Six students from the same Toronto high school graduate with 100 per cent grades
Eight students from the Toronto Catholic District School Board graduated with perfect grades this year – and six of them all hail from the same high school.
Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School and Regional Arts Centre, an Etobicoke high school south of Lake Shore Boulevard West, saw the most graduates with 100 per cent grades in the 2022-23 academic school year.
Six students leave the school with flawless averages – the most the school has ever seen in one graduating class, principal John D’Onofrio confirmed to CTV News Toronto Monday. Last year, the Toronto District School Board saw five graduates leave high school with perfect averages – and even then, all of the students attended different schools.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“I was pleasantly surprised,” D’Onofrio told CTV News Toronto. “A little shocked, but knowing these kids, [it was] not unexpected with these six students.”
Amelia Campoli, Honora Murphy, Tano Nguyen, Natalia Zulek, Zachary Xerri and Robert Zupancic are the six esteemed Redmond students to score perfect graduating averages for the 2022-23 academic year.
D’Onofrio called the students “passionate, hardworking, and very disciplined,” which closely falls in line with the school’s motto of “teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge.” And while D’Onofrio says credit should be given to those attributes, he also pointed to the support that surrounds them.
“It is because of the students and the support they have at home, for sure from their families and their friends,” D’Onofrio said. “As a school we do what we need to do with respect to student engagement, and supporting these students and nourishing their passions and nourishing their interests, and giving them constant feedback as to how they can improve and meet the expectations.”
Xerri told CTV News Toronto he is proud and happy to see his peers succeed.
“It was definitely a great accomplishment,” Xerri said. “I always put my best foot forward, and in my studies I always try my best. There was no way for me to expect a recognition like this, I was truly, truly grateful for the recognition.”
Zachary Xerri, 17, on his way to his high school graduation ceremony. (Courtesy of Zachary Xerri)
The Catholic school prides itself on focusing on academics, arts, and athletics, following the footsteps of Father John Redmond, the Basilian priest the school is named after.
Xerri followed the “Triple A” approach to his high school education, as he was involved in the school’s Congregated Advanced Placement (CAP) program, Regional Arts Band (RAP) program, safe schools committee, leadership collective, peer tutoring and peer ministry team, and was a member of the cross country and track and field teams.
Outside of school, Xerri said he devoted 200 hours of his time volunteering at Humber River Hospital, working part-time making dough at a local bakery in the Junction, and playing the piano and saxophone – “it’s just a great way to take a step back from academics.”
While Xerri credited his passion for learning – particularly in math and sciences – and his learning environment to stoking his fire to stay motivated, he says he would not have been able to juggle everything on his own if it weren't for time management.
“I still use a physical planner – I love it. It’s great for me, you know, to write everything down, keep me on track, and with time management also comes with prioritization and recognizing my priorities as a student,” Xerri told CTV News Toronto.
“It’s definitely a balancing act… I’ve been able to really hone down on my time management and I think that’ll be helpful as well come university.”
Zachary Xerri at a cross country meet (left), and him playing the saxophone at the RAP Band final showcase. (Courtesy of Zachary Xerri)
If he had to impart any words of wisdom to his peers now entering their final year of high school, Xerri said he would just leave one: “participation.”
Outside of participating in class discussion and answering questions in class, Xerri said it is essential to participate in school’s programs.
“I’ve acquired many foundational skills through my extracurricular involvement at Father John Redmond, and those are skills that I am definitely grateful for learning, and I am sure that they’ll be of use in my future as well.”
The 17-year-old is set to attend University of Toronto’s life sciences program.
“I’m super excited to again be in that environment with like-minded peers,” Xerri said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
NDP house leader says House dysfunction will be a factor in future confidence votes
NDP House leader Peter Julian says there's more his party wants to do in Parliament before the next election, but if the current dysfunction continues it will become a factor in how they vote on a confidence measure.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
BREAKING Jury begins deliberations in Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial
The jury tasked with determining if Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard sexually assaulted a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago began deliberating Friday after nearly two weeks of testimony that saw the singer and his accuser give starkly different accounts of what happened.
BREAKING Here's what the jury didn't hear in Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
Airlines' challenge of Canada's passenger protection rules rejected by Supreme Court
Canada's airlines have failed in their challenge of air passenger protection rules that the federal government implemented in 2019.