About Us

Virtual Tour

Quick Facts

School Hours: 8:45 AM to 3:20 PM

Grade Distribution: ELK to Grade 8
Student Enrolment: 516

Our Parish

Holy Angels' Parish
502 Talbot Street, St. Thomas, ON, N5P 1C2
519-631-3052

About Our School

Monsignor Morrison Catholic School is a vibrant learning community. Students, staff and parents work cooperatively to achieve success, while growing together in faith. Our school is set in a beautiful area in north St. Thomas surrounded by mature trees. We are at the top of the hill that leads down to Waterworks Park. Our yard has three sets of playground equipment, a large garden and a lovely mature Peace Garden.

Our school hosts both French Immersion and English classes. We currently have eight French Immersion classes from Senior Kindergarten to Grade 8. Student academic success and building a caring community is a priority. Our teachers, early childhood educators and educational assistants are dedicated in their service to our students and willingly work with students before, during and after school hours. Our Catholic School Council mandate is “Parent Participation Matters” and we encourage parents to become active participants in their child's education in partnership with the school.

School History

In 1975, our school was built as W.S. Morrison, after Monsignor William Sherlock Morrison, who was installed as the pastor of Holy Angels' Church on July 9, 1944. At the time that the school was built, the Hall-Dennis Report on Education advocated “open-concept” schools and consequently, W.S. Morrison had very few inside walls. Since that time, walls have been added to create individual classrooms. The library is still “open-concept” and is situated in the centre of these classroom areas. Compared to other schools, our layout is still rather unique!

In 1997, our school name was officially changed from W.S. Morrison to Monsignor Morrison Catholic School to better reflect our Catholic identity! Our school community recognizes and celebrates our pride and spirit by holding an annual School Parade through our neighbourhood. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our school and connect with those who live in our area. The day focuses on a special theme (e.g., local heroes, community development...) where each class decorates a float and parades through the local streets. Upon return to the school, we join in a family lunch for all students, staff and guests. Followed by a football game between staff, students and former alumni.

During the summer of 2007, the boiler and heat pumps were replaced at Monsignor Morrison through the Good Places to Learn, Ministry grant. In 2008, a two-classroom addition and nutrition/storage room was added (funded through the Ministry of Education’s Primary Class Size Project). In the fall of 2010, our school introduced Full Day Early Learning Kindergarten. During the 2014-15 school year we were approved for a LIBRO grant, which resulted in new additions to the school play ground. Through another LIBRO grant we were able to install new curtains for our school stage.

Facilities

Living Our Faith

The staff and students of Monsignor Morrison Catholic School are engaged in a faith-based education. The expectations for the Ontario Catholic School Graduate are infused in the curriculum and school activities.

Our school's parish is Holy Angels' Church. Fathers Graham Keep, John Johnson, and Anthony Eboh are the current priests, while Sister Mary continues to be a strong connection between our school and parish families. School masses are celebrated each month, where all students are bussed to our parish. The Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation are prepared for and celebrated at one of the Elgin County Roman Catholic Family of Parishes.

Sr. Mary Boere, who retired from teaching at Monsignor Morrison, continues to devote time at our school to help with missions and with our liturgies. Sister Mary visits classrooms throughout the year to review the Gospel message withour students and to collect student and staff monies donated to the Missions.

Transportation Information

School Safety

Monsignor Morrison follows the Board’s Safe School policies and procedures. Our Code of Conduct is distributed to every family in the summer mail out with the Student Handbook. We have an active Safe and Healthy Schools committee.
The parking lot and front walkway are visually accessible from the Principal’s and Secretary’s offices
All visitors must identify themselves verbally and on camera before being allowed to enter the school
The students' back playground/yard area is fenced and gated.
The staff and students have regular practice for various types of emergencies through fire drills, lockdowns, and tornado drills
Safe School’s Arrival Program is in place at MonsignorMorrison which include:
- Procedures in place for locking of exterior doors during/after school hours;
- All parents, volunteers, visitors, and trades people are required to sign in at the Main Office;
- Students who walk to/from school or who are picked up follow different entrance and exit routes from the school to avoid conflicts with bus traffic at the beginning and end of each school day;
- Other components, as communicated in current year Student Agendas