A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. JEAN DE BRÉBEUF CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL
St. Jean de Brébeuf opened its doors to 319 grade 9 and 10 students with 20 staff members in the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Elementary School in 1974. In 1975, the school moved into its own building. It was then that “ANIMA, MENS, CORPUS” – “Soul, Mind, Body” became the school motto embodying the heart and soul of the school’s mission. That year also saw the publication of the school’s first yearbook “ECHON”, Huron for the “The Brave One”.
The first Graduation Class from start to finish at Brébeuf was celebrated in 1978 with the graduation class donating a painting of St. Jean de Brébeuf Stations of the Cross. By the school’s tenth anniversary in 1984, the population had reached 1066 students.
When classes began in September 1985, Brébeuf students were housed on dual campuses with the seniors at our present site on Acadia Drive. In 1988, Brébeuf became one again when the two campuses merged at the Acadia Drive site. Since that time, Brébeuf has celebrated memorable 20th and 25th anniversary celebrations.
The year 2000 brought the opening of newly renovated spaces including the new “Founders of Brébeuf” Information Centre and the Chapel. Most recently, an outstanding new gym facility with a fitness centre and dance studio was completed in 2003. Presently, the school boasts a large enrolment and a vibrant community of staff and students working together to embody the spirit of our namesake, St. Jean de Brébeuf.
S.J.B. Timeline of Key Milestones
- 1974 – St. Jean de Brébeuf (S.J.B.) opens at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Elementary School, welcoming 450 Grade 9 and 10 students.
- 1975 – S.J.B.’s permanent building opens, adopting the motto “Anima, Mens, Corpus” – “Soul, Mind, Body.” The first yearbook, “Echon” – “The Brave One,” is published.
- 1977 – First graduating class.
- 1978 – First full graduating class from start to finish at S.J.B. The class donates a painting of St. Jean de Brébeuf. The Stations of the Cross are presented.
- 1979 – 5th Anniversary celebrations.
- 1980 – The graduating class presents a cross to the school.
- 1984 – 10th Anniversary celebrated, with student enrollment reaching 1,066.
- 1985 – Catholic education receives full provincial funding. In September, S.J.B. operates a dual campus, with senior students attending the present Acadia Drive location.
- 1988 – Both campuses merge at the Acadia Drive location.
- 1989 – 15th Anniversary celebrations, highlighted by the entire school spelling out “Happy Birthday” on the football field.
- 1992 – Enrollment peaks at 1,648 students.
- 1994 – 20th Anniversary celebrations take place at the original campus.
- 1999 – 25th Anniversary celebrations.
- 2000 – New library and chapel are completed.
- 2004 – Blessing ceremony for newly renovated spaces.
- 2015 – 40th Anniversary celebrations.
- 2018 – Major renovations include updates to the auditorium, the addition of a new wing, and five new classrooms.
- 2019 – School-wide upgrades, including the replacement of all windows and exterior paneling.
- 2020 – Extensive improvements:
- Main hallways painted.
- Classrooms updated with new paint, ceiling tiles, and modernized electrical systems.
- Creation of a calming room in the special education area.
- Revitalization and repainting of the gymnasium, chapel, and cafeteria.
- Installation of a new track on the school field.
- 2021 – Continued enhancements:
- Painting of additional hallways and stairwells.
- Introduction of new welding stations for the manufacturing program.
- Launch of the school’s P-TECH program.
- 2024 - 50th Anniversary celebrations.
Prayer of the Braves
Merciful God,
We open wide the doors of our school and invite you in. Bless our hearts with your love, joy, and peace. Fill our minds with your faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Please be in our lessons and help us to concentrate and learn. Fill us with happiness as we discover more about ourselves. Guide our creativity to express ourselves in what we love. Help us to share, care for, and love one another. Grant us each day the desire to do our best, to grow mentally and morally as well as physically.
And, help us to be kind and helpful to our classmates and teachers, to be honest with ourselves as well as with others. Give us strength and compassion to understand each other and wisdom and love to help each other. Give us the trust and patience we need to live in peace with everyone. Give us the strength to get back on our feet when we have fallen down. Help us to be good sports and smile when we lose as well as when we win.
Help us to always remember that regardless of what we are going through, you are always with us and that we are never alone. We thank you deeply for blessing us with the gift of knowledge, and the wonderful opportunity to attain a Catholic education to help us learn and grow through your teachings.
On our journey of spiritual growth, we shall come to you, the students and staff of St. Jean de Brébeuf High School. In your name, we strive to become a family that embraces peace and love. A family whose members are dedicated to each other and to you Lord. As we stand united, help us to be visible signs of our faith as modeled by our patron, St. Jean de Brébeuf.
Amen.
By Mary Butrus