Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School

Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School is a Catholic Secondary School located at 700 Stevenson Road North in the city of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.

Background

The present Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School started in September 1962 as St. Joseph High School (on Simcoe Street North), thanks to the vision and commitment of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Monsignor Paul Dwyer and other Catholic priests in Oshawa who identified the need for the continuation of Catholic education from elementary to secondary school. St. Joseph Catholic High School moved locations and became Oshawa Catholic High School (O.C.H.S.) in September 1965. The name was changed to Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School in 1976 in memory of Monsignor Dwyer, who gave generously to the Oshawa community and especially to the development of Catholic education in Oshawa. The school was renamed after the late Msgr. Paul Dwyer who had not actually founded the school but petitioned constantly to have a Catholic school during his lifetime. Currently, Msgr. Paul Dwyer C.H.S. serves the Catholic population of northern Oshawa and other municipalities as far north as Port Perry. The school is one of eight secondary schools in the Durham Catholic District School Board.

The Sisters of St. Joseph

The Sisters of St. Joseph had been an educational presence in Oshawa since 1858. The Sisters taught at three elementary separate schools and played a key spiritual role in the community. The story of Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School cannot be told without detailing the major efforts of the Sisters, who filled teaching positions at the newly formed St. Joseph High School on Simcoe Street North in 1962.

With the original start-up class consisting entirely of Grade 9 students, Sister Mary Sheila (principal) and Sister Constance faced the growing pains of this new vision for Catholic education in Oshawa. With the assistance of Monsignor Dwyer, the Oshawa Separate School Board, and support from the community the Sisters vision for Catholic education took shape. The Sisters remained at St. Joseph H.S. for two more years, until Oshawa Catholic High School opened in September 1965.

At O.C.H.S., the Sisters of Joseph – Toronto Archdiocese willingly agreed to finance half of the $1 million construction cost of the school. The local parishes were responsible for the other half. The Sisters functioned as principals, teachers, secretaries, cooks and cleaners. They fully reinvested their salaries into the school to keep it from severe debt. Even so, the school operated at a loss. Despite the ongoing challenges they faced, the Sisters remained committed to Catholic education. Sr. Mary Sheila wrote, “I wanted the school to be different because it was a Catholic School. I hoped each student would graduate, proud of the school and proud to be a Catholic not because he/she was born so but he/she was convinced from the Christian values learned at home and at school that personal human fulfillment in life could be achieved only by living up to the responsibilities of a committed Catholic.”

The Sisters built a new residence adjacent to O.C.H.S. for the increased staff of nuns. It was the Sisters’ hope that the high ideals and academic excellence that were implemented and nurtured through the years would continue to motivate all involved at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School. Sr. Mary Sheila visited the school many times after 1967 and was joyful to “have seen these ideals fostered, encouraged and achieved.” The work of the St. Joseph religious community continued through principals Sister Conrad Lauber (1967–1979) and Sister Anne Schenck (1979–1988), who led the way in Catholic education, especially through the lean years. Their pride in the school and its traditions continued to make the name “Dwyer” synonymous with the pursuit of excellence in academics, art, drama, sports and Christian living.

Incidents

On March 30, 2010 at the school's bus stop, student Michael “Biggie” McDonald, 16, died of a stab wound after a fight with another student.^[1] Arrested soon after the incident, which was witnessed by dozens of students at a bus stop, was Dwyer student Jacques “Junior” Amakon. In June 2012 Amakon was sentenced to five years in prison for the killing of the school football player.^[2] However he was released after serving about 28 months of his 60-month sentence. Upon his release Amakon was contacted by City News Toronto and given the opportunity to speak out on the situation and his perspective.^[3]

Academics

Students enrolled in the school must take a mandatory religion class every year.^[4] Students must also take a variety of classes including science, math, English, geography, history, gym and more, depending on their grade. The school typically receives low to average EQAO scores,^[5] and according to the Fraser institute in 2011, the school received 4.5 out of 10, putting it at the third worst school in Oshawa, and the 587 school out of 718 in Ontario.^[6]

See also

• List of high schools in Ontario

References

External links

• Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School
• Dwyer Catholic High School 50th Anniversary Website
• Archive of Pictures from the 1970s
• Durham Catholic District School Board
• City of Oshawa