Medicine Hat Catholic board to rename two schools, restructure programs for 2027
The changes stem from a shift of the French immersion program between the two schools, part of a wider reorganization tied to the new Holy Trinity Academy build.
The Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education will rename two of its schools starting in the 2027-28 school year. St. Mary's Junior High School will become École St. Mary's School, while École St. John Paul II Elementary School will become St. John Paul II School.
The renaming reflects a swap in programming: the French immersion elementary program currently based at École St. John Paul II will move to St. Mary's, leaving St. John Paul II School with English-stream-only classes from September 2027. The board said it received no opposition to the name changes and will update facility signage and branding as needed.
The shift is tied to construction of the new Holy Trinity Academy, a K-9 school that will bring together students from St. Mary's junior high, St. Francis Xavier and St. Michael's elementary schools. St. Francis Xavier School will be demolished in spring 2027 to make way for a parking lot at the new academy, with its displaced students moving into Holy Trinity Academy at that time and the others joining that fall.
At the same Sept. 8 board meeting, trustees noted the retirement of Superintendent Dwayne Zarichny, effective Aug. 31, 2027. Zarichny has held the role since August 2019. Trustees approved a motion directing the board chair to develop a proposed transition and recruitment process for a new superintendent.
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