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Principal's Message

Hello to the Immaculate Conception School community,

It is with great excitement that I write this letter of introduction to you as the new Principal of ICS! As we near the end of August, and the 2025-26 school year approaches, aside from sharing some background about myself, I would also like to communicate to you some messaging pertaining to the upcoming year, and my excitement for the journey ahead.

I began my teaching career here in the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board in September of 2005, and have held various roles in teaching and educational leadership, most recently serving as the Principal of Sacred Heart High School for the past four years. Overall, during my two decades serving in the Bruce-Grey Catholic D.S.B., I ammark dunn continually inspired by the consistent examples of Faith, Kindness, Grit and Excellence that our students demonstrate. As you are aware, success in school does not happen by accident; It requires strong leadership, dedication from a caring school Staff, supportive families, and for these reasons I am honoured and blessed to be the next Principal here at ICS, Formosa. 

The Immaculate Conception School community is one steeped in the traditions of Catholic education and faith formation, en français! As a French Immersion graduate of Jeane Sauvé Catholic School (Grade 8) and St.Michael Catholic Secondary School (Grade 12), both in my hometown of Stratford, I am a product of Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic French Immersion educational system, and I fully respect and value its importance to you, our ICS families.

As Principal, the Ministry of Education’s Achieving Excellence document offers an outstanding direction for building on the established strengths of our Catholic school, and moving us forward. It includes (1) encouraging excellence in academic and skill-building pursuits; (2) ensuring equity and prioritizing diversity and academic 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 ICS.

With the school year approaching quickly, I have two organizational items to highlight for you:

  1. Our 2025-26 classroom teachers will be reaching out to families late next week (August 28) to communicate student class placements.
  2. Our first Sunday Update (Week At A Glance) for Parents will be emailed to parents on Sunday, August 31. Note: This will be my primary method of sharing weekly information.

I am very excited for the journey ahead, and look forward to working alongside Vice-Principal, Mr. Darryl Henhoeffer, our entire ICS Staff, and all parents/guardians this coming school year. Lastly, I pray for all of our families that you have a fun and safe end of August and I look forward to our first day together on Tuesday, September 2.

Yours in Catholic Education,

Mark Dunn