Principal's Message

Hello to our Sacred Heart High School community,

I hope you have had a wonderful summer!

It is with great excitement that I write this letter of introduction to you as the new Principal of Sacred Heart High School. As we near the end of August, and the 2021-22 school year approaches, aside from sharing a quick background of myself, I would also like to communicate to you some messaging pertaining to the upcoming year, and my expectations for the journey ahead.

I began my teaching career at SHHS in September of 2005. New to the Bruce-Grey region, with the guidance of mentors, encouraging colleagues, and inspiring students and families, I quickly found a strong sense of belonging within our Catholic school community, and a purpose to share my God-given gifts, and passion for Catholic education with our students. My time teaching, coaching, and leading within our school community in various capacities enabled me to witness the outstanding skills, dedication, faith, kindness, and grit that our SHHS students exhibit. For these reasons, I enter as Principal of SHHS with excitement, optimism and hope.

The Sacred Heart High School community is one steeped in the tradition of the Catholic education and faith formation. It is my privilege to lead and carry forward the gift of Catholic High School education to your child, just as I received way back in the 1990s at St. Michael Catholic Secondary School in my hometown of Stratford, Ontario. As time passes, and we now move into the 2021-22 school year, the steering of a modern, forward-thinking Catholic school system has many layers and opportunities, and I am honoured to be in the Principal role, during this important time.

As Principal, the Ministry of Education’s Achieving Excellence document offers an outstanding direction for building on the strengths of our school, and moving us forward. It includes (1) encouraging excellence in academic and skill-building pursuits; (2) ensuring equity and prioritizing diversity and inclusion; (3) promoting well-being, and (4) enhancing public confidence. These elements comprise the four main areas of concentration within Achieving Excellence, and provides us with a roadmap, as we journey together at SHHS and operate with high expectations, hope and optimism for our school, and the success of all of our students.

We are living in extraordinary times, filled with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our families’ lives. I believe whole-heartedly that our school offers an outstanding faith-focused place of learning, growth, belonging and stability, all of which our students need, for their individual well-being, especially during these challenging times.

I am looking forward to working alongside our Staff and would like to welcome back to Sacred Heart High School our new Vice-Principal, Mrs. Christy Hopcraft, who has returned to SHHS, where she also began her career in education. I am grateful and excited to be working alongside Mrs. Hopcraft, as her gifts, talents and leadership will be a wonderful asset to our school community.

There will be many other communications that will come your way over the coming months regarding school year logistics, Public Health updates, administrative messaging and “Sunday Updates” among other items. I pray that you have enjoyed this beautiful summer season and look forward to seeing our students on September 7th!

With thanks,

Mark Dunn