To prepare for our Catholic School Council elections please find the biographies of all those who have put their names forward for consideration.
Ballots will be emailed to all parents at 9am on September 29. The election will close at 3pm on September 29, 2022.
| Name of Nominee | Biography of Nominee |
| Donatus Mutasingwa | I am the father of grade 11 student at SBA. Previous member of SBA parents council (2017-2020). Professional background family doctor. I am looking forward to contribute to better education environment for all students at SBA. |
| Miranda Huang | Registered Critical Care Nurse with previous professional committee experience. |
| Nadia Muktar | My name is Nadia Muktar. I currently have 2 children attending SBA in the AP and French Immersion program. I also have 2 children who have graduated from SBA and moved on to university. I have been a member of the Parent Council at SBA for the last 7 years. I have held different executive positions such as Secretary and Faith Representative. I believe involvement in our children’s education is extremely important. The Parent Council helps us to stay connected with the school and allow us to voice our opinions and contribute to decisions. I would appreciate the opportunity to continue on as a Member of the SBA Parent Council and play a supportive role in our students’ achievements. |
| Gilroy Ponniah | I am a parent of grade 10 student and be on the council for the 6th consecutive year as a treasurer. |
| Carolyn Lamy | Hi! My name is Carolyn Lamy. I’m the proud mother of Samuel In grade 10. I was on the council last year as the OAPCE representative (Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education) and would love to continue to support school and board initiatives in this capacity to enhance student experience and achievement while building school and family partnerships. |
| Debby Lam | Debby is the mother of two Grade 9 twin boys in the AP program of SBA. A proud Markham resident for 25+ years with strong family and business ties in the community. She was a volunteer of St Justin Martyr School for 8 years and served 1 year on the Parent Council and graduation committee. Other board experience includes secretary and treasurer for her alumni school; secretary of joint school alumni annual gala for 4 years; and treasurer of the National Association of Catering Executive, Toronto chapter for 3 years. Professionally, Debby is an experienced management catering executive for a landmark hotel in Markham. She looks forward to contributing to the parent council at SBA. |
| Jenn Bahen | I am a mom of 4 and a long time School Council rep at the elementary and HS level. I held an executive position for 12 years at the elementary school and am excited to start year 2 at SBA. The whole reason for me to join is to give back support to our staff and learn more about what is happening around the school. I currently have a grade 10 student at SBA and am a graduate of the school many moons ago. |
| Abby Cheung | Abby is a mother of a grade 9 student in the French Immersion and AP programs. After 4 years of experience from the parent council at St Justin Martyr school, she looks forward to being an active member of the SBA school council. Other board experience includes director of her alumni school, executive board member and mentor of the human resources association and on the board of the York health network. Professionally, she plays a leadership role in talent acquisition for a global technology company. |
| Cathy Di Fonzo | It would be a pleasure to represent the Saint Brother André parent community on Catholic School Council again this year. Being on St. Brother André’s Catholic School Council for the past 4 years has been very rewarding and would love to serve for another year. In addition to that, I have over ten years experience working with Parent Council at my children’s elementary school – St. Edward. I currently have a daughter in Grade 10 and my son is a recent graduate of SBA. Giving back to the school community is very important to me as they have supported my children over the years. |
| S. Ali | I am a long time YCDSB parent volunteer and have been on Catholic School Council at 4 schools. I first joined SBA’s council in 2018 and was a part of several subcommittees. One of these pushed for transparency in water and air quality issues. Another implemented the ‘cell phone hotel’ model in classrooms to discourage cell phone use during instructional time. Now with my second child, I would like the opportunity to be a voting member again for this academic year. |
| Kirk Apel | My wife Anna and I are the proud parents of 2 boys, one a St. Brother Andre Catholic High School Graduate and the youngest, a current student in Grade 10. I have been happily married for 23 years in Markham. By profession, I have been a lawyer for 25 years, as a sole practitioner and my office is also in Markham. I am a student alumni and graduate of Senator O’Connor Catholic High School many years ago (1981-1985) in Toronto. When I first walked into St. Brother Andre, my heart was warmed by the fact that the longstanding virtues, values and academic excellence I personally experienced in the 1980’s has continued, unabated. I hope to contribute to that environment. I have also served on Council last year and I hope to continue serving. |
| Tonia Verruno | I have been an active parent on School Councils for the past 10years at two elementary schools. I have held many postions along the way. I would like to continue to be an active parent in the school as my son has started here at SBA this year. I look forward to participating and staying involved with the school and parent council. |
| Rossa Egger | I am a wife and mom of 2 boys. My background is business – specializing in project mgmt. My interests include volunteering – crafting – crocheting – tennis – yoga. I am currently involved on the CSC at OLQW as a voting member and volunteer my time when needed. I would like to do the same for SBA. |
| Allan Manlapaz | It was a great privilege to be given the opportunity to represent us, parents, while at the same time collaborate with fellow parents and school staff at last year’s Catholic School Council at St. Brother Andrei.
My name is Allan Ruiz Manlapaz and I am the father of a Grade 10 student at St. Brother Andrei. I also have a daughter who is currently attending San Lorenzo Ruiz. Prior to being a member of the Council last year, I have been an active member/parish representative at San Lorenzo Ruiz Parent Council for the last 10 years. With your support this year, I would like to continue to represent you, as a parent member of the Catholic School Council at St. Brother Andrei so that I can continue helping out our community school in whatever way possible. |
| Carmela Pedone | I have 2 children in grade 9. This is my first time as the parent of high schooI aged children. I was very involved on the Parent Council for their entire time in grade school and found it to be a very rewarding experience. I believe that this will be a great way to build a parent network so as to have resources available to navigate through the high school years. It is important to me to continue to volunteer my time in my community while also being involved in any of the planning and decision-making that goes on that will affect my children’s time at this school. |
| Frank Vignando | I’m a parent of a grade 10 student and hope to be re-elected to parent council, helping out wherever needed in service of the school community. With a background in electrical engineering and software development for many years, I’m currently working in the field of sustainability and the environment, obtaining certification in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Previous community involvement has included working with a local theatre group (set building/painting), making PPE (masks) early in the pandemic, and environmental awareness projects within the city. Thank you for your consideration. |
| Anita Keyes | I have been a member of the SBA Council since 2017 when my eldest son Anthony started grade 9, and for three years I served as the Faith representative. Anthony is now in second year University, and my youngest son Roman is in grade 12. I also served as a council member throughout my sons’ elementary years, including two years as Council Chair at Saint Patrick CES. I bring experience as a mother of two sons, and as a quality and risk management consultant at Saint Elizabeth Health Care to the role of Catholic School Council representative. |
| Maria Goldson | I am Maria Goldson and I would like to volunteer my name as a member of the St. Brother Andre Catholic High School’s Catholic School Council for the academic year 2022-2023. I was a member for the first time last year and am happy to provide any assistance wherever is needed again this year. Throughout my sons’ school career, I have always been actively involved at the classroom level, as the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) designated parent representative for my sons’ class. That is the liaison between the parents with the class teacher. Helping the students and teachers is something I’ve always done and would be happy to continue to do so in this capacity. I was also a Sunday School teacher for 3 years at my past parish, Stella Maris RC church. As a lifelong practicing catholic, it would be my pleasure to self-elect during this nomination process. Thank you, Maria. |
| Dalrene Mariathas | My name is Dalrene Mariathas. Both myself and my husband are parents who have been tied to the YCDSB since 2011 when my oldest child enrolled in Kindergarten. I am an Accountant by profession . I have been part of my own Alma mater’s Alumni Association in Toronto for the past 11 years and is currently the Treasurer . I have also held other positions as the co chair, convener of same and continue to play a vital role in the Association which functions as a team in helping the Educational institution thrive . In the event I am chosen to be part of SBA’ s CSC team I am sure I can be of assistance in sharing my knowledge, experience , expertise and time for the greater benefit of the school. Thank you |
| Michelle Nazareth | I am a proud mother of 3 girls (twins in Grade 10 and oldest in Grade 11) at St. Brother Andre. My main motivation in joining the parent council is to give back to my community and be involved in our children’s educational experience. Having 3 girls, I have a unique perspective on what today’s students are facing. I had the honor of Chairing the Parent Council of St. Matthews Catholic Elementary School. My past experiences have made me uniquely qualified to be part of the Parent Council as I bring tenacity, attention to detail, successful fund-raising campaign experience along with a desire to improve the experience of our students |