Petition Notice
School religious exercises/instruction will commence at such a time and in such a manner that logistical requirements related to the pandemic can be addressed.
Petition for Religious Exercises (2020-21)
Hanover School Division Board of Trustees has received a petition requesting that religious exercises be held at Southwood School during the 2020-21 school year. The petitioners have specified their desire for the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, and the reading of a Bible passage or story from the Bible. As the petition bears the signatures of parents/guardians representing more than 60 students in the school, the Board of Trustees has authorized religious exercises as specified above. These exercises are to be held before the official instructional day, in a designated common area of the school.
Petition for Religious Instruction (2020-21)
Hanover School Division Board of Trustees has received a petition requesting that religious instruction be held at Southwood School during the 2020-21 school year. The petitioners have specified their desire for the Discovery Time Program offered by Child Evangelism Fellowship. As the petition bears the signatures of parents/guardians representing more than 25 students in the school, the Board of Trustees has passed the required by-law permitting religious instruction as specified above. This instruction is to be offered by volunteers during designated half-hour per week classes.
Parents/Guardians who did not sign the submitted petitions are eligible to join by delivering a signed note to the school office. The note must indicate the student’s name, their grade, and include a parent/guardian signature. The school principal will forward all received documentation to the HSD Administration Office. Only children whose parents/guardians signed the petition or have subsequently joined via permission note, may participate in the exercises and instruction as described above.
- Public Schools Act
- Religious Exercises in Schools Regulation, M.R. 554/88
- Responding to Religious Diversity in Manitoba’s Schools
- HSD Board Policy – Religious Exercises & Instruction: Section J/Code JC