May 27, 2022 - BARRIE, ON: The name of the new Alliston Catholic elementary school, scheduled to open in the fall of 2022, has been chosen by popular vote of the school community. The school will be called St. Cecilia Catholic School.

The process of choosing the name included: establishing a selection committee, receiving suggestions from the community (students, staff, family members); the selection committee narrowing the choices down to three choices; and the community voting on the three choices.

St. Cecilia was a young Roman woman and lived in the 2nd or 3rd century. She was martyred because she insisted on remaining unmarried to serve Jesus. She was forced to marry and an ancient account of her life said that, on her wedding day, as the musicians were playing, Cecilia “sang to Christ in her heart”. She is often portrayed as holding an organ or a harp. St. Cecilia is the patroness of musicians and choirs and her feast day is November 22nd.

"One of the most anticipated and exciting parts of opening a new school is choosing the name, and we are excited about giving our beautiful new school in Alliston an equally beautiful name," said Joe Zerdin, Board Chair. "A lot of thought and consideration goes into choosing a name because it represents the moment in time when the students, staff and families can really begin to identify with and be proud of their new school. In many ways, the name symbolizes the beginning of a new and united community - the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board welcomes the St. Cecilia Catholic School community into our family with open arms."

Students and staff from Monsignor J. E. Ronan Catholic School and St. Paul’s Catholic School will populate the new school, providing much needed accommodation relief in these fast-growing communities. Newly assigned Principal May Boucher is also accepting new registrations through the SMCDSB Registration Portal.

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Media Contact: Pauline Stevenson, Communications Manager 705.722.3555 ext., 229 [email protected]