THE IMPACT OF GIVING
SIGNATURE PROGRAMS: SHAPING FUTURE LEADERS
Our Signature Programs are designed to provide every student, from JK to Grade 12, an opportunity to maximize her unique talents, strengths, and learning style while discovering new interests and passions.
Global Citizenship: Expanding Perspectives and Building Connections
Our renowned Global Citizenship program goes beyond standard curriculum to open up the world beyond the classroom. An SMLS education provides real life possibilities to help shape character and enhance life skills.
This year, student exploration spanned from Canada’s backyard to the other side of the world:
Camp Timberlane
Silver Duke of Ed Canoe trip along the French River
Camp Timberlane
Addison C. working as a Production Assistant on Global News - The Morning Show
Our incredible athletes have captured the following championships this year:
Under 14
PSAA Volleyball
Under 14
CISAA Division I Silver medalists
Girls division of PSAA
Swimming
Under 14
CISAA Fall Swimming
Participating in sports at SMLS is the best way to comfortably get out of your comfort zone. Before coming to SMLS, I never wanted to try out for a sports team because I worried I would not be good enough. When I came last year, I joined the Flag Football team because of the supportive and non-judgemental community that SMLS has cultivated. Participating in sports at SMLS has given me the courage to do things I never thought I could do and taught me how to do them well.”
- Preet B., MS9
In general sports have taught me virtues such as teamwork, resilience, and discipline. They make me be confident and learn to have a positive attitude when things don’t turn out the way you wanted. I have created life long friends and learnt how to be a good sport and not only care about what I do, but how I help others too! Not only will sports impact the way I play, but the way I act and socialise on a daily basis!”
- Rushaam N., MS8
STEM and Robotics: Driving Innovation, Breaking Boundaries
SMLS incorporates STEM and Robotics for all ages, challenging gender stereotypes early and regularly throughout our girl’s learning journey. By engaging in hands-on learning experiences, students develop problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and adaptability - traits that are essential in today’s technologydriven world.
Your support of our STEM and Robotics programming ensures students have access to innovative tools and mentorship that inspires them to pursue careers in fields where women are traditionally underrepresented.
Thanks to your generosity, all Millies can immerse themselves in engaging STEM and Robotics activities across all our schools:
Junior School: 3 new “littleBits STEAM+ Class Packs” provide hands-on STEM learning
Middle School: MakerCarts allow students to explore engineering concepts creatively
FIRST Robotics Team SWAT 771: Our team is honing their skills thanks to the addition of a second advanced swerve model for competition
FIRST Robotics Team Meals: Families generously came together to donate and subsidize meals for our 61-member team
This team manages to leave an IMPACT on every community they meet, both locally and worldwide. The stories of their efforts and how they inspire girls to pursue STEM reach people in multiple languages. These GIRLS WITH A WRENCH have created a lasting legacy within their team and community.”
- SWAT Judges, FIRST Robotics Competition, March 2025
In March 2025, the SWAT team competed at the Centennial College competition and won the FIRST Impact Award (formerly the Chairman’s Award), the most prestigious award at FIRST. This award honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and most effectively embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.
What I love most about STEM and Robotics is the combination of problem-solving, creativity and teamwork. Whether it’s writing math contests, engaging in STEMR council, or programming for our FRC robotics team - SWAT, every challenge I encounter enables me to think critically and improve myself. At the same time, collaborating with my peers in STEM and Robotics initiatives always gives me a sense of belonging and makes me realize the importance of shared success.
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Being part of STEM & Robotics at SMLS has taught me more than just technical skills. In fact, it has introduced me to an amazing, welcoming, and supportive community where I can share my passion for STEM, especially mathematics, amongst many brilliant minds. Here, not only have I developed my problem-solving skills and ability to think critically under pressure, but I have also grown as a leader through learning the value of mentorship, collaboration, and perseverance - lessons that extend far beyond robotics.
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Bella W., SS11
Being part of the media subteam has especially shown me how art and engineering can complement each other and go hand in hand. Overall, this experience has helped me develop my leadership skills, teaching me how to collaborate well with others and manage tasks effectively.
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Zuleica C., SS10
Michelle W., SS10
Arts
and
Design:
Cultivating Creativity and Confidence
The arts play a vital role in a well-rounded education, offering students an outlet for selfexpression and creativity. Through a range of experiences in art and design: drama and theatre, instrumental and vocal music, visual art, communication technology, integrative arts programming and STEMR - students gain the confidence to take creative risks and share their unique perspectives with the world.
The Arts and Design Signature Program provides students with opportunities to develop critical thinking, creativity, confidence, and collaboration skills. Your donations provide the opportunity to enrich our programming in the musical, theatrical, and visual arts.
Through your support, our students have hands-on experiences just like they’d find in the real world, including:
Soundproof music rooms for refined acoustics and performance
A professional-grade theatre equipment for entertaining and bringing our community together
Media and art studios for creative experimentation
Cyclorama projection systems, soundboards and digital lighting technology for skill-building and industry-level production
The Senior School’s production of Legally Blonde – The Musical took full advantage of the new sound and visual upgrades in the Theatre.
The musical featured 22 student actors, 15 student crew/production members, 4 staff and one parent volunteer, and enjoyed attendance of 385 across four performances.
Head of School Speaker Series: All School Chapel
Launched in June 2023, the Head of School Speaker Series provides opportunities for all members of the SMLS community to experience the inspiration that comes from hearing world-class guest speakers and facilitators on a variety of topics. These opportunities are funded by our donors, bring us together, give us new perspectives, and demonstrate that when you use your voice, engage in dialogue and build knowledge and understanding with others, you can make meaningful change.
Vertical Non-Permanent Surfaces: Junior & Middle School
Across the Junior and Middle School there are now 25 vertical non-permanent surfaces (VNPS) across the classrooms.
Leveraging the VNPS across various subjects, but especially in math, provides countless benefits for our students and faculty including:
Increased Engagement: Encourages movement and interaction
Enhanced Collaboration: Enables students to share ideas and provide peer feedback
Improved Problem-Solving: Fosters critical thinking and real-time learning
Promotes Active Thinking: Students are encouraged to take risks and develop confidence in their problem-solving abilities
VNPS fosters a dynamic learning environment where students actively participate, rather than passively absorbing information. This method aligns with research-backed strategies for deeper comprehension and long-term retention, equipping students with the skills they need to tackle realworld challenges.
Nicholas Hall Refresh
In the summer of 2024, Nicholas Hall underwent a complete refresh to ensure SMLS students, parents and guests immediately feel welcomed every day. The project included painting, reframed portraits of our school’s Founders and archival pictures, light fixtures, furniture, a new front door and a display of our school’s new Coat of Arms.
Dining Hall Audio Controller Sound System Upgrade
Thanks to the support of the SMLS Parent Association, the Dining Hall’s sound system was upgraded this past summer, replacing outdated components with new technology. The project included the installation of new motorized screens, wall ports, cabling, and audio/video controllers to ensure high-quality sound and visual experiences for all events hosted in this central space.
Soundportrait: Preserving the History of SMLS
SMLS has a proud history of educational excellence which we were proud to capture through the SMLS Soundportrait, a collection of memories, stories, and perspectives from longstanding members of the SMLS community who have personally experienced some of the school’s defining moments. These inspirational stories and reflections on how their educational experiences shaped the people they are today will now be preserved for future generations.
The SMLS Soundportrait is a lasting record that celebrates our school’s cherished history. Recorded in the summer of 2024, the Soundportrait features stories from Sister Michael, Sister Marguerite Mae, Sister Margaret, and Sister Heather, all members of the Community of the Sisters of the Church, who have supported SMLS in various capacities for many years. It also includes voices from cherished community members like Donna Cossit, who has been with SMLS since 1986, and Minna Sturrup, a former student of Miss Lightbourn’s School and one of our eldest alumnae.
Just as a portrait artist captures a person’s personality, a Soundportrait uses the human voice. The colors and hues of a Soundportrait are shaped by the timbre of a voice, the rhythm of stories and pauses, and the warmth of laughter and reflection.
For more information on how to support the Lightbourn Library, visit www.smls.on.ca/lightbournlibrary
Lightbourn Library: A Transformational Project
Set to open in Fall 2025, the Lightbourn Library will be much more than a place to read; it will serve as a hub for exploration, collaboration, and inspiration. By combining our existing Learning Commons spaces into one larger, modern facility, we aim to create an environment that sparks curiosity, fosters creativity, and equips students in all grades with new resources for hands-on learning and additional opportunities to learn and thrive.
Designed to serve the diverse learning needs of our girls, this reimagined space will feature:
Expanded and curated resources to support academic growth and creativity.
Advanced technology to foster innovation and hands-on learning.
Flexible workspaces that encourage collaboration and discovery.
The Lightbourn Library will also provide enhanced study areas, fostering both independent learning and group collaboration. By ensuring access to high-quality materials, digital resources, and mentorship opportunities, we are investing in a future where our students are empowered to innovate, lead, and excel.
OPENING DOORS: STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Education is one of the greatest gifts we can give. Through Student Financial Assistance, your generosity empowers young women to reach their full potential, regardless of financial background. Your support not only lays the foundation for their academic success but also nurtures the confidence and ambition they need to thrive.
In the 2023-2024, approximately $450,000 in financial assistance was awarded to 44 deserving students.
Your contributions make a lasting impact—opening doors, shaping futures, and creating a legacy of generosity for years to come. Thank you for being part of this incredible tradition.
SMLS has been the catalyst of change for my daughter. Her growth academically and emotionally has been amazing and has positioned her well for the future. We believe it is extremely important to give back in any way possible so others can experience what my daughter has been lucky enough to experience at SMLS.”
- Jackie Hatherly,
Current Parent
My daughter and I had been part of the SMLS community for a few years before life as we knew it changed drastically. In an instant, we found ourselves facing profound uncertainty and loss. During such a challenging time, receiving financial aid from St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School provided us with one invaluable constant: the assurance that my child would remain in the community she loves. I am deeply and forever grateful to St. Mildred’s for granting us this support.”
- Anonymous, Current Parent
$347,000
Since 2019-2020, the Grad Class Bursary Fund has raised over $347,000, making it possible for even more girls to experience the transformative power of an SMLS education. Thank you to our graduating families for their generous support.
The Future of Giving: Continuing Our
Impact Together
Your support of SMLS makes all of this possible. We are grateful for your partnership in developing lifelong learners and empowering young women to challenge and transform the world. Thank you for your generosity.
Stay tuned for updates on how your donations continue to fuel the big dreams of our girls.
To learn more about how you can advance girls’ education at SMLS, please contact:
Marnie Helmy, CFRE Director of Development advancement@smls.on.ca 905-845-5830, ext. 835
Tel: 905-845-2386
Fax: 905-845-4799
smls.on.ca