Welcome to St. John Bosco!

 

St. John Bosco Catholic Secondary School is an alternative educational learning community for students in grades 9 – 12. Registration is available exclusively through referral.

Academic programming is offered via direct instruction, elearning and independent study.  Direct instruction courses are determined by the school and are based on the collective needs of a current cohort. Most courses are offered through elearning and independent study.

 

The Referral Process:

Step 1 Referral Discussion Begins: The referral process begins at the student’s home school or in collaboration with their current community partner(s) by discussing the student’s strengths, needs, and educational and personal goals aligned with their post-secondary aspirations.

Step 2 Contact School Principal: The home school principal or current community partner contacts Sandra Cummings, Principal of St. John Bosco, to inquire about enrollment availability and to arrange a school tour.

Step 3 After the School Tour: The home school’s designated caring adult, community partner, student, and parent/guardian collaboratively decide whether to proceed with completing the referral package. Please confirm your decision prior to submitting referral package by emailing [email protected] and [email protected]

2024-2025 Referral & Registration Forms:

**Both the Referral Form and Secondary Student Registration Form along with the required supporting documents must be received in advance of being offered an intake meeting.

Completed forms are sent via FAX 519-824-9823 or emailed to [email protected] and [email protected]

Step 4 Upon Receipt of the Completed Referral & Registration Forms:  The school will schedule an intake meeting with the student, parent/guardian, school support staff, and applicable community partner(s). This meeting allows St. John Bosco to understand the student’s needs and determine whether the school can effectively support their academic, social-emotional, and mental health goals. Admission to the program is granted to students who demonstrate a genuine commitment to the school's philosophy and can be effectively supported by the school’s programming and resources.

 

Referrals are accepted from:

  • Bishop Macdonell CHS - Student Success Team

  • Our Lady of Lourdes CHS - Student Success Team

  • St. James CHS - Student Success Team

  • Elementary Schools within the WCDSB (Grade 8 to 9 Transition Students Only)

For students outside the WCDSB, we accept referrals from our community partners including:

  • Family & Children's Services Guelph/Wellington and Other

  • Canadian Mental Health Association

  • Family Counselling & Support Services (With Support from the Home School)

  • Guelph Family Health Team Mental Health Services (With Support from the Home School)

  • Guelph Police Services IMPACT Team (With Support from the Home School)

  • Treatment Programs (e.g.: Lutherwood, Parkwood)

Please note:  Referring partners are not able to confirm a student's enrollment. The intake team at St. John Bosco will make the final decision after the intake meeting, considering the student's readiness and suitability for our program. For further clarification, please refer to the criteria below.

 

Who can St. John Bosco support?

St John Bosco can provide a supportive, welcoming community to students who...

  • can work independently with limited support on academic tasks at their learning level (Locally Developed/Workplace, Applied/Mixed/College or Academic/Mixed/University),

  • like to work at their own pace but with other learners,

  • need a flexible, supportive environment but some structure in their days,

  • want to help build a safe, welcoming environment,

  • are coping with mental health challenges,

  • are learning to self-regulate and manage their emotions,

  • are receiving help for substance use/misuse, and,

  • are actively working on their own well-being.

St John Bosco is not able provide sufficient support to ensure safety and/or success for students who...

  • require intensive, one-to-one, academic support to learn,

  • require extensive adaptive life skills programming,

  • cannot function well in the company of other learners,

  • cannot tolerate flexibility or cannot cope with minimal structure,

  • are severely emotionally or behaviourally dysregulated,

  • are actively violent, aggressive, or threatening to others,

  • are in acute phases of severe mental illness,

  • have active, moderate to severe, substance use issues, and

  • are not actively receiving treatment.

While we offer a variety of courses in all pathways, we are not currently able to offer French, Music, Drama, Senior University Level Science Courses or onsite courses in the skilled trades. We do, however, have access to all the WCDSB District Programs, Co-op and Dual Credit as noted in the WCDSB Course Calendar.