St. Jude's Academy
St. Jude's Academy
ST. JUDE’S ACADEMY
The Athletics Department at SJA provides students with an appreciation of how involvement in both individual and team sports can greatly enhance their academic pursuits. From an early age, our Athletes learn that Athletics can challenge us physically but of equal importance is the development of self- confidence, grit, teamwork, leadership, determination and a growth mindset. The qualities learned through our Athletic programs will become lifelong habits and traits that will stay with our students throughout their life.
At SJA we offer a diverse range of opportunities in athletics for all students with a total of 40 teams across 12 different sports. We are a member of two different athletic conferences: Small Schools Athletic Federation (SSAF) and the Private Schools Athletic Association (PSAA). These organizations provide multiple opportunities to compete in tournaments and leagues throughout the GTA in high quality facilities.
Our state-of-the-art Athletic centre has excellent facilities for sports and physical activities. These include:
The sports that we offer start from U-9 and go right through to U-20. We have team and individual sports including outdoor soccer, indoor soccer, flag football, volleyball, badminton, cross country, dodgeball, basketball, track and field as well as our curling trips and ski trips. Try outs will be held for each sport which is played seasonally. Students will be able to play either on a development team or competitively. Our goal is to have as many athletes as possible playing a diverse range of sports, and our program continues to grow and be more successful every year.
Aligning with Our Philosophy
At St. Jude’s Academy, we believe in nurturing the IB Learner Profile both in the classroom and on the field. Flag football serves as a dynamic extension of our core values:
Our annual ski trip is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year for our students. Each winter, we head to Horseshoe Valley Resort for an unforgettable day on the slopes, where students build skills, confidence, and lasting memories.
Students in Grades 5–8 all take part in two trips throughout the season, with our Grade 5/6 classes attending together and our Grade 7/8 classes sharing their own experience on the mountain. We also offer a dedicated ski trip for our high school students in Grades 9–12, ensuring that every age group has the opportunity to enjoy this exciting tradition.
Starting from an early age we nurture our youngest soccer players and through exposure in Physical education as well as opportunities to play at recess we start preparing our athletes from JK onwards. With after school clubs and camps even the most avid soccer player will be able to develop their skills, techniques and abilities in a supportive environment.
By grade 2 students are able to try out for our U-9 team and participate in a local competition. At U-10 level our students can try out for either a development team or a competitive team based on their desire and ability. This will provide multiple opportunities to play competitions and tournaments against other schools with indoor soccer in the fall and outdoors in the summer season.
As the interest in basketball continues to grow, so do the opportunities we have for our students to participate, learn and develop.
Recently, such was the demand that we started ‘Little Hoopers’ as an after-school program. During lessons the students learn fundamental skills such as bouncing, ball-control and dribbling and then start to play organized games in small teams to learn positioning, passing and shooting. This helps prepare the students to play on our development and competitive teams and represent the school at basketball tournaments against other schools.
Flag football is a fast-paced, non-contact version of American football where the traditional tackle is replaced by the “deflagging” of an opponent. By removing the physical impact of tackling, the game shifts its focus toward agility, strategic positioning, and precision passing, making it an inclusive and high-energy sport for athletes of all skill levels.
Track and field encompass a wide array of athletic disciplines based on the skills of running, jumping, and throwing. From the explosive power of the 100m sprint to the technical precision of the triple jump and the endurance of middle-distance races, track and field offers a unique platform where individual achievement and team contribution meet. These disciplines are introduced through our Physical Education curriculum where our teachers introduce, nurture and fine tune students to develop their athletic ability.
We offer three track meets a year for our competitive athletes and every student from JK through to grade 8 will participate in our very own SJA Track Day. Students that qualify for the track team will have further opportunities to participate in inter-school track as well as the annual PSAA track meet hosted at Rob Ford Stadium. These opportunities extend through Middle and High school where our athletes are SSAF reigning Track and Field champions.
In addition, St. Jude’s Academy always participates in the annual Terry Fox Run. A meaningful tradition that unites our entire school community in support of cancer research. At the start of each year, students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 come together to walk or run in honor of Terry Fox and his remarkable legacy. In the days leading up to the event, students learn about his inspiring journey and the impact of giving back to others. This highly anticipated event is a special opportunity for SJA to come together, make a difference, and continue Terry Fox’s mission of hope.
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