St. Maurice School - History

History

St. Maurice was founded in 1958 by Maurice Cournoyer and the Sisters of Sion, and was officially opened on September 28; however, due to declining student population, the school was closed in June 1970. St. Maurice School was reopened and incorporated on September 4, 1979 with the support of St. Vital Roman Catholic Church.

In September 1980, two additional classrooms were added and in the spring of that year a gymnasium and a parish hall were completed. Grades seven and eight were added in September 1983 and two additional rooms were needed. Archbishop Adam Exner blessed the two new classrooms on December 11, 1983.

On June 24 th, 1984 St. Maurice School paid tribute to its first Grade 8 graduating class. The High School wing was added on in 1987 and St. Maurice School opened its doors as the only Kindergarten to Grade 12 Catholic School in the Province of Manitoba. A new Parish Administration Centre and Rectory was built in 1990. This facility physically and philosophically provided a connection between St. Maurice School and St. Vital Parish Church, which now existed physically “under one roof”. Due to an ever-increasing enrollment at the school, a new wing of six classrooms was built in 1999 and now houses the Grade 4 to 6 classes. The St. Maurice Daycare and the Before and After School Program opened in May 2002.

Many new facilities were constructed during 2004-2005 school year. The three kindergarten classrooms were relocated to the second floor of 1619 Pembina Highway, just across Manahan Avenue from the main school and parish building. The library was moved to a central location in the elementary area of the school. The lower level below the gym was re- developed into a full service cafeteria and music/band room. The official opening and blessing by Father Morand took place on April 28 th, 2005. After 30 years of service as the Director of St. Maurice School, Monsignor Patrick Morand retired in 2009.

Father Barry Schoonbaert became Pastor of St. Vital Parish and Director of St. Maurice School on July 1st, 2009. Today, with an enrolment of over six hundred students, St. Maurice School is the largest Catholic School in Manitoba.

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