Principal's Message

March 12, 2010

No unusual absenteeism reported as of 10:00 a.m. today.

Dear parents and friends:

On Tuesday, February 23, Keith Macpherson and his music partner, Reneé Lamoureux, (of Keith and Reneé) shared their experience working with Free the Children across the world which is an organization that "empowers children in North America to take action to improve the lives of fellow children overseas." Coincidentally, I attended an address by Craig Keilburger, founder of Free the Children, at a leadership conference that I attended last week. Craig shared an incredibly moving message about the power of education to influence courage, compassion, and community to our next generation so that they can be agents of change.

Through the medium of music, Keith and Reneé brought a message of hope and leadership for our world, and we see them as tremendous role models for our students as people who have put their gifts and faith values to work in service to others. Not only did they raise awareness about social issues, they challenged us to take collective responsibility to share a vision for how humans can relate to each other in pursuit of democracy and justice to serve the "common good".

It is timely that I had the opportunity to hear Craig Keilburger's message in the same week that we had the privilege of listening to Keith and Reneé about their work with Free the Children. Both messages embody the research and writing that I have been doing in my PhD courses on transformational leading, teaching, and learning at the University of Manitoba. Over the past year, I have been immersed in readings, discussions, and lectures about liberty, equity, human welfare, justice, and community. I have come to realize how profoundly responsible we are in education to bring awareness about and action against social inequities that exist in our world. One of my favourite authors, Margaret Wheatley, maintains that change begins with an idea that engages others (Leading in Uncertain Times, 2009). Between my coursework, my work as a principal, and the Me to We philosophy, I consider myself entirely engaged to ask questions and act critically about how human potential can be better enabled, irregardless of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and ableness, in order to instill hope and a vision of human capacity. This is also the passion that fuelled Mother Marie-Rose's commitment to providing education to women and children in rural Quebec in the mid-1800's: from humble and challenging beginnings, amidst social, religious, and politically stifling contexts, she left a legacy of service that has transcended generations. Please join me in carrying her torch...

Thank you for the privilege of educating your children;

Danielle Kolton

Our Community Commitment for Over 100 Years

At St. Ignatius School, we take pride in being rooted in a parish community with a long standing tradition of commitment to quality education. We believe that all children should be able to access quality Catholic education. Our faith and support transcend the challenges we face day-to-day, or decade-to-decade. At St. Ignatius Parish, we have over 100 years of practice in meeting the changing needs of families.

St. Ignatius School is a nursery to grade eight school with a population of approximately 240 students. We offer one class of each grade and are proud of the quality faculty and educational assistants who teach our programs.