Annual Report 2022-23 St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
2022-2023 Annual Report
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Table of Contents
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Message from the Board of Governors Message from the Head of School A special milestone is SMLS History
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School Life in Action
11 Global Citizenship 13 STEM and Robotics 14 Professional Internships
16 Active Healthy Living Planning for the future The 2022-23 school year at a glance
17 Art and Design
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Financial results
Retiring and New Board Members We were pleased to welcome Rebecca Crane P’29, Meredith Krishnasamy P’28, ‘31 and Lauren Tribe ‘87 to the Board of Governors. Their bios, as well as a full overview of the role of the Board of Governors can be found on SMLS’s website, www.smls.on.ca.
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2022-2023 Annual Report
SMLS would also like to thank Colin Hanson P’23 and Maggie Zhu P’30 who stepped down from their positions on the SMLS Board of Governors at the end of 2022-23. We are so grateful for their leadership and the time and expertise that they shared with the school.
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
2022-23 Board of Governors
Sister Heather Broadwell
James Brown
Ian Gallagher
Claire Gillies
Colin Hanson
P’29
P’25, ‘29
Victoria Hughes
Meredith Krishnasamy
Lisa Mathews
Lauren Tribe
Gary Skene
Bishop Susan Bell
P’18, 29
Rebecca Crane
‘01, P’36
Sister Michael Trott
P’28, ‘31
P’30
P’28
P’23
‘87
P’25
Ijeoma Ugwunze P’32, ‘32, ‘34
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
Maggie Zhu P’30 2022-2023 Annual Report
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A Message from the Board of Governors The 2022-2023 school year for St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School has proven to be a crucible; a time of change and triumphs that will collectively define the school’s character as we progress into a new and exciting phase of excellence. The Board of Governors, charged with ensuring the school’s sustainability for current and future generations, works with the Head of School to set strategic direction. Last year, we were presented with a unique opportunity to delve into the core values that make our school special. The values of integrity, excellence, and community have long been the bedrock of SMLS, and in reflection, it is clear that SMLS is first and foremost an educational institution committed to academic excellence, but we are also a community that fosters the holistic development of our students. SMLS is more than a building where classes are taught, our purpose is to provide transformative, personalized education for our students. The emphasis on academic excellence is complemented by a commitment to nurturing character, instilling resilience, and fostering responsibility. Our curriculum, programming, and ethos is wholly committed to transforming inspired girls into empowered women. The resilience of our school community shone brightly last year, and the Board of Governors is grateful to the families, students and educators for coming together through uncertainties. Looking forward, the Board of Governors is focused on the strategic direction of SMLS. We are happy to welcome our new Head of School, Catherine BARRY Hant back to SMLS, and building upon our strong foundation, we will continue to honour our traditions while building upon our strengths to ensure SMLS prepares each girl who walks our halls for a life of purpose and impact. Victoria Hughes ‘01, P’36
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2022-2023 Annual Report
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
Message from the Head of School During the 2022-23 academic year, I was drawn back to SMLS: its values, mission and commitment to an education for girls with a history of over 132 years continued to call to me. Over many years, SMLS has continued to nurture, support and prepare young girls to become confident women and citizens of tomorrow who pursue their passions, and I remain in awe of all that the school has done, continues to do and aspires to be. As an alumna of the school, I hold very fond memories of my time here and often recall the way in which my confidence and willingness to try challenging experiences was supported and encouraged. As a student, I could not have predicted that I would return to SMLS as a Head of School, but today I find myself in this extraordinary position of leading a school with a remarkable past and a promising future. It was a pleasure to return to the school at the end of the 2022-23 year, and I look forward to continued growth and new progress as a school for girls in the years ahead - always keeping our students at the centre of our work and envisioning a future in which they become the changemakers of tomorrow. Catherine BARRY Hant ‘89 Head of School
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
2022-2023 Annual Report
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A special milestone in SMLS History This past year marked a very special milestone in our school’s history - the 100 year anniversary of Miss Lightbourn’s School. In 1923, a forward-thinking, ambitious woman named Ruth Lightbourn, who championed girls’ education in a time when women had only just won the right to vote, opened Miss Lightbourn’s School from the sitting room of her parents’ house. Miss Lightbourn was an exceptionally gifted teacher, and in no time the word spread to other parents in Oakville, who clamoured to have Miss Lightbourn teach their children too. In 1959, when Miss Lightbourn decided to retire, many worried that would mean the closing of her school. However, a motivated parents’ committee began to trace graduates of the school all over the world, with extraordinary response, and before long a board of governors took over the administration of the school, creating an incorporated body so that Ruth Lightbourn’s school could continue. 6
2022-2023 Annual Report
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
The board relocated the school in 1960 to 1080 Linbrook Road, which provided a new, six-acre site with landscaped grounds, broad lawns and ample room for playing fields and future buildings. In 1964, the board invited the Sisters of the Church to take over administration and ownership of the school, promising that Ruth Lightbourn’s name would forever be associated with the school. In 1969, Miss Lightbourn’s School and St. Mildred’s College amalgamated to become St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School. Miss Lightbourn did not believe that women should be restricted in their learning, but instead educated students in a variety of subjects so that they could follow their dreams no matter where they might take them. This founding principle in Miss Lightbourn’s approach to education continues to inform the curriculum and the programming at SMLS today.
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2022-2023 Annual Report
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Planning for the Future In September 2022, SMLS introduced the foundational aspects of its new strategic plan, Aspire 2029, following extensive community involvement. With this foundation, the school will continue to develop, refine and implement strategic priorities and initiatives in the coming years and in service to our Mission, Vision and the overarching Essence of SMLS.
OUR MISSION
OUR VISION Young women empowered to challenge and transform the world.
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To engage each girl in a personalized, real-world learning experience where she explores her unique pathways within a nurturing community.
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
ESSENCE OF SMLS Each Girl at the Centre We believe that each girl is creating her own distinct educational pathway, as her interests, strengths and passions emerge. We are committed to co-creating that pathway with her in a personalized learning environment where each girl’s joy, laughter and love of learning belong.
Academic Excellence and Innovation
Wellbeing and Belonging We understand that connectedness to oneself, others and the world around us is fundamental to our students’ learning and wellbeing. As a school community, we are united by our values and our commitment to building a just and inclusive environment with empathy, integrity and respect. We honour our Anglican heritage and welcome all faiths and cultures, celebrating the diversity reflected by each member of our school community.
SMLS is grounded in best practices and focused on innovation. We set the highest standards of excellence for our academic curriculum and signature programs as we develop ethical, culturally competent leaders who are catalysts for positive change.
Strength of Spirit We live in a complex world with uncertainty and change. We believe that resilience, courage and commitment are essential for our students and our community to embrace life fully, open ourselves to limitless possibilities, and boldly meet the unknown challenges ahead.
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2022-2023 Annual Report
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The 2022-23 school year at a glance
560
students enrolled across three divisions
110
faculty and staff
42
graduates who, collectively, received
431
offers of admission to leading national and international universities with merit-based awards and scholarships totalling over
$
1 million
.
52%
of the graduating Class of 2023 were accepted into STEM-related programs: Sciences 15 Business 9 Engineering 5 General & Liberal Arts 4 Direct-Entry Medicine 2 Media and Digital Arts 2 Education 2
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Advanced Placement courses offered
4-week
Architecture 2 Other 1
internships for every Grade 11 student
3500
+
active alumnae
37
athletic teams
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2022-2023 Annual Report
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athletics championships
377
clubs and councils
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
School Life in Action
Select highlights from our Signature Programs during the 2022-23 academic year SMLS students from JK to Grade 12 experience an enriched academic and cocurricular program through our unique signature programming. These programs are designed to give each student an opportunity to explore their own interests, talents, learning needs and strengths so that they are well equipped to achieve excellence in whatever path they choose.
Global Citizenship Our world-renowned Global Citizenship program, established in 1999, extends and enhances the curriculum by connecting our students with the world beyond the walls of our school. The program is purposefully geared towards character and life skills development and global citizenship. In 2022-23, we continued to partner with worldwide leaders in global, character and experiential education (including RoundSquare, Envoy and Alive Outdoors) in ways that helped equip students at all levels with skills and perspectives that help them find purpose and to thrive in all areas of life after their time at SMLS. This past year, students across all divisions participated in a total 65 trips - locally, nationally and internationally.
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2022-2023 Annual Report
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School Life in Action
Highlight A component of our Global Citizenship program is a strong focus on service learning. SMLS students begin service learning through the Global Citizenship program from the very beginning of their educational career in the Junior School. The following breakdown highlights the engagement and participation of students in service learning opportunities throughout their educational journey at SMLS.
Junior School MILLIE 100 Program
Middle School Junior Duke Program
Students in Grades 3, 4, and 5 work towards earning the “Millie 100” award, based on developing life skills, participating in near and far adventures, and a variety of character building opportunities.
All Middle School students work toward the “Junior Duke Award”, which is unique to SMLS, focusing on many of the skills of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program such as developing the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of the whole girl.
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Senior School Duke of Edinburgh International Award Achieving the Duke of Edinburgh International Award at the Bronze Level remains a graduation requirement at SMLS, and our students are closely supported by our Global Citizenship Department throughout the process. Students earn their Silver and Gold Awards by participating in some of the optional excursions and trips offered at SMLS, including a dedicated Silver Duke experience offered annually in June.
Number of Grade 5 Recipients
Award
Number of Recipients
Award
Number of Recipients
20 (56%)
Earth (Grade 6)
35 (69%)
Bronze
39
Moon (Grade 7)
22 (63%)
Silver
14
Star (Grade 8)
33 (75%)
Gold
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St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
Highlight In addition to qualifying for, and competing in, the provincial championships, SMLS’s robotics team, SWAT 771, received two notable awards during the 2022-23 competitive season:
STEM and Robotics (STEMR) SMLS students are exposed to STEMR activities as part of their everyday curriculum in ways that are both practical and age-appropriate. For example, grades 1-3 build models, grades 4-7 create small robots, and grades 8-12 build larger robots. Students in these programs select specific, real-world problems and then are tasked with researching it, interviewing experts and ultimately creating prototypes of their solutions. Approximately 130 students from Grade 1 to Grade 12 also participate in co-curricular robotics programming each year. We have coding clubs as well as a Senior Robotics Team (Grade 8 to Grade 12) holds the title of the first allgirls team to join FIRST.
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
• FIRST Impact Award, the most prestigious award at FIRST, honouring the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST. • FIRST Sustainability Award, celebrating and recognizing a team which has developed a sustainable program in order to define, manage, and achieve the team’s ongoing objectives.
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School Life in Action
Professional Internships Our unique Professional Internship Program provides grade 11 students with the opportunity to explore personal career interests in a customized, OSSD credited and immersive 4-week work placement across a wide range of specialized industries. The Professional Internship is a significant differentiator for SMLS, showcasing our students and our school in the local community, and engaging our Alumnae in support of this program.
Highlight In 2022-23, we were pleased to offer in-person experiences for 47 students, who successfully completed their placements and earned their Ministry of Ontario co-op credit. We are grateful to the following companies for their valuable support: • Abaton Integrative Medicine
• Cloverdale Vet
• Medicine Shoppe
• ALIVE Outdoors
• Minto
• Amico Infrastructures Inc.
• Dr. Karun Singh, University Health Network
• Art Gallery of Burlington
• Dr. Sharma
• Oakville Animal Clinic
• Bereskin & Parr Law Firm
• InSchoolWear
• C Group
• Leaps and Bounds Physiotherapy
• Oakville Community Foundation
• Campfire Circle • Canbrands Specialty Foods • Clarkson North Dental
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• Lighthouse for Grieving Children • Madill Pharmacy
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
• Neuchatel Junior College
• Oakville School of Music • Oakville Trafalgar Eye Centre • One Heart Care
• Orvosi Medical and Rehabilitation Centre
• Smilezone • Spadafora & Murphy LLP
• Turning Point Children’s Therapy
• Prime Medical Centre
• Stifel Investments Canada
• Virox
• Prince Edward Animal Clinic
• Sweatman Law Firm
• Westoak Animal Hospital
• Romet Limited
• The Brant Centre Seniors’ Residence
• Women’s Hockey Life
• Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Hamilton Chapter
• The Brides’ Project
• Sheddon Physio
• The Joy of learning Centre
• Skyn MedSpa
• The Rise Team Real Estate
• SMLS Junior School
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School Life in Action
Highlight Spartan Athletes earned the following championships in 2022-23: 2022-2023 PSAA • U14 Volleyball • U10-U14 Swimming • U14 Badminton • U11 Track & Field • U14 Track & Field • U14 Softball 2022-2023 CISAA • U20 Fall Swimming • U20 Volleyball D1B
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Active Healthy Living SMLS’s Active Healthy Living Signature Program is designed to help students establish healthy habits that will serve them well throughout their educational journey and their lives. In addition to SMLS’s Spartan Athletics programs, students are also given dedicated time and opportunity to put healthy habits into practice. For example, every student participates in “Wellness Wednesdays,” which are integrated into their schedules. This allows for time to be built into the students’ weeks, where they can take part in non-competitive sports, participate in meditative activities, such as yoga, crafts, fitness, or exercises, or connect with school support services. Overall, the program is aimed at empowering each student to take ownership of their own wellbeing.
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
Highlight
Art and Design SMLS’s Arts and Design Signature Program creates opportunities for students to try various art mediums, including communications technology, performing arts, and visual arts as well as opportunities to explore the many ways that the arts can integrate with science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and robotics. Last year, students across all divisions had opportunities to share their talents through various music ensembles, visual art demonstrations and exhibits and theatrical performances.
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
Students in the Middle and Senior Schools put on productions of “Shrek the Musical Jr.” and “Into the Woods.” Both performances saw students actively engaged in on-stage acting, musical performances, technical lighting, costume development, stage production and promotion.
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Financial Results
for the year ended June 30, 2023
The summary financial information set out below is derived from the 2023 fiscal year audited Financial Statements of St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School (“SMLS” or “the School”). The SMLS 2023 audited Financial Statements are available on request from the School. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, total revenues exceeded total expenditures resulting in a surplus of $1.9 million. The total surplus includes a $1.3 million surplus from regular school operations resulting mainly from actual enrolment being higher than the budgeted target and increased revenue from other school programs. The fiscal results are also impacted by an unrealized gain on the school’s investments of $0.6 million. The Board of Governors specifically sets surplus funds aside as internally restricted funds representing operating and capital reserves to facilitate the near term operating needs of the school as well as to facilitate future planning and growth. As an independent school, this is critical to the long-term strength and sustainability of the school. Internally restricted net assets are not available for other purposes without approval of the Board of Governors. Total capital expenditures for fiscal 2023 were $0.8 million reflecting ongoing investment in the school’s facilities and infrastructure.
Liquidity and Outlook: As at June 30, 2023 the School held (i) operating cash and cash equivalents of $13.1 million, comprising $8.1 million for working capital requirements and prepaid fees for the 2023-2024 school year, $2.1 million in the reserve for facility renewal, $2.5 million reserved for Strategic Initiatives and $0.4 million in reserve for donor restricted operating purposes, and (ii) $13.5 million of internally restricted reserves and endowment reserves. In June 2023 the Board of Governors approved a transfer of $4.9 million from operating cash and cash equivalents to be invested with internally restricted reserves for strategic initiative purposes. The endowment reserves are used to fund academic prizes and financial aid.
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The School’s operating cash is invested in guaranteed investment certificates with Canadian chartered banks and Canadian government treasury bills. The restricted reserves and endowment reserves are managed by the school’s third party investment manager and is invested in a mix of fixed income and equity investments as per the School’s Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures. The School’s financial objectives are to (i) maintain competitive tuition fees and rates, (ii) enhance our programs and services, (iii) ensure the school has sufficient financial reserves to respond to unexpected situations and to fund future strategic initiatives and (iv) grow our endowment and foundation accounts in a sustainable manner.
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
Audit: For the fiscal 2023, the financial statements of SMLS were prepared in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations (ASNPO). The independent auditors, BDO Canada LLP, issued an unqualified audit report for nonprofit organizations. During the course of the audit, they did not identify any significant weaknesses in the design or implementation of internal control over financial reporting. The Board of Governors approved the fiscal 2023 financial statements of SMLS on September 18, 2023.
Revenues and Expenditures
Financial Position
For the years ended June 30 (in $ thousands)
As at June 30 (in $ thousands)
2023 Revenues Fees and programs Contributions, investment and other Expenditures Excess of revenue over expenditures before other items Other Items Unrealized gain (loss) on investments COVID-19 subsidy Excess of revenue over expenditures for the year
2022
2023
2022
13,103
16,523
13,481
7,654
Assets 18,327
17,451
Cash and short term investments-operating Long-term investments restricted
1,895
1,581
20,222
19,032
18,900
17,802
Other current assets Capital assets
1,097 12,335
727 12,863
1,322
1,230
Total assets Liabilities and fund balances
40,016
37,767
10,016
9,404
Accounts payable, accruals and prepaid fees 540 540
(1,214) 501 (713)
Deferred capital and other contributions Fund balances
2,649
2,998
27,351
25,365
1,862
517
Total liabilities and fund balances
40,016
37,767
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St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School 1080 Linbrook Road, Oakville, ON L6J 2L1 T: 905-845-2386 communications@smls.on.ca smls.on.ca
INSPIRED GIRLS. EMPOWERED WOMEN. 20
2022-2023 Annual Report
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School