Welcome and Introduction

For those of you who do not yet know me, I would like to take a moment to introduce myself as the principal of St. Thomas Aquinas High School. I was born and raised right here in Kenora, and I have always felt fortunate to call this community home, surrounded by the beautiful landscape and wilderness that make our region such a special place to live and to raise a family. When I am not at the school, you will most often find me spending time with my own family, out on the lake, or playing a sport somewhere around town. This is my second year as principal of St. Thomas Aquinas, and I am genuinely looking forward to another year of working alongside your family and learning together with your child as we move through the months ahead.

Updates to Grading and Growing Success

Beginning this school year, the Ontario Ministry of Education has changed how students in grades 9 through 12 are assessed. Final marks now include mandatory in person written exams in most subjects and a mark for attendance and participation, alongside regular class work. Here is how the marks break down.


A few things worth knowing:
- Written exams are now mandatory in most subjects during our scheduled exam days
- More than two unexcused absences will prevent a student from earning full attendance marks
- Excused absences verified by a parent or guardian, such as illness or a medical appointment communicated on or before the day, will not penalize a student’s grade
- Course specific details can always be found in each course outline
- Full provincial details are available in the Ministry’s Growing Success document here
- Learn more about important changes to assessment and evaluation for Grades 9-12 here

School and Student Safety Information

The safety of every student who walks through our doors is something I take very seriously, and I want to share some information about the vigilance and the many efforts that go into keeping our school environment safe. One of the important documents that supports this work is our police protocol, which guides how the school and our local police service interact with one another, and I have provided it here for your reference here.

Allergy Information

Information regarding our school’s policy on allergies can also be found here for your reference here. One of the most important parts of keeping students with allergies safe is limiting their exposure to allergens in the first place, and for that reason I want to ask all of our staff and students to please avoid bringing any food that contains peanuts or tree nuts into the school. This small act of care on the part of our whole community makes a real difference for the students who count on us to keep them safe.

Connection and Community

Strong relationships are at the heart of our school community. Throughout the year, we look forward to creating opportunities for students, families and staff to connect, celebrate and grow together. Whether through school events, activities, athletics, faith experiences or everyday moments of belonging, we want every student to feel known, valued and connected at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Thank You for Your Partnership

As we begin this year together, please know that my door is always open, and I would encourage you to reach out to the school with any questions you may have about the information above or about anything else on your mind. I am proud to be walking alongside your family, grounded in the faith and community that make St. Thomas Aquinas the place that it is, and I cannot wait to see what our students accomplish this year.
Warmly,