CTR CATHOLIC BOARD HIGHLIGHTS

Superintendent Holowka advised that teacher faith formation will continue to be a priority for CTR next year. In response to feedback from teachers, the format for this personal and professional development will provide more opportunity for teacher and staff choice in topics. Toolkits, materials, and professional development sessions are being created and a selection will be accessible to each school to meet their needs.

By motion, the Board approved the 2025-2029 Four-Year Education Plan (Year 1). As this is the first year of a new plan, extensive engagement was held for its creation with students, parents, priests, administration, and teachers. The plan will guide the division's work with each school also creating a plan specific to their school.

CTR is committed to providing recognition to its employees to ensure they feel valued. On May 27th, the divisional awards evening was held in Strathmore for employees receiving the Excellence in Teaching Award, the Above and Beyond Award, and the Power of One Award. Principals, superintendents and trustees shared this evening with employees and their guests. Several administrators will also be recognized as the ATA CSL Distinguished Leadership Awards. The Board is grateful for the abundant talent of CTR employees.

CTR's Opening PD Day on August 26th will feature sessions on Assessment for Mastery and supports available through Student Services. Associate Superintendent MacDonald explained that assessment for student mastery is a faith-filled and compassionate approach to inform and evaluate learning, grounded in the belief that every child is created in the image and likeness of God. CTR's focus on student complexity will continue to ensure the success for all students and staff.

Planning funding support was provided by the province in March for a new high school build in Brooks. Since that time, initial meetings have occurred with the City of Brooks and the province. Alberta Infrastructure is proceeding with a request for proposal process, and the division will soon hold community engagement sessions.

By motion, the Board approved the proposed budget for 2025-2026. Emphasis will continue to be on smaller class sizes, while striving to address an increase in classroom complexities. The Board recognizes the challenges in budgeting given the provincial base rate was not increased to offset increasing expenses. Gratitude was expressed for increases in some grants, including a 20% increase in complexity funding. However, raising costs are exceeding the benefit of these increased grant amounts.

Since 2006, Holy Trinity Academy students have travelled to Costa Rica for volunteer work with Asociación Obras de Espiritu Santo, a partnership rooted in faith, love, service and community. Students are greatly impacted during this trip, largely due to the infectious character of Padre Sergio. Padre Sergio recently visited Okotoks and was warmly embraced by the HTA community.

Transition for Holy Spirit Academy students moving into Grade 7 is supported with a student/parent school visit to Notre Dame Collegiate (NDC). This visit is strategically scheduled the same day as NDC's post-secondary information evening. This allows Grade 6 parents to attend alongside high school parents to learn about the school's commitment to student success in Grades 7-12 and into post-secondary.

Pope Francis’ passing and the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV allowed for Assumption Roman Catholic School students to celebrate and learn about the Vatican and the role of the Pope. With the theme of following the footsteps of Pope Francis, students created and displayed footprints of what Pope Francis meant to them.

Vice Chair Gustafson advised that the Liaison Committee met on April 29th. Teacher representatives, trustees, and administration discussed items brought forward from the teachers’ survey, including communication leads, technology, and calendar considerations. Board topics were also discussed, and included the Student Services review, team leads, and faith formation toolkits.

The Board congratulates the School Council from École Good Shepherd School for receiving the School Council Award of Merit from the Alberta School Councils’ Association. Congratulations were also given to students Harlee Kusiek from St. Mary’s School and Ben Dautremont from Notre Dame Collegiate for their nominations for the ASBA 2025 Honouring Spirit Student Awards.

Each year, the Board reviews and approves a recommendation made in accordance with Board Policy 28: School Program Reviews. The program review approved by motion for 2025-2026 is the review of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The review will be structured around governance and policy, AI use by staff and students, and AI and data privacy.

The Board provided final approval for two trips at Easter 2026: the first for Holy Trinity Academy students to travel to Costa Rica, and the second for St. Francis of Assisi Academy students to travel to Peru. Approval in principle was also given for Holy Cross Collegiate’s trip to France and Italy at Easter of 2027.

Several widely-used locally developed courses were up for renewal at the end of this academic year. Accordingly, the Board approved these courses for continued use in CTR schools until August 2029. Some of the courses included were Band, Instrumental Jazz, Forensic Studies, Workplace Essential Skills, European History, and Religions of the World.

by Harry Salm, Trustee (Strathmore and Wheatland County)

We have a number of items to celebrate!

Hallelujah, Christ is risen! We are in the 50 days of the Easter season ending on Pentecost on June 8th.

A number of us from Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools were attending a faith retreat in early May when the retreat was paused with the announcement that white smoke was coming from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. One hundred and eighty Catholic school division leaders in Alberta waited for the live stream to provide us with the announcement of who had been selected as the 267th successor of Saint Peter to lead our Church. A great cheer went up when we were told of Pope Leo XIV’s election. Please take a moment of each day of the Easter Season to pray for Pope Leo XIV.

Support for faith development and evangelization is at the very heart of our being as a Catholic school division. In Strathmore, during the Easter Vigil, through the efforts of our staff at Holy Cross Collegiate, our Parish celebrated 18 new members of our Catholic faith community through the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation. Father Cristino described it as an incredible event of evangelization. He recognizes both Sacred Heart Academy and Holy Cross Collegiate as a bridge between the parish and school to provide opportunities for our parents and students to receive notices regarding Sacramental preparation events by the Parish and for the students to attend Mass and other faith activities in our new Catholic church.

Our role as Trustees is one of governance and advocacy. In our role as governors, we approve policy to provide direction to our Superintendent of our expectations for faith permeation, academic success and the safe and caring environment for our students and staff. Each Board policy is reviewed every two years to ensure it is in keeping with our Catholic faith, current with new trends and programs, accounts for changes in Ministerial (Education) direction, and recognizes the distinctiveness of the communities within Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools. In relation to our advocacy role, we try to meet regularly with our local MLAs and appropriate ministers with the provincial government. Over the past two years, a substantial number of meetings were held with ministers from Education, Agriculture, and Infrastructure as well with most of the MLAs representing our communities and with the municipal council of some of our communities. We feel this advocacy work was a large part of the recent provincial announcements of a new high school in the City of Brooks and the relocation of the Sprung structure in the Town of Okotoks to be able to serve St. John Paul II Collegiate.

In April, several of us attended an event hosted by the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association where we had an opportunity to advocate to provincial leaders. We were able to meet with the Premier, Leader of the Official Opposition, Minister of Education, Minister of Infrastructure, Minister of Energy and Minerals, Minister of Forestry and Parks, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, as well as 14 MLAs from both the UCP and NDP parties. Our purpose was to bring awareness and to ask them to advocate on our behalf for our top two capital priorities and for publicly-funded Catholic education. In the division’s Three-Year Capital Plan approved by the Board earlier this year, our first priority is a permanent addition to Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy in Canmore. Our second priority is for a new high school in Okotoks. We feel our voices were heard loud and clear by the provincial decision makers and we will continue to deliver these messages to ensure it remains in their forefront.

May you have a wonderful and blessed Easter Season!

The next Board meeting will take place on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 9:00 am at the Catholic Education Centre, #301 23 Riverside Drive, Okotoks, AB.

For any information on items in this publication, please contact Michael Kilcommons, Associate Superintendent, at mkilcommons@redeemer.ab.ca or at 403-938-2659.