Division Newsletter: May 2025

Announcement, Board of Trustees, Celebration, Engagement
May 22, 2025

Hello,

We have entered the final stretch of the school year, and our division and school teams are working together to promote the engagement, support, and success for each learner. The graduation season begins on May 23 with the ÉSFCHS | AHSFA convocation ceremony. The remainder of ceremonies will be taking place on June 26. We also look forward to the many celebrations of students who will be advancing to a new FSD school in the Fall. Congratulations to all students and graduates!

Here's what we have for you this month:

Register today for the FSD Summer School First Responder Program
Two FSD principals receive the Distinguished Leadership Award
Navigate complexity with purpose and clarity in the May edition of Footnotes
Learn about FSD Board of Trustees and upcoming elections
Empowering student learning through trustee professional development
Fiscal accountability -- budget and capital planning
Student Learning: one responsibility, many pathways to success
Celebrate Indigenous Graduates at the second annual First Nations, Métis & Inuit Graduation Celebration on May 31
FSD Board of Trustees advocate for all learners
Raise your voice and promote FSDs advocacy areas of priority
Don't miss the bus! Register for Transportation before May 31
Drive success at the second annual FORE Education Golf Tournament
FSD & Education News

As always, we encourage you to connect with your schools and school councils to inform decision making in FSD.

We thank you for your partnership in education.

	First Responder Program Offered during Summer School: July 2 - 29, 2025 Hosted at ÉSFCHS \| AHSFA The aim of the First Responder Program is to foster an understanding and appreciation of the first responder community and the agencies that work within it. Now offered in Level 1 and Level 2 segments! View Course Outlines: First Responder Level 1 First Responder Level 2 Certifications available upon successful completion of the program: Standard First Aid – Level C with CPR & AED Airway Management Oxygen Therapy BLS CPR Skills gained: knowledge and skills necessary in an emergency to help sustain life, and manage an emergency scene and prioritize injury management and patient care. minimize the consequences of injury or sudden illness for those functioning as a member of the health care team in a pre-hospital setting. Ideal for students exploring careers in: First Responder (EMS, Fire, Police) Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy Medicine, Nursing & more. Students will have access to and support from First Responder Agency Professionals. This course will focus in particular on dealing with more advanced first aid concepts and training on the use of AED’s as well as how to deal with traumatic type injury care and specialized life-saving emergency measures. The First Responder Program will introduce orientation drills and basic search and rescue tactics and develop tactical and critical thinking skills and rational thinking to deal with emergencies. This course will focus in particular on dealing with more advanced first aid concepts and training on the use of AED’s as well as airway adjuncts and oxygen therapy treatment and the team approach to patient care in first responder roles. Students learn how to deal with traumatic type injury care and specialized life-saving emergency measures to use wound packing and tourniquets to “Stop The Bleed – Save A Life Trauma Care Response.” The students will explore and develop an understanding of the complexities of stress and the effect that these stress filled career choices can have on a first responders’ mental health. Students will build an understanding of the impact that critical incident stress management can have to minimize the impact of these environments and the supporting agencies that are exist to help first responders. This course includes a variety of hands-on activities such as learning to deal with multiple casualty incidents, confined spaces and entrapment exercises to simulate a fire fighter escape during building collapse scenario, and other industry standard and practical experiential learning opportunities, and includes certification for BLS CPR. Registration closes May 31, 2025 Click here to visit our website for more details and to register Contact Rob Gallacher, Principal Summer School

	FSD celebrates two school leaders receiving the ATA Council for School Leadership Distinguished Leadership Award Foothills School Division is proud to announce that two of its school leaders have been selected as recipients of the Alberta Teachers' Association Council for School Leadership (CSL) Distinguished Leadership Award. The award recognizes school leaders who demonstrate exemplary leadership skills and contribute to the overall well-being of students, staff, and the wider community. Sarah Clark, Principal at Dr. Morris Gibson School in Okotoks Ms. Sarah Clark, Principal at Dr. Morris Gibson School in Okotoks, exemplifies exceptional leadership through her commitment to fostering effective relationships and creating a welcoming, caring, respectful, and safe learning environment. Her dedication to the well-being of students, staff, and the broader community is evident in her empathetic approach, collaborative spirit, and ability to inspire and motivate those around her. Ms. Clark's visionary leadership and innovative practices have made a profound impact on her school community, making her a deserving Divisional nominee and recipient of the CSL Distinguished Leadership award. Lauren Frandle, Vice Principal at Meadow Ridge School and Principal designate at Westmount School in Okotoks Lauren Frandle is an exceptional leader whose compassion, dedication, intelligence, and creativity have made a significant impact on the Foothills School Division and the schools she has lead. Her ability to build meaningful relationships, design engaging learning experiences, and navigate complex challenges with determination and humility make her a deserving recipient of the CSL Distinguished Leadership nomination and award. Ms. Frandle’s student focus, visionary leadership and commitment to excellence have earned her the deep respect and admiration of colleagues, students, and the broader school community. Foothills School Division looks forward to celebrating Ms. Clark and Ms. Frandle at the provincial celebration event as well as at the division's Board Recognition Lunch in June.

	Footnotes: May 2025 Navigating Complexity with Purpose and Clarity Good governance does not happen in isolation—it is a shared effort, built on listening and exchange. Like a compass that needs many hands to hold it steady, continuous communication helps us navigate complexity with purpose and clarity. The four directions of a compass remind us of what sustains good governance: engagement, where community voice is gathered alignment, where values meet action decision making, where board responsibility is exercised strategic priorities, where together, we stay focused on the future. Reciprocal communication between all shareholders keeps this compass steady—promoting that we not only move forward, but move together. Parents and guardians, as partners in education, share in this responsibility by participating in engagement opportunities and providing feedback that informs strategic priorities and decision making. Read the May 2025 edition of Footnotes

	Board of Trustees Foothills School Division is governed by six elected officials who represent the five wards of the division. They set the strategic direction of the division and allocate resources to achieve the Education Plan. You can learn more about the work of our Board of Trustees at our website. Board Meeting Dates Members of the public are welcome to attend regular Board Meetings. These meetings are held at the 2nd Floor Board Room at FSD Division Office, 129 4th Avenue SW in High River. Meetings begin promptly at 1:00 pm. May 28, 2025 June 25, 2025 To learn more about board operations, please see Policy 6 – Board Operations Board of Trustee Elections The next Municipal and School Board Election Day will be held on Monday, October 20, 2025. School board trustees are locally-elected representatives who play a critical role in shaping the future of public education. To learn more about being a FSD School Board Trustee, please see our Trustee Guide to Good Governance and Board Responsibilities pages. All applicable nomination forms are available from Alberta.ca/school-board-elections (go to website) Running for Office Foothills School Division promotes and encourages its interested citizens to run for the office of elected school board trustee. The Division is committed to providing an environment that will give all candidates fair access to the electorate. Resource: School board elections guide (Alberta.ca) School board elections fact sheet (Alberta.ca) Visit our website for more information on Trustee Governance and Elections

	ATM: Empowering Student Learning Through Trustee Professional Development Sharon Nichols Trustee, Ward 4 Published: May 20, 2025 Trustee professional development is an essential component of effective educational governance, directly impacting student achievement and well-being. Our Board continuously refines our skills and expands our knowledge, strengthening our ability to lead and support Foothills School Division, ensuring that every student benefits from a high-quality, inclusive learning environment. Guiding the development of policies and strategies that foster student success and well-being is a fundamental duty of the Board of Trustees in its governance role. Our responsibilities include maintaining a focus on achievement, fostering equitable access to education, and cultivating inclusive learning environments that prioritize respect and engagement. Strong governance depends on trustees who are well-informed and committed to the continual improvement of their leadership practices. Read the Full ATM at our website

	ATM: Fiscal Accountability – Budget and Capital Planning Lisa Penzo Trustee, Ward 4 Published: May 12, 2025 In the Foothills School Division (FSD), fiscal accountability stands as a cornerstone of effective governance, ensuring that educational resources are managed responsibly to support student success. The FSD Board of Trustees, guided by the Foothills School Division Trustee Guide to Good Governance, embraces this responsibility with a focus on transparent budgeting and strategic capital planning. Budgeting: Aligning Resources with Educational Priorities Budgeting within FSD is a deliberate process that reflects the division's mission to nurture each student's unique gifts and abilities. The Board of Trustees plays a pivotal role in this process by: Establishing Budget Assumptions and Guidelines Approving the Annual Budget Monitoring Financial Performance Read the full ATM at our website

	ATM: Student Learning: One Responsibility, Many Pathways to Success Theresa Letendre Board Chair Trustee, Ward 3 Published: May 5, 2025 At the heart of every decision made by the Board of Trustees is a simple but powerful question: How does this support student learning? The Foothills School Division Trustee Guide to Good Governance identifies student learning as a core responsibility of trusteeship. Trustees are entrusted with setting the strategic direction, approving policies, allocating resources, and monitoring results, all with the goal of improving outcomes for every student we serve. Student learning encompasses more than academic achievement; it also includes the social, emotional, and physical well-being of students. Through our governance role, the Board is committed to ensuring that every learner has equitable access to high-quality instruction, welcoming learning environments, and the supports they require to thrive. Read the full ATM at our website

	2025 First Nations, Métis & Inuit Graduation Celebration May 31, 2025 5:00 - 6:00 PM Murray Arena, Okotoks Recreation Centre We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting the Class of 2025 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Graduation Celebration on May 31, 2025. The event will take place during the Town of Okotoks Artisan Market, Tipi Camp, and Pow-wow within Murray Arena at the Okotoks Recreation Centre. Questions? Charity Tegler, Director of Indigenous Learning & Equity telgerc@fsd38.ab.ca


	Advocating for All Learners The Board of Trustees are continuously learning and engaging with other boards, partners, and local government to better understand the issues that impact education, and use their collective voice to advocate for learners in Foothills School Division. Much of this advocacy is evident in letters to leaders in municipal, provincial, and even federal government. Visit our website or click the links below to read recent letters of advocacy on behalf of the Board of Trustees. March 31, 2025 - Minister of Indigenous Services Canada Changes to Jordan’s Principle Supports for Off-Reserve School Boards March 31, 2025 - Minister of Education Federal Changes to Jordan’s Principle and Implications for Alberta’s Education System March 2025 Public Funding Does not Equal Public Education February 27, 2025 - Accreditation Officer, School Accreditation, Monitoring and Print Services Notification of Public Charter School Application: Academy of Business Literacy and Entrepreneurship February 5, 2025 - Alberta Emerald Foundation Grant Committee Letter of Support for Oilfields High School’s Vertical Farm Initiative October 21, 2024 - Minister of Education Support for Livingstone-Range School Division: Alberta Teaching Profession Commission (ATPC) (Oct. 8, 2024)

	Raise Your Voice Advocacy is your opportunity to influence change for our division and for school boards across Alberta. We invite you, our community, to support these advocacy efforts. The Board of Trustees hold advocacy as one of their key responsibilities. The following five areas of priority are where we are currently focussing our efforts to best serve the needs of our students. You can raise your voice by sharing these areas of priority with your provincial elected officials including MLAs, Ministers, and Premier Smith. Our Priorities Classroom Complexities Require Additional Funding Provide equity of opportunity and school-based services for rural communities Change the way school capacity is calculated to allow for learning spaces to be recognized and funded accordingly Increase transportation funding to meet the provincial mandate Implement Alberta Education-funded full-time kindergarten across the province Secure construction funding for a new high school in Okotoks(Achieved in February 2025) Here’s how to get started: Explore this Advocacy page and find the priorities that best interest you. See our guide on writing your letter and be sure to add your thoughts. Email your signed letter to your elected officials and Foothills School Division. Enjoy the warm feeling of influencing change for students in Foothills School Division.

	Don't miss the bus! Register for Transportation by May 31 More students are now eligible to ride the bus next fall. Students qualify for transportation based on the following conditions: Students registered in Foothills School Division (FSD) and attending a school within their designated attendance boundary; or Students directed to a school outside their attendance boundary school for FSD some regional programs (these include French Immersion, and inclusive learning programs); and Students whose residence (home address) is: 1.6 km* or more from their designated school for students in Kindergarten to grade 6 2.0 km* or more from their designated school for students in grades 7 to 12 Applying for Transportation For returning students, registration is now open until May 31, 2025. The student address on the application must match what is on file in Edsembli If your address has changed, please update your student’s information via the Student Verification form on the Edsembli Family Portal before submitting the application Apply for Transportation today Transportation Fees To meet increasing costs in Transportation, a nominal fee will be applied to approved bus riders: $100 per rider Maximum $250 fee per household The fee will be applied to student accounts on Edsembli in June after approval. Fees are to be paid before a rider is assigned to a route Payment of fees are required by June 30, 2025 New to FSD? Please apply for transportation after you have successfully enrolled with the school. Fees will be applied after your application is approved.

	Friends of Foothills Schools Foundation Second Annual FORE Education Golf Tournament Saturday, June 14, 2025 \| 1:00 PM Shotgun Start Highwood Golf Club, High River Get ready for a day of fun, camaraderie, and giving back at the 2nd Annual FORE Education Golf Tournament, held at the beautiful Highwood Golf Club. This exciting event supports the Friends of Foothills Schools Foundation, dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for students in the Foothills School Division. Join us to make a difference while enjoying a great day on the course! Register today and help us drive success for students of Foothills School Division. Learn more and register at the FFSF website

Students learned about the northern hawk owl and how to draw it during a lesson by Paul Rasporich at École Percy Pegler School on Feb. 11.Amir Said/Western Wheel	FOOTHILLS Magazine: Teaching much more than art Paul Rasporich knew he was destined to teach art to kids. A staple of the Okotoks arts scene for years, including a lengthy run as an art teacher at Foothills Composite High School/Alberta High School of Fine Arts, Rasporich was struggling to make ends meet as an artist more than a quarter-century ago when he had an out-of-body experience. “I was at home looking after my boys when I felt really tired, so I took rest on the bed. I closed my eyes and my body felt like it was paralyzed,” he remembers. “The next thing I knew there was a thunderclap and I was out of my body. I kept going and going, like an eagle, until I came upon a big tree with two Indigenous men, one on either side of the tree. It was all telepathic, there was no talking, but they told me to look behind the tree to a cliff, a red cliff filled with holes representing the unfilled potential of children, not necessarily Indigenous children, but all children. “The men said, ‘With your skills, you know how to address this.’” With help from his grandmother, Rasporich returned to school to get a teaching degree to pair with an earlier diploma in visual communications and embarked on a career that has also taken him to a Calgary charter school as well as schools in Cayley and Blackie. Read the full article at the WesternWheel.ca

	Find FSD on the 'gram Celebrate the engagement, support, and success of all students at FSD's Instagram page! Follow us @Foothills.School.Division to see stories from schools across the division.

Important Dates May 31 - 2025-2026 Bus Registration closes June 20 - Professional Learning Day - Elementary & Junior High Schools June 27 - Final Day of Classes August 15 - 2025-2026 Homeroom and Timetables published on Edsembli August 29 - Student Transition Day September 2 - First day of classes View the year-at-a glance here: bit.ly/FSD-Calendar


May 21 - A golfing fundraiser supporting our local schools is set for next month (HighRiverOnline.com) May 20 - GALLERY: Okotoks schools power to zone championships (WesternWheel.ca) May 17 - Okotoks creates youth positions on committees and boards (WesternWheel.ca) May 16 - Okotoks council holds theatre budget at $6.5M (WesternWheel.ca) May 16 - Okotoks high school celebrates Indigenous culture (WesternWheel.ca) May 16 - Diamond Valley students experience reality of impaired driving (WesternWheel.ca) May 15 - Local students showcase strategic skills during inaugural chess tournament (High River Online.com) May 13 - Two dozen in Foothills receive King Charles II Coronation Medal (WesternWheel.ca) May 13 - Gallery: Students get sobering look at consequences of impaired driving (HighRiverOnline.com) May 13 - Canadian youth struggle with making friends an bullying: UNICEF report (HighRiverOnline.com) May 13 - Thousands of Alberta civil servants vote to strike to back demands (HighRiverOnline.com) May 12 - Busy start to year for Millarville Stockland 4-H Club (WesternWheel.ca) May 12 - Investigation finds Alberta government not complying with freedom of information laws May 11 - Military aircraft to fly over Kananaskis in the coming weeks (HighRiverOnline.com) May 10 - Three Okotoks school leaders receive provincial recognition (WesternWheel.ca) May 8 - Could Alberta teachers go on strike? Here are the next steps (HighRiverOnline.com) May 8 - Dewdney Players classic returns to the stage after 25 years (HighRiverOnline.com) May 6 - Teachers reject mediator's recommendations (Teachers.ab.ca) May 6 - Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls honoured in Okotoks (WesternWheel.ca) May 6 - Foothills School Division could be looking at a $2 to $4 million budget shortfall in 2025-26 (HighRiverOnline.com) May 5 - Measles immunization efforts ramping up across the province (HighRiverOnline.com) May 2 - Design of theatre in Okotoks on hold after cost estimates rise (WesternWheel.ca) April 29 - Spring Bash bringing international rugby to Okotoks (WesternWheel.ca)