Brampton West Family of Schools
Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board
September, 2015
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The warm days of summer are leading into the even warmer days of fall as we welcome your family back to the
Brampton West Family of Schools and to St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic School. For those of you who have
relocated over the summer; those who have transitioned to secondary school; those who are excitedly watching
their child begin the Full Day Kindergarten experience; and of course, for those who are returning to a familiar
school setting…. Welcome back, and may peace be with you.
It is my privilege to welcome you to the Brampton West Family of Schools. We are a very active and vibrant
Family of Schools where the love of Christ is ever present within our hallways, our classrooms and, most
especially, within our daily endeavors. Jesus is indeed the reason for our schools; He is the unseen but ever
present teacher in our classrooms. He is the model to our faculty and the inspiration of our students. We will
continue to celebrate the gift of Catholic Education this year within the theme of Catholic Education Week:
“Opening Doors of Mercy” which combines both the theme of mercy and the act of opening doors of
reconciliation, mercy, and forgiveness to all around us. The Gospel passages associated with this theme allow us
to contemplate how Jesus’ entire life journey manifested the fulfillment of mercy through respect, kindness,
reconciliation and above all, loving sacrifice.
Within our schools we are fortunate to have dedicated staff who have worked diligently to prepare the school
and classrooms for learning. I know that your child is being greeted to a classroom that is supported not only by
devoted teachers, but also school administrators, administrative assistants, custodians, support staff, bus drivers
and crossing guards who have spent many hours preparing for the upcoming school year.
The Brampton West Family of Schools is constantly growing and welcoming new students and their families
within our schools. As of August 2015 our population includes 7658 elementary and 4453 secondary students,
with new arrivals every day. We consist of 16 elementary schools and 3 secondary schools, all of which are
served by extremely dedicated staff who put the needs of every child first and truly believe in the potential of
each and every child. Five parishes support our schools’ liturgical plans, working in partnership with teachers
and students to provide spiritual nourishment and development of our students and their teachers. Our school
communities are privileged to be served by three dedicated trustees: Anna da Silva, Darryl D’Souza and Frank Di
Cosola each of whom brings a wealth of experience and a relentless passion for Catholic Education and the
success of all students.
As the superintendent to Brampton West, I have the unique blessing to work with your Trustee, Darryl d'Souza,
the parish team from St. Leonard Church and the administration and staff of St. Josephine Bakhita. I look
forward to the upcoming year, as I anticipate working with each school team to support your child in meeting
their full potential. As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we
can build our youth for the future.” You have instilled a sacred trust within the faculty that comprises the
Welcome Wisdom Wonder Worship Witness
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board 40 Matheson Blvd. W., Mississauga, ON L5R 1C5 905-890-0708
Brampton West Family of Schools. Together, we have a rich task before us as we support progress for all
learners within each aspect of their educational well-being: spiritual, academic, social, emotional and physical.
As we anticipate the successes of the year ahead, I encourage you to remember that each success will be the
result of the mutual support and respect that parents and educators show one another. Our students are
venturing into a 21st Century world that is, in many ways, unpredictable for the parents who encourage and
inspire these young individuals. As our students mature we are reminded that their beliefs, ideals and sense of
responsibility, friendship and family are constantly challenged and the common values and support we share as
role models in their lives will impact greatly on their decisions as they grow into Catholic leaders of the future.
We are happily committed to working with our partners to continue to support each child in their quest for
knowledge, happiness and, above all, spiritual development that will enable them to be successful citizens
within the community.
It is indeed my pleasure to welcome each of you to the Brampton West Family of Schools for the 2015/2016
school year and offer my sincerest prayer that the upcoming year will be one filled with new opportunities to
learn, to discover, foster relationships that promote self-respect and dignity and serve one another as we build
our Catholic School community together.
All my best for a wonderful school year.
May you know and be richly blessed by the love of God,
S. Steer
S. Steer
Superintendent,
Brampton West Family of Schools
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
SS/cc
I present, therefore, this Extraordinary Jubilee Year dedicated to living out in our daily lives the mercy which the
Father constantly extends to all of us. In this Jubilee Year, let us allow God to surprise us. He never tires of casting
open the doors of his heart and of repeating that he loves us and wants to share his love with us. From the heart of
the Trinity, from the depths of the mystery of God, the great river of mercy wells up and overflows unceasingly. It is a
spring that will never run dry, no matter how many people draw from it. Every time someone is in need, he or she can
approach it, because the mercy of God never ends. The profundity of the mystery surrounding it is as inexhaustible as
the richness which springs up from it.
Given in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, on 11 April, the Vigil of the Second Sunday of Easter, or the Sunday of Divine
Mercy, in the year of our Lord 2015, the third of my Pontificate.
Pope Francis
Welcome Wisdom Wonder Worship Witness
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board 40 Matheson Blvd. W., Mississauga, ON L5R 1C5 905-890-0708