St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School, A Private All-Girls School, Oakville, ON

Lessons Outside the Classroom

Global Citizenship
Authentic Hands-on Career Exploration

Professional Internship
Deepening Understanding of STEMR

STEM and Robotics
Whole Girl Life Skills and Wellness Habits

Active Healthy Living
Creativity, Self-Expression and Problem-Solving

Art and Design

Inspired Girls. Empowered Women.

From the moment a student enters St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School, a leading independent school for girls in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12, she begins a journey of discovery to emerge empowered to challenge and transform the world.
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130+

years of experience in leading girls' education
280+

Offers of Admission from Leading Universities for the Class of 2023
40+

athletics teams
50+

Clubs and Councils
1st

All-Girls Robotics Team in Canada
5

Unique Signature Programs
10

Advanced Placement Courses Offered Each Year
560

students across 3 divisions

1/8

of St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School

At SMLS, we engage each girl in a personalized, real-world learning experience, where she explores her unique pathways in a nurturing community.

Experience Our School

List of 4 news stories.

Join Us for a Fall Open House
8/23/2024
At the heart of every great neighbourhood, there's a great school, and we would love for you to come visit us. We are school for girls with a rich history, a strong sense of community and a beautiful campus that spans 10 acres in beautiful Olde Town Oakville.

At our upcoming Open Houses, families will meet our impressive students and hear firsthand how meaningful an SMLS education can be. Our Millies are excited to tell you all about the advantages of a girls’ school education, our countless opportunities, and the many ways we cultivate and nurture a positive, supportive community for our students.

Come see for yourself!
- October 24 from 9:00 to 11:00 am
- October 29 from 9:00 to 11:00 am
- November 2 from 1:00 am to 2:00 pm
REGISTER HERE
We Stand on the Shoulders of Giants
5/7/2024

The SMLS community recently gathered together for our annual Founders Day celebration - an opportunity look-back, acknowledge our past and honour our 133-year history. It was a thrill to welcome back alumnae, to acknowledge our Legacy Families, and to join together as a whole school for a look-back at our remarkable history.

SMLS is a place where empowered women emerge and a good part of that is because of our forward-thinking, trailblazing founders, Sister Emily Ayckbowm and Miss Ruth Lightbourn. These two women had visions of a future for girls that was better than what existed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They both had a commitment to progressive and innovative education, social justice and a concern for society, all of which remain hallmarks of an SMLS education today.

Today’s Millies enjoy incredible opportunities - workplace experience in a range of industries, global citizenship experiences, leadership development and so much more. These opportunities exist because of the strong women in our history who have, over time, challenged world views, fought for education and for equal rights, and persevered in the face of adversity.

It is a privilege to celebrate Founders Day - a day to recognize and give thanks to the women who came before us and to celebrate the opportunities we can create for empowered women to keep challenging and transforming the world.

We extend a very warm thank you to everyone who joined us for this very special occasion!
Impact of Giving
4/29/2024

SMLS's 2024 Impact of Giving report is out now! We invite you to read through and see all of the great ways our donors are supporting SMLS's ambitious vision to see more women empowered to challenge and transform the world.

Giving plays a very special role at SMLS. Our supporters' gifts make our unique learning environment designed for girls possible. Each day, our students benefit from our community's generosity.

Within this report are examples of how philanthropic support of SMLS fuels the work we set out to achieve every day on behalf of our Millies. We hope you enjoy reading how gifts are enhancing the educational experience for our Millies, empowering girls and young women, and helping to create a better, more equitable future.

The world needs more empowered women. You make that happen with your support of SMLS.

View the 2024 Impact of Giving report here.

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Century Celebration
4/15/2024

A group of passionate alumnae who attended Miss Lightbourn’s School in the 1960's has invited former students of Miss Lightbourn’s School, a pioneering school for girls, in Oakville, to attend a special 100th anniversary celebration and reunion that will take place at St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School on Friday, April 19th at 4:00 pm.

“As far as we know, this is the first reunion of alumnae who attended Miss Lightbourn’s School since the school was founded by Miss Ruth Lightbourn in 1923,” says Debbie Scott, a volunteer Class Representative for the Class of 1965. “We know it’s a moment in history to be celebrated, and have undertaken the challenge to find and contact as many alumnae as possible.”

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Come Visit Us Take the Next Steps

Discover how your daughter will benefit from SMLS's superior academic program, our attention to each girl's social, emotional and physical wellbeing, and student leadership development - all designed for girls.

Angel N., Class of 2023

“Through SMLS’s unique opportunities available to students, I was able to join SWAT 77 [the school’s robotics team] in Grade 8. This allowed me to learn more about and pursue my interest in STEMR. I have also found ways to become involved in the school community with the numerous leadership opportunities offered to students.”
Anna S., Grade 5

“My teacher Ms. Jones creates opportunities by challenging me constantly with harder assignments, and at special occasions, like at our school concert, my art teachers reach out to me to design posters and/or programs. At the Chinese New Year Chapel this year, Dr. Ren offered me an opportunity to dance in front of my peers.”
Bisma B., Class of 2008

“Once you become a Millie, you are welcomed into a family, a community, and a network with deep and loving traditions…When I was a new entrepreneur, this community supported me. It provided mentorship from other alumnae who had been in business long before me. This community provided me with a network that I could rely on and a foundation to help me thrive.”
Chjara M., Grade 9

“The community I am able to rely on with support from teachers and friends. It’s those small moments where you know that there is always someone next to you to support you.”
Claire B. Class of 2013

“SMLS is a community which offers all girls life-changing experiences to grow, build self-confidence, and to thrive academically. I started as a student in kindergarten and stayed all the way through to the end of Grade 12. SMLS was a safe place for me growing up, where I could be my true self and where I was welcomed warmly by all staff.”
Eva L, Class of 2022

“As a Senior School student, I had designated advisor times when I could meet with advisor teachers and have individual, one-on-one conversations. This is how I learned firsthand that, whenever I need help, there would always be someone in the SMLS community who could give me guidance.”
Jessica M., Class of 2022

“As I enter into my final year of high school…I get to think back now and count all of the things I love about SMLS. Things like our small class sizes, which mean we get the help and academic attention we deserve. I have always found my teachers to be caring and supportive and I can approach them with any questions or issues I may have. All the teachers and faculty members are amazing and all have the same goal of making students more successful.”
Melanie Peck '18, former Head Girl

"SMLS prepares students to succeed in their post-secondary experiences and life beyond the pillars, through academic challenges such as AP courses, support such as extra help lessons and, most importantly, talented and dedicated teachers and the peers who surround you. I feel excited for what the future holds.”
Paisley H. Class of 2023

“The impact that SMLS has had on me is substantial. SMLS Has both amazing opportunities as well as excellent staff that have helped guide me towards achieving my goals.”
Sena Y., Class of 2022

“As students here, we are able to receive a world-class education, with teachers who support us, encourage us to grow and chase our dreams. We have literature resources, experiential learning, STEMR opportunities, arts programs and sports facilities all at the tip of our fingers.”