St. Patrick's School Maple Ridge
St. Patrick's School is a Canadian independent, coeducational Roman Catholic elementary school located in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.
| St. Patrick's School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| |
22589 — 121st Avenue , , Canada | |
| Coordinates | 49.2226°N 122.5958°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Independent coeducational |
| Motto | "Christ is the center of all endeavours" |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Founded | September 1956 |
| School board | Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA) |
| Principal | Mrs. Maria Fonseca |
| Staff | 38 |
| Grades | K–7 |
| Enrollment | 240 (September 2020) |
| Language | English |
| Colour(s) | Green |
| Team name | St. Pat's Celtics |
| Website | www |
As of September 2020, the school has 240 students enrolled and 38 staff members.
The school and its parish was established in 1956.
History
In 1950, Father Steele began the task of building the school on five forested acres in the heart of Haney, now part of the larger district municipality of Maple Ridge. The school was opened in September 1956 with a co-educational enrollment of 128 students encompassing grades one to eight. The Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario, were the first teachers. Sisters Winnifred, Appolonia and Wendelin aided Sister Eugene, the first principal.
Initially, only five rooms on the lower floor were available for the students' use, as the upstairs consisted of Father's living quarters, a confessional and a large hall where Mass was said. The students took their gym out of doors year round.
Much has changed at the school since its establishment. Kindergarten classes were introduced in 1970. To accommodate a growing enrollment, portable classrooms and the St. Patrick's Centre (gym) were later built. The last sister, Sister Sharon McNally, left in June 1985. The convent was changed into a school annex to include a larger library, a video room and two meeting rooms.
A new wing of the school was completed in 2010. The wing has three classrooms and one music room along with separate male and female bathrooms.
Religious life
Christian-education philosophy
The Christian-education program is designed to foster growth in the student's faith, in the knowledge of their faith, and in the understanding of themselves as Christian people. Prayer is said in the morning as well as at lunch time.
Religious-education classes
Because “promotion of the human person is the goal of the Catholic school,” Catholic education goes beyond the technical and practical aspects of schooling to help students integrate every area of knowledge within a Christian vision of the human person. The school recognizes that the physical, emotional, moral and spiritual dimensions of human development must tend to a personal synthesis of faith and life in each student. Growth in these areas prepares students for a life of service, building the Kingdom of God in society. The religious-education classes take place during the school hours.
Masses
The importance of the Mass is recognized at the school both as a way of increasing the faith of the individual and helping in the building of Christian community. Mass is celebrated twice a month as a community.
Administration
Rev. Father Richard Au STL was the school's pastor from summer 2005 to 2012. He was followed by Rev. Fr Mathew To, the current pastor.
Maria Fonseca is the principal and the school board is the Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA).
References
External links
- www
.stpatsschool , school's official website.org