“For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” — Ephesians 2:10
A new year is an exciting time for all as it brings new opportunities, meaningful life changes, and an abundance of beautiful memories yet to be made. It also brings significant milestones for many, including STAR Catholic School Division, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this month.
St. Thomas Aquinas Roman (STAR) Catholic School Division was formed in 1995 with the amalgamation of Catholic school divisions in Leduc, Wetaskiwin, and Ponoka, which were followed by Drayton Valley in 1997. Catholic education was established in Lacombe in 2005 and Beaumont in 2010 as both communities joined our Division. Today, STAR Catholic proudly serves more than 4,400 students in six communities, encompassing 12 excellent schools.
The Division is named after St. Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of students and Catholic schools, and one of the great scholars of the Catholic church. St. Thomas Aquinas combined religious faith with philosophy of reason, arguing people can possess both types of knowledge as both come from God. His teachings are embodied in STAR Catholic schools, where students receive quality faith-filled education of the entire person — mind, body, and spirit. The feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas is on January 28.
Over the last 25 years, our Division has been blessed with the collaboration of many wonderful partners including parishes, families, communities, government representatives, sister school boards, local businesses, and more. These relationships are integral to the success of STAR Catholic, and we thank our supporters for making the past years such incredibly joyous ones.
As we celebrate in our schools and communities over the coming months, we thank God for the gifts He has bestowed on our Division, and we eagerly look forward to what the future holds.
Here’s to a wonderful 25 years and, with His blessing, many more to come.
This column was submitted by STAR Catholic Schools. Donna Tugwood (donna.tugwood@starcatholic.ab.ca) is the local Trustee on the STAR Catholic Schools Division Board. STAR Catholic Schools has more than 4,400 students in 12 schools located in Beaumont, Drayton Valley, Leduc, Lacombe, Ponoka and Wetaskiwin.
