03 Oct Simcoe Muskoka Catholic board launches spiritual theme, new book
Board invites schools, communities to discover their history
The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board launched their 2017-2018 spiritual theme, along with the publication of the new “A History of the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board,” at their regular boarding meeting held at St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School in Bracebridge, Sept. 20. Pictured left, the board’s new student trustee, McKenna McCoy of St. Dominic’s, and board chair Carol Corriveau-Truchon. – Paige Phillips/Metroland
BRACEBRIDGE – The region’s Catholic school board is discovering the history of its schools this year.
The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic School Board officially launched its 2017-18 spiritual theme, along with the recent publication of the board’s history, at the first meeting of the school year held at St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School in Bracebridge on Sept. 20. The meeting was the first in board history to be held at the Bracebridge secondary school.
Director of education, Brian Beal, revealed that this school year’s theme is “Our Story – Our Journey.
“This year will be spent working with our school communities to rediscover our story and see how we fit into that journey,” said Beal.
Beal said that theme was deliberately chosen as to coincide with the publication of A History of the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, written by Robert Dixon. Beal said the book is the result of two and a half years worth of research. Each trustee received an advanced copy at the Sept. 20 meeting. The book will be officially launched Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. at Holy Spirit Parish in Barrie.
Beal said the study of the board’s history discovered that two of its schools, St. James and St. Mary’s, both in Barrie, have been operating since pre-Confederation, offering Catholic education since the 1840s.
“It is wonderful to acknowledge that we’ve provided Catholic education in these territories since before Canada was born as a country,” said Beal. “Our goal is after Oct. 25, we are going to be asking every single school and community to take the book back to their school and community and to find their place in our history.”
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