Notre Dame Kick Off for 150 years of Catholic Education

Above: Notre Dame School Principal Raymonde Roulston speaking at the Kick Off Assembly for 150 years of Catholic Education held in the gym on Wednesday afternoon. – Lucie Roy Photo

by Lucie Roy

Notre Dame School held their 150 year of Catholic Education kick-off assembly on Wednesday afternoon. The theme – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow – will be reflected in their month-long celebrations.

Superintendent David Keohane, who was joined by Vice Chair and St. Albert Trustee Serena Shaw, was pleased to attend the kick-off.

“It was great to be here and to celebrate 150 years of education in our region from here, to Legal to St. Albert,” Keohane said. He went on to tell students Seven Hills in St. Albert was given its name because the first class of education in the school district was a class of seven students, all orphans. “We are very proud of what the Grey Nuns started. Anytime you support one another, come to school to learn your best, come to school to realize your gifts, and you support each other for who that person is, a child just like you; you are honouring the work of Sister Alphonse.”

Notre Dame Principal Raymonde Roulston said when the school district started in 1865; Canada was not yet a country. The area where Notre Dame is would still have been woods, most families had as many as 10 children, and their days would be filled with many chores, including milking cows, washing and mending clothes by hand and cooking meals. Rolston told students Catholic families went to church either by horse and buggy or walked, which would be a full day event.

“As you can see life was very different back then,” she said. “We are very grateful to our ancestors for starting Catholic Education in this area and we are privileged to be part of an education system that has deep roots in our community. Our mission is to continue to pass on faith, a faith that is rooted in relationships, a faith that is supported by community, a faith that is distinctly Catholic and a faith that is shared in the classroom. It is our intention that our students leave our school knowing that God loves them and will always be with them.”

The celebration will start next week with a Jump Rope for Heart Presentation, a World Day of Prayer, French Heritage and Flag Raising next week. Additional events include Morinville School Artifact Museum that will include items from the Morinville Museum, a Shades Day, an Old Fashioned Game Activity Day, a new mural, and a choir presentation. They will also be revealing the name of the school’s mascot.

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