About Us
At St. Thomas More Catholic School, we pride ourselves on the strong partnership that exists among the home, the school and the parish.
How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students
At St. Thomas More Catholic School, we believe in the uniqueness of every child. We recognize that children have individual talents and their own special needs. We strive to assist the students to, “be the best they can be,” growing in Christian values, self-esteem and respect for themselves and others.
The catechetical program, as approved by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, is the foundation for the instructional program in religious education. Among a variety of strategies employed to ensure the presence of a Catholic environment we practice the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Acts of charity, such as food drives, ShareLife and supporting families in need, both within the local community and the global community, are encouraged as gestures of Gospel values at work. Historically we have supported a foster child and we continue to collect food and clothes for those less fortunate than ourselves. These efforts are essential for reinforcing to the students that our Catholic beliefs need to be reflected in all aspects of the daily program.
Fostering a safe and welcoming learning environment that is an example of Christian community is a vital part of the mission statement of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). Daily attendance monitoring is one example of this mission in action. Through cooperative parent-school communication, parents advise the school if their child will be absent and the school in turn monitors attendance patterns and alerts the family of their observations. We appreciate parents notifying us of health conditions which may affect their child at school. We also strive to keep parents and guardians informed of issues and situations which impact on their child's healthy and safety. It is our hope and desire that all families feel welcome when entering the school. We are pleased to provide information about school and community, to make introductions and to maintain collaborative communications.
Clear expectations for student behaviour are another important element of school life. General guidelines for student deportment are presented to the students in a variety of formats including school calendars, student assemblies, newsletters, announcements, and classroom discussions. Regular review and reinforcement takes place throughout the year. The violence prevention policy of the TCDSB reflects our serious commitment to the well-being of all members in the community.
Standards are being defined to assist in evaluating student progress The TCDSB is currently examining its curriculum documents in order to bring them in line with Ministry initiatives. As part of our resolve to enhance technological education and computer literacy there has been ongoing staff in-service, the acquisition of new equipment and increased emphasis on computer skills.
To help meet the needs of individual students, teachers modify programs within the regular class, consult with other staff and meet with resource personnel assigned to the school. Special programs support students with particular needs.
A full range of extra and co-curricular activities are available to the students. Activities include choirs, W5H, house leagues and sports teams. House leagues offer good fun, sportsmanship and friendly competition. Junior level volleyball is a good base upon which to draw for our intermediate team.
St. Thomas More Catholic School Homework Guidelines
At St. Thomas More our homework is a planned and purposeful activity that is linked to The Ontario Curriculum Learning Expectations, Learning Skills, and Ministry of Education Reporting Guidelines, and the Ministry of Education Curriculum Guidelines. Teachers assess the needs of their students in respect to the curriculum and assign the appropriate quantity and content to enhance learning and promote confidence and success. The timing and amount of work that comes home is a reflection of an open dialogue between the student and teacher. Individual teachers may assign different levels of homework even in comparison with classes in similar grade levels, as speaks to the needs of that specific group. We commit to making this process equitable and transparent and are open to questions from parents to clarify this process. In line with Board policy, homework will only be set over statutory holidays if requested by the parent. Through consultation between the individual parent and the teacher, work may be given as these times to aid skill development and build confidence.
We are committed to:
Meeting the developmental and individual needs of the student.
Reinforcing and extending school experiences.
Assisting students in assuming responsibility for their own learning development.
Developing positive attitudes towards independent study and lifelong learning.
Encouraging the development of self-discipline, good work habits, and time management skills.
Enabling parents to become involved and to participate in their child's learning in a meaningful and respectful way.
Enabling regular, appropriate, respectful and ongoing communication between teachers, parents and students.
