CTR CATHOLIC BOARD HIGHLIGHTS
from Board Meeting held on October 28, 2023
CTR COMMUNICATIONS
The work of School Communication Leads continues to be of value in communicating with parents and community. To deepen that value, Superintendent Holowka advised that administration will work with Leads to share their school’s vision. Division communication campaigns being developed focus on CTR’s commitment to Catholic education, kindergarten registrations, open houses, optional programming, and celebrating assurance measure results.
WELLNESS AT CTR
Staff and student wellness remains a divisional priority. Recent sessions held to encourage wellness include a meeting with vice principals to equip them in leading wellness conversations with staff, a session for administrative assistants for managing challenging situations, and a session for administrators focusing on teacher wellness during report cards, assessments, and parent-teacher interviews.
2023-2024 PROGRAM REVIEW
Deputy Superintendent Behm provided the Board with a recommendation of a qualified individual to conduct the review of Career and Post-Secondary Counselling Services occurring in CTR schools. The Board was supportive of the recommendation and advised administration to proceed.
DIVISIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Feedback received on the October 10th Divisional PD Day was very positive. K-6 teachers gathered in person to dig into new curriculum and attend sessions of choice. Secondary retreats focused on examining diploma results, best practices, sharing of strategies, and building collective efficacy. Educational assistants were led by therapists focusing on augmentative devices and sensory supports.
ÉCOLE GOOD SHEPHERD - REPLACEMENT SCHOOL
Planning on the replacement school for École Good Shepherd School continues with weekly meetings occurring with the bridging consultant, CTR staff, Alberta Capital Planning, Alberta Education Finance, Alberta Infrastructure, and the Town of Okotoks. A schematic design for the school is in development. An open house will be planned for the spring for community engagement.
INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND RENEWAL (IMR) AND CAPITAL MAINTENANCE AND RENEWAL (CMR)
Associate Superintendent Kilcommons reviewed CTR's IMR and CMR reports with the Board. Trustees agreed that care of CTR’s school facilities is evident in schools as set out in the IMR and CMR reports. They commended Director of Facilities, David Lunn, and his team for their attention to ensuring CTR schools are well maintained.
CAPITAL PLANNING PRIORITIES
Superintendent Holowka and Associate Superintendent Kilcommons reviewed CTR's capital planning priorities previously identified, being: 1. Permanent addition at Our Lady of the Snows in Canmore; 2. Permanent additions at St. Joseph’s Collegiate and Christ the King Academy in Brooks; and 3. A new school build in High River. Other potential projects were reviewed and administration will be seeking further input by the Board.
OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS CATHOLIC ACADEMY (OLS) - SUSTAINABILITY CLUB INITIATIVE
Trustees were impressed with the OLS Sustainability Club’s “Greenfoot Project” presentation made by students Nami Dwyer and Miriam Purnhauser. Working with Rede Energy Solutions and CTR’s facilities department, the club conducted a review of the school’s energy use and operations, and several measures are being implemented which could result in significant energy and cost savings. Similar measures will be considered division-wide.
CANMORE WARD COMMITTEE
Trustee Bogdanowski (Canmore) shared that results on Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) were excellent at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy with Math 9 results being 20% higher than the provincial standard. Diploma results were also outstanding with 97% of students achieving an acceptable rate in English 30-1 and 100% of students achieving an acceptable rate in English 30-2.
STRATHMORE WARD COMMITTEE
Trustee Salm (Strathmore) shared that the provincial Mental Health Partnership Grant, which provides services through McMan Youth Family & Community Service Association, has provided significant support to several Sacred Heart Academy students and families, in collaboration with the Family School Liaison Worker. Direct social emotional learning has been provided to Kindergarten and Grade 3 students, as well as assistance with in-the-moment learning on the playground.
BROOKS WARD COMMITTEE
Trustee de Jong (Brooks) advised that Christ the King Academy’s literacy team is leading the Response to Intervention initiative. The initiative involves testing the entire student body, then placing each student in a literacy group according to their individual needs. Pre-testing and post-testing is done to assess improvement and is used to determine new student groupings reflective of their literacy improvement.
BOARD POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW COMMITTEE
Vice Chair Gustafson (Okotoks) advised that the Board Policy Development and Review Committee reviewed Board Policy #16 – Workplace Health and Safety; Board Policy #17 – Offering a New Grade Level; Board Policy #18 – Inclusive Education Supports and Services; Board Policy #19 – Good Works Policy; Board Policy #20 – Budgeting; and Board Policy #6 – Board Operations. The Board approved revisions to these policies as recommended.
GrACE CTR COMMITTEE
Trustee MacDonald (High River) reported that GrACE Director, Kate Mallon, advised that they will be returning to their grassroots and seeking more parental/community involvement. A database is also being created to allow for prompt stakeholder communications with MLAs and MPs. The committee reviewed this year’s initiatives, including Catholic Education Sunday and CTR’s upcoming community evening engagement sessions.
ALBERTA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION (ASBA)
Trustee MacDonald (High River) reported on ASBA's Zone 5 meeting and AGM held on October 6th. ASBA's FGM occurring on November 19-21, 2023 in Edmonton will be attended by trustees and administration. Chair Keenan and Superintendent Holowka expressed their gratitude to ASBA for hosting an Engagement Session with Alberta Education on October 12, 2023.
ALBERTA CATHOLIC SCHOOL TRUSTEES' ASSOCIATION (ACSTA)
Vice Chair Gustafson (Okotoks) announced that ACSTA has hired Brendan Cavanagh as their Executive Director. Three of CTR's trustees attended the ACSTA Summit on October 14, which allowed for great discussion among trustees from across the province regarding ACSTA's successes, mission and vision, as well as their board structure. CTR trustees and administration will attend ACSTA's AGM on November 17-18, 2023.
TEACHERS' EMPLOYER BARGAINING ASSOCIATION (TEBA)
Trustee Chung (Drumheller) advised that local bargaining has now been settled in 40 Alberta school divisions. Associate Superintendent Kilcommons advised that CTR’s agreement with its Local ATA was fully signed the first week of October. The next round of negotiations at the central table are expected to begin in January of 2024 as the current contract expires in August 2024.
INTERNATIONAL FIELD TRIPS APPROVED
The Board approved two international field trips in full; St. Anthony's School's trip to Greece at Easter of 2024, and the Centre for Learning@Home's trip to England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland at Easter 2025. As per Board Policy #23, approval may be rescinded for international field trips at any time should safety concerns arise.
TRUSTEE'S CORNER
by John de Jong
Trustee, Brooks
On a drive to Okotoks in early October, I was so profoundly awed by the beauty of the fall season. Trees’ leaves coloured in red, yellow, brown, green and shades in between, two rivers with sparkling clear water, fields of harvested grain, baled hay and straw, cattle grazing, wildlife and best of all, smiling people when I drove into Okotoks!
We have been so blessed...with our families, living in a part of the world where there is a mosaic of peoples, peace, freedom to speak and vote, freedom of religion, a first-class health care system, abundant natural resources and so many other precious gifts. Giving thanks to God for all these blessings is a meaningful way of recognizing His unconditional love for us during joyful times and even in times of difficulty, suffering, and sorrow.
I have always enjoyed studying and reading history, especially of the men, women, and children of the 1900s who have been declared saints by our recent Popes. Each one of their stories is an exemplary example of faith, love, and charity, despite the circumstances and decisions they faced. These are the stories we need to remember and share with our families and the selfless thanks for these individuals, our fallen military, and others who gave the ultimate sacrifice, demonstrates our love for these blessed heroes.
With the season of Advent fast approaching I encourage you to read the fascinating and yet tragically beautiful story of “Josef and Wiktoria Ulma” and their seven children of Markova, Poland. The virtuous, pious family and witnesses of Christ’s love were declared together, Saints on September 10th, 2023, by Pope Francis! Their selfless sacrifice is truly an example of the four candles of Advent…”Hope, Peace, Joy, Love” which we begin celebrating in November.
May the 2023 Advent Season be filled with many blessings!
NEXT BOARD MEETING DATE
The next Board meeting will take place on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 9:00 am at the Centre for Catholic Education in 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
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.