About Us

Dress Code

PA Day Activities

Holy Cross Catholic School had its modest beginnings in 1928, in a one-room portable on Mortimer Avenue in East York. In April of 1944, the first four classrooms of the present Holy Cross School opened their doors at 299A Donlands Avenue beside Holy Cross Church. From its inception to 1978, our school was closely allied with the Sisters of Notre Dame, who provided Holy Cross with many of its teachers and principals. We have detailed accounts in our archives of school life at Holy Cross during those years.

Holy Cross continues to revere its history and maintain its traditions while looking forward to the future by educating its students to take their place in tomorrow's society. Our school was renovated and celebrated its 60th anniversary in September of 2004. We had a large turn out of staff and students coming back “home” as our school song states: “There is a school in our hearts; No matter where we roam; That we will always treasure; Holy Cross is home.”

Holy Cross is a member of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) community, which is formed by Catholic beliefs and traditions. As such, our students are part of a learning community environment where models of Gospel values, Catholic tradition, teachings and beliefs are an integral part of their daily life at the school. The Holy Cross lesson that staff instill in our students is to work hard, be self-disciplined, have a sense of fairness, and learn to have a sense of fun into our lives. Our school community models courage, commitment, and Catholicity at home, school and in our parish lives. We have a close working relationship with our Parish Priest.

Our Holy Cross goal is to continue to create a positive, enthusiastic and caring learning environment educating the mind, body and soul, modeling Catholic School Graduate Expectations formed within a Catholic Faith Perspective. In fact, we will be drawing on the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations that focus and affirm the work that our Catholic schools have been doing for 170 years. Family life programs and values education provide students with a firm foundation in their faith development. The following are “living the faith” activities planned throughout the year: organizing liturgical celebrations, preparing for the Sacraments, participating in food drives and Share Life campaigns. Our monthly school masses and school celebrations are an important and vital part of our school life. We really try to ignite our children’s Catholic Imaginations.

The ongoing commitment to Literacy and Numeracy as a TCDSB system priority is a plus for Holy Cross. It is realized daily through many activities like: Math Manipulative lessons, team teaching strategies for Math/Language, Balanced Literacy and Literacy in the Middle Grades assessments and/or Literature Circles, Learning opportunity grants and Success for All, our Fifth Block. Holy Cross staff supports this development of literacy and numeracy as an important component of programming throughout the school. Parent and community volunteers help support our Teaching Staff’s numeracy and literacy initiatives.

We have a small Computer Lab located in our Library. There are also computers in each classroom providing the students with the opportunity to become more computer literate in such areas as the revising and editing of published work and in broadening research opportunities in subject areas such as social studies and science.

The teachers use the TCDSB provided science binders and curriculum support materials to implement the science and technology aspects of the core curriculum. Through the generous funding from our Catholic School Parent Council (CSPC), each class participates in the “Scientist in the classroom” program, which provides an opportunity for hands on experiences.

To ensure student safety, parents/guardians will be contacted if a student is absent and the school has not been notified prior to morning and afternoon sessions. Students must have a signed note by a parent or guardian to leave the school during school hours. All visitors to the school are asked to report to the office.

Our code of conduct is clearly outlined in the Parent/Student Handbook which is sent home at the beginning of each school year. This ensures that both parents and students are aware of our school's expectations of behaviour.