Judi Hunter – Ward 5 Trustee
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I wish each of you a wonderful holiday break and a Merry Christmas.
Our staff and students have been working hard. Schools are busy places, not only focusing on academic learning and assessment but also giving band performances, engaging in sports competitions, drama productions, leadership activities, field trips, and community contribution activities. The Board has published it Annual Education Assurance Results Report. It is available on the Rocky View Schools website. rockyview.ab.ca
Congratulations to Airdrie City Council for working with the new Francophone school to build a gymnasium that can be used by the public. The City will run the gym. Strathmore built a similar facility. This model is an effective use of our taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. For those of you who would like to see this in action, I invite you to visit the George Freeman School in Strathmore. The gym is built with a separate and secure entrance for public use.
Link to article www.airdriecityview.com/local-news/airdrie-council-commits-up-to-4m-for-gym-at-new-francophone-school-7799160
The new Hautes-Plaines Francophone school is set to open in Airdrie in 2027.
The name Hautes-Plaines refers to the topography of the territory where the school is located. The latter is located on a plateau of approximately 1,100 meters above sea level, surrounded by plains which form the beginning of the Canadian prairies and the beginning
of the Rocky Mountains.
The Tsqéscen is the seventh First Nation to do so since 2022 www.wltribune.com/news/tsqescen-first-nation-takes-control-of-childrens-education-6830875
Indigenous Cultural Liaisons
The Indigenous Learning team is happy to welcome new Indigenous cultural liaisons. Stacey Dyck and Nicole Runner These two new members will support schools in offering cultural lessons, teachings, and support to staff and students, as well as support bridging communication between school and home for Indigenous students and families.
Mandatory Holocaust Education in BC High Schools www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-holocaust-education-mandatory-1.7013308
British Columbia will make Holocaust education mandatory for Grade 10 students starting in the fall of 2025. B.C. Premier David Eby says the move comes during a “frightening” time for the Jewish community, citing a rise in antisemitic incidents in B.C. amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Education minister tasked with creating universal nutrition program.
Manitoba’s new education minister has been handed an ambitious to-do list that includes developing a universal nutrition program, appointing a senior advisor of Indigenous excellence in schooling, and introducing P3 accountability legislation.
Nova Scotia education minister says naloxone in schools being discussed for new year.
Nova Scotia’s education minister says the government is discussing the idea of making naloxone kits available in the province’s schools, as the Liberal opposition presses for rapid action. Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and can save lives if administered rapidly. Education Minister Becky Druhan says the use of opioids at high schools in the province is “concerning,”
B.C. announces funding for prefab classrooms for growing Vancouver Island school district
The B.C. government is funding the expansions of at least two schools using prefabricated additions — which are more permanent than portables and quicker to complete than traditional construction.
