About Us
St. Demetrius Catholic School is an Eastern Rite Catholic school within the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), serving students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 for more than 45 years. In addition to the Ontario curriculum, students benefit from Ukrainian language instruction, the integration of Eastern Rite Catholic traditions, daily Core French, vocal music from Kindergarten to Grade 4, and a strings program for students in Grades 5 to 8. We are committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where every student can reach their full potential.
Guided by the Catholic Graduate Expectations and the Virtues, we nurture students to become discerning believers, effective communicators, creative thinkers, caring family members, and responsible citizens. Through the dedication of our staff, students consistently achieve high academic standards while growing in faith and character.
Service to others is an important part of school life. Students support local and international charitable initiatives, including food banks and the Dzherelo Children's Centre in Lviv, Ukraine, while developing leadership skills through Me to We and other student-led activities.
Students are encouraged to explore their interests through a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, including athletics, chess, W5H, robotics, cooking, student leadership, and other clubs. Our active Catholic School Parent Council (CSPC) strengthens the partnership between home, school, and parish by supporting student learning, faith celebrations, extracurricular programs, and school initiatives through volunteerism and fundraising.
At St. Demetrius, the strong partnership among home, school, and parish is at the heart of everything we do, creating a close-knit community where students are supported to learn, grow, and thrive.
Mission Statement
Our school's mission is to offer our students a rich spiritual, academic and cultural formation in the light of the Gospel values, challenging them to achieve excellence in a stimulating, culturally rich, community-based and welcoming environment. Together with our Parent Council, our school strives to provide our students with the most current educational and technological resources available to us through the Ministry of Education and the TCDSB to enhance their learning opportunities.
How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students
Since its opening in 1975, St. Demetrius Catholic School has maintained a close partnership with St. Demetrius the Great Martyr Church. Together with the parish community, the school celebrates and nurtures the traditions of the Eastern Rite Catholic faith through liturgical celebrations, faith formation, and community events.
St. Demetrius is committed to helping every student reach their full potential through the Ontario curriculum, differentiated instruction, and inclusive learning practices. The curriculum is enriched by daily Ukrainian language instruction from Grades 1 to 8, with half-day Ukrainian instruction in Kindergarten. Combined with daily French instruction, students have the opportunity to develop multilingual skills in English, Ukrainian, and French.
Students play an active role in the spiritual and cultural life of the parish, participating in celebrations such as Prasnyk, the Christmas Vertep, and Easter Hahilky. They also demonstrate their commitment to service by visiting and performing for residents of the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre and local seniors' residences, strengthening the school's tradition of faith, culture, and community engagement.
A broad range of athletics and other cultural programs are also offered to our students, including:
Sports teams such as soccer, boys' and girls' volleyball, basketball
Intramural sports
String orchestra and string ensemble
Vocal music program
Chess club
Art club
Track and field team
Cross country team
Student Council leadership opportunities (charitable events, spirit days)
Math group for Gauss competition
W5H teams
Curriculum related excursions
Concerts presented by French, Ukrainian performers
Author visits to enhance literacy
Scientist in the School presentations for all classes
Anti-bullying and safe schools presentations
Early identification of student needs through our School Based Support and Joint Teams
Resource support
Gifted learning opportunities (Grades 5 to 8)
English as a Second Language classes
Through the excellent efforts and strong collaboration of school, church, parents and CSPC, our students benefit and have the opportunity to excel academically, socially and spiritually.
School History and Tradition
St. Demetrius Catholic School is one of three Ukrainian Catholic schools within the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). Founded in 1975 through the vision of Rt. Rev. John Tataryn, pastor of St. Demetrius the Great Martyr Ukrainian Catholic Church, the school was established to preserve and celebrate the rich spiritual, cultural, and linguistic heritage of the Ukrainian Catholic community.
The school's early development was guided by its founding principal, Sister Rachel Tataryn of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate (SSMI), whose dedicated leadership helped establish the strong traditions that continue today. St. Demetrius remains closely connected to the parish, Demetrius Residence, and the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, reflecting its enduring commitment to faith, culture, and community.
Over the years, St. Demetrius has celebrated numerous milestones, including its 25th and 35th anniversaries, bringing together students, alumni, former staff, parish members, and the wider community to honour the school's rich history and lasting legacy.