Staffing levels do not equate the needs of the school. EAs are often managing 2 plus special needs students and the students who are lower academically get very limited, if any support.
There is no standard for any disciplinary action. Staff are often exposed to verbal abuse, students always have the upper hand as there is no follow through. Unacceptable behaviour becomes the standard because of this and staff feel frustrated and helpless.
Being hit, slapped etc has become the norm for EAs. It shouldn’t be. It’s unacceptable that violence is so accepted and no one is looking for a solution. Yes ,PPE is provided but the term educational assistant implies you are helping students with their education not dressing in PPE to face a day of physical abuse. Something needs to change. I don’t think this schools experience is unique I think this stems throughout the Catholic board across the schools. I have worked in many and it also applies there too.

My experience with the school, we have very supportive staff that work with students (EA team is fantastic and very supportive of each other)
Custodians and secretaries are very welcoming and extremely helpful when dealing with the school.
There is a lot of behaviours and the team tries to manage them the best they can, but there’s no discipline. I’ve seen way too many staff being injured by students they are supporting and lots of destruction of property from these students. Custodians work their behinds off and constantly try to clean the school as good as possible but with these behaviours and no consequences being given, sometimes school is in disrepair.

My son has been spit on twice by a student that is not in his class or grade. Both times no one from the school contacted me and I had to hear about it from my 11 year old. Unacceptable.

Parents at St Andre your voices will not be heard if you do not hold these despicable people who call themselves educators accountable. If alot of you are aware of what is going on is this school you would be traumatized. *** and *** by far is the two worst teachers at this school. Another thing, *** is ***'s spy so be very aware at kiss and ride. Parents with special needs children those two teachers are your worst nightmares for your children. The worst EA there is ***. All she is good for, is yelling and screaming at your children. Please parents, write letters to the board, trustees, MPs, ministry, human rights and most importantly to ***. If that does not work make sure you send letters to the media until you get heard. The things that are happening in this school is beyound comprehending. We all as parents need to join forces and fight. We are always stronger in number.

I have been an EA for 20 years. This job is not the same job it was 20 years ago. Over the last 5 years or so it has taken a downward turn. My stress level has skyrocketed! Just going into work is stressful because I never know what the day will hold. Less and less, I am helping students with academic needs. More and more I am facing students with extreme violent behaviors. Behaviors that not only impede their ability to learn, but also impede other students' ability to learn. Every day I go into work I hope I can leave the same way I came in, but it has gotten to the point that leaving with "only" a scratch or bruise that will heal quickly is a good day, in what other job do you say that. Since 2019 I have had 3 concussions and 1 count of whiplash at the hands of students I work with, before 2019 I had never had a concussion or been seriously injured on the job. I am currently off work recovering from a concussion and now am facing seeing a neurologist to ensure there hasn't been any brain damage from all the trauma to my brain. This violent behavior not only takes a physical toll on my body, but also a toll on my mental health. Daily my co- workers and I are faced with being spat at and on, sworn at, kicked, punched, and bit. You can only endure so much of that. I am in tears and I see them in tears too. I feel these incidents are not taken seriously enough; every child has a right to an education, I would never argue that, but I have the right to feel safe coming to work. I have the right to have something left in the tank at the end of the day so my own kids get some of me too. So often I have nothing left to give after being at work. I struggle constantly to reconcile loving this job and being so passionate about it, but also legitimately wondering how much longer I can do this for.

My children were students at St. Marguerite D'youville for 10 years. They had excellent teachers in FDK, Gr 1 - 6, and 8 and were in a positive, healthy learning environment from FDK until the end of Grade 3.
We had zero issues with staff and students up until that time. One of my daughters started to experience bullying at the school in grade 4. The school started to fall apart after the school re-opened after the pandemic and the old Principal was re-assigned to a different school within the DCDSB. The staff turnover rate has significantly increased since the old Principal left. The school has lost 2 Program Support department heads, 5 EA's, a secretary, and custodians over the past 3 years. I have heard that the behaviour of students at the school has been terrible since the old Principal was re-assigned to a different school 3 years ago. I can only hope that the new school administrator and the school board will be able to restore the school to the positive, healthy learning environment that it once was.