At St. Hedwig Catholic 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. We encourage parents and guardians to stay informed of upcoming school events, and ask that you please subscribe to our school calendar web page to receive the latest updates and emails on activities happening at school. |
| Patron Saint |
| Our patron saint is St. Hedwig. St. Hedwig was a duchess and widow, the patroness of Silesia, a region of eastern Europe. Also called Jadwiga in some lists, Hedwig (1174-1243) died in a Cistercian convent, having taken vows. Hedwig was born in Andechs, Bavaria, Germany, the daughter of the Duke of Croatia and Dalmatia. She was the aunt of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. At the age of 12, Hedwig was married to Duke Henry of Silesia, the head of the Polish Royal family. She bore him seven children, and they had a happy marriage. Henry founded a Cistercian convent at Trebnitz, as well as hospitals and monasteries. Henry died in 1238 and Hedwig became a Cistercian at Trebnitz. She had to leave her prayers to make peace among her offspring, and she buried a child who was killed fighting against the Mongols. She died in the convent on October 15. Many miracles were reported after her death, and she was canonized in 1266. Her feast day is October 16. |
| School Prayer |
| Our school prayer is: God of Wisdom, We praise You and we Bless You. You teach us Your ways. May wisdom flow through our classrooms. May compassion walk gently in our hallways. May joy ring out in our playgrounds and gymnasium. May words of integrity and justice be spoken in our Office and our staff room. By our joyful hope, let all know that St. Hedwig Is God's school. Amen. |
| School Hours |
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Our school hours are as follows: 8:45 a.m. - School begins |
| Fast Facts |
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Here are some fast facts about our school:
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| 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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| School History |
| St. Hedwig Roman Catholic Church was built in 1954 and was the centrepiece of the Polish community in Oshawa. Next to the church was the convent, and across from these buildings was the school. All this was built after the arrival of Polish immigrants after the Second World War. The Felician Sisters had a huge impact and presence in the Polish community and in the Catholic schools. In September 1958, 200 students were enrolled in the newly constructed eight-room St. Hedwig elementary school, which employed several Felician Sisters who lived in the neighbouring convent. The school was built to serve the needs of the growing Polish community in the Ritson and Olive area of Oshawa. The original structure housed six classrooms, washrooms, a staff room and office space. The school and St. Hedwig Catholic Church, founded three years earlier in 1955, stand side by side and have served the educational and spiritual needs of not only the Oshawa Polish community, but many from across Durham Region as well. Prior to the construction of school and church, the Polish community used facilities at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in north Oshawa to conduct its Heritage Language School on Saturdays. (This program transferred to St. Hedwig Catholic School in September 1981.) By April 1960, overcrowding necessitated the construction of four more classrooms, washrooms and office space for the school secretary. This addition quickly became known as "the 37-day wonder," a reference to the speed at which the construction was completed. In January 1959, St. Hedwig housed nearly 400 students. St. Hedwig would be transformed once again in November 1996, when the addition of a gymnasium and further enlarging of the office took place. Construction of the gymnasium removed the baseball diamond and all remaining grass from the campus, leaving the play area almost entirely paved. In 2010, with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) pending, St Hedwig received a number of upgrades in a summer construction project that saw doorways widened, the main entrance shifted to the east doors on LaSalle Avenue, and provisions to be able to lock the school down put into place. Additional fencing completely enclosed the schoolyard. The summer of 2012 saw another renovation, this time to accommodate the Early Learning Kindergarten Program (ELKP), which will be in its third year of existence at the school. Provisions will include a separate fenced play area for the class as well as a vestibule, washrooms and a separate entrance on the school's east side. |
| Student Agenda |
| Read our student agenda for information on school procedures, dress code, and more. |
| Links |
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Below are links to resources to help you achieve success while at St. Hedwig Catholic School. |
| Contact Us |
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We welcome your questions, comments and concerns. Principal: Kate Remiz |
