CTR CATHOLIC BOARD HIGHLIGHTS

Superintendent Holowka advised that Assessment for Student Mastery will be an area of focus for schools to prepare for a Fall 2026 division wide implementation. This 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. This understanding calls educators to recognize student uniqueness, honour student potential, and identify pathways of growth, while upholding academic rigour and curricular learning.

In preparation for the onboarding of new trustees after the October 20th municipal election, a robust year-long trustee orientation plan has been developed. Orientation will be paramount as three of the eight trustee positions for CTR will be newly filled. Communities which will be represented by a new trustee include Drumheller (by acclamation) and Brooks and High River (by election).

CTR welcomed 56 new teachers with a two-day orientation in August where they heard from the Senior Administration team about CTR’s pillars of faith, learning, safe and caring schools, and stewardship of resources. The orientation is aimed at making new teachers feel welcomed and inspiring them towards excellence, facilitating a great beginning to the school year.

Divisional team leaders are supporting increased junior and senior high student exposure to career exploration and the skilled trades. CTR’s summer work experience program provided an opportunity in all CTR communities, with 35 students earning work experience credits. As of mid-September, there were 103 CTR students enrolled in work experience.

The hillside behind St. Anthony's School continues to slide. Due to the anthropologic nature of the soil, careful and costly remediation is necessary. Given the significant amount of funds needed, Alberta Education was canvassed and has agreed to provide financial assistance of $3,000,000. The Board expressed their appreciation for this funding.

A Site Blessing was held at the building site for École Good Shepherd School. MLA Sigurdson brought greetings on behalf of the Alberta government, and Father Vijaya blessed the site, along with Elder Sa'akokoto who provided an Indigenous blessing. Kyle Young Pine shared an Indigenous dance to the drumbeat of Tyson Heavenfire and CTR representatives shared the importance of the new school to students, staff, and families. Completion of the project is expected in September 2027.

Chair Keenan (Foothills County) shared that with the division's purchase of Goggle Gemini AI for use by all division staff and students, many teachers are leading students from the Centre for Learning@Home through a set of Google Gemini AI tutorials. These tutorials demonstrate the proper use of artificial intelligence and efficiencies that can be realized as the use of AI continues to grow.

Trustee Rude-Volk (Oyen) shared that Assumption Roman Catholic School teachers have dedicated themselves to engaging in professional learning and working through the rigor of assessment and teaching. This focus on mastery assessment, along with the use of Seesaw (a learning and assessment tool), helps staff, parents, and students to remain dedicated to evidence-based student evaluation.

Trustee Chung (Drumheller) shared that teacher Kelly Eddy took inspiration from a Faith Days session and worked with other St. Anthony's School teachers to make rosaries over lunch hours for graduates. Hands were busy making rosaries, while minds and hearts produced meaningful prayers for each graduate as their pictures rotated on screen.

The Board congratulated Andrew Gustafson, Vice Chair, on his recent appointment as Interim Vice President of the Alberta Catholic School Trustees' Association (ACSTA). The ACSTA represents 24 member boards from Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories and is committed to a unified voice providing spiritual and political leadership for publicly-funded Catholic education.

The Audit Committee met on September 15th to review the pre-audit letter with auditors from Avail CPA who will conduct the audit for the 2024-2025 year. The audit will be completed during October and November with results being presented to the Board on November 27th.

The Faith Committee recently met to discuss the division faith plan for 2025-2026. This is Year III of the faith theme, Faith Seeking Understanding, which will focus on Encountering Goodness through faith and society. Priorities will be the continued implementation of school faith plans, faith formation, and the utilization of Catholic Social Teaching resources.

The Board recognized and thanked John de Jong (Brooks), Mark Chung (Drumheller), and Mark MacDonald (High River) (missing from photo) for their dedication to CTR and Catholic education in their tenures as trustees. Each of these trustees has represented their community and the division with a servant heart, embodying humility and selflessness and inspiring trust and compassion in those they encountered.

The next Board meeting will take place on Thursday, October 30, 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.