CTR CATHOLIC BOARD HIGHLIGHTS
from Board Meeting held on September 28, 2023
CTR CONTINUES TO SURPASS PROVINCIAL SATISFACTION RATES
2023-2024 STRATEGIC PLAN INCLUDES ROBUST STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Superintendent Holowka used Trustee feedback to shape the 2023-2024 strategic plan. To boost stakeholder engagement, she suggested using this year's Ward meetings. The proposal includes posing a dialogue question at the first meeting, broadening participation to include more teachers and parents in the second meeting, and involving students in the third meeting.
PROGRAM REVIEW - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REPORT
2023-2024 PROGRAM REVIEW
As per Board Policy #28, the 2023-2024 program review will focus on Careers and Post-secondary Education. The review will identify how CTR can further engage in post-secondary services to better serve students. The division will secure a qualified person to conduct the review and will present possibilities for Board approval in October.
MUNICIPAL RATEPAYERS CAN DIRECT TAXES TO CATHOLIC EDUCATION
To show your support for Catholic education in the province, Catholic homeowners (or co-owners) can instruct municipalities to direct their property taxes to the Roman Catholic Separate School District. Ratepayers can visit their local municipality office to inquire about a request for change, if they did not originally declare their taxes to be directed to Catholic Education. For more information read School Support Notice Fact Sheet.
CTR SEES MODEST ENROLMENT INCREASE
All communities in CTR Catholic have experienced growth this year. This demonstrates the continued desirability of Catholic education and the excellence that CTR schools have to offer. CTR’s total enrolment for this year is well over 10,000 students.
OPENING PD WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL
Over 95 per cent of staff indicated that they were highly satisfied with this year's Opening PD Day and the Installation Mass of new Superintendent Andrea Holowka held on August 31. The theme, "CTR Catholic Learning Communities (CLC): Refresh, Revitalize, Refocus," established the direction for teacher professional learning, emphasizing its role in enhancing student learning.
SCHOOL COUNCILS ARE VALUED CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY
School Councils are an important link between the Board and school communities bringing forward critical perspectives about education, school needs, and community concerns. The Board supports and promotes School Councils as they align with the Board's mission in advancing Catholic education. Discussions will occur at the Council of School Councils Meeting in November, with efforts to boost School Council participation and engagement.
CTR REMAINS RESPONSIVE DESPITE TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES
Despite the shortage of bus drivers across the province, CTR has had relatively few complaints, and in fact, has been praised several times for its communication and considerable efforts to accommodate students. Associate Superintendent Kilcommons praised the work of Transportation Coordinator Vanessa Douville for her work to accommodate students and her responsiveness to parents.
OYEN WARD COMMITTEE
DRUMHELLER TO CELEBRATE 65 YEARS OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION
Trustee Chung (Drumheller) announced St. Anthony's School will be celebrating 65 years of Catholic education. This is an opportunity to reflect on the historical significance of the school's formation as a Catholic school and the regionalization into CTR Catholic. It will also honor the generations of proud St. Anthony's families. Shown in this picture is kindergarten student Theo Stahl, whose parents, Kia Bergos and Trevor Stahl, graduated in 2012 and 2010.
OKOTOKS WARD II COMMITTEE
Chair Keenan (Foothills County) shared that Connections, a new program at CFL, allows home education students in Calgary and Edmonton to congregate twice a week, enriching the educational experience. To date, three sessions have been held, with 256 students in attendance, well surpassing expectations. CFL is looking to secure a location in Lethbridge for the program, and other potential areas across the province.
FAITH COMMITTEE
Trustee MacDonald (High River) shared that CTR Catholic's new three-year faith theme is “Faith Seeking Understanding." During the first year, the goal is to explore objective beauty in five topics: Beauty of Creation, Marvel of the Sciences, Grace Building upon Nature, Joy of a Diverse Humanity and the Wonderful Complementarity of Faith and Science. Director of Catholic Education Grant Gay will explore these topics and the importance of Catholic education at parent sessions within each community.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Trustee Chung (Drumheller) noted that the Audit Committee met to review the scope of work from the auditors. Their report will be compiled by late October and presented to the Audit Committee prior to the November Board meeting.
ALBERTA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION (ASBA)
Trustee MacDonald (High River) advised that ASBA Zone 5 will hold their first meeting on October 6th. An information session was held on position statements in preparation of the ASBA FGM that will be held in November. Trustee MacDonald will also work with the Board’s Awards Committee to arrange for recognition of CTR’s nominees for the ASBA Friends of Education Award.
ALBERTA CATHOLIC SCHOOL TRUSTEES' ASSOCIATION (ACSTA)
Vice Chair Gustafson (Okotoks) announced that ACSTA is in the process of hiring a new Executive Director. Kate Mallon, the new Director of GrACE, presented to the Board of Directors strengthening connections between the two groups. A governance summit is scheduled for October 14th and the ACSTA AGM will occur in November.
TEACHERS' EMPLOYER BARGAINING ASSOCIATION (TEBA)
Trustee Chung (Drumheller) advised that TEBA met three weeks ago. At that meeting, results from questionnaires were reviewed in preparation for the next round of negotiations. The current contract is in effect until August 2024. Superintendent Kilcommons advised that CTR and its Local ATA came to an agreement on contract terms in June of 2023.
BOARD SUPPORTS YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE HUB
The Board affirmed a letter of support prepared by The Network for a Youth Community Service Hub to be built in the Foothills region. The Network is a collective community impact initiative in the Foothills region made up of over 30 participating organizations.
TRUSTEE'S CORNER
by JD Bogdanowski
Trustee, Canmore
As I reflect on the past summer and look forward to this school year, I find myself thinking about “in-between moments” and transitions. Drinking my morning coffee, I think about how the summer nights are getting shorter (a reminder of the coming winter), and how the lazy mornings of summer have been replaced with alarm clocks (a reminder that school and the busyness of life that comes with it is here).
It can be easy to give into our reluctance to leave behind the cadence and freedom of the summer and transition into a new school year, but I think that there is so much to look forward to. Our Division is beginning a new faith focus “Faith Seeking Understanding”, many schools have new teachers and new administrators, and we are excited to begin a new chapter in Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools, welcoming Dr. Andrea Holowka as our Superintendent.
In this moment of in-between, when we yearn for the familiar security of the past, let’s instead excitedly anticipate the potential that this school year holds. Christians are a people of hope. As we transition from summer and settle into a new school year, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
-Romans 15:13
I wish everyone a successful year filled with exciting new beginnings!
NEXT BOARD MEETING DATE
The next Board meeting will take place on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 9:00 am at the Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy, Canmore.
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
Dave Lunn, 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.