Your Voice: Improving Education

Did you know?

You have opportunities to be involved in decisions about your child’s overall education experience? Your input about your child’s learning, access to services, program of studies, and access to supports and services is considered to shape the landscape of learning at your child’s school, within Foothills School Division, and across Alberta. Foothills School Division is committed to student success, and as a partner in education, you too are committed to the continuous improvement of learning. 

In the upcoming days, you will receive an invitation from the Government of Alberta to complete the Alberta Education Assurance Survey. The importance of doing this survey is to have your voice heard and to promote your involvement in your child’s overall education. Your participation is vital to the improvement of the quality of learning within Foothills School Division. 

Parents are partners in education. Responses by parents for Foothills School Division inform our decision-making for student learning, This growth and development is best shown in our Education Plan and Annual Education Results Report. I thank you for your participation in this highly valuable survey. Here are a few highlights of the high-quality learning opportunities across Foothills School Division.

Our Parents Are Involved

Your participation in this survey is a significant contribution to your child’s learning. Some other examples of parent involvement include:

• Attending school events/performances
• Connecting with your child’s teacher(s)
• Viewing your child’s gradebook in the Edsembli Family Portal
• Attend learner conferences (parent-teacher interview)
• Attending School Council meetings
• Creating welcoming, safe, caring, respectful learning environments

Our Students Receive High Quality Education Opportunities

Over 80% of parents agree that FSD provides quality teaching and education. They report that their children find schoolwork challenging and interesting, and they understand what they are expected to learn. Parents believe their children are learning what they need to know, including useful skills like numeracy and literacy. FSD strives to improve the student experience at each school, regardless of grade, stage, or community, ensuring learning consistently is of high quality.

Our Students are Safe, Caring, Welcoming, Respectful, School Citizens

As a Place for All, Foothills School Division offers a safe and caring learning environment, where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Parents have given positive feedback about our schools being welcoming and students being respectful. FSD encourages students to do their best and become active community members. Overall, FSD strives to create an empowering environment where students help each other and become responsible citizens.

Parents have told us that their child feels safe at school, safe when travelling to and from school, and that teachers care about their child, and that all children are treated fairly. 

Our Schools Work Continuously to Improve Learning

In 2023, 80% of parents say that student learning and engagement, education quality, and safe, caring welcoming environments, are significant strengths at FSD.  Our parents have indicated that the program of studies has ranked higher than the province average. Some of our learning opportunities include:

• Technology: access to learning tools in the class, maker-centered learning, Career Technology Foundations and Career Technology Studies, robotics, my Blueprint
• Drama: Winter/Spring school-wide performances, drama classes, plays
• Health & Phys Ed: Implementation of new PhysEd and Wellness curriculum at the K-6 level, extracurriculars (teams, clubs), Career and Life Management (CALM), and financial literacy through industry partnerships.
• Another language: French Immersion, French Second Language, Spanish  

Our Students are Prepared for the Future with Learning that Transfers

Students are being prepared for life after school and to be positive citizens within their community through their learning competencies in critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. These skills are integrated into daily learning, building a solid foundation of soft skills that lead students to successful academic and career options.  

Our Students Have Access to Support and Services that Meet Their Needs

Our schools are equipped with several avenues of support and services for students. This includes one-to-one help but also considers support in a larger sense. You and your child can access these supports and services:

Wellness and Social-Emotional Support

• Family School Liaison Counsellors & Youth Development Counsellors
• Youth Development Coaches
• Community Support Partners: The Network, Inclusion Foothills, AHS

Academic Supports

• Academic and Career Advisors (Career Counselling and Programming Support for High School Students)
• Learning Coaches 
• Educational Assistants
• Connecting with your school for additional learning support for help with reading, writing, and mathematics (literacy and numeracy)

Engaging Programming

• Learning Commons (School Library Services)
• In-school groups including Students' Matters provide voice at the school and system level
• Career Technology Foundations and Career Technology Studies Programming

Thank you for your participation!

Chris Fuzessy
Superintendent of Schools