips to the Stratford Festival. March 2018 is our first trip abroad to England, France and Belgium in conjunction with C.W.A.Y C (Canadian World and Youth Council through the Canada and World Studies department). In addition, our STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) group travelled to Costa Rica this year.
Last year Assumption College began offering a brand new Specialist High Skills Major in Childcare and Family Services. We are the only school in our board to offer this program. Next year the Working with Young Children's course (HPW 3C1) will be teaming up with the Strong Start organization to go and play literacy games to support our elementary panel. We are the only school in Brantford to offer this partnership. This SHSM is one of many already in place at ACS.
Our extracurricular programs excelled in the 2016-17 school year as well. Athletically, we celebrated BCSSAA championships in junior and senior football as well as track and field. We were represented at OFSAA by the swimming team, track and field and lacrosse teams. We are so proud of all of our Lions who are involved in our extracurricular programs. Please follow us on Twitter @assumptionlion to be informed of the many activities happening at Assumption College.
2016-2017 marked departures for many. We would like to congratulate Mrs. Colleen Pease on her retirement. She has been in the Lion’s den since 2004. She wore many hats at ACS. She was a special education teacher, a teacher in the Learning Center, and a guidance counsellor. She will be dearly missed by staff and students. At the end of June, we celebrated the graduation of our 2017 class. These Catholic graduates have left their mark at ACS through their high academic performance, their participation in our school’s extracurricular and co-curricular activities, and through their social justice endeavours. We know they will continue to use their God given talents to make a difference in the world. Congratulations Class of 2017.