Fonds 350 Grande Prairie Roman Catholic School District No. 28 fonds

The series consists of the minutes of the five schools which amalgamated under the banner of the GPRCSSD No. 28: the original Grande Prairie District No. 28 from 1938-1992; the Fairview District No. 35 from 1948-1993; the Sexsmith District No. 51 from 1955-1992; the Beaverlodge District No. 68 from 1957-1983; and the Spirit River District No. 36 from 1967-1993. The records are complete except for the first minute book from Grande Prairie (1928-1938) which was destroyed in a fire in the home of Board Chair Mr. Lanctot, and the first minutes of the Spirit River District, from 1948-1967.

The sub-series consists of minutes of Regular and Special School Board Meetings from 1938 to 1992 for Grande Prairie District No. 28; Clairmont Lake 170 from 1982-1986; Five Mile 190 from 1983-1986; and Rural 190 from 1987-1989. The minutes also include agendas, correspondence, reports, cheque lists, and financial summaries. For each year there is an Index of Resolutions.

On January 3, 1948, at the encouragement of Parish Priest Father Clem Kinderwater, the Catholic electors of Fairview School Division No. 4388 held a meeting to gauge the parishioners’ interest in a separate school district. The result was almost unanimous consent and within two weeks a site had been chosen, budget set and separate school board supporters agreed to a property tax of 20 mill rate. At that meeting, Father Kinderwater accepted the position of Secretary-Treasurer. He would serve the school in many ways over the years and is acknowledged as the founder. Volunteers and community businesses brought in logs and sawed them into lumber, and by September 1948, a two-room school, named St. Thomas More, was complete. The first two teachers were Mrs. A.B. Kleininger and Mrs. F. Ehly. That September there were 71 students in grades 1 to 9. Over the next year, two houses were moved to the school site to serve first as teacherages but then converted to classrooms as enrollment increased and students came from the wider area. A Catholic Education Society was formed to support the school and included the parishes of Friedenstal, Hines Creek, Whitelaw and Fairview. By 1950 the school had Grades 1-12 and in 1951 a graduating class of 10 students. In 1956 an eleven room addition was constructed, and in 1962 another 6 room addition was created, forming the elementary school with a library and audio-visual room. Another renovation and expansion program in 1968 resulted in a fully modern school complete with gym, science laboratory, and ancillary rooms which would serve the community for many years.

The sub-series consists of the minutes of the Board of Trustees and Ratepayers meetings in Fairview RDSSD No. 35 from the first meeting of the Catholic Electors on January 3, 1948 until 1993. The minutes include the names and land locations of initial supporters, financial accounts and statements, and principal’s reports.

The sub-series consists of the minutes of regular and special meetings of the Sexsmith RCSSD No. 51 Board of Trustees. Included in the minutes are reports from principals and trustees, agreements, cheque lists and financial reports.

The sub-series consists of the minutes of regular and special meetings of the Beaverlodge RCSSD No. 68 Board of Trustees. Included in the minutes are lists of bills for payment and financial reports. Reports from principals and trustees are incorporated into the minutes.

The sub-series consists of the minutes of regular and special meetings of the Spirit River RCSSD No. 36 Board of Trustees. Included in the minutes are agendas, lists of accounts and financial reports. Reports from principals and trustees are incorporated into the minutes.

The sub-series consists of the minutes of the Admin Association Committee from 1963-1992; the Joint Superintendent Liaison Committee from 1971-1976; the Education Consultation Committee from 1971-1990; Special Committee Meetings from 1973-1983; the Finance Committee from 1988-1991; and the Growth & Development Committee from 1990-1992.

The organizational meeting of the Grande Prairie Separate Schools Administrative Association was held at St. Joseph’s School on November 28, 1963. The Committee was to be made up of members of the Board of Trustees, School Superintendent, Principals and Vice Principals from each of the Grande Prairie Schools, and the Secretary-Treasurer of the School District. The purpose of the Association was as a “means of a better system of communication between the Board, Principals, and Staff. The sub-sub-series consists of the minutes of the Administrative Association meetings which were held on a monthly basis to discuss issues in common to the schools and staff, and communications about changes at the different schools.

In 1971, representatives from the Grande Prairie RCSSD 28, Beaverlodge RCSSD 68, Sexsmith RCSSD 51, St. Thomas More RCSSD 35, Spirit River RCSSD 36, and Ft. Vermilion RCSSD 26 proposed a pilot project for “A Model for Shared Superintendency Services” to the Alberta Governments. Their objective was to develop a model whereby smaller School Districts could share the cost of the required Superintendent who would be able to provide effective educational leadership to the whole area without having to consider allegiance to the one large board which had signed the contract. The project was successful and remained in effect until the growth of the Grande Prairie RCSSD required a full-time superintendent for their schools alone. The sub-sub-series consists of minutes of the Joint Superintendent Liaison Committee as they worked out an agreement between the various districts and the superintendent, the three years the agreement was in place with GPRCSSD as a partner, and correspondence regarding the need for a dedicated Superintendent for the Grande Prairie district.

In 1971, the salary agreement with the GPRCSSD teachers stipulated that an Education Consultation Committee would be set up to consider any proposed changes in educational matter. The committee would be advisory, with equal representation from the Board of Trustees and the teachers, who would be the ATA Representatives from the three Catholic Schools existing in Grande Prairie at that time . Recommendations from the committee would be given, in writing, to both the board and the teachers. The sub-sub-series consists of the minutes of the monthly meetings plus relevant correspondence.

Special Committee Meetings were held on an ad hoc basis as issues arose and were attended by the Superintendent of Schools, a representative from the Board of Trustees, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Board who acted as the recording secretary, and any other resource people needed to discuss the issue at hand. Reasons for special committee meetings included subjects such as the overall school year, budgets and funding requests, salary grids and negotiations, legal agreements, and the review of specific programs such as religious instruction and the school band program. The Special Committee had no authority in its own right but made recommendations to the Board. The sub-sub-series consists of minutes of the Special Committee Meetings from 1973 to 1983. It sometimes includes copies of the Regular Board Meetings, presumably to record the Board’s request about the issue at hand.

The sub-sub-series consists of the minutes of the Finance Committee which made recommendations to the Board on issues such as grants, budgets, long-range financial plans, financial reports, and various issues impacted by the budget.

The sub-sub-series consists of the minutes of the Growth & Development Committee which made recommendations to the Board regarding building, renovating, additions, repairs and maintenance on the schools in the Grande Prairie district.

The series consists of Daily Registers which list the name of each student, the names of parents and the address/location of the family. Each page is signed by the teacher. The majority of the registers are from St. Joseph’s and other Grande Prairie Schools, but there are some from St. Mary’s in Sexsmith and Beaverlodge, and a few teachers returns in the files from Ste. Marie in Spirit River. They are arranged in order of date, not by school, which is the original order in which the records were received. From 1996-1998, the files contain summary enrollment reports rather than the actual Daily Registers. An accrual in 2014 brought in the Daily Registers from the St. Thomas More School in Fairview. These are located together, in date order from 1948-1997. An accrual in 2016 included Daily Registers from Spirit River RC District #36 from 1948-1989, Sexsmith RC District #51 from 1955-1987, and Beaverlodge RC District #68 from 1958-1991. These are located together in order of school and date.

The series consists of the superintendent’s inspection reports on teachers from 1935 to 1962 (Restricted), agreements with staff from 1968-1970, agreements at the board level from 1972-1975, a correspondence file from 1976-1979, and examination results from 1963-1967.

The Grande Prairie Roman Catholic School District No. 28 was formed in 1927, and the first school opened late that year with 22 students in two rooms at the old Veteran’s hall with teachers Miss A. MacDonald and Kathleen O’Sullivan in charge. When school re-opened in the fall of 1928, a new brick school with two large classrooms was well under way. By 1934, enrollment had increased to 80 so the school was enlarged to four classrooms. A residence was added south of the school to house high school girls from out of town and the Sisters of the Holy Cross who now made up the teaching staff, led by Sister Mary St. Lucy as principal. A boys’ dormitory was also opened in town under Father Austin McGuire. In 1944, St. Joseph’s Academy was built to replace the old residence, and a Business College opened in the new premises. The years after the war were a period of rapid growth with the school again being enlarged with two more classrooms and a science room in 1946, a further three rooms in 1952, a dedicated high school in 1958, St. Clements in 1962, St. Gerard’s in 1964, and a new high school in 1967 with the old one being renamed Holy Cross. Holy Cross was closed in 1970, and for a few years growth was managed by adding portables to existing schools. As the City expanded, however, more schools were built: St. Patrick ca. 1975; Kateri Mission ca. 1985, Holy Cross ca. 1990, and Mother Theresa ca. 2005.

The series consists of the records of Secretary-Treasurer from 1936-1980, consisting of correspondence, financial records, student lists and tuition agreements; Alberta Education files containing enrollment reports from 1956-1990 and grant statements from 1938-1991; Alberta Municipal Finance files regarding debentures from 1936-1989; an Alberta Teachers’ Association file of salary schedules and agreements from 1956-1988; grant files from 1967-1989; financial records from 1958-1990; files regarding the building and maintenance of the various Catholic schools in Grande Prairie from 1956-1988; files regarding the 50th Anniversary celebrations in 1978 and a tribute to the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1989; yearbooks for Holy Cross School from 1982-1989; and files regarding associated organizations such as St. Joseph’s Alumni Association, the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association, the Alberta School Trustees Association, and the Association of School Business Officials.

The sub-series consists of records kept by the Secretary-Treasurer of the School Division in his/her role of assisting with the operation of the Catholic Schools in Grande Prairie. They are organized in original order. From 1936-1955 all records are interfiled together, consisting of correspondence, financial records, student lists, tuition agreements, and tax records. From 1955-1990 the audited financial statements are separated out and in their own files. The sub-series also includes forms and correspondence regarding tax designation from 1959-1991, and a policy handbook in effect from 1987-1991.

The sub-series consists of enrollment reports which were sent in to Alberta Education between 1956 and 1990; and applications or statements of grants received from Alberta Education from 1938-1991.

The sub-series consists of debentures, debenture summaries and debenture statements from 1936-1989. These files include correspondence regarding debentures; budgets for proposed building projects; applications and by-laws for the issuing of debentures; certificates and orders authorizing debentures; loan repayment schedules; statements of grants repaying debentures; and circulars from the AMFC regarding regulations around debentures.

The sub-series consists of correspondence between the Catholic School District and the ATA, salary schedules and agreements adopted by the Board of Trustees, reports regarding contributions to the Teachers’ Retirement Fund.

The sub-series consists of miscellaneous grant statements and applications showing funding for the GPRCSSD from sources other than Alberta Education. This includes the City of Grande Prairie through the school tax requisition, the County of Grande Prairie for bussing, the provincial government through Alberta Manpower employment grants, and the federal government through the official languages program. There are also files showing how rural Catholic school districts (in this case, Clairmont Lake #170) were funded, and the funding of Community Schools (in this case, St. Patrick’s).

The sub-series consists of General Ledgers from 1973-1981; payroll ledgers from 1958-1973 and trust account ledgers from Holy Cross and St. Joseph’s High School in the 1980s. Files are arranged by record type, in chronological order.

The sub-series consists of building files for the following Grande Prairie Schools: Holy Cross (the original St. Joseph’s), Kateri Mission, St. Clement, St. Gerard, St. Joseph’s High School, and St. Patrick. There is also a file on the building of the first Catholic Education Center on 108th Avenue and 102nd Street. Contained in these building files are correspondence, tenders, agreements and contracts, specifications and blueprints, and reports on maintenance, additions and updates. There is also documentation on grants received under the Building Quality Restoration Program (BQRP). The files are arranged in alphabetical order of school, and by project and chronological order, with attachments, within the file. Blueprints are separated from the files and stored in map folders in the map cabinet.

The sub-series consists of files for the 50th Anniversary celebrations in 1978, and the Tribute to the Sisters of the Holy Cross at Thanksgiving in 1989. The 50th Anniversary files contain the minutes of the committee, lists of contacts, correspondence from attendees, the history of the GPRCSSD #28 written by Isabel Campbell in 1978, and a clipping file of articles regarding the 50th Anniversary. The tribute to the Sisters is a coil bound report containing letters from Sisters who had taught for the district and from authorities in the district expressing appreciation for all the work the Sisters had done.

The sub-series consists of yearbooks from Holy Cross School for the years 1982-1989.

The sub-series consists of records relating to organizations which assisted the Grande Prairie Catholic School Board in its mandate: St. Joseph’s Alumni Assn from 1947-1965, the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Assn (Zone 1) from 1967-1977; the Alberta School Trustees Assn from 1976-1980; and the Assn of School Business Officials (Zone 1) from 1967-1981. There is also a few items from High School Drivers Education regarding the teaching of this program from 1967-1972.

The first discussions for a separate school district in the Spirit River area began in 1946 after the arrival of Fr. Robert, OMI. A Catholic Mission Church had been in operation there since the late 1800s, and the Grey Nuns of the Cross were in charge of the hospital, so a school providing daily Catholic religious education seemed a natural extension of their services. The Grey Nuns refused this request in 1946 and 1947, but in 1948 the ratepayers went ahead on their own and established the Ste. Marie Separate School District No. 36, which was formally approved by the Minister of Education on February 23, 1948. The first trustees were Alex Perra, Joseph Labrecque, and Alfred Labrecque, with Donat Dion as secretary. Land was purchased and the first school built that same year. Two Grey Nuns Sisters, Marie-Augustin and Berthe-Eugenie, arrived in September to teach 39 students (grades 1 to 9) in the rectory and church basement until the school was ready in December. Numbers steadily increased, and in 1955, a boarding house was built beside the school for children from outside of Spirit River. The next year the school census showed 81 pupils in grades 1 to 10. A new wing, containing auditorium, library, and classrooms was officially opened in February1958, and 1959 saw the first grade 12 starting. On August 27, 1962 the name of the district was changed to Spirit River Roman Catholic School District No. 36.

The series consists of executive records from 1946-1990, memorabilia including letters from various sisters and priests and a yearbook from 1979-1980; a file relating to the furnishing of the school in 1948, and 23 blueprints for the physical buildings.

The sub-series consists of a copy of the School Act, 1946; notes from board meetings between 1967 and 1972; an enrollment report from 1990; and a policy handbook from 1990.

The sub-series consists of a history of how Ste. Marie School was established, beginning with Father Robert, OMI, in 1946; a card for Mary and a prayer to her dated 1948; a note from Sister Marie-Augustine; assorted bulletins for concerts and services at Ste. Marie in the 1960s; copies of news clippings about people and events at Ste. Marie ca. 1967; and a letter from Sister Yvonne Rivet written just before she died in 1968. Attached to this last letter is an obituary of Sister Rivet, who had been the principal at Ste. Marie, and a letter from Sister Pauline regarding her death. There is also one yearbook from 1979-1980.

The sub-series consists of school supply orders for starting school in 1948, a Moyer’s School Catalogue for about the same date, a fire insurance policy from 1952, and 23 blueprints, beginning with a 1944 plan for a Two-Room Frame and Stucco School, plans for two additions in 1954 and 1964.

On March 28, 1955, a meeting of the ratepayers in Sexsmith voted in favour of the creation of a Separate School District. Father Dales, of the Immaculate Conception Parish (St. Mary’s) at Sexsmith, estimated that there would be about 100 pupils for the new separate school, 40 from town and 60 from the outlying districts. Since the unit of education was still the rural district, each district would have to form its own separate school board if they wanted students to attend. Sexsmith Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 51 was established April 1, 1955, followed by Auxiliary Districts Mount Star RCSSD No. 58, Morningview No. 59, Kleskun Hill No. 61, Equity No. 62, MacHenry No. 63, and Webster RCSSD. Classes began for 84 students in the old Sexsmith High School standing vacant since the new Sexsmith Public School had been built, and the Farmers Union Hall. County busses brought students from the surrounding districts to both the public and separate schools. The new school, named St. Mary’s, was built by the Parish in 1955-56 and shared between school and parish. The Home Economics room was also the Catholic Women’s League kitchen, and the gym was the Parish Hall. The first teachers at St. Mary’s were Sister Joseph Austin (Elizabeth Antonio) and Sister Patricia, from the Sisters of the Holy Cross, who drove in from Grande Prairie. In 1957 this order opened a convent in Sexsmith for four teaching sisters. St. Mary’s contained Grades 1 to 11 from 1955 to 1966, when it was reduced to Grades 1 to 9.

The series consists of copies of documents sent to Alberta Education from 1978-1982, including teacher registrations and enrollment reports; salary agreements with the Alberta Teachers’ Association from 1979-1985; general correspondence relating to the operation of the school from 1978-1980; grant files from 1974-1985; financial records from 1956-1986; files relating to the school facility from 1974-1987; two yearbooks from 1960 and 1961; and correspondence with associated organizations such as the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association, the Alberta School Trustees Association, and the Canadian Catholic School Trustees Association from 1981-1984.

The sub-series consists of records from a few years in the late 1970s and early 80s. They include teacher registrations; enrollment reports; procedures for forming Satellite School Districts, as well as the names of students from the Satellite districts around Sexsmith; and correspondence between Alberta Education and the Sexsmith Roman Catholic School District.

The sub-series consists of salary agreements made between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the Sexsmith R.C.S.D. No. 51 in 1979 and in 1984-85.

The sub-series consists of general correspondence relating to the operation of the school in the late 1970s. It includes community use of the school gym, plans capital projects and financial matters.

The sub-series consists of records relating to various granting streams including Municipal Requisitions, Fair Share Grants, Small Schools Assistance Grants, Program and Reading Materials Grants, CPP Payment Assistance Grant, Joint Superintendency Grant, Equal Opportunity Fund, and the Parent Assistance Grant. There is also a file of overall Grant Statements and receipts.

The sub-series consists of Financial Statements from 1975-1984, General Ledgers from 1976-1985, Payroll ledgers from 1975-1980, Insurance records from 1977-1986, and records relating to Debentures from 1956-1980.

The sub-series consists of files relating to the Building Quality Restoration Program, under which the school was modernized in 1980 and Portables were added to the core building. The building specifications for both of these projects are included in the files as well as correspondence, tenders, and contracts.

The sub-series consists of two yearbooks produced by St. Mary’s Sexsmith in 1960 and 1961.

The sub-series consists of correspondence showing the activities of the staff and trustees in the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association, the Alberta School Trustees Association, and the Canadian Catholic School Trustees Association.

In the spring of 1957, a meeting was called at St. Mary’s Church in Beaverlodge to discuss the formation of a Catholic School for that town. A few months later, on June 5, 1957, the Beaverlodge Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 68 was established by Order in Council of the provincial government. The first trustees were Father T.P. Murphy, Elizabeth McGee, Mrs. Howard Russil, Peter Pankiw, Jim Nasedkin and Dr. G.L. McMurray. As soon as the district was formed, the Board began preparations to build a school. They made an agreement with the Public School to provide educational services for Catholic students until September 1958, and sent for blueprints for a three room school. In March 1958, they passed By-law No. 1, allowing them to issue debentures in the amount of $30,000. They kept costs down by acting as their own contractor and using volunteer labour as much as possible. School opened in September 1958 with 62 students. The Sisters of the Holy Cross traveled from Grande Prairie to teach that first year, but by 1959, a Convent had been built beside the school. The first teachers were Sisters Mary Agnes (principal), Maria Goretti and Mary Patricia, with Sister Mary Bridgida as cook and housekeeper. Enrollment at the school increased with students from three satellite schools at Rio Grande, Hayfield and North Beaverlodge; and again when the Indian Affairs School at Horse Lake closed in 1959. Four more classrooms, a half-gym and related areas were added. By 1974, there were 131 students.

The series consists of executive records from 1953-1982; enrollment, teacher and principal’s reports sent to Alberta Education from 1960-1990; salary contracts and correspondence with the Alberta Teachers’ Association from 1960-1987; general correspondence from 1960-1983; files relating to grants from 1956-1983; financial records from 1958-1981; correspondence and reports relating to the Satellite Schools of Hayfield, Rio Grande, North Beaverlodge and Gimle from 1964-1981; tuition agreements from 1957-1979; files relating to the building of the school, additions and improvements from 1958-1965; and correspondence with the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association from 1961-1983. Although the school was not established until 1957, this series contains correspondence dating back to 1953.

The sub-series consists of Board of Trustees correspondence from 1953-1980, Tax and Assessment records from 1958-1980, Insurance records from 1958-1976, a Policy Handbook from 1961, and correspondence regarding the establishment of an ECS Kindergarten in 1982.

The sub-series consists of teachers’ returns, principal’s reports, classroom lists, and enrollment reports from 1960 to 1990.

The sub-series consists of salary contracts and correspondence between the Alberta Teachers Association and the secretary-treasurer for the Board of Trustees at St. Mary’s School in Beaverlodge.

The sub-series consists of correspondence between the Secretary-Treasurer of the Beaverlodge Separate School District and the Department of Education, Alberta Catholic School Trustees Assoc, the Superintendent, County of Grande Prairie, financial auditors, suppliers, teachers, staff and students. There are also early statements of revenue and expenditure, lists of teachers in the East Smoky and Grande Prairie Inspectorate, and bursary applications. A second file of correspondence is restricted due to personal information such as marks and suspensions.

The sub-series consists of records relating to the grants which supported St. Mary’s School in Beaverlodge. They include the School Foundation Program, Fair Share, Municipal Requisitions, School Buildings Assistance, Instructional Equipment, CPP Assistance, Reading Materials, French Language, Educational Opportunities, Joint Superintendency, and some miscellaneous grants.

The sub-series consists of bank records from 1958-1981, and a file on revenue and budget reports for 1977-1978.

In 1964, the Beaverlodge RC Separate School District encouraged Catholic parents in the area to form their own Separate School Districts so that school taxes from Catholic residents in the rural area could be directed towards the Catholic School System. Two districts were approved in 1964—Hayfield 117 and Rio Grande 118–followed later by North Beaverlodge 119 in 1965, and finally Gimle 148 in 1980. These rural boards were required to fill out all their own forms and grants, but due to the complexity of the paperwork, they were eventually done by the Secretary-treasurer of Beaverlodge District 68. In 1977, the districts were amalgamated with the exception of Gimle.

The sub-series consists of a file of early correspondence for the establishment of the districts, and files of grant applications and reports for Hayfield 117, Rio Grande 118, and North Beaverlodge 119. There is a file regarding the dissolution of Hayfield, Rio Grande and North Beaverlodge, and a small file of correspondence when Gimle was approved in 1980.

The sub-series consists of tuition agreements between the Beaverlodge RC Separate School District and the County of Grande Prairie to have their children taught at public schools when necessary; and with Indian Affairs regarding the children residing at the Horse Lake Indian Reserve.

The sub-series consists of correspondence relating to the building of St. Mary’s School in Beaverlodge, the 1965 addition, and the 1981 Building Quality Restoration Program. Specifications and blueprints for the 1965 addition and the 1981 update are also included.

The sub-series consists of correspondence regarding the support of Catholic School Boards in the province in general, and the Beaverlodge RC District in particular, by Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association. Included in the file is letters written by Father Clem Kinderwater in support of the board.

The series consists of photographs of the Board of Trustees of GPRCSSD No. 28 from 1962-2004; teachers at the schools from ca. 1940-2004; students, mostly from the Grande Prairie schools from ca. 1940-1960; school activities from ca. 1940-1979; school buildings from 1978-ca. 1990; the 75th Anniversary in 2003; and professional development events for trustees and teachers from 1991-2001. A few of the photographs have corresponding negatives.

The sub-series consists of photographs of the Board of Trustees and Superintendents for GPRCSSD No. 28 from about 1962 to 2004. The majority are individual studio portraits which would have been displayed in the Catholic Education Centre, but there are a few group photos as well. There is one of Lou Albinati ca. 1962, when he was chair of the board, and one group board photo ca. 1980 but most are from the late 80s and 90s. Trustees for Beaverlodge, Spirit River and Sexsmith are not represented until 1992, after which there was an amalgamated board for the combined district.

The sub-series consists of photographs of teachers who taught at the Catholic Schools in Grande Prairie, Spirit River, Sexsmith, Beaverlodge and Fairview. There are a few early ones, including Father Austin McGuire ca. 1930, and two of unidentified Sisters ca. 1940, but most are from the 1990s and early 2000s. These are groups of teachers, mostly unidentified, for the whole school. The school and the year are identified.

The sub-series consists of photographs of individual students. The earliest is the first class at St. Joseph’s School when it began in 1928. There is a second group photo of the grad class in 1952, and a collection of 13 photographs of individual students, most of them identified, dating from ca. 1940-1960 which were presumably donated during the 50th Anniversary celebrations.

The sub-series consists of casual photographs of students involved in school activities. They include some b&w snaps of children in the school ground ca. 1940, the opening of the new addition to St. Joseph’s in 1954, First Communion service in St. Joseph’s Church in 1954, a trip to Meyer’s farm ca. 1972, children at Holy Cross School ca. 1972, the different school bands ca. 1975, students at St. Gerard in 1978, and at St. Patrick Community School in 1989. The sub-series includes photographs from Ste. Marie School, Spirit River, which show Awards Nights in 1972 and 1973, a school trip to Calgary and the National Parks ca. 1972, negatives of children playing in the school yard, and negatives of buildings on main street in Spirit River ca. 1975.

The sub-series consists of photographs of schools in Grande Prairie (Holy Cross, St. Joseph High, St. Clement, St. Gerard, St. Patrick, Kateri Mission), as well as the Catholic Education Centre on 101 Street and 99th Avenue and Ste Marie School in 1985, before the school was renovated that year.

The series consists of photographs of ceremonies and celebrations such as Alumni Association Reunions in the 1950s and 60s, the 50th Anniversary in 1978, and the 75th Anniversary in 2003.

The sub-series consists of professional development events attended by teachers, principals and trustees. Events include Orientation for new teachers; First Mass services and the accompanying awards for teachers at the beginning of the year; In-Service training at Camp Tamarack; a School Tour by Trustees; the 1992 Blueprints Conference in Banff; Alberta Catholic School Trustee Association Conferences; and what appears to be a Trustees and Teachers Reunion in 1992 which includes an award for Irene Wallace. There is also a collection of 18 photographs showing the move into the new Catholic Education Centre on 99th Avenue and 101 Street, and a Literacy/Reading Promotion at City Hall supported by the City, the Public School Board and the Separate School Board.

The sub-series consists of miscellaneous photographs which came in with a second accrual. They include United Way Fundraiser photos, a meeting with education minister Garry Mar, Board and Teacher get-togethers, a retirement event for Superintendent Dennis Grant, and students receiving Aboriginal Arts training.

Photographs of Catholic School Board Admin staff participating in a United Way fundraiser on the corner of 101 Street and 100 Avenue, a block north of the Catholic Education Centre. Includes one photograph of Dennis Grant and Ken O-Shea with the United Way Flag and the High School Van.

The sub-series consists of one photograph of the 1958 Banquet for Alberta Catholic School Trustees in Edmonton, Nov. 5, 1958.

The series consists of scrapbooks for the whole district from 1961-2007. The scrapbooks contain articles on the Catholic Schools in the area, education in the region, and issues relating to family life and catholic education around the province.

The series consists of personnel files for individual teachers in the Grande Prairie Roman Catholic School District from 1972 to 2003. The material in these files is restricted and accessibility is dependent on the permission of the School Board.