About Us
St. Demetrius Catholic School is an Eastern Rite Catholic school within the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) serving Kindergarten to Grade 8 students for more than 45 years. Alongside the Ontario curriculum, students benefit from Ukrainian language instruction, Eastern Rite Catholic traditions, daily Core French, vocal music, and a strings program.
We are committed to a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where students grow academically, spiritually, and personally. Guided by the Catholic Graduate Expectations and Virtues, we nurture discerning believers, effective communicators, creative thinkers, caring family members, and responsible citizens.
Students develop leadership and service through charitable initiatives (including food banks and the Dzherelo Children's Centre in Lviv, Ukraine), student-led activities, and a wide range of extracurriculars, including athletics, chess, robotics, cooking, and clubs. Our active Catholic School Parent Council strengthens the partnership among home, school, and parish through faith celebrations, student learning, extracurricular programs, volunteering, and fundraising, creating a close-knit community where every student is 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.
Supporting Student Success and Growth
Since opening in 1975, we have maintained a close partnership with St. Demetrius the Great Martyr Church, working together to celebrate and nurture Eastern Rite Catholic traditions through liturgical celebrations, faith formation, and community events. Students are encouraged to participate in parish celebrations such as Prasnyk, Christmas Vertep, and Easter Hahilky, while service opportunities include visits and performances for residents of the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre and local seniors’ residences.
We are committed to helping every student reach their full potential through the Ontario curriculum, differentiated and inclusive instruction, resource support, and early identification of student needs. Students also benefit from gifted learning opportunities, English as a Second Language (ESL) support, and daily Ukrainian instruction from Grades 1 to 8, alongside French instruction, fostering multilingual skills in English, Ukrainian, and French.
A wide range of athletic, cultural, academic, and extracurricular opportunities enrich student life, including team and intramural sports, strings and vocal music, chess, art, student leadership, math and W5H teams, educational excursions, concerts, author visits, Scientist in the School presentations, and Safe Schools initiatives. Through strong collaboration among the school, church, families, and Catholic School Parent Council (CSPC), we support students in growing and thriving academically, socially, spiritually, and culturally.
School History and Tradition
St. Demetrius Catholic School is one of three Ukrainian Catholic schools within the Toronto Catholic District School Board. 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 spiritual, cultural, and linguistic heritage of the Ukrainian Catholic community. Founding principal Sister Rachel Tataryn of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate helped establish the strong traditions that continue to shape our school today.
We maintain longstanding partnerships with St. Demetrius the Great Martyr Ukrainian Catholic Church, Demetrius Residence, and the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, reflecting our commitment to faith, culture, and community. Anniversary celebrations, including our 25th and 35th, have brought together students, alumni, former staff, parish members, and the wider community. Through these traditions, we honour our history and continue to build a strong and vibrant school community.