About Us
Sacred Heart Catholic School is located on Hupfield Trail, which is closest to the main intersection of McLevin Avenue and Neilson Road in northeast Scarborough. Our school day begins at 9:00 AM each morning, and children are dismissed at 3:30 PM.
Our school has a population of 245 students from Kindergarten to Grade 8. We are very pleased to be able to offer full day Kindergarten to 4 and 5 year olds. Through the hard work of teachers and early childhood educators, children develop literacy, numeracy and social skills in a fun and challenging play-based learning environment. In September 2010, our school implemented a school dress code and our students come to school each day proudly wearing blue and white.
Sacred Heart School is a member of the St. Barnabas Parish. Working in partnership with the parish team, children in Grades 2 and 8 are prepared to receive the Sacraments of First Confession, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation. Religious Education is a valuable part of our school curriculum and is taught to our children from Junior Kindergarten through to Grade 8.
Here at Sacred Heart Catholic School, children benefit from a School Nutrition Program which operates 3 days a week. The program is fully operated by a hardworking team of parents, who plan and prepare healthy morning snacks for our students for a very affordable price.
At Sacred Heart Catholic School, we believe in the uniqueness of every child. We strive to assist students to be the best that they can be, growing in Christian values, self-esteem and respect for self and others.
How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students
At Sacred Heart we believe in the uniqueness of every child. We recognize that children have individual talents and 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 a Catholic environment, we practice the spiritual and corporal works of mercy through acts of charity such as participation in food drives, the ShareLife campaign and supporting families in need, both within the local community and abroad. Spiritual growth is nurtured through activities such as retreats for Grade 7 and 8 students. These efforts are essential for reinforcing with the students that we are people called by the Gospel to make a difference in the world.
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 communications, parents advise the school if their child will be absent, and the school in turn monitors attendance patterns and alerts the family of its observations. Within the school, every effort is made to attend to the health and safety of the students. 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 health and safety. It is our hope and desire that all families feel welcome when entering the school. We are pleased to provide information about our school and community, to make introductions, and to maintain collaborative communications.
Clear expectations for student behaviour are important elements of school life. General guidelines for student deportment are presented to the students in a variety of formats, including students' assemblies, newsletters, announcements, and classroom discussions. Regular review and reinforcement take place throughout the year. The violence prevention policy of the TCDSB reflects our serious commitment to the well-being of all members of the school community.
The TCDSB is currently examining its curriculum documents in order to enhance Ministry initiatives. At Sacred Heart, we have undertaken reviews of our mathematics and language arts programs in order to help meet the needs of our students. As part of our resolve to enhance technological education and computer literacy, there has been ongoing staff in-service training, 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 extracurricular and co-curricular activities is available to our students. The school strongly endorses field trips and major excursions. Outdoor education programs including skating, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, nature studies and ecology lessons provide new, enriching experiences for the students. For those with artistic inclinations, there are craft classes, musicals, drama and choirs. The chess and W5H teams provide excellent opportunities for students talented in these areas to develop and tone their interests. House leagues offer good fun, sportsmanship and friendly competition.
Our School History and Tradition
Sacred Heart Catholic School opened its doors to the community in September 1987 with a beautiful new building and an enthusiastic group of staff and students. The spirit of the school is founded on devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This focus was captured well during the official opening when Adrienne Kitchin - one of the students - read, “The heart of Jesus is taken as a symbol of his humanity and of the infinite love of Jesus for all of us. One of the ways we worship Christ, even in his human nature, is through devotion to his Sacred Heart.”
The school rapidly expanded during its first few years, as many families moved into the new developments surrounding the school. Within this time frame, the school population grew to well over 700 students. The opening of St. Bede Catholic School significantly reduced our student population.
Our community has a rich diversity of individuals drawn from all over the world. This cultural mix is important to us, for each individual contributes his or her life experiences within the unifying bond of our common Catholic faith.