CTR CATHOLIC BOARD HIGHLIGHTS

By motion, the Board approved the Annual Education Results Report for 2023-2024. Results are based on survey feedback received from students, parents and teachers. CTR outperformed the province in 12 of 12 assurance measures. A summary of CTR's results is available on the CTR website, as well as the full report.

A new faith initiative invites CTR staff to share their personal stories of Advent, be it a cherished childhood memory or a special experience with their family, parish or school. These stories will be shared with staff and the community. In January, staff will lead students through praying the Angelus which will unite all in a sense of belonging.

Human Resources is actively recruiting new teachers by attending career fairs at several post-secondary institutes and is finding creative ways to mitigate the recent challenges felt given the province-wide teacher shortage. These challenges increases immensely when it comes to hiring for CTR's rural communities. The Board thanked the Human Resources Department for their efforts.

Staff and students at Holy Cross Collegiate (HCC) and Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) in Strathmore are overjoyed with the completed renovations which have brought a new band room and chapel to HCC and returned SHA's gymnasium to its original size after housing the band room for years. Some refinements are needed, but all spaces are now being utilized.

Superintendent MacDonald reported on CTR’s work with Divisional Team Leads and School-Based Leaders. These leaders supported by CTR’s Directors of Learning, play a vital role in enhancing teacher capacity through professional development. Through collaboration, mentorship, and utilizing high yield instructional strategies, they enhance teacher efficacy, ensuring that all students benefit from enriched learning opportunities.

The Board recognized recipients of the recent ACSTA Awards, including Trustee John de Jong (Brooks), Meritorious Service Award; Dr. Bonnie Annicchiarico, Honorary Life Membership Award; and Stacey McNeil-Ayeh, Appreciation Award. Mr. de Jong and Dr. Annicchiarico received their awards at the ACSTA AGM and Mrs. McNeil-Ayeh was presented with her award by Andrew Gustafson, Vice Chair, at the November Board meeting.

Nominations were presented to ASBA for consideration on two CTR initiatives. CTR’s Ward Committees engagements with staff, parents, priests and students was nominated in the category of Community Engagement Award, and the Loose Parts Play and Nature Inspired Kindergarten initiative was nominated in the category of School Board Innovation and Excellence Award. Both initiatives have had a positive impact in the division.

In preparation for next October's provincial school board trustee election, Bylaws 2024-01 and 2024-02 underwent first, second and third readings by unanimous motion and have been adopted. Bylaw 2024-01 is with respect to the designation of ward boundaries, and Bylaw 2024-02 is with respect to the requirement of trustee nominees to obtain a criminal record check.

Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy intends for each student to visit the Shrine, with School Council covering costs for Grade 12 students. Also, this year, the Diocesan Advent Mission will be followed by Mass, and then will culminate in the picking up of the poinsettias at the Shrine as part of the School Council fundraiser.

Due to increasing enrolment, Okotoks principals are focused on strategic building use. St. Mary’s School cleared out several spaces to make creative regulation spaces, and St. John Paul II has undergone renovations of multiple spaces. Holy Trinity Academy is also coping with a space crunch due to increasing enrolment but despite this continues to prioritize smaller class sizes.

With the first round of Ward meetings completed, a summary of the feedback received from the student and parent / staff / priest engagement sessions was provided regarding the division's draft administrative procedure for personal mobile devices and social media use. Overall feedback received was supportive, and as per the Ministerial Order issued last spring, the AP will come into effect in January.

This Board Committee consists of teacher and administrative representatives from the Local ATA, superintendents and trustees. At their November meeting, teacher items discussed included teacher workload, classroom complexity, and leadership roles. Board items discussed included staff attendance, the draft administrative procedure regarding student personal mobile device use and faith as our foundation.

The Board Policy Development and Review Committee recently reviewed and suggested changes to Board Policy #01 – Divisional Foundation Statements; Board Policy #02 – Role of the Board; Board Policy #03 – Role of the Trustee; Board Policy #04 – Trustee Code of Conduct; and Board Policy #05 – Role of the Board Chair. Changes made to the Divisional Foundation Statements are reflective of discussions at the Board’s strategic meeting in October.

The Board approved the Audited Financial Statements for the year ending August 31, 2024. CTR continues to remain in a strong financial position with total revenues of $109,598,737 and total expenses of $107,735,796. This excess of revenue over expenses equates to an overall surplus position of $1,862,941.

To better align with enrolment numbers and facility demands, CTR will be updating its Three-year Capital Plan approved in 2024 to include a new high school announcement in Okotoks as the third priority. This follows the first priority of a new high school in Brooks, and the second priority of a permanent addition to Our Lady of the Snows in Canmore.

by John de Jong

Trustee (Brooks)

Beginning the new liturgical calendar year with the advent season brings a inspiring sense of hope and joy! Blessings constantly showered on us are often not recognized but are none the less evidence of God’s unconditional love and mercy! The beautiful Christ Child and His Blessed Parents, Holy Mary and St. Joseph show us in a very real human way the joys, struggles and challenges they faced over 2000 years ago not unlike what we experience at present.

As I look back during the past year, I have often contemplated what a truly amazing gift we have in our Catholic faith communities! Our families, our parishioners and priests, our students and staffs, each contribute in some measure to the building up of Christ’s kingdom on earth! Wow!...what gifts to cherish and give thanks for each day!

The past year CTR has again realized student growth in almost all of their schools and in particular the communities of Brooks, High River and Okotoks. The CTR board, administrators and staff eagerly look forward to the construction and completion of the new École Good Shepherd School in Okotoks. With the very positive completion of acquiring serviced municipal reserve land in Brooks for a new St. Joseph’s high school we are so encouraged with the support we have received from the Brooks community and in particularly the Brooks/Medicine Hat MLA and current Premier Honourable Danielle Smith! Once again, so much to be grateful and thankful for!!

In conclusion I wish to share a quote from one of the great saints of our recent times and how I believe it has impacted so much the success of our CTR division, its students and staff and many other individuals both past and present involved in this wonderful school district!

"Great love can change small things into great ones.

It is only love that lends value to our actions.”

St. Faustina Kowalska

Thank you to all of the administrators, staff, students, parents, priests and parishioners for your commitment to Catholic education and the responsibility of your love of educating our most precious gift - the children in our schools.

BLESSINGS & HAPPY ADVENT SEASON!

The next Board meeting will take place on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 9:00 am at Holy Family Academy, Brooks, 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.