Be sure to join us on Monday, September 29, 2025 for our Catholic School Council vote.
The nominees and their bios are below:
| Name | Bio |
| Jane Ramos | Mother of two teenage daughters. I am a financial planner an branch manger. Have a been a local resident for 18 years |
| Daphne Dias | Mother of 4, all in post secondary except my youngest. Employment is technology for over 25yrs. I volunteer with out of the cold program, helpline (addiction services, Catholic Community Services) |
| Shelagh Carlini | Resident of Aurora for 15 yrs. Originally from Toronto. Love raising our 3 boys here . I have sat on parent council for Our Lady of Grace CES for 4 years and volunteering for school events (dances, cross country, field trips, etc.) for the past 10 years. I am a director and actor. Interested in helping the school wherever I’m needed and get to know staff and parents better. |
| Christy Gardner | I have 2 sons that attend the YCDSB schools (grade 9 – St. Max; grade 7 – Our Lady of Grace). I have served on council at our Lady of Grace in the role of Secretary and then Chair for the last several years. I volunteer at OLG events. I am an occasional teacher with YRDSB and have been in this role since 2018 (by choice). My interests include sports, reading, travel and nutrition. I look forward to getting to know staff and parents at SMK. |
| Nicole Galloro | I am a mom, college professor and chiropractor. I enjoy spending time outdoors, baking and sharing new experiences with family and friends. I volunteered Light of Christ CES and was a part of council there too. My son is in Gr. 9; he is happy to be here and all the staff and special education team at SMK have been so welcoming. I hope to bring new ideas, help when I can advocate for all students and those with special needs as well. Thank You to everyone at SMK. |
| Morenike B. Marcus-Jones | I am interested in attending parent Council mtgs. I believe it is important to get involved in your school not just academically, but socially. I believe when we stay connected, we support and ensure their voices are heard. |
| Terri Ferreira -Cioffi | I am a mother of three boys, two who attend St. Maximilian Kolbe in gr. 9 and one who attends Our Lady of Grace. I have served on CSC for the last 10 years, as a voting member, secretary and for the last five years served as Vice Chair at Our Lady of Graces CES. I am a stay at home mother and a licenced foster parent who works with York Region Children’s Aid Society |
| Pamela McCarthy | I am a YRDSB Trustee. I have a nursing background and a background in private school teaching. Older daughter is in her first year at the University of Guelph. |
| Edina Heder | I am a pediatric dentist and have been a part of parent council at St. Max last year. I have also been a part of my children’s previous elementary school since they were in Junior Kindergarten. This means I have been involved for 11 years. Being a dentist I also volunteer with my dental societies. |
| Michelle Leppington | I would be honored to be a member St. Max CSC again this year, and would like to express my interest to the school community. I am a teacher, healthcare advocate, a wife and mother of three French Immersion students. Eldest son is in Gr. 10 at SMK and his two younger siblings are in gr. 4 and 7. I believe we have a responsibility to make our children’s school experience one they will fondly remember. When families and school staff collaborate, we create an unstoppable tam of leaders for our children. Together we have the power to make everyone feel safe, loved, heard and valued. Serving on an elementary CSC for the past nine years, has taught me a lot about the activities and dedication involved in making schools wonderful places for our children to grow, learn and flourish. I wish to share my skills as a parent, teacher and advocate to enhance student experience. I have volunteered on numerous fundraising committees, helped to organize special events and participated in community building enrichment opportunities. I also work as a patient partner for the department of family and community medicine of UofT, and serve on their patient and family advisory council. My husband and I volunteer with our sons’ rep basketball team. In my free time I enjoy reading, music, horseback riding (with my daughter), yoga and exploring personal development. |
| Sonia Fiorini | I would like to be re-elected for the parent council because I am passionate about supporting our students and contributing to our school community. Over the past few terms, I have served as a parent council member as well as being a member on the fundraising committee. Through these roles, I have dedicated my time to help organize events, support school initiatives, and foster a positive environment for students and families. Being involved with the Parent Council has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our school community, and I am committed to continuing this work. I believe in collaboration and open communication between parents, staff and students to create enriching experiences that enhance the educational journey for the students at St. Max. If re-elected, I look forward to building on the progress we’ve made, contributing new ideas, and supporting initiatives that promote student well being, engagement, and success. I am eager to continue volunteering my time to help create a supportive school environment that benefits both students and families. |
| Stephanie Romano | I have been an active member of the council for the past 4 years, this year will be my 5th year. During my time on council I have worked collaboratively with parents, staff and the community engagements. I am committed to continuing to contribute my time and experience to help enhance the school environment for all students and families. |
| STEPHANIE ROMANO ALSO NOMINATES ROSSELLA MONGELLI | |
| Rujilda Mathanraj | I am a parent of 3 children, 2 of which are at St. Max, and my daughter attends Good Shepperd. I work full time as well, I run a export/import business. My commitment is to promote and support initiatives that best benefit our school community while ensuring it represents our Catholic values. I am a parishioner of Our Lady of Grace. Being a chair/co-chair this year would be very sentimental as my son will be graduating. |
| Azita Yazdanfar | I am an experienced administrative with a paralegal diploma with knowledge in legal and immigration process, as well as Website Design Diploma. I currently work with the York Region District Board, managing student records, attendance and supporting staff and students in a fast paced environment. I am an experienced administrative with a paralegal diploma with knowledge in legal and immigration process, as well as Website Design Diploma. I am bilingual in English and Farsi, and passionate about creating organized, supportive and inclusive spaces for the students and families. Outside of work, I enjoy volunteering in the community and school initiatives and contributing to projects that enhance student experiences. I am committed to using my skills in organization, communication and problem solving to make a positive impact at St. Maximilian Kolbe CHS. |
| Mary Jo Nabuurs | Local small business owner, have been a member of my kids school parent council since 2009. Various roles from Co-chair to secretary to parent rep plus |
| OASPE rep. Vocal advocate for public education. I value the knowledge gained about school board decisions and policies by being on council and learn | |
| so much from other council members. My last child is at SMK in gr. 11. I hope to do as much as I am able to assist council for this year. Hopefully next year as well. | |
| Lilliana Remigio | I had the privilege of serving on the 2024-2025 Parent Council and was a strong contributor as a member of the Fundraising Committee, where we had successful fundraising events. I am passionate about bringing new ideas and concepts, and collaborating with council and school representatives to achieve our common goals-and that is to effectively support and continuously improve our school/parent community-ultimately our students. I would like the opportunity to serve on the next Parent Council and continue to contribute, generating innovative ideas and fostering collaborative environments for the betterment of our school community. |
| Natasha Venditti | I am a French teacher with the YCDSB. I currently work at our Lady of Grace. My hobbies include music, art and photography. I also love to travel and try new places with children. I enjoy sports and cooking and love trying new restaurants. At work I run the spirit committee that loves to plan fun and exciting activities for the school. |
| Rossella Mongelli | My name is Rossella Mongelli. In my professional life, I work for a printing company as a project manager. This gives me experience in organizing meetings,setting agendas and building on ideas and sharing ideas towards a common goal. I have an amazing daughters, one being an SMK grad and another who just started at SMK. I am pleased to have been apart of St. Max Parent Council for the past 4 years and holding the position of Vice Chair and Co-Chair. I enjoy working together with the staff and admin at St. Max and feel that being apart of this parent group helps build on the admin-parent and teacher-parent relationships. Throughout the past 4 years, I have contributed to various school initiatives and helped raise funds. If chosen, I would be honoured to be the Chair or Co-Chair of the 2025/26 SMK Catholic Parent Council. |
| Ella Korotkin | I am a real estate law clerk whose daughter started gr. 9 at St. Max. I would love to help out in any way I can. |
| Kinjal Dagli | Hi! I am a journalist-turned-content marketer by profession and a mother of two! My eldest comes to St. Max in Gr. 9 and my son is in Gr. 7. I have been involved as a volunteer at my kids elementary school and would love to bring my skills to SMK too. |
| Antonietta Lawrence | Head Secretary at Neighbouring school. Love to work with students and parents. I have volunteered @ SMK for 6 years now in various roles. Secretary, treasurer and voting member. I love to be involved in my children’s education and to help other families navigate their education journey. I love event planning. |
| ANTONIETTA LAWRENCE ALSO NOMINATES ROSSELLA MONGELLI | |
| Sharon Karunaratne | As an administrative Assistant with a passion for organization and community engagement, I bring both professional experiences and personal dedication to the table. As an outgoing individual with a strong Catholic background, I attend church regularly and have volunteered in fundraising efforts that support out community. Outside of work, I find joy in the outdoors and cooking – two things that remind me of the importance of balance, nourishment and connection. I am passionate about contributing to student success and creating a positive school environment. I believe that every student deserves to feel supported, inspired and safe at school. I hope to help foster a positive, inclusive atmosphere and work alongside other dedicated members to enhance the educational experience for all. |
| Tara Shaw | I run an IT security consulting business and have volunteered on various school councils including at St. Max for the last 2 years, most recently as Treasurer. I would like to continue to support my child and the school as a member on the parent council. |
| Paul Oyewole | Former member of Parent Council |
| Maria Sarracini | This will be my third year serving on the council. I now have two children attending SMK in grades 9 and 11. I’ve also served on the Holy Spirit CES council for the past seven years. I volunteer my time at the school and love helping out with the hot lunch programme, where I have an opportunity to see my two girls who still attend there in grade 7. I also volunteer at Our Lady of Grace Parish. I am part of the Coffee Sunday Ministry and help to do the weekly shopping for it. I recently starting working in the OLG office part-time. When I eventually get some downtime, I love to read, bake and indulge in sappy Hallmark holiday movies with my daughter. |
| Karen Haldane | Myself and both Ms. Mathanraj, Ms. Mongeli have been members of the Catholic School Council for a number of years including elementary. Ms. Mathanraj and Ms. Mongeli were Co-Chairs last year and were successful in leading the Council to successfully execute our initiatives. |
|
Arash Sajadii |
Karen Haldane wishes to nominate Rujilda Mathanraj and Rosella Mongeli
I have been member of council and board member of different private and public schools and would love to share my experience by contribution to the wonderful team of SMK. We have run several fundraisings, before and after school programs as volunteers and facilitated smooth communication between school and parents. I have the valuable experience to be volunteer Karate Ontario, Karate Canada and several international events. I have also voluntarily tried my best to act as the professional photographer of several events across province, country and also international level. I am a professional engineer (PEng), MBA, and Project Management Professional managing several multi-disciplinary high-profile projects in Ontario. |