Education
Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools – Board Meeting Highlights
From Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools
Inspired by Christ. Aspiring to Excellence.
Board of Trustees
Murray Hollman – Chair, Dorraine Lonsdale – Vice Chair, Sharla Heistad, Monique LaGrange, Cynthia Leyson, Kim Pasula, and Anne Marie Watson
Administrative Procedure 458 – Duty to Report:
The Secretary Treasurer presented the Administrative Procedure 458 – Duty to Report to the Board of Trustees, and highlighted that this procedure was communicated to all staff within the Division. For more information regarding Administrative Procedure 458 – Duty to Report, please click here.
Superintendent Report:
The Superintendent presented the report to the Board of Trustees, emphasizing the first Faith Formation evening for new probationary contract teachers. This gathering, which included administrators and Faith Coaches, senior administration, and trustees, gathered together for Mass held at St. Mary’s Parish on September 19th. The invitation for this Mass was extended to all Division staff via the Superintendent’s Weekly Update and school emails.
The Associate Superintendent of Curriculum shared that RDCRS is taking a measured, teacher-centered approach to curriculum implementation, emphasizing collective leadership and, acknowledging that implementation
is a gradual process similar to learning accommodating various paces and approaches. School administration teams held spring meetings to plan and establish support systems, while the Division has launched a website for
curriculum resources and encouraged schools to prioritize professional learning for this implementation.
This September, students across our Division are also learning from the finalized curriculum in:
• Kindergarten – Grade 3 French Immersion, Language Arts and Literature
• Kindergarten – Grade 3 Science
• Grades 4 – 6 English Language Arts and Literature
• Grades 4 – 6 Mathematics
The Division has also received $227,745.00 for resource allocation and $223,600.00 for professional learning and collaboration for the new curriculum implementation from Alberta Education.
In addition, the Superintendent and the Associate Superintendent of Curriculum met with Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) President and Vice President, Academic & Student Experience at the Confluence Campus in Rocky Mountain House. The meeting aimed to introduce the new RDP leadership to the facility, assess community needs, and discuss future partnerships, particularly focusing on dual-credit programs and work-integrated learning opportunities for students within the school division. For more information regarding the Superintendent Report, please click here.
Joint Meeting with The City of Red Deer:
The Superintendent informed the Board about upcoming stakeholder engagement meetings and acknowledged the Board’s request for more time for discussions with City of Red Deer Councillors. The Superintendent welcomed suggestions from the Board, and a variety of potential topics were discussed including future land availability for Catholic schools, improved accessibility to recreational facilities, youth and training programs, more frequent review of City transit contracts, safety concerns at the Collicutt Centre, and the potential for recreation facilities to support structured programming. The Board of Trustees is also interested in a GH Dawe Community Centre presentation and how the facility could be utilized by Division schools.
Secretary Treasurer Report:
The Secretary Treasurer provided the Board of Trustees with an update on the St. Lorenzo Ruiz Middle School Capital Project, highlighting the Division’s ongoing efforts to finalize both the school construction and its financial aspects. Additionally, emphasis was placed on the Division’s anticipation and enthusiasm for the upcoming grand opening event of St. Lorenzo Ruiz. For more information about the Secretary Treasurer Report, please click here.
School Bus Advanced Funding:
The Secretary Treasurer shared with the Board of Trustees that on September 8th, RDCRS received notification from Christine Sewell, Assistant Deputy Minister Financial Services and Capital Planning, regarding new funding for school boards managing their transportation fleets. Due to transportation guideline changes for 2023-2024, RDCRS will require 10-15 additional buses. The Division is currently in the process of determining the exact number of buses required before applying for the School Bus Advanced Funding Program. For more information, please click here.
The next Board Meeting will take place on Friday, October 27, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
Just when we thought our smiles couldn’t get any bigger – they did! And we have the Red Deer community to thank for their overwhelming support.
We are so excited to share the total from the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign this past spring…and it’s very impressive. In fact, it’s an all-time record, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
Over the long-week campaign held April 28-May 4, Red Deerians indulged in a lot of cookies – $80,773 worth! These funds will go directly to helping struggling readers become readers of potential through Reading College, a project of The Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools.
Reading College, held each July, provides students with identified reading gaps an incredible summer experience that builds their skills, confidence, and love for reading. Students leave the program with stronger reading and writing abilities, and a solid foundation for success in school and life. Now in its 14th year, 1,000 students have graduated from Reading College.
“We continue to be amazed by the generosity of our community and the partnership with Tim Hortons,” said Kristine Plastow, Board Chair for The Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools. “These dollars directly impact kids who need extra support to become confident readers. The difference this program makes is life-changing.”
Tanya Doucette, Tim Hortons Restaurant Owner in Red Deer, said it’s incredible to see what can happen when a community comes together. The simple act of purchasing a cookie by so many amazing guests, makes a huge difference for young students right here in Red Deer.
“This record-breaking year shows how much our guests care. We are so pleased to support Reading College and help give students the tools they need to thrive,” she said.
When you meet Brayden Chenier, a Grade 8 student at GH Dawe School, it’s clear why he’s been chosen to represent youth across Alberta. Brayden is the proud recipient of the Integrated School Support Program Provincial (ISSP) Chief Youth Courage Award, presented by the Calgary Police Youth Foundation, in recognition of his resilience, leadership and commitment to his community.
The award celebrates students who demonstrate courage and dedication to becoming a responsible and caring citizen, especially within a diverse school and community, and was presented earlier this spring at the Calgary Police Awards Gala. As part of the honour, Brayden will now serve as a youth ambassador, helping to raise awareness about child and youth crime prevention, education, and intervention programs across the province.
“It’s pretty surreal that I will be all over the province for a year,” said Brayden. “I am looking forward to helping out in the community.”
Brayden has been part of the ISSP program through GH Dawe School since 2023 and has benefited greatly from the support offered.
With the support of the mental health professional, Brayden has been able to successfully navigate a variety of challenges in his life including coming to terms with his disability and navigating a tragic loss in his life.
Born with clubfoot, Brayden has never let his physical disability stand in his way. He is an avid athlete in a number of sports including hockey, basketball, golf, track, volleyball and soccer. His goal is working towards becoming an athlete in the Paralympics.
Brayden was nominated by GH Dawe School Counsellor Amy Johansson, who described him as a compassionate, kind, hardworking, and honest person who is driven and motivated to be his very best at all that he attempts.
She added that within the GH Dawe School community, Brayden is a highly respected citizen by all students and staff. “He is highly committed to sports connected to our school, as well as sports outside of our school community. Brayden works diligently at his academics. And is so very helpful and caring, always. Brayden works to overcome a list of things that he will not allow to hold him back.”
GH Dawe School is part of Alberta’s Integrated School Support Program – a child wellness initiative aimed at improving academic performance and the overall well-being of students. The program supports schools like GH Dawe with services to meet the diverse needs of students and families.
As he takes on his role as a provincial ambassador, Brayden continues to be a role model for his peers and a reminder of the power of perseverance and community support.
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