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MPES new location open to students

By Lucie Roy

Morinville – Teachers, staff, parents and friends were present Monday morning for the first day of school for Morinville Public Elementary School (MPES) students in their new modular classrooms located on the École Georges P. Vanier School grounds. Entranceway walls were adorned with handmade posters welcoming the students to their new school… […]

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Local parents to receive civil liberties award

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – A group of Morinville parents are off to Calgary Nov. 29 to receive a civil liberties award from the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre. The award will be presented at the University of Calgary to Donna Hunter and other parents who fought for a non-faith-based education for their children in Morinville… […]

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Back to square one, secular parents say

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Promises of a non-faith-based school in Morinville this fall have fallen apart, parents choosing the option were told Monday afternoon. Sturgeon school Division (SSD), who were selected by Greater St. Albert Catholic School Regional (GSCRD) to offer the program in Morinville, met with parents Monday afternoon to tell them plans had hit a snag… […]

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Reader suggests name for new Morinville school

Dear Editor:

June 2, 2011 marked a new chapter in the History of Morinville. Public education free of faith-based bias and permeation will be available to the public at large for the first time within the town in September.

I do not know if one can “name” a school consisting of modular classrooms, but I would like to put forward… […]

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Morinville parent delivers cookies to Dave Hancock

By Stephen Dafoe

Edmonton – Morinville parent Thomas Kirsop arrived at the Alberta Legislature Thursday morning with enough cookies to feed plenty of politicians and government employees as well. But the delivery of biscuits and cookies wasn’t intended as a coffee break snack, it was a symbolic gesture to advise Education Minister Dave Hancock that – in Kirsop’s opinion – he is not doing his job with respect to the secular education issue in Morinville… […]

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Morinville secular option to be in place this fall

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Parents seeking a secular education for their children met with Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional Division (GSACRD) board members Monday night for two-and-a-half hours to discuss and debate how the division will proceed with short-term plans to provide a non-religious education for their children. What is certain is that those seeking a secular education will get it, but GSACRD will not be providing it.

“It wouldn’t be us who would be providing the program, said Board Chair Lauri-Ann Turnbull. “It will certainly be us who will be working hard to find partners who will provide that in our community.” […]

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Catholic public school motion defeated by council

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – The Catholic public school debate came before Morinville Town Council again Tuesday night, this time in the form of a motion from Councillor Lisa Holmes. Although a topic of discussion in the streets of Morinville for several months, the matter first came before council two weeks ago when Donna Hunter, spokesperson for the group of local parents seeking a secular education for their children in Morinville’s public schools, made her case to council. Council’s reaction at that time was one of silence. Neither comment nor question was made to the delegation… […]

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Parent delegation represented in the legislature

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – After presenting their case to Morinville Town Council Tuesday night, a group of local parents who have requested the Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional Division (GSACRD) to follow the general provincial curriculum in Morinville schools… […]

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Parent delegation takes case to Morinville council

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – A delegation of Morinville parents requesting the Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional Division (GSACRD) to follow the general provincial curriculum in Morinville schools rather than the Catholic separate curriculum brought their case to Morinville Town Council Tuesday night. The delegation, led by group spokesperson Donna Hunter, presented their case in an eight-minute address to Mayor and council, outlining not only their concerns as parents but what they feel should be the concerns of council…. […]

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Secular option not among board offerings

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – A group of Morinville parents did not get the answers they were hoping for Monday night after waiting more than a month for the Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional Division (GSACRD) board to respond to their request for a non faith-based option for their children attending Morinville public schools.

GSACRD trustees voted unanimously on administration’s recommendation that: “the Board of Trustees not support the request that Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools provide a fully secular… […]