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

636 Glenholme Avenue, York, Ontario M6E 3G9

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History & Tradition

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School began as a two-room annex to St. Clare School in 1921. It grew to eight classrooms and 400 pupils in the present building in 1945, with leadership provided by the Loretto Sisters. Immigration in the 1950s and 60s caused unprecedented growth which brought the school population to 1880 students in 1964. Additions were made to the school in 1954 and 1960, culminating in the present school of 27 classrooms.

Our school is named after St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest teachers of the Catholic church. He was born in 1225 in Italy, in the town of Aquino, and as a boy he attended school at the great monastery of Monte Casino nearby. When Thomas decided, as a young man, to become a Dominican monk, his powerful family, angry that he was rejecting their lifestyle for a life of poverty, took him back by force with a troop of soldiers, and kept him at home for two years. Thomas used this time to study scripture and philosophy on his own. When his family finally let him become a monk he studied in Germany and France, and became a very learned and respected professor with the title of “Doctor of theology”. Thomas Aquinas was consulted by popes, kings, scholars and students from many countries in Europe until his death in 1274. His great theological work, “Summa Theologica” was an important source of religious thought for many centuries, and is still highly respected today. St. Thomas Aquinas School tries to honour this great saint in its Catholic teaching and in all school activities.

How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students

A Catholic environment

St. Thomas Aquinas provides a learning environment where models of Gospel values and Catholic doctrines, teachings and beliefs are an integral part of the daily life of the school. The religious education and family life programs provide students with a firm foundation in their faith development. Some examples of faith activities planned throughout the year are: daily prayers, liturgical events, participation in ShareLife, Christmas basket programs, and several food drives for the Good Shepherd Refuge, Caritas and St. Francis' Table.

A safe environment

We are continuing to work hard to foster a truly Christian environment where every child feels safe. In addition to our safe arrival program (in which absence precipitates a telephone call home) and our code of behaviour which focuses on the golden rule and good manners, we use student conflict managers who are trained to diffuse social problems in the schoolyard. This year the curriculum focus will be on impulse control and anger management.

Curriculum initiatives

Technology

Over the summer of 2005, the library has had a cross-curricular computer lab installed with 32 networked computer stations. With this lab, teachers will provide additional support of students' curriculum with the help of various software and on-line programs.

Services for exceptional students

Regular meetings are held by our school-based support team to identify students with special needs. At these meetings with parents decision may be made to modify or change a student's program. We have classes for gifted students, for student who are learning disabled, developmentally delayed or language impaired; we have a behavioural program, a program for multi-handicapped students and regular special education classes. We have support programs for students who require specific assistance in speech and language, students who are hearing impaired and who need remedial lessons.

Early literacy

Our early childhood development program begins in junior and senior kindergarten programs. Several strategies exist to promote student literacy in the early years: teacher reading, parent reading at home, reading by volunteers, peer reading (by older students), paired reading, remedial reading, etc. The partners in action program (classroom teacher and librarian) assists in our literacy focus and student-produced books are celebrated in our young authors festival. Many of our students are enrolled in our Italian language program.

Co-curricular programs

Students participate in school concerts and music festival and compete in track and field and cross-country competitions. Most are active in our skating program and all participate in the technology fair.

School News

PA Days 2008-2009

• October 24

• November 14

• December 5

• February 13

• March 13

• June 26

Sea of Pink at St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas Student Council was inspired by the story of the two Nova Scotian boys who, after hearing that a grade 9 boy was threatened, harassed and bullied for wearing a pink shirt went out and purchased 50 pink shirts only to discover hundreds of kids wearing pink shirts the next day at school!! So the St. Thomas Aquinas Student Council followed suit. They ordered hundreds of pink shirts and on November 9th spoke out loud and clear against bullying. As well, with the small proceeds made from the sale of the shirts, 3 additional bricks were purchased towards the building of our school in Kenya, Africa.

Life in Action
Several of our students and Teacher librarian were chosen to go to Arizona this summer.--details
 

School Learning Plan -- 2007-2008

EQAO Assessment Results

EQAO: