Namao and Carbondale students may get busing to Catholic schools as of next month now that the province has added them to St. Albert's Catholic district.
Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools announced this week that the province had officially approved the formation of the Namao and Carbondale four-by-four districts. Education Minister David Eggen signed off on the necessary ministerial order Jan. 19.
Namao Catholic residents voted 56-2 to create a 4x4 on Sept. 27. Carbondale residents formed a similar group in a 7-0 vote on Oct. 4. Both were established with the intent to merge with GSACRD upon provincial approval.
Namao 4x4 advocate Melissa Phillips, who was at times overcome with tears, gave profuse thanks to board administration and the province for their support at the board's regular meeting Monday.
"The new lands of this formation mean firstly that we fight for God's kingdom together, and secondly that our children and our neighbours will have access to a Christ-centred education."
While the Carbondale district is pretty small, the Namao one has about 10,000 people once you include the Edmonton Garrison, said Catholic superintendent David Keohane in an interview.
"It's the size of a small town," he said, and based on past experience, about 30 per cent of the children in this area could end up joining the district.
The merger means that Catholic families in these regions now have the same rights as other GSACRD members, such as the right to busing to school and to vote and run in board elections, Keohane said.
Keohane said the board hopes to have buses arranged for these students in about three weeks. Once the board finishes its boundary review in April, Carbondale and Namao families will officially join the Morinville and St. Albert wards, respectively.
The board also spelled out which schools Carbondale and Namao students will attend. Carbondale kids will go to Notre Dame, G.H. Primeau and Morinville Community High, while Namao ones will attend Neil M. Ross, Richard S. Fowler, St. Albert Catholic High, Marie Poburan and Marguerite d'Youville.
A crusader against teen suicide will rock St. Albert Catholic High next Wednesday as part of a conference on mental health.
About 900 students will be at St. Albert Catholic Wednesday for the school's inaugural Healthy Me conference on student health.
The school decided to hold this free conference as it saw rising levels of stress, anxiety, depression and self-harm amongst the general population, said vice-principal Danielle Karaki.
"We want to help students develop strategies to live healthier, happier lives."
About 600 St. Albert Catholic and 300 Grade 9 students from Vincent J. Maloney, Richard S. Fowler, école Secondaire Saint Marguerite d'Youville and St. Gabriel High will be at the all-day event to learn about mental and physical health, Karaki said. There will be about 27 breakout sessions on everything from yoga to addictions support, and two free concerts by speakers Jesse Manibusan and Robb Nash.
Nash is a rock star who was once pronounced dead following a car crash, Karaki said. He now tours schools, prisons and youth centres encouraging youth to find hope and turn away from suicide.
According to his website, Nash has inspired hundreds of students to choose life and give what would have been their suicide notes to him following his talks, and has tattooed many of their names on his arm in a show of solidarity.
The conference runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 780-459-7781 for details.
