Supporting Student Success

The St. Mary Catholic Academy community is built on our Catholic Gospel Values, which are the foundation of our school philosophy. It is for that reason - our commitment to being witnesses of our faith - that we nurture the spiritual development of all members of our community. Our Chaplain Leaders and Student Success Team are ways of achieving this goal.

Our commitment to our religious journey is marked by several important community-building traditions, including daily prayers, regular routine of liturgical celebrations, days of retreat and ministry to the community through food drives, Christmas Baskets and other initiatives throughout the school year. The Chaplain Leaders are always available to provide support to our students as we nurture the development of the whole child intellectually and spiritually.

The Student Success Team is our way of working toward each child’s fullest potential. This team is composed of Administrators, Guidance Councillors, Student Success Teachers, Credit Recovery Teachers, the Literacy and Numeracy Lead Teachers, and LOG teachers. This team focuses on meeting the needs of at-risk students by bridging the gap between elementary and secondary school, forging mentoring relationships, and providing students with academic and emotional support. Resource Personnel, Child Youth Workers, and Education Assistants also complement the Student Success Team.

At St. Mary Catholic Academy we believe that all students, including those who have been identified with exceptionalities, have the right to full and active participation in our community. Our inclusive model facilitates this, allowing all of our students to develop to the best of their abilities. Through the necessary accommodations and/or modifications, our students are successful whether their goal is to enter a workplace, college, apprenticeship, or university after high school.

Licensed to Learn (L2L)

To provide students with further support, SMCA runs the L2L organization which empowers students to help one another socially and academically through free, personalized peer tutoring. The program emphasizes youth leadership and personalized support for students. Through this program, our students develop leadership skills, and in turn, their peers receive academic support and mentorship from a positive youth role.