Welcome to SMLS
Established in 1891, St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School combines the welcoming, close-knit community of a small school with all the advantages of a larger one. SMLS is designed to give girls the confidence to make their way in the world—and the courage to leave their mark on it.
This handbook outlines our tuition fees and payment options as well as other charges, optional programs, and financial aid, among other details.
OUR VISION
Young women empowered to challenge and transform the world.
OUR MISSION
To engage each girl in a personalized, real-world learning experience where she explores her unique pathways within a nurturing community.
Schedule of Fees and Payment Plans 2025-2026 Academic Year
New Students:
Application Fee: A payment of $200 is required to accompany the application.
Registration Fee: A non-refundable registration fee of $4,500 is payable when the offer of admission is accepted.
International students are required to pay 50% of tuition upon acceptance of an offer of admission to confirm their enrolment.
MANDATORY FEES
Tuition
JK/SK $26,000
JS1 to JS5 $30,700
MS6 to MS8 $34,000
SS9 to SS12 $35,200
Technology Fee
Junior School
JS1 to JS5
Middle/Senior School
MS6 - SS12
Facility Renewal Fee
$600
$1,900
Tuition Payment Plan Options
Please note that the Tuition Payment Plan Options below relate to tuition costs only. Technology and Facility Renewal Fees are billed separately.
10 payments due on the 30th of each month: April 30, 2025 to January 30, 2026
* Payment to be made by submitting 10 post-dated cheques or by pre-authorized debit.
Payment Methods
For registered students, payments can be made by one of the following methods:
• Cheque or money order payable to St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School
• Please make note of the 7-digit User ID on payment
• Online banking
• Plastiq online credit card payment
• Wire Transfer
Online Banking
We are currently able to receive payments from the following banks. To set up online banking, add St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School as a payee using the 7-digit User ID as the account number.
• Bank of Montreal
• CIBC
• Royal Bank of Canada
• Scotiabank
• TD Canada Trust
Plastiq Online Credit Card
Please note that a third party processing fee will apply. To make a payment, you must register an account with Plastiq at https://request.plastiq.com/pay-stmildreds-lightbourn-school. Once registered, add St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School as a vendor using the 7-digit User ID as the account number.
Wire Transfer*
Please notify the SMLS Finance Office that a wire transfer has been completed by contacting ar@smls.on.ca or 905-845-5830, ext 858. Include the student name and/or 7-digit User ID on the wire transfer payment information. The sender is responsible for all associated bank charges.
*A $15 bank fee applies. If paying by wire transfer please add $15 to wire amount to cover bank fee.
Bank Name: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
Address: 197 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville, ON, L6J 5E8
Bank #: 010
Transit #: 00162
Account #: 82-01412
Swift: CIBCCATT
ANNUAL FEES
Tuition
Tuition fees for all students include:
• All course fees
• Academic curriculum-based field trips
• Hot lunch and nutritious snacks
• Yearbook
• Comprehensive student supports
• Professional counseling and health services
• Tuition Refund Insurance (standard and monthly payment plans)
• All compulsory, whole-grade Global Citizenship experiences NEW
Other Charges
Technology Program
The Technology Fee is billed in accordance with the payment plan option chosen for tuition fees. For those families choosing the Advance Payment Plan, a discount of 3% will be applied to the total Technology Fee.
Junior School
A technology fee of $600 will be charged to all students in grades JS1 to JS5 to cover the cost of the wide variety of technologies available in the Junior School. JS1 to JS5 students have access to devices on a 1:1 basis - iPads in JS1 and JS2 and MacBook Air laptops in JS3, JS4 and JS5. Revtouch interactive display panels are installed in all Junior School classrooms and robots and robotic hardware have been added to Junior School grades. The fee also covers the cost of increased use of internet access, educational software, and technical support.
Middle and Senior School
Starting in MS6, the school provides each student with a laptop computer for her exclusive use that has a software package installed for academic purposes. An annual fee of $1,900 will be charged for this program. The fee covers the cost of the laptop, the variety of technology being employed in the Middle and Senior School classrooms, all educational software and site licenses, internet access, printing costs and dedicated technical support from the school’s IT team.
Facility Renewal Fee
Funds received through facility renewal are used to enhance the resources of the school, and for capital purposes at the discretion of the Board of Governors. The total contribution of $900 is billed in July and payment is due upon receipt.
Supplemental Charges
There are additional costs incurred throughout the year which are not included in tuition. These include, but are not limited to, uniform, lost/damaged books, sports teams, robotics teams, and other incidentals. These costs are billed as incurred and are due upon receipt. For a complete list of supplemental charges that could be incurred throughout the year, please click here or visit www.smls.ca/finance.
Late Payments/NSF Charges
Interest at 1.5% per month or 18% per annum will be added to accounts that exceed 15 days overdue. A charge of $50 will apply for any declined payments due to non-sufficient funds.
Optional Programs and Costs
After School and Auxiliary Programs
SMLS’s auxiliary programs department offers a number of fee-based programs to support extracurricular learning. Included in the offering of options are a variety of after school programs, DELF enhanced French language instruction, and summer camp opportunities. For additional information, please email the Business Development & Auxiliary Program Coordinator at kwelland@smls.on.ca.
Bus Program
SMLS offers a flexible bus program to assist with student transportation to and from school. Bus charges are billed in September and payment is due upon receipt. A list of current bus routes and pricing is available. For further information, please contact the Transportation Coordinator at bus@smls.on.ca.
Extended Day Program
The Extended Day program is available for students requiring care before school (7:15 am - 8:00 am) and after school (3:30 pm - 6:00 pm). A light, nutritious snack is provided during this period, as well as a variety of activities.
Costs for this program are billed in September and payment is due upon receipt. Occasional use of the Extended Day Program is available and can be booked through the MySMLS Resource Board. For more information, please refer to Extended Day on the MySMLS Resource Board. Space is limited and early sign-up is recommended.
Tuition Refund Insurance Plan
Participation in the Tuition Refund Insurance Plan is mandatory for families opting for the Standard and Monthly Payment Plans and the cost is included with tuition.
Families on the Advance Payment Plan have the option to participate in the Tuition Refund Insurance Plan. The chart below outlines the cost breakdown for the Advance Payment Plan.
Participants authorize the school to process and collect any claim payment to which the participant may be entitled under the Tuition Refund Insurance Plan. For more information, please contact the Finance Office at finance@smls.on.ca.
Insurance
The school does not accept responsibility for loss of or damage to a student’s personal property. Parents/Guardians should ensure that a student’s personal belongings are insured while at school. Students from overseas must make their own arrangements for health insurance coverage.
JK/SK JS1 to JS5 MS6 to MS8SS9 to SS12
Financial Aid
St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School places a high priority on the attraction and retention of talented students. Each year, financial aid is awarded to deserving students, so that exceptional young women have the opportunity to both enhance their lives and enrich the unique culture of SMLS through the pursuit of academic and co-curricular excellence in an environment designed especially for girls.
The SMLS Endowment Fund, totalling more than $2,200,000 is overseen by the SMLS Board of Governors. The principal of this fund remains intact, as only the interest earned is disbursed annually for financial aid.
Donations designated for the financial aid program are held in the SMLS Endowment Fund, and enable those girls who would otherwise be unable to attend SMLS due to financial constraints, to benefit from a SMLS education. Both new and returning families are eligible for financial aid.
To support girls in the 2024-2025 academic year, financial aid totalling approximately $480,000 was awarded to 40 deserving students.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
In order to apply for financial aid, families must submit an application annually to Apple Financial Services, a third-party organization that works with our school. Apple Financial will review the application and provide a report on eligibility to
the school’s Financial Aid Committee. The cost to the family for this assessment is $137.50 and is payable directly to Apple Financial Services. Applications for financial aid are available online through the Apple Financial website at www. applefinancialservices.ca, and must be submitted by January 15 for the following academic year. The SMLS Financial Aid Committee distributes awards as broadly as possible to the most deserving students. The school holds this information in strictest confidence and families are asked to do the same.
Income Tax Receipts
Religious Instruction
A portion of annual tuition fees relating to religious instruction is eligible for a charitable tax receipt. The amount is calculated annually at the end of the calendar year and is dependent on the school’s operating results for the most recently completed fiscal year. In past years, the eligible amount has ranged up to 15% of tuition. No written request is required.
Post-Secondary Courses (Advanced Placement)
The Income Tax Act allows schools offering courses at the post-secondary level to issue tax receipts to students participating in post-secondary courses. A tax receipt for the cost of tuition for Advanced Placement (AP) courses will be issued for all students who write the AP final exam.
Child Care Expenses
Parents/guardians may be entitled to deduct a portion of the school fees paid as a child care expense if their child is 16 years of age or under on December 31, and if supporting parents/guardians fall within the guidelines of the Income Tax Act. A written request for a receipt must be submitted to the Finance Office at finance@smls.on.ca and a minimum of five (5) business days is required for processing.
Donation Receipts
St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School is a registered charitable organization, allowing income tax receipts to be issued for donations of cash and securities. Donations are solicited each year during the Millie Fund annual giving campaign, to support our world-class signature programs, technology and innovation, classroom resources, guest speakers, the Bursary Fund and more. The school may also embark on specific campaigns to raise funds in support of capital expansion and the Endowment Fund. These efforts are supported by the school’s Development Office.
Delinquent Accounts
A reservation for the next academic year will not be guaranteed if the re-enrolment documents are not received by February 5, 2025. Students will not be permitted to begin classes in September if:
• Tuition fees are outstanding for the previous academic year
• Tuition fees are outstanding based on the selected Fee Payment Plan
Discretionary billing to the school account will not be allowed if the account is in arrears. SMLS reserves the right to withdraw services at any time if accounts are not paid in accordance with established due dates. This includes, but is not limited to, a student not being allowed to participate in fee-based activities including Global Citizenship and STEM and Robotics.
Withdrawal
Requests to withdraw must be made by emailing the “Confirmation of Withdrawal and Release of Records” form (available on the MySMLS Resource Board) to admissions@smls.on.ca.
If the request is received:
a) Prior to April 15, 2025, the school will retain the non-refundable deposit.
b) Between April 15, 2025 and July 15, 2025, the school will retain the non-refundable deposit and the parents/guardians are responsible for payment of 50% of the outstanding tuition according to the Standard Payment Plan.
c) After July 15, 2025, parents/guardians have an unconditional obligation to pay fees for the full academic year. No portion of such fees, paid or outstanding, will be refunded or cancelled in the event of a student’s absence, withdrawal or dismissal from the school.
1080 Linbrook Road, Oakville, Ontario L6J 2L1
Tel: 905-845-2386
Fax: 905-845-4799
Email: communications@smls.on.ca smls.on.ca
Charitable Registration # 11919 1963 RR0001 A not-for-profit independent school for girls Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12
