Division Newsletter: December 2025
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December 19, 2025 |
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Seasons Greetings from the FSD Board of TrusteesAs we near the end of another remarkable year in Foothills School Division, the Board of Trustees extends our heartfelt appreciation to our students, staff, families, and community partners. Your dedication and collaboration continue to shape a thriving, supportive learning community where every learner is valued and encouraged to grow. This season is a time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the many ways our schools flourish because of the people within them. Thank you for the care you bring to our classrooms, the trust you place in our system, and the countless contributions that strengthen our shared commitment to student success. We wish you a restful winter break and a season filled with joy, connection, and well-deserved moments of peace. We look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the new year. Warmest wishes,
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What’s inside this newsletter:
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Happy Winter BreakA friendly reminder that Winter Break occurs December 20 through to January 4, 2025. All schools will be closed during this time. Division Office will be open December 29, 30, 31, and January 2. |
French 50 Bakery Honoured for Bringing Language and Community to LifeThe Foothills School Division is proud to recognize French 50 Bakery, a beloved Okotoks business, as the newest recipient of the Flourishing Foothills Community Award. This award celebrates French 50 Bakery’s outstanding partnership with École Percy Pegler School (ÉPPS) and its meaningful contributions to French language learning and cultural connection in the Foothills.
The Flourishing Foothills Community Award honours individuals and organizations whose actions, leadership, and support place education at the heart of community life. These are partners who lift others up, build connections, and enrich the learning experiences of students and staff.
Owners Marie-Luce Denis and Brad Labrenz have welcomed French Immersion students from École Percy Pegler (ÉPPS), into French 50 Bakery, offering them a unique opportunity to practice their language skills in a real-world setting. With French-speaking staff and a warm, encouraging atmosphere, the bakery has become an extension of the classroom—a place where students can order, converse, and interact en français with confidence.
Beyond language learning, French 50 Bakery has created a space where students and educators experience French culture through food, hospitality, and connection. Their thoughtful gestures—including extending treats and kindness to ÉPPS staff—reflect a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of the entire school community.
“French 50 has become a living example of what it means to place education at the heart of community life,” said Board Chair Theresa Letendre. “Their commitment to welcoming students, nurturing language, and celebrating culture creates moments that are joyful, meaningful, and lasting. These are the partnerships that help our students—and our communities—truly flourish.”
Nominator and French Immersion Teacher at ÉPPS, Lisa Striemer, added, “It has been such a pleasure to partner with French 50 to promote the French language in an authentic way for our students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 at Percy Pegler. French 50 has opened their doors to us with enthusiasm, kindness and demonstrated the true meaning of community! Merci beaucoup!”
Marie-Luce Denis stated upon receiving the award, “There is nothing more magical than watching a child realize they understood what someone said in another language. And even better is the moment when they find the confidence to respond in their new learned language. That spark of pride is truly beautiful to witness.”
She continues, “We are so grateful to be a part of this community and it is a privilege to support opportunities for children to speak French, with a strong supportive community and the passionate teachers, it feels natural that we all work together, intertwining our efforts to inspire even more curiosity for the French language and culture. Thank you for sharing your voices, your enthusiasm and your joy with us. You have brought so much warmth to this season and we are honoured to celebrate with you.”
The celebration took place on December 8, 2025, outside French 50 Bakery, where students from ÉPPS serenaded the owners with French songs as a gesture of appreciation. Board Chair Theresa Letendre, Vice Chair Lisa Penzo, Trustee Sherry Butler, Superintendent Chris Fuzessy, school staff, administration, school council members, and members of the public all gathered to honour the occasion.
Foothills School Division extends heartfelt congratulations to French 50 Bakery for their remarkable contributions. Their ongoing support strengthens the ties between school, family, and community, and illustrates the extraordinary impact of local partnerships.
To nominate an individual, group, or organization for the Flourishing Foothills Community Award, please visit: https://www.foothillsschooldivision.ca/flourishing-foothills-community-award
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Check out the 2024-2025 AERR
The AERR is a record of the progress of our Education Plan, and includes data from the Alberta Education Assurance Measure (AEAM) Survey, FSD Assurance Survey, Student Orientation to Schools Questionnaire (SOS-Q), PAT and Diploma results, literacy and numeracy assessments… and so much more. It is a robust and informative document that is a celebration of the work of our system and our people (you), who contribute to the engagement, support, and success of each learner.
The AERR is a public document. You can view it on our website:
Resources to support the understanding of the data:
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Reminder: January Exam Schedule UpdateA friendly reminder that there has been a change to the January 2026 Grade 12 Diploma Exams and Grade 9 Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) (Read release from Alberta.ca).
Alberta Education announced in October that the January Diploma Exams, as well as the Grade 9 PATs, have been cancelled. Here is how it impacts our instructional calendar to assure student learning:
Option to Write Diploma
We recognize that these assessments are significant milestones for our students. Teachers will continue to assess student learning through classroom activities, assignments, and unit exams. As always, student gradebooks are accessible for families to view on an ongoing basis in the Edsembli Family Portal. Please continue to be engaged in your child’s learning and reach out to their teachers if you have any questions or concerns about their progress.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we adjust to this change in January 2026 assessments. If you have questions regarding the cancellation of assessments or would like more information, please connect with the Ministry of Education and Childcare. For all other inquiries regarding your child’s learning, please contact your child’s school.
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2025-2026 Instructional Calendar Updates
If you have questions specific to your child’s school, please follow up directly with the school.
View the Instructional Calendar at our website View the Part Time Kindergarten Calendar
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Your Board of TrusteesThe FSD Board of Trustees are dedicated to fostering open communication with parents and guardians. We are your elected representatives, ready to respond to your questions and concerns and ensure your voice is heard at the board level.
Your TrusteesFSD is governed by six trustees who represent all schools in our five wards. Trustees are elected by the community to make sure every student in Foothills has access to a strong public education.
Trustees:
Board MeetingsAll Public Board Meetings are held at Division Office unless otherwise noted. Meetings begin promptly at 1:00 pm.
2025-2026
Learn more about the Board of Trustees: |
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Audited Financial Statement, year ending August 31, 2025 |
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Reminders for Safe Transportation in Winter Weather
As winter weather sets in, we are sharing important information about how road and weather conditions can affect school bus travel.
Buses are large and heavy, which means they require more space and time than a passenger vehicle to safely maneuver and stop. On icy roads, buses require even more space and can slide or get stuck without adequate traction.
Our drivers are trained to handle the challenge of icy roads and adverse weather, but sometimes the safest choice is to adjust routes or ask families to assist with a safe pickup. We recognize that changes to a bus route can be inconvenient, and we truly appreciate your flexibility during these times. Please know that every decision we make is guided by our commitment to student and driver safety and well-being.
What Families Can Expect: As we know, the weather can change very quickly in our region. When a bus driver encounters or knows ahead of time that a road is impassable or unsafe, they will contact impacted families directly to arrange an alternate location for pickup or drop‑off. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we prioritize student and driver safety. Bus route delays greater than 10 minutes or cancellations will be noted at our website (link). We encourage families to download the FSD App (link) to get push notifications on critical bus route alerts.
Key Safety Considerations:
The safety of every student and driver is our priority. We are grateful for your partnership and understanding as we navigate the challenges of winter weather together. For additional information about transportation services and safety, please review the Transportation Handbook.
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Let’s Talk: WebsiteDo you wonder why Foothills School Division (FSD) sometimes has the number 38 associated with its name? The Foothills School Division previously operated as “Foothills School Division No. 38”, after amalgamating in the 1980s.
Now in Alberta, the number associated with school boards is no longer required, and FSD has been operating as the Foothills School Division for several years. To align the Division’s name with its online presence, Foothills School Division will be making a shift from foothillsschooldivision.ca (website) and fsd38.ab.ca (email), and foothills.school.division (Instagram) to one handle: foothills.ab.ca.
With this change, we are looking for your feedback to enhance the look and feel of our current website. We invite you to complete a brief survey to inform the website redesign and future communications from the Foothills School Division.
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Get Connected |
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The FSD Board of Trustees reviewed and approved the 2024-2025 Annual Education Results Report (AERR) at the December 10, 2025, Board Meeting.
