Education

Students in grades 1 and 2 will be the first to use a new religion textbook approved by Canadian bishops this fall.

Revised religious ed curriculum approved

For the first time in 20 years six- and seven-year-olds are getting new religion textbooks, their teachers are getting new lesson plans and parents are getting new ways of helping kids in religion class.

By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register

Some of the thousands of students who were pulled from class by their parents May 4 join a protest outside Queen’s Park against the province’s new sex-ed curriculum.

Student strike has minimal effect on Catholic schools

TORONTO - As thousands of parents pulled their children from school for a week in protest of Ontario’s sex-ed curriculum, it seems the majority taking part are from the province’s public schools.

By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic Register

Geoff Grant, the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s superintendent of schools.

TCDSB focused on family

[This article updates and corrects a previous version.]

TORONTO - The province’s largest Catholic school board will place an extra emphasis on the family next September as part of its multi-year strategic plan.

By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic Register

The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life, and that is evident in the Catholic school system.

Eucharist at the heart of Catholic education

GUELPH, ONT. - In increasingly secular Ontario, the debate about the real or perceived distinctiveness of Catholic education rages on.

By Richard Olson, Catholic Register Special

Student athletes at Hamilton, Ont.’s St. Thomas More Secondary School take part in the “Play Like a Champion Today” retreat.

Students inspired to play like champs

HAMILTON, ONT. - At Hamilton’s St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School, members of the senior soccer teams are learning more than just tactics, strategy and skills specific to their sport; they’re learning how faith contributes to their game.

By Catholic Register Special

Fr. James T. Mulligan, C.S.C., published a new book on the key relationships between parishes and Catholic schools.

Parish, school co-operation is essential to the Church

Fr. James Mulligan sees the collaboration between school and parish as an essential component of Catholic education existence.

And with the spread of secularization across nearly all the facilities of contemporary Western society, the need for parish and school to work hand-in-hand is increasing, he said. This poses a challenge for both priests and educators, yet also offers a gift to all those involved with Catholic education.

By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic Register

During Cynthia Bettio's first time teaching a grade 11 parenting course, she said that many of the students had questions about their bodies and sexual health so she started a pilot program to better understand themselves.

Program aims to empower youth in their relationships

RICHMOND HILL, Ont. - Cynthia Bettio said it is rare for a teacher to get an instant feeling of satisfaction from their students, but last semester, she witnessed her Grade 11 parenting class go from being unsure to empowered.

By Jean Ko Din, The Catholic Register

St. Francis Xavier Secondary School has renamed its athletic field after former chaplain Brian Finamore, left, for his indelible impact on the students and the school community.

Chaplain’s spirit will live on at Finamore Field

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - St. Francis Xavier Secondary School has renamed its athletic field after former cheering chaplain Brian Finamore.

By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic Register

Smoking tobacco and marijuana is down among today’s high school students, but efforts are still being made to reduce substance abuse further.

Students lead efforts against substance abuse

TORONTO - Catholic schools in urban Ontario are taking a softer approach to curbing substance abuse within their communities by focusing on harm reduction awareness.

By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic Register

Parents rally outside Queen’s Park following the release of Ontario’s sex-ed curriculum. Some parents plan to take their kids out of school May 4-8 in protest of the curriculum.

Sex-ed opponents call for student strike

TORONTO - A parent group is calling for children to be pulled out of school during Education Week in Ontario to protest the province’s new sexual-education curriculum.