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Love is the word at Mother Teresa

Is there a better feeling than knowing you belong? Doesn’t it feel great when you have people you know you can always depend on? That’s what life is like at Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School.

The staff, administration and students at our school strive to make everyone feel welcome and included. Our school is a community where we pray together as well as play together. We have groups including the dance team and environmental and gardening clubs as well as sports squads such as our basketball, soccer, volleyball and baseball teams.

There is always a place to fit in and have a good time. Our school masses are also a time where everyone belongs. Everyone in our school gathers together to reflect, learn and listen to the Word of God. It is nice to have the whole school in the same place for the same reason and for an important reason at that.

Mother Teresa also is a very giving school community. We take part in many social justice programs. Our school donates to the Holy Childhood Association, the United Way, the Be An Angel Program and organizes many food drives throughout the year. We make sure to reach out to the less fortunate and others both within and outside our school community.

Being a part of Mother Teresa School has been great for all of us. We grow together and learn together and experience new challenges the world has to offer as one family. As Mother Teresa once said, “It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.”

Sarah Trickett is a Grade 8 student at Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School.
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Mother Teresa has a lot going on 'beyond the academics,' says principal


Jun 30, 2007 By: Jennifer Stone

COURTICE -- Social justice is a big priority at Mother Teresa Elementary School.

"When we do things, particularly those with a social justice bent -- food drives, the Be An Angel program --- they are all wonderful," said Principal Gerard van den Wildenberg of his school community.

For example, during last year's Christmas season, each class was given generic information -- like ages and genders -- about a family and put together a hamper for them.

"Wow. You should have seen it here," said Mr. van den Wildenberg. "The whole place was packed."

Just recently, another fundraiser, for the Holy Childhood Association was held, and the school "raised bucketfuls of money," said the principal.

The community and the school support one another in an array of ways, he noted.

"I really like the way the school, the church and the community can bond together for initiatives like our social justice initiatives," said Mr. van den Wildenberg. ¨ A recent musical put on by students and staff was another example of the school coming together, said the principal.

"We had 124 students involved," he said. "It was a mad house leading up to it but, was it ever worth it."

The school, built in the early 1990s and located on Glen Abbey Drive, is home, this year to 428 students.

While academics are important, the community makes the school, said the principal.

"Those added little things, on top of the academics, we have here make it great," said Mr. van den Wildenberg.

"Life here is very good," he said.