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St. Denis Catholic School
(elementary--Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8)

67 Balsam Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4E 3B8

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Total enrolment 267
Principal Katherine Banfield
Tel: 416-393-5310 Fax: 416-393-5827
Superintendent Michael McMorrow
Tel: 416-222-8282 ext. 5371 
Parish St. John
794 Kingston Road
Toronto, Ontario M4E 1R7
416-698-1105
Local Trustee Angela Kennedy
416-512-3411

e-mail: angela.kennedy@tcdsb.org

CSAC Chair Angus Armstrong
Voice Mailbox #88310
csac.stdenis@tcdsb.org
After-School Programme 416-284-2344
Transportation For information, please call 416-229-5313

History & Tradition

St. Denis Catholic School opened its doors in September 1966. The school is named after the first bishop of Paris and patron saint of France, St. Denis, who was martyred for the faith on Montmatre, the mount of the martyrs. At the official opening on March 22, 1967 the school was dedicated to Rt. Rev. Denis O'Connor DPVF zealous pastor, devoted educator and faithful friend. He was the pastor of St. John's Church from 1932-1966 and a Metropolitan Separate School Board (now Toronto Catholic District School Board) trustee from 1947 to 1956. St. Denis has earned a well deserved reputation in the community offering a balanced core program combining the teaching of the gospel values, arts, language, math, science and technology and self and society. The school is committed to strong literacy and math programs to provide students with the tools and understanding for life long learning.

How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students

A Catholic environment permeates the daily life of the school. Formal religious instruction occurs daily. Beyond this, dignity and respect for each other is fostered in ongoing interactions.

The school responds to the varying needs of students (i.e. intellectual, spiritual, physical, emotional, social, in the following ways:

  • incorporation of gospel values into the daily life of the students;
  • a focus on maintaining a safe, welcoming school environment through a positive behaviour code;
  • peer mediation, conflict resolution and guidance programs, and a safe arrival program;
  • an outstanding vocal music program;
  • an extensive co-curricular and extra curricular program such as choir, W5H, house leagues, strings etc.;
  • participation in Toronto Catholic District School Board inter-school sports events;
  • an effective homework policy that supports academic growth;
  • an active group of parent volunteers whose work supports students and teachers;
  • host school placement for students at the Faculty of Education, University of Toronto;
  • effective communication through school and classroom newsletters, curriculum evening, school performances;
  • modified programs; use of computers to facilitate writing; open ended activities to meet varying learning styles cross-peer tutoring;
  • alternate program (i.e. gifted, learning disabled, Metro-wide resource leader program);
  • the curriculum is enriched for all students through a variety of educational excursions including: overnight stays for the intermediate division, artist-in the-school programs, theatrical experiences etc.

At St. Denis Catholic School we continue to develop and promote initiatives to ensure a high level of success for students in literacy and numeracy which include:

  • direct instruction in phonics, grammar, spelling and reading strategies as well as reading and writing buddies and daily reading;
  • a primary grade book bag program which promotes shared reading;
  • the use of the arts and computer technology to enhance reading and writing skills;
  • increased direct instruction time in math.

School News

School Calendar 2012

Family Day February 20, 2012
Mid-Winter Break (inclusive) March 12-16, 2012
Good Friday April 6, 2012
Easter Monday April 9, 2012
Victoria Day May 21, 2012
Last Day of Classes, Elementary June 28,2012

Professional Activity Days 2012

  • January 27, 201
  • February 17, 2012
  • June 1, 2012
  • June 29, 2012

PA and Exam Day Calendar 2011-2012

Newsletters

 

Reporting live from Afghanistan!
Corporal Tim Driver, who attended St. Denis Catholic School until June of 2000, spoke directly from his base camp to the entire St. Denis staff and students on Friday, June 4th. Tim reminisced with the staff about his own elementary teachers and shared his fond memories with the students of an adolescence past. Now his efforts go to try and bring even a small measure of childhood innocence to the shattered youth of a war torn nation. St. Denis students asked such questions as “What kind of games do Afghani children play?” They were rather surprised that despite the miles and circumstances that the children played much like they do. With technology abound in the halls of St. Denis, Skype provided an opportunity to communicate directly with Tim via computer. He was able to see and talk with the entire student body as they quietly and respectfully listened to him recount memories and respond to questions in the school gym.

How exactly did this come to be? Once again community spirit thrives in the beach...  A chance meeting between a St. Denis staff member and Tim’s younger sister Emily, resulted in the knowledge of Tim’s deployment to Afghanistan. The discussion of the meeting came up in the St. Denis staffroom. It was unanimously decided that the little school with the big heart would adopt and support one of their own.

With that decision made, each classroom took a turn to write to Tim. Some students simply wrote well wishes and good luck, while others questioned his feelings about what things were like and others wrote narrative stories that he could share with his fellow officers. I’m sure that some were more coherent than others, however we have had word that since our conversation on Skype, Tim has finally received and read all the letters sent by students at St. Denis!

We have also had the pleasure of meeting Tim’s family with whom we are able to follow Tim’s journey as well as anyone can. We keep Tim and his family in our prayers and hearts until he is home again, safe and sound.

Kids for Kids
Five years ago, a class at St. Denis Catholic School was given a Lenten challenge to “pay it forward”, and some of the students came up with the idea for a charity for kids, by kids. That is when Kids for Kids was born. Since the start of this organization, the community has sponsored children in Africa, villages in South East Asia, participated in charity walks, and held drives for skates, food and clothing. Starting in January and through until June, Kids for Kids have planned to challenge the school population to participate in volunteer activities which will be celebrated on a school bulletin board.

This year’s focus for Kids for Kids is to help out the needy communities within Toronto. On December 9th, the students used the raised funds to prepare sandwiches at school, pack bagged lunches and later delivered them to those in need in downtown Toronto. 


 

 

 

 

 

School Learning Improvement Plan -- 2011-2012


School Learning Improvement Plan -- 2010-2011


School Learning Improvement Plan -- 2009-2010


Safe School Plan -- 2010-2011


EQAO Assessment Results

EQAO:

School Year

EQAO Assessment Results

2010-2011

pdfLogo.gif (130 bytes)Grade 3 & Grade 6 Results

2009-2010

pdfLogo.gif (130 bytes)Grade 3 & Grade 6 Results

2008-2009

pdfLogo.gif (130 bytes)Grade 3 & Grade 6 Results

2007-2008

pdfLogo.gif (130 bytes)Grade 3 & Grade 6 Results

2006-2007

pdfLogo.gif (130 bytes)Grade 3 & Grade 6 Results

2005-2006

pdfLogo.gif (130 bytes)Grade 3 & Grade 6 Results


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