CTR CATHOLIC BOARD HIGHLIGHTS
from Board Meeting held on March 28, 2024
CENTRE FOR LEARNING@HOME (CFL) CONTINUES TO EVOLVE
The Board was impressed with CFL’s recent initiatives to continue evolving as reported by Superintendent Holowka. New initiatives include exploring the ability to offer Connections programming in Lethbridge for shared responsibility students, considering new home education partnerships in Calgary and Lethbridge, expanding new non-primary partnerships, upgrading communication and marketing, and aligning operations with CTR’s processes and platforms.
CTR CAPITAL PLAN FOR 2024-2025
The Board approved the capital plan submission for 2024-2025, with priorities identified as new school planning funds in Brooks, pre-planning funds for the relocation of the Sprung structure from École Good Shepherd School to St. John Paul II Collegiate (Okotoks), funding for a permanent addition to Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy (Canmore), and pre-planning funding for a new facility in High River.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SUBSTITUTES
Professional development was held for substitute teachers on March 8th. Topics included classroom management, CTR administrative procedures, the new Code of Conduct, and cybersecurity awareness and email safety. Feedback from substitutes indicate the PD session was appreciated. The Board and administrators acknowledged the value that substitutes bring to students and the division.
ALBERTA RISK MANAGED INSURANCE CONSORTIUM (ARMIC)
ARMIC was established by school boards four years ago to seek alternative solutions after insurance premiums surged. Since its inception, ARMIC has made substantial efforts to document existing practices and implement new practices regarding risk management. This has resulted in a significant reduction in premiums. The Board acknowledged the ARMIC Board, including Associate Superintendent Kilcommons, for their outstanding efforts.
NEW CURRICULUM AND MATH FOCUS
Associate Superintendent MacDonald shared that the implementation of the new math curriculum and shift in concepts warranted an intentional focus in mathematics instruction. Continuous improvement in mathematics required dedication of significant resources and time taken to support teachers through comprehensive data analysis. This has resulted in strategic professional development and the sharing of resources throughout the division.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Associate Superintendent Kilcommons presented the Quarter 2 Financial Report (September 1, 2024, to February 29, 2024) to the Board. Details included were breakdowns for revenues, expenses, and variance analyses for both revenues and expenses. Barring any unforeseen negative circumstances, it is believed that the division will end the year in a stronger financial position than originally budgeted.
CALENDARS APPROVED FOR CFL AND OYEN
The 2024-2025 school calendars for the Centre for Learning@Home and Assumption School in Oyen were approved by the Board. Any feedback received through the consultation process with Ward Committees, CTR staff, and School Councils was considered. Consultation with Prairie Rose Public Schools also occurred to coordinate transportation of students in Oyen.
ST. LUKE'S OUTREACH CENTRE SUCCESS - ONE STUDENT AT A TIME
St. Luke's Outreach Centre in Brooks, Okotoks, and High River provides education in non-traditional school settings. Administration takes the time to meet with each potential family and student and enrollment is continuous. St. Luke's meets the needs of a variety of students requiring flexibility and individualized instruction, including rodeo and elite sports athletes, and students with specialized learning requirements. Students Kaleb Ryder and Joel Evans shared with the Board their stories and successes as St. Luke's students.
OKOTOKS WARD II COMMITTEE
Chair Keenan (Foothills County) advised that the Centre For Learning@Home has found a beautiful way to incorporate faith into a virtual environment for both staff and students with the formation of a Lenten staff group and a Lenten student prayer group. Staff meet to participate in the Stations of the Cross on Fridays, and students meet monthly for faith development.
WARD COMMITTEE MEETINGS #2 - SUMMARY
At Ward meetings #2, staff and parents were asked two questions: 1. In working together to support Catholic education within our community, what is working well that we need to continue? 2. What opportunities exist to enhance our Catholic school community in support of student success?” Superintendent Holowka shared valuable feedback received with the Board, which will be used to guide the division.
AWARDS COMMITTEE MEETING
The Awards Committee recently reviewed nominations submitted for the St. Joseph Parent of Distinction Award. This award recognizes parent volunteers who are truly exceptional in their dedication and initiative, display dynamic leadership, and encourage opportunity to influence student learning success. Recipients will be recognized at the Spring Council of School Councils Meeting on May 7, 2024.
FAITH COMMITTEE
Among the initiatives discussed at the Faith Committee meeting in March was the partnership between Okotoks schools and St. James Parish. This initiative brings sacramental preparation into the schools with CTR teachers delivering material prepared by the parish. Families are enjoying this alternate sacramental preparation option, which could be explored in other CTR communities.
INTERNATIONAL FIELD TRIP
The Board gave final approval to Holy Trinity Academy for their trip to San Jose, Costa Rica at Easter 2025. This service related trip will be offered to Grades 11 and 12 students. Students will have the opportunity to celebrate Good Friday Stations of the Cross, attend Easter Sunday Mass and Eucharistic Adoration and participate in daily prayer and scripture reflection.
ALBERTA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION (ASBA)
Trustee MacDonald (High River) advised that the ASBA Zone 5 meeting was held in early March, where information on funding announcements from Alberta Education was provided. On March 18th, ASBA hosted a working session with the Ministry of Education for Superintendents and Board Chairs focusing on capital announcements and anticipated legislative changes.
TEACHERS' EMPLOYER BARGAINING ASSOCIATION (TEBA)
Trustee Chung (Drumheller) advised that the most recent TEBA meeting had been cancelled, and as such, there was no new information to report.
TRUSTEE'S CORNER
by Harry Salm
Trustee - Strathmore
Wishing all our students, parents and supporters of Christ The Redeemer (CTR) Catholic Schools a glorious and blessed Easter season!
Our Board actively participates in school activities in our Division and around the province to encourage support for CTR and for Catholic education. Our Trustees have been meeting with our MLAs, most recently with Danielle Smith in Brooks and Chantelle de Jonge in Strathmore, and also with RJ Sigurdson in Okotoks last October. In these meetings, we bring forward the success of our schools and the benefits provided to our students as being a part of a Catholic school division. We also try to ensure that our provincial politicians have pertinent information regarding the needs of our CTR schools, the impact upon Catholic education that potential provincial directives could have, and the information they need when they are called upon to respond to a media inquiry or to make a decision in the legislature.
In spite of this seemingly secular perspective on our activities as Trustees, we do revel in participating in our GrACE (Grateful Advocates for Catholic Education) CTR Committee, our Faith Committee, Faith Days, and Ward Committees (where we invite a broad spectrum of our school community to share their perspectives on what and how our Division could be doing better). Trustees will also be attending the parent faith engagement meetings in each of our communities where we have been, or will be, depending on the schedule, listening to as many parents as are willing to come and have a conversation about our schools and Catholic education. The parent engagement meeting in Canmore (Our Lady of the Snows) is scheduled for April 9th and the parent engagement in Strathmore (Sacred Heart Academy and Holy Cross Collegiate) is scheduled for May 21st.
Christ The Redeemer Catholic School Division is often regarded as one of most Catholic school divisions in the province and our schools regularly exceed the provincial averages in most every category. Thank you to our students, parents, and supporters for continuing to choose our schools.
God bless each of you through these 50 days of Eastertide.
NEXT BOARD MEETING DATE
The next Board meeting will take place on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 9:00 am at Catholic Education Centre, #301 - 23 Riverside Drive, Okotoks.
Board of Trustees
Andrea Keenan, Chair, Foothills County
Andrew Gustafson, Vice Chair, Okotoks
Harry Salm, Strathmore
Mark MacDonald, High River
Mark Chung, Drumheller
John de Jong, Brooks
Michelle Rude-Volk, Oyen
John-David Bogdanowski, Canmore
Superintendents
Dr. Andrea Holowka, Superintendent
Vincent Behm, Deputy Superintendent
Michael Kilcommons, Associate Superintendent
Pat MacDonald, Associate Superintendent
Directors
Katelyn Nickel, Director of Corporate Services
Carmen Ostafichuk, Director of Human Resources
Ali Basra, Director of Facilities
Rhonda Schachterle, Director of Student Services
Cheryl Kuemper, Director of Learning
Grant Gay, Director of Catholic Education and Technology
Cindy Nickerson, Director of Communications
For any information on items in this publication, please contact Michael Kilcommons, Associate Superintendent, at mkilcommons@redeemer.ab.ca or at 403-938-2659.