EICS Board Highlights
May 17, 2017
Trustees Report
- A thank you letter from the Archbishop Jordan High School Alumni Group who thanked the Board of Trustees for their acknowledgment letter and various promotional items for their 45th Reunion.
Trustee Szott reported back on the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association (ACSTA) annual retreat which took place on April 27-30. A synopsis of her report includes:
The annual retreat event hosted by ACSTA is a fantastic professional development opportunity for teachers, administrators, trustees, and clergy. This year, 160 participants converged on Delta Kananaskis from across Alberta, Yukon and NWT. The theme this year was Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) by Pope Francis. The Key Note Speaker was David Wells, Project Manager of Catholic Education in the United Kingdom.
The document Amoris Laetitia was broken down into smaller sections: The Challenge of family life; The Vocation of Family Life; The Challenge Children Make Present; A pastoral strategy for schools and parishes. By doing so, the delegates were able to gain a greater understanding of how, as Catholic School Educators, along with the family of origin, we are truly one big family. We were lead to learn and try to understand what it means to “love” and to be accepting. Through the wise direction and words of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, gives us clarity on how to move forward with our own personal lives as well as our professional lives to garner those qualities of love, understanding, and acceptance.
Superintendent's Report
In his report to the Board of Trustees, Deputy Superintendent Shawn Haggarty touched on a number of issues, including:
Council for School Leadership - Distinguished Leadership Award - Awarded to our very own Paul Corrigan
The CSL Distinguished Leadership Awards creates a learning community of outstanding principals and assistant principals throughout Alberta who can share professionally, interact collegially and act as mentors to new colleagues. It provides avenues for research and sharing of best practices. The cadre of Distinguished Alberta School Leaders are people who are looking to challenge the status quo, improve learning in their contexts, and be equipped for higher levels of leadership. These individuals are considered role models in a vibrant network of educational leaders with the confidence and capabilities to lead innovative change for 21st-century learning - the Council for School Leadership.
Capital Projects Update
St. André Bessette - Construction continues to be on schedule. Steve Tymko will be working with facilities and Central Leadership as the build continues to ensure that the school is ready for students in September of 2018.
Central Learning Services Building - All legalities have been completed and site preparedness has begun. The bus yard is slated to be ready by November 2017 and the CLS building will be ready by September of 2018.
Catholic School Formations
Formation areas that are currently being considered. Camrose County & Beaver County
Fort Saskatchewan Consultation Update
The Elk Island Catholic School Division (EICS) Board of Trustees has been reviewing the reconfiguration of Fort Saskatchewan schools for the 2018-19 school year with the opening of our new St. André Bessette Catholic High School. After a number of months of public consultation and review, the EICS Board of Trustees has tabled a decision to the June 14, 2017, monthly public meeting to provide an opportunity for further feedback from our EICS families and community members.
The decision that will be tabled until June 14, 2017 is:
After a detailed review of community feedback, analyzing transportation routing, facility constraints, and population trends, EICS has determined that having 2
ECS-Grade 4 schools at Saint John XXIII and Our Lady of Angels, a middle school at Saint John Paul II and a Grades 9-12 school at St. André Bessette would provide the best educational opportunities and environments for students.
The EICS Board of Trustees will vote on this recommendation at the June 14th Board of Trustees public meeting. Parents and community members are encouraged to share their views with us by Monday, June 12th via email eicstalks@eics.ab.ca and to visit our engagement website at eics.ab.ca to review the engagement results and background information.
Alberta Provincial Curriculum Development
Alberta Education is currently updating Provincial Curriculum and would like to hear from you.
Over the next six years, Alberta Education will gather input from stakeholders and partners, which includes teachers, students, parents, superintendents, trustees, post-secondary institutions, employers, industry and apprenticeship bodies, and the broader community as an integral part of K–12 provincial curriculum development process.
To read more about how this process will work, click here.
For more information about how you can have your say, please visit the following website: erlc.ca
Fact Sheet on Elimination of School Fees
Public EICS Board of Trustees Meeting
Wednesday, Jun 14, 2017, 02:30 PM
EICS Main Boardroom - 160 Festival Way
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
EICS Board of Trustees
Jean Boisvert - Board Vice-Chair - Sherwood Park: jeanb@eics.ab.ca
Ron Baier - Trustee - Camrose: ronb@eics.ab.ca
Charlene Melenka-Trustee-Vegreville: charlenem@eics.ab.ca
Ted Paszek - Trustee - Sherwood Park: tedp@eics.ab.ca
Michelle Szott-Trustee-Sherwood Park: michelles@eics.ab.ca
Email: eicstalks@eics.ab.ca
Website: www.eics.ab.ca
Location: 160 Festival Way, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
Phone: (780) 467-8896
Facebook: facebook.com/ElkIslandCatholicSchoolDivision
Twitter: @eicstalks