Multiple current and former staff have spoken out about the ongoing issues at this school, yet nothing has been resolved. The fact that so many staff have left to work at other schools is telling. The toxic culture was felt from day one and observed by many staff.

It often seemed that certain team members were deliberately trying to undermine others or make them appear incompetent in front of colleagues, despite the fact that everyone was meant to be equals simply trying to do their jobs. The work of an EA is already challenging enough, dealing with high-needs students and frequent violence. But when staff don’t have a supportive team to back them up, it becomes deeply discouraging. On top of that, being micromanaged and constantly monitored by program support made the day-to-day experience feel tense and exhausting. Staff were under a microscope from the moment they walked in.

It takes a toll on mental health. Coming in every day stopped being enjoyable and became mentally, physically, and emotionally draining. These are very real and very concerning issues that lead to burnout and job dissatisfaction. Nobody should be treated this way.

Something needs to change. There needs to be some accountability and honest self-reflection at all levels. Good staff are being driven out due to unchecked negative behaviour, and that should concern anyone who truly cares about creating a safe, supportive, and professional environment for the safety and wellbeing of both students and staff.

My child had a confidentiality breach from an EA at this school. My child's location and attendance to this trip was released by an EA to a family member that had zero contact for the last 4 years. He was then left unattended on the trip where the family member approached my special needs child and then was taken away from the group. I had shown up at that point for the field trip and found my child left unattended with this individual. At that point no one would own up to why my child was released to this person. *** the principal who is out of tenants at this field trip showed very little care about the incident and even after the fact that this was brought to the board still showed very little care. This isn't the first time I've experienced this with *** when in regards to my child's safety (As my child had been attacked by another child in the school prior). *** then protected this EA and refused to have any disciplinary actions happen other than re-educating on confidentiality. My child's information continued to be leaked by the EA after the fact and still nothing was done about it. It came to the point where I had to remove my child from the school due to ***'s negligence.

Great Staff, many whom give it their all each day. Lot of teachers that honestly want the best for their students. Amazing support staff (EAs, ECEs, Secretaries, and Custodians). They are the most important and vital part of the success of the students. Definitely not enough support staff (Secretaries, EAs and Custodians). Those staff members are constantly running around trying to facilitate 25 tasks at once. Worried about what will happen as this school grows to over 1000 students. With the right funding levels, this school could provide the best support, but with reductions in funding, not sure what the future will hold.

I have supplied at St. Thomas many times. I have felt welcome every time. The staff are welcoming and very helpful. I highly recommend supplying or taking a full time there.

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.

Our children have attended this school since 2019. There is an exceptional team of educators and support staff at this school. The ECEs and teachers that we have dealt with have been incredible, with special mention of Campbell, Chapman and Ranieri for being the gold standard. The office staff have changed over the years but current ladies are very responsive and friendly. Our family personally has not had any experience dealing with the EA/SERT team. The custodial team is friendly and attentive, the school always looks clean and safe. The school is bursting at the seams with students to the point where the staff room has become a teaching space and the staff are now to use the stage as their break room which often also is the site for things like dance practices leaving them with no dedicated break space away from students. Parking around the school is a massive headache. Unfortunately, the atmosphere in the school has been negatively impacted this year by the arrival of a new principal. The entire school community has been gravely affected by this. New protocols that seemingly exclude parents from the school community, it feels like we are barred from the school and they are hiding things. The principal is combative and doesn't seem supportive. Progressive discipline doesn't seem to be happening and it has been a very disruptive year behaviour wise in our child's class. Other changes the principal has made have really disappointed the students (ie. removing the birthday shoutouts from the morning announcements, not permitting students to play with balls on the pavement, closing the playgrounds to students from Thanksgiving until Victoria Day).