Msgr. Dennis Murphy's leadership in Catholic education recognized
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register
Former Prime Minister John Turner, environmentalist David Suzuki and former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin all share something in common with long-time Catholic educator Msgr. Dennis Murphy. They have all been honoured with a National Leadership Award from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School in Guelph, Ont. On May 3, Murphy joins the impressive list of the school’s past honourees. He will also be the first clergy to receive the award.
Murphy, 75, said he was surprised by the award because he retired from the Catholic education scene about eight years ago.
Golden Compass banned
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register{mosimage}Despite a recommendation from its own review committee that The Golden Compass continue to be available to students in Grade 7 and above, the Halton Catholic District School Board has banned the book from all its libraries.
Gay resource book removed by Waterloo board
By Robert White, Catholic Register Special{mosimage}KITCHENER, Ont. - The Waterloo Catholic District School Board will remove a teacher resource, which a local lobby group says “normalizes homosexuality,” from its schools but still make it available through requests to the Religion and Family Life co-ordinator.
Education boom funds aid northern schools
By Catholic Register Staff{mosimage}BRADFORD, Ont. - Catholic high school students in Bradford will get a little taste of Ontario’s $4-billion Good Places to Learn fund in the form of a $5.1-million renovation at Holy Trinity High School. And in another sign of the education boom outside Toronto, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board has named its newest elementary school now under construction in Barrie’s south end.
Move to replace ousted trustee causes controversy
By Catholic Register Staff{mosimage}TORONTO - Toronto’s Catholic school board may or may not hold an election to replace a trustee accused of passing off personal spending as board expenses then turfed for failing to show up for four meetings in a row.
Special education assistants honoured by Ontario government
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register{mosimage}TORONTO - It isn’t always teachers who are critical to education. Among the annual education awards handed out by Ontario’s Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne April 30, an award to the special needs education assistants at Ottawa’s Sacred Heart High School honoured a team that does far more than teach.
Toronto board's culture of entitlement exposed
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register{mosimage}TORONTO - Having spent $900,000 on questionable expenses in 2007, Toronto’s Catholic school trustees face a political crisis.
“If the perception is that the board is frittering the money away on things that aren’t prescribed under the legislation it makes it difficult for us to win the public relations battle with the Minister (of Education) over underfunding. That’s a given,” said newly appointed Ward 6 trustee Rob Davis.
New media competition announced
By Andrew Santos, The Catholic Register{mosimage}THORNHILL, Ont. — Students and staff from St. Elizabeth Catholic Secondary School will host a festival dedicated to productions by youth featuring spirit and religious faith.
Toronto school board continues summer youth program
By Andrew Santos, The Catholic Register{mosimage}TORONTO — The Toronto Catholic District School Board will once again offer Focus on Youth summer programs for children and youth this summer.
Teachers, trustees fight standardized religion test
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register{mosimage}TORONTO - If you want to meet the standard for Grade 4 religion in Toronto’s Catholic schools you had better know the other name for Candlemas.