F oothills

OILFIELDS’ QUEST PROGRAM

Scott Carey, Principal of Oilfields School, and Quest

teacher Adam Argento provided Trustees with an

update on this award-winning grade 10-12 outdoor

adventure learning program introduced at the school six

years ago. Scott credited then Oilfields’ vice-principal

Cynthia Glaicar (now principal at Westmount School)

with having the dream of a program that would enable

students to achieve learning outcomes through a year-long

outdoor education program.

Quest combines traditional classroom instruction with

outdoor experiential learning through cross-curricular

projects and field studies. The program also features small

class sizes, peer mentoring in a multi-grade learning

environment, and strong teacher relationships. In addition

to Adam Argento (who provides CTS and Outdoor Ed.

instruction), the Quest teaching team includes Karen Larter

(Math and Sciences) and Chase Sillito (English and Social

Studies), who work collaboratively to instruct and support

students in their learning.

Structured as a three-year program for approximately 30+

students per year, Quest features a yearly environmental

education theme through which students explore core

curricular outcomes for the entire year: 2015-16:

Biodiversity (Biology focus); 2016-17: Energy (Physics

focus); 2017-18 Water (Chemistry focus). For example, this

year Quest students have been participating in the Fish in

Schools program, a stewardship project to contribute to the

ecosystem health in local watersheds. Students have

raised 60 rainbow trout from eggs that were released in

Champion Lakes west of Millarville.

Students generally enter the program at the grade 10 level,

and must undergo an application / interview process to

gauge their interest level, as the program requires a strong

commitment to outdoor education and community

involvement.

Students complete all courses required for high school

graduation and participate in regular outdoor field studies

to meet these requirements through excursions – such as

hiking, overnight backpacking, cross-country skiing,

wilderness navigation, emergency response and back-

country cooking – focusing on academics, outdoor skills,

and team development. Collaboration with experts – such

as wildlife biologist and retired superintendent of Banff

National Park Kevin Van Tigham, Calgary Zoo

conservation research specialist Tatiana Hayek, and

Swedish wildlife veterinarian Dr. Asa Fahlman – provide

students with real-world understanding and insight into

potential careers.

Quest is generously supported by local communities and

the Friends of Quest Education Foundation, which

organizes a major fundraising event annually.

For more information about Quest, contact Oilfields

School at 403-938-4973 or visit http://

oilfields.fsd38.ab.ca/our-school/quest/.

YI… News from the June 15, 2016 Board Meeting

Quest students raising rainbow trout for eventual release to help improve local watershed ecosystem health

BUDGET 2016-2017

Following consultation with FSD stakeholders, including

school administrators, the Board passed a motion

approving FSD’s 2016-17 budget. With a 0% increase in

provincial funding, the division is directing more than 78%

of revenue to instruction, which includes staffing.

Budget change items include:

An increased focus on elevating student excellence

through targeted professional development, and the

addition of 3 full time equivalent (FTE) staff for

instructional coach time and contracted services, and

addition of 3 FTE teachers.

Additional .6 FTE to Hub program (flexible high school

learning option), based at École Secondaire Foothills

Composite High School/Alberta High School of

Fine Arts (ÉSFCHS/AHSFA), to address increased

demand.

Allocations to support a provincially mandated focus on

FNMI (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) instruction.

Approximately $53,000 to cover carbon levy for the

period January-August 2017.

Infrastructure, Maintenance and Renewal (IMR)

funding increased more than $820,000 to $2.1 million

to address school facility needs (majority to address

roofing and flooring requirements).

A move to a centralized technology help desk format

has been very successful; FSD will also shift to

centralized accounting processes to reduce demands

at school level and streamline the financial process.

As part of a three-year plan to support instructional levels

and requirements, FSD anticipates a budget deficit just shy

of $1.4 million. Through prudent management, the division

has accrued healthy reserve levels to address provincial

funding challenges.

CAPITAL UPDATE

Assistant Superintendent of Corporate Services Drew

Chipman and Planning Director Monica Kohlhammer

updated Trustees on several facility / community projects:

New K-9, west 32nd

St. Okotoks – Expected

imminently: utility connection designs and signing of a

“Bridge” Agreement with the Town of Okotoks to cover

the period until the land is formally transferred to FSD.

ÉSFCHS/AHSFA Modernization – Tenders have

closed and budget documentation is finalized. Survey

work for a modular classroom is being done for

drainage management and paving work.

Modular Classrooms – In connection with FSD’s

2015 modular request, two classrooms are being

moved from École Senator Riley Middle School

(holdovers from when Notre Dame Collegiate was

sharing space following the 2013 flood) to École Percy

Pegler School. A third modular, approved by the

Province this year, will be installed at the same time for

efficiency and cost benefits. FSD is targeting 10-12

weeks for installation. In the meantime, the division is

proceeding with the development permit for one

modular classroom at Spitzee Elementary School, and

tendering documents are also being prepared.

New High River Division Office – The completion

date for the Government Building in which FSD will

lease space has been shifted to February 11, 2017

(from late December 2016 / early January 2017). Work

on the sub-structure continues to move along at a

good pace.

Potential Black Diamond Joint Use Agreement – A

meeting was held on June 15th to initiate the drafting of

an agreement between the Town and FSD. The

agreement is aimed at maximizing the usability of

playfields, sports fields and facilities within the town by

local organizations as part of FSD’s and the Town’s

joint focus on encouraging healthy, active lifestyles.

Longview & Cayley Boiler Replacement – The

contracts have been awarded to Chisholm Industries

Ltd. Work will take place throughout the summer

months.

Alberta Education Facility Tour – Members of

Alberta Education Capital Planning will tour three FSD

facilities / sites on Tuesday, June 28: new Okotoks K-9

school site, ÉSFCHS/AHSFA modernization and

Heritage Heights School (where FSD, the M.D. of

Foothills and Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools

are requesting a speed limit reduction in the area prior

to the opening of a new Catholic school in the fall).

Budget 2016-2017: vast majority of expenditures related to instruction

BOARD ORGANIZATION MEETING

Prior to the regular board meeting, Trustees held an

organizational meeting on the morning of June 15,

primarily to elect the chair, vice-chair and committee

representatives for next school year. Trustee Christine

Pretty will again serve as Board Chair, while Trustee

Michael Pollard will return as Vice-Chair. For a list of Board

Committee representatives, please visit http://

www.fsd38.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Board-

Committees-16-17.pdf.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Trustees reviewed minor housekeeping changes to several

Administrative Procedures (APs): AP 504-Teacher Staffing

Allocations; AP 505-Instructional Support Staff; AP 539-

Furniture & Equipment Repair; AP 105-School-Based

Decision-Making; AP 390-Appeals; and AP 317-Severe

Allergies. AP 317 includes the addition of section 1.5

strongly recommending “that students with severe allergies

have two injectors available for off campus or outdoor

education trips when emergency services are not readily

available.”

Trustees also reviewed a summary of overnight, out of

province and out of country field trips for the 2015-2016

school year.

DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS

MILESTONES: The Board of Trustees, FSD, Foothills

ATA and CUPE Local 5040 hosted the division’s annual

Employee Recognition Evening at Lynnwood Ranch on

Friday, June 10. The event celebrates those retiring from

the division and marks employee years of service. A total

of 168 employees received service recognition pins (in five

year increments ranging from 5 to 35 years) while 18

retiring / retired teaching and support staff were thanked for

their dedication to student learning during their years with

FSD. These include:

Lorrie Adams, Educational Assistant, École Percy

Pegler School

Beth Amundsen, Teacher, Dr. Morris Gibson

School

Jayni Caldwell, Teacher, ÉSFCHS/AHSFA

Kathy Dymond, Regular Driver, Transportation

Services

Murray Elliott, Regular Driver, Transportation

Services

Herb Froese, Teacher, École Senator Riley Middle

School

Helena Grant, Teacher, Heritage Heights School

Janet Kercher, System Support Analyst, Learning

Technologies-Division Office

Carole Maurice, Regular Driver, Transportation

Services

Virginia McLeod, Director, Transportation Services

Lorrie Morales, Teacher, École Senator Riley

Middle School

Myrna Pauls, Teacher, Big Rock School

Anita Pohl-Dagge, Teacher, Dr. Morris Gibson

School

Janet Ramsum, Regular Driver, Transportation

Services

Greg Sterenberg, Teacher, Big Rock School

Colleen Tucker, Accounts Payable Technician,

Division Office

Liz Westman, Junior Kindergarten Learning Coach,

Division Office

Bill Young, Teacher, École Secondaire Highwood

High School

Four employees were recognized with solid gold FSD pins

for achieving provincial recognition in 2015-16:

Chet Musgrove, Principal Longview School –

Distinguished Leadership Award presented by the

ATA’s Council for School Leadership

Darren Olson, Teacher and Coach, ÉSFCHS/

AHSFA – Laurie Robertson Memorial Tier II High

School Football Coach of the Year presented by

Football Alberta

Lisa Willis, Regular Driver, Transportation Services

– Bus Driver of the Year Award presented by the

Student Transportation Association of Alberta

Bill Young, Teacher and Coach, Highwood High

School – Inductee into the Alberta Schools’ Athletic

Association Hall of Fame.

FSD also recognized two local organizations that stand for

partnership, collaboration and community through their

support for the division and our schools and students: M.D.

of Foothills; and Western Financial Group and Western

Communities Foundation (see photos on next page).

Former Red Deer Lake teacher Elizabeth Critchley did

a stellar job as Master of Ceremonies. More than 330 staff

members attended the evening of celebration.

Assistant Superintendent of Employee Services Al

Davidson acknowledged the hard work of the

organizing committee in executing a smooth and enjoyable

event: Trustee Laurie Copland; Christa Finch, Social

Committee Chair, Foothills ATA (and teacher at

Highwood High School), Jody Scott, President (and

Educational Assistant, Dr. Morris Gibson School)

and Lori Richardson, Vice President (and Technology

Facilitator, Learning Technologies), CUPE Local 5040;

and Deborah Spence, Communications & Events Manager.

LIFELONG LEARING: On behalf of the Association of

School Business Officials (ASBO) International,

Superintendent John Bailey presented Drew Chipman,

Assistant Superintendent of Corporate Services, with a

certificate recognizing his achievement of the Certified

Administrator of School Finance and Operations (SFO)

designation. In making the presentation, John described it

as another example of the commitment by FSD staff to

ongoing learning.

GRADUATIONS, ETC.: Trustees have been enjoying

making the rounds of schools to attend year-end

celebrations:

Board Chair Christine Pretty: Red Deer Lake

School graduation (she applauded the

“unbelievable student speeches”), and the International

Baccalaureate student presentations at Millarville

Community School.

Board Vice-Chair Michael Pollard: Blackie, Cayley

and Heritage Heights school graduations, and the

Cayley band concert – “great to see the kids’ aptitude

on fiddles”.

Trustee Laurie Copland: Red Deer Lake D.A.R.E.

grad (last FSD D.A.R.E. grad of the year), Westmount

School Spring Outdoor Concert, ÉSFCHS/AHSFA

Dance Showcase (“Wow!”), and the ÉSFCHS/AHSFA-

École Okotoks Junior High School (ÉOJHS) choral

concert (kudos to students and choral leaders,

AHSFA’s Nicole Hounjet and ÉOJHS’s Sam

Shumka. Trustee Copland also attended

Westmount School’s Sports Day, where Outdoor

Ed. teacher Graham Campbell raffled off the right for a

student to be the barber and cut his flowing locks. He

now sports a Mohawk! Funds raised were in support of

Fort McMurray families.

Trustee Jeannine Tucker: Oilfields School’s spring

production, Big Bad Musical (The jury must decide the

outcome of the biggest trial ever in the fairy-tale

world! The notorious Big Bad Wolf is being slapped

with a class-action lawsuit by storybooks of quirky

characters who want to get even: Little Red Riding

Hood, her Grandmother, the Three Little Pigs and the

Shepherd in charge of the Boy Who Cried Wolf).

Jeannine also congratulated all of the students who

received awards at Oilfields’ Drillers Athletic Night on

June 9 and at the Black and Gold Awards on June 10.

Board Chair Pretty, who also attended, commended

the many community partners that contributed to more

than $20,000 in scholarships and bursaries handed

out.

M.D. of Foothills Mayor Larry Spilak (far left) & Deputy Mayor Ted Mills (middle) accept Friends of Foothills Award from Board Chair Christine Pretty, Superintendent John Bailey and Assistant Superintendent Drew Chipman

Joe Sirianni, Executive Vice President, Network, Western Financial Group (second from left) accepts Friends of Foothills Award at Milestones, June 10, 2016

Drew Chipman (left) receives ASBO International certificate from Superintendent John Bailey

FSD Retired Teachers’ Association Gives Back: C. Ian

McLaren School is the recipient of a $500 donation to

replace some Learning Commons shelving that has seen

better days... Speaking of FSD Learning Commons, check

out the story in the May 2016 edition of School

Construction News featuring Turner Valley School and

Learning Commons Facilitator Carol Webb: From

Library to Learning Commons: Alberta School Library

Undergoes Modern Renovation (pages 11 & 15).

ÉSFCHS/AHSFA CELEBRATES ACHIEVEMENT:

More than 50 athletes from four school divisions

competed in the 15th

Annual Foothills Invitational

Track Meet. Thank you to everyone who

volunteered including Foods staff and students who

provided a fantastic lunch. Principal Vince Hunter

received many accolades from the other schools

praising volunteers’ hard work and energy. Check out

the CTV News coverage.

Congratulations to the boys’ rugby squad on earning a

silver medal at the Provincials!

Kudos also to the boys’ soccer team on finishing

strong at the Zones on June 4 and 5 in Canmore.

League games ended on a high note with a win over

High River (combined Highwood High School / Notre

Dame Collegiate team) – “Especially commendable,”

said Principal Vince Hunter, “since this team had

previously crushed us.”

High fives to film studies students Joshua Sim and

Richard Williams on doing the school and division

proud at the National Skills Competition in Moncton

June 5-8. They earned the Spirit Award, and both

credit communications technology teacher Ben

Stevens for helping them advance their skills.

WESTMOUNT

NEWS:

After a

challenging

start to the

year, the flag

football

team

persevered

to become

the best

team in the league! They truly came together as a ‘wolf

pack’ to win gold. Congratulations to the players for the

second league championship in two years – and to the

coaches, teachers Tammi Andrew, Sean Culp and

Lisa Snyder!

The school’s Outdoor Classroom was recently planted

with the help of many hands. Thank you to the parents

and students who dedicated their time – and to all of

the individuals and organizations that supported the

project: Robert Mercier for donating his time and

bobcat; Tawni Bartisch for her arborist expertise; Hawk

Excavating and Contracting Ltd. for boulder placement;

Vaughn Peoples at 5 Star Tree for a great discount on

trees; Dirt Cheep for donating topsoil; and the Town of

Okotoks for donating logs and mulch.

STUDENT-FOCUSED

PD: Teachers Natasha

Kamal (Highwood High

School) and Kelli

Courage (ÉOJHS) were

thrilled to make the

acquaintance of Dr.

Bruce Perry, Senior

Fellow of the

ChildTrauma Academy

and keynote speaker at

the 2nd

International

Neurosequential Model Symposium in Banff June 8-10. Dr.

Perry presented on a range of topics including Early

Childhood, Mental Health and Child Welfare.

SUMMER SCHOOL DEADLINE

Don’t forget the FSD Summer School registration deadline

coming up on Friday, June 24th! In addition to the extensive

course offering, including grade 7-12 English as a Second

Language (ESL) instruction, Summer School is piloting a

new two-week Outdoor Education/Adventure program –

FSD Go Wild! Students will acquire the knowledge and

skills associated with safe outdoor travel and appreciation

of wildlife. They can also earn SIX high school credits.

Choice of two dates for FSD Go Wild! – July 4-15 or 18-29.

For more Summer School information and to register

visit http://summerschool.fsd38.ab.ca/

FOOTHILLS FYI RETURNS IN

SEPTEMBER. HAVE A

Working hard on Westmount’s Outdoor Classroom