News Archive

St. Mary's School kindergarten open house is coming up!

What You Told Us – Living Our Faith Through Action: Survey responses show strong satisfaction with how we live our Catholic Social Teaching in our schools. Through initiatives like Many and One and You Are Loved, students are learning to see the image of God in one another, care for creation, and work for a more just and peaceful world starting right here in our classrooms and hallways. We are grateful to the students, staff, and families who witness to this goodness in big and small ways every day. #CTRassuranceresults

Sacred Heart Academy in Strathmore is hosting an Open House on Jan. 22. Sacred Heart offers full and part-time kindergarten as well as Little Flower Pre-Kindergarten! Check it out!

St. Francis of Assisi Academy, located north of Okotoks, is hosting a Kindergarten Open House on Jan. 22. If you are looking to registration your child in kindergarten, check them out!

Open houses are being planned across many of our elementary schools with kindergarten and pre-k registration now open! Check out this one in Drumheller!

What You Told Us – Faith at the Heart of Our Schools: Students, parents, and teachers indicated over 90% satisfaction with religious education, faith formation, and our partnership with local parishes. Thank you to our priests, chaplains, and staff who seek to help our students encounter Christ in prayer, learning, and service. #CTRassuranceresults

Calling all young artists at CTR Catholic! 🎨 The 7th annual Curated. Art Collective is back! This special division-wide competition gives students a chance to share their creativity through art. This year’s theme, “Marked on My Heart,” invites students to create artwork that shows what truly matters to them - who they are, what they care about, and how they see the world, others, or their faith. Each piece is a visual glimpse of what is “written on the tablet of their heart.” Winning art will be proudly displayed at the Catholic Education Centre in Okotoks and artists will be invited to the Doorpost Café: A Curated Collection of Artists and Authors, an evening celebrating both writing and visual art. This will take place on Wednesday, May 20 at 5:30 pm at the Catholic Education Centre in Okotoks. Scan the QR code to enter! Deadline is March 25, 2026.

Great Learning Starts at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools! Register today for kindergarten and pre-kindergarten. All students are welcome! CTR is publicly funded so there are no fees to attend our schools. Pre-kindergarten is available in Strathmore, Oyen, and Okotoks! Visit our website for full registration information. Our kindergarten and pre-k programs help to build strong foundations in faith, learning, and discovery. 💖 🙏 Every child is unique, and we nurture their development spiritually, emotionally, and academically. Let your child’s educational journey begin with us. Register Today! www.redeemer.ab.ca/register

Congratulations to Associate Superintendent Michael Kilcommons who will be retiring from the Catholic Education Centre at the end of June. Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr. Kilcommons for his years of outstanding service to the division! We pray the next chapter of his life is filled with many blessings! Visit our website to read the full announcement.

What You Told Us: A Safe Place to Belong - 93.7% of our parents, staff and students believe their schools are safe and welcoming, significantly higher than the provincial average of 87.1%. We are grateful to every staff member who helps create classrooms where students feel seen, loved and welcomed. #CTRassuranceresults

Each year, Alberta Education asks students in Grades 4, 7, and 10, their parents, and all teachers to complete the provincial Assurance Survey about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in school. This survey is part of Alberta’s Assurance Framework and school divisions are required to share and reflect on these results with their community as we plan for the future. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting what you told us through the survey about belonging, faith, learning, and life in CTR Catholic schools. These survey results are one important way we listen to our community. We know survey numbers don’t tell every story, but they help us notice strengths and areas where we can continuously improve. Our goal is simple: to reflect your voice back to you, say thank you to our staff, students, and families for their ongoing dedication to learning, and guide our ongoing work so our classrooms remain places of faith, care, and learning.

Blessings to all of you in 2026! Happy New Year from CTR Catholic! "For I know the plans I have for you. plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Merry Christmas! Christmas is a season of joy and merriment and it lasts all the way until January 11. Remember to keep Jesus in the center of this season all the way to the end. Greet everyone you know with a spirit of joy. From all of us at CTR Catholic to all of you, Merry Christmas and a blessed and happy New Year! 🎄🙏

Celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent: “The Good News concerning God’s Son—who was descended from David according to the flesh, and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the Holy Spirit by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace.” – Romans 1:3-5a

Blessings to all of our students, staff and families for a very Merry Christmas and a safe and joyful New Year! Classes will resume on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. *artwork by Moriah Ibrahim, Grade 8, The Centre for Learning@HOME

Celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent: “Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” – James 5:7-8

Registration for Little Flower Pre-School at St. Mary's School and École Good Shepherd School in Okotoks and Sacred Heart Academy in Strathmore is now open for the fall of 2026! For details and to register visit our school websites, under Little Flower.

Celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus” – Romans 15:4-5

Join St. James Parish in Okotoks for "The Living Nativity" Saturday, December 6th from 4pm-8pm. Check out this video highlighting the experience.

Check out the Board of Trustee Highlights from the regular meeting held on November 27, 2025 at the Catholic Education Centre in Okotoks.

Each year, Alberta Education asks students in Grades 4, 7, and 10, along with their parents and all teachers, to complete the provincial Assurance Survey. This important feedback helps us understand what is working well and where we can continue to grow. This year, CTR is pleased to share very strong results. Our student performance on diploma exams and Provincial Achievement Tests is once again above the provincial average, and our survey results closely reflect our priorities of Catholic education, academic excellence, and healthy, faith-filled schools. Thank you to our staff, students, and families for your ongoing partnership and for taking the time to support this annual survey. Your commitment strengthens the success of our division. To view our results and the full plan visit our website: https://www.redeemer.ab.ca/academic-excellence

Congratulations to this year’s Division Christmas Card Contest winner, Moriah Ibrahim, a Grade 8 student from the Centre for Learning@HOME! Moriah's design will be used on this year's Christmas card from our Board of Trustees and Senior Administration. Moriah will also receive with copies of her Christmas card. Thank you again to all our students who submitted artwork this year!

CTR was blessed to receive 31 beautiful submissions from students across the division for our annual Division Christmas Card Contest! Each piece shared the joy of the season and our Catholic faith. Check out the video to see all the amazing artwork created by our talented students! Check back to see this year's winner!

CTR was blessed to receive 31 beautiful submissions from students across the division for our annual Division Christmas Card Contest! Each piece shared the joy of the season and our Catholic faith. Check out the video to see all the amazing artwork created by our talented students! Check back to see this year’s winner!

Strathmore trustee Harry Salm (left) attended this year’s Red Mass alongside His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Emeritus Archbishop of Toronto (center), and Scott Morrison, president of St. Mary’s University. His Eminence offered a beautiful homily and shared thoughtful reflections at the reception that followed. Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools was recognized during the program, with Trustees in attendance representing the division.

Congratulations to our CTR teachers who are new to the profession! CTR ATA Local 29 hosted an Induction Ceremony recently for our new teachers, with remarks shared by the provincial ATA President, Jason Schilling, ATA Local 29 President Christian Schell, and Superintendent Dr. Andrea Holowka. We are so blessed to have these new teachers bring their gifts and talents to the students and families within the CTR community!

Christ The Redeemer (CTR) Catholic Schools is pleased to announce Richelle Smigelski as Principal of Assumption Roman Catholic School . For full announcement visit our website: https://www.redeemer.ab.ca/news/leadership-announcement-assumption-roman-catholic-school-oyen-20251202162331

In this season of Advent we await eagerly for the coming of Jesus. It is a season for the preparation of ourselves as much as for our homes. We invite you to visit your parish and receive the sacrament of Reconciliation to prepare your heart for Jesus. Come, Lord Jesus! Maranatha!

Due to continued snowfall and challenging road conditions in many areas of our division, we anticipate the following: - Both rural and in-town bus routes may experience some delays this afternoon. - In certain rural areas, road conditions may prevent drivers from safely accessing some designated bus stops. If a driver cannot safely reach a stop, they will call the affected families directly to arrange an alternate, safe pick-up location. We understand that late bus service may impact students' after-school activities or appointments. Parents may want to pick up their students directly from school if they prefer to avoid potential delays. Please notify the school office if you plan to do so. We appreciate your patience and understanding as Southland Transportation and our bus drivers navigate changing road conditions to ensure students get home safely.

Quick reminder! There’s still time to enter CTR Catholic’s Annual Christmas Card Contest. Students from across the division are invited to share their creativity and Christmas spirit by submitting artwork for this year’s digital division Christmas card. 🗓️ Deadline to enter: Wednesday, November 26 📩 Submit your art using the Artwork Submission Form (scan the QR code below) or click here: https://forms.gle/2JxhhyLk9rD43r6W8

Join us in celebrating the gift of Catholic education this weekend!

Congratulations to Trustee Harry Salm for being awarded with the Life Member Award with ACSTA for his years of service as president and past-president.

Congratulations to CTR trustee and vice chair Andrew Gustafson on being elected into the role of vice president of ACSTA for a two year term.

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN Canada) will hold its annual Red Wednesday on November 19. Across the world, 327 million Christians live in a country where there is persecution at various degrees. Because of their faith, they endure discrimination, scorn, arrest, incarceration, torture, and sometimes even death. It is estimated that 75% of acts of violence for religious reasons are perpetrated against Christians, making them the most persecuted group. We invite all staff and students to unite themselves with the persecuted by praying a decade of the rosary on Wednesday, November 19. acn-canada.ord/red-wednesday Lord, we pray that every being, regardless of their religion, live in peace and harmony without any kind of persecution. 🙏 #RedWednesday

Beautiful messages from St. John Paul II Collegiate students!

Another beautiful tradition this time at Sacred Heart Academy! #IBelieveinCatholicEd

A beautiful tradition at St. Mary's School! #IBelieveinCatholicEd

This Anti-Bullying Week, we reaffirm our commitment to the values of kindness and respect for all in our school community. In the spirit of our Catholic faith, we promise to: 🤝 Make ourselves available to listen when you need someone to talk to 🗣️ Speak with kindness and consideration in our teaching and interactions 🌍 Stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and bullied 📚 Continue to learn and promote the learning of others You Are Loved. ❤️ “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” – 1 John 4:11 ✝️ #weareCTR #manyandoneCTR

Lest We Forget. Today, we pause to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served and continue to serve for our freedom. Let us teach our students the importance of remembrance and gratitude for those who gave so much. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15:13 🙏❤

A reminder to families that there are no classes on Tuesday, November 11 in honour of Remembrance Day. Classes will resume on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

St. James Parish in Okotoks invites you to come and walk through the Town of Bethlehem and meet the Holy Family in this live replica of Christmas Eve. The Living Nativity will take place on Saturday, December 6th, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the field next to the church parking lot. Admission is free. Donations will be gratefully accepted and given to local charities. There will be refreshments available for purchase in the church hall. May the Advent season bless you with anticipation for Christ’s coming.🎄

It’s time for CTR Catholic’s Annual Christmas Card Contest! Students from across the division are invited to share their creativity and Christmas spirit by submitting a piece of artwork for this year’s digital division Christmas card. 🗓️ Deadline to enter: Wednesday, November 26 📩 Submit your art using the Artwork Submission Form (scan the QR code below) or click here: https://forms.gle/2JxhhyLk9rD43r6W8

Following All Saint's Day we celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, known also as the All Souls' Day. It is a time when we call into mind all those who have died and the entire Church Suffering, praying on their behalf for eternal rest. This is a particularly moving time of remembrance of those we love and have lost. It stirs a deep hope both in the act of remembering their lives and interceding for them. Let us pray for all the faithful departed and the repose of all souls.

Starting at sundown on October 31, All Hallow's Eve, we begin our celebration of the Solemnity of All Saints, or All Hallows. This great feast celebrates all those who are in Heaven, in the beatific light of God's face. The Church celebrates all Saints, those who are canonized and those known only to the Lord. We ask for their intercession, to pray for us as living members of the Body of Christ, and we strive to follow their example in the hope of one day being counted among their number.

Wishing all of our students and families a wonderful and safe Halloween! 🎃

OUR FAITH GUIDES US - YOU ARE LOVED! At CTR Catholic schools, faith guides all we do. We want every student, staff member, and family to feel welcomed, supported, and loved. We are committed to listening with compassion, speaking with kindness and consideration, and learning alongside one another. #YouAreLoved #WeAreCTR #ManyAndOneCTR #ctrfaith #youareloved

CTR VALUES OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF! Our teachers, educational assistants, and support staff are committed to providing excellent learning experiences. We are proud of their dedication, expertise, and the care they show every day to our students. #WeAreCTR #ManyAndOneCTR

Introducing our newly elected Board of Trustees for Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools. The Board Trustees and Superintendents gathered today beginning with a beautiful mass and commissioning at St. James Parish in Okotoks. At their organizational meeting, Andrea Keenan (Foothills) was re-elected as Board Chair, and Andrew Gustafson (Okotoks) was re-elected as Vice-Chair for the 2025–2026 school year. Joining them are Trustees Harry Salm (Strathmore); Michelle Rude-Volk (Oyen); Michelle Gietz (Brooks); Louise Hendrickson (Drumheller); Jacqui Vanderfluit (High River); and Dr. Matthew McIsaac (Canmore). May God bless you all in your vocation to serve Catholic education! Heavenly Father, we ask you to bless our new Board of Trustees. Grant them wisdom, courage, and clear vision as they guide our schools in faith and excellence. May their decisions always be centered on your love and the best interests of our students. Amen. #weareCTR #IbelieveinCatholicEd

Teachers and students return to class tomorrow, Wednesday, October 29. All regular classes and school services, including transportation, will resume. We’re grateful to welcome everyone back into classrooms and appreciate your patience as schools settle back in. We will continue to share updates on our website: https://www.redeemer.ab.ca/resumption-of-classes. You can expect more information to be forthcoming from your schools in the coming days. Thank you for your continued support. May God bless our students, staff, and families as we reconnect in learning and community. #WeAreCTR #ManyAndOneCTR

CTR congratulates our newly-elected trustees following the 2025 election: • Jacqui Vanderfluit has been elected as the High River Trustee, receiving 55% of the vote. • Michelle Gietz has been elected as the Brooks Trustee, with the following results: o Gietz, Michelle – 279 votes o Grove, Shane – 208 votes o Neeser, Chris – 124 votes These are unofficial results as of 9 am this morning. Official results will be shared when provided by the municipality. We thank all candidates for their commitment to Catholic education and for their willingness to serve their communities. Congratulations to our new trustees and thank you to all who took the time to vote.

Make Your Voice Heard in the 2025 School Board Election! Residents of Brooks and Area: It’s time to have a say in the future of Catholic education in our communities. Candidates for school board trustee for the Brooks and area ward are Michelle Gietz, Shane Grove and Chris Neeser. You can Meet the Candidates here: https://shorturl.at/gfpTQ A Brooks Candidates' Forum will be held on Sunday, October 19 at St. Mary's Church from 2 pm to 4 pm. Election Day is Monday, October 20, 2025 10AM to 8PM Brooks Polling Station: JBS Canada Centre in the Cenovus Flexhall (323 1st Street East) Advance Poll Days: • October 4, 2025 12 pm to 6 pm • October 18, 2025 12 pm to 6 pm What do I need to vote? To be eligible to vote for a Catholic school board trustee you must: - be at least 18 years old; - be a Canadian citizen; - resident in the applicable school board ward; and - declare you are of the Catholic faith A valid government-issued ID showing your name and current address is required to vote. For details on acceptable ID, visit Elections Alberta. https://www.elections.ab.ca/voters/id-required-to-vote/ Your participation ensures Catholic education in our communities continues to thrive. Mark your calendar, bring your ID, and make your voice heard!

Make Your Voice Heard in the 2025 School Board Election! Residents of High River & Area: It’s time to have a say in the future of Catholic education in our communities. Candidates for school board trustee for the High River and area ward are Christopher Lauzon and Jacqueline Vanderfluit. You can Meet the Candidates here: https://shorturl.at/gfpTQ Election Day is Monday, October 20, 2025 9am to 8pm High River Polling Station: BSRC Cargill Field House – 228 12 Ave SE Advance Poll Days: • Thursday, October 9, 2025 | 9AM to 8PM • Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | 9AM to 8PM • Saturday, October 18, 2025 | 10AM to 6PM What do I need to vote? To be eligible to vote for a Catholic school board trustee you must: - be at least 18 years old; - be a Canadian citizen; - reside in the applicable school board ward; and - declare you are of the Catholic faith A valid government-issued ID showing your name and current address is required to vote. For details on acceptable ID, visit Elections Alberta. https://www.elections.ab.ca/voters/id-required-to-vote/ Your participation ensures Catholic education in our communities continues to thrive. Mark your calendar, bring your ID, and make your voice heard!

We wish all of our families a beautiful Thanksgiving weekend. We continue to lift you up in prayer and give thanks for the gift you are to our Christ the Redeemer community. May this weekend bring you comfort, joy, and meaningful time with family and friends. Loving God, We thank You for the gift of family, for the food we share, and for the blessings You pour into our lives each day. Help us to see Your goodness in one another and to share Your love with all we meet. May our hearts remain grateful and our spirits joyful, not just today, but always. Amen. #ctrcatholic #weareCTR

Over the weekend our Superintendent Dr. Andrea Holowka co-hosted the diocesan Worship Conference, “Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi: Renewing the Heart of Liturgical Ministry,” in collaboration with the Diocese of Calgary. Held at St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Mary’s High School in Calgary, the conference invited priests, lay ministers, and parish leaders to explore how prayer shapes how we live as disciples of Christ. The conference focused on deepening our understanding of the Church’s liturgical worship through prayer and the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist. Dr. Holowka shared that co-hosting the event and being present among members of our larger Catholic community reaffirms CTR’s deep commitment to strengthening liturgical life across our schools and parishes. “Let the beauty of Christ’s worship draw us deeper into faith, service, and unity.” Read full article here: https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/lex-orandi-lex-credendi-lex-vivendi-renewing-the-heart-of-liturgical-ministry #ctrcatholic

Get to know your school trustee candidates! For our Drumheller community, there has been an acclamation of a new trustee. You can read about our new Drumheller trustee on our website. In High River, there will be an election with two candidates running. In Brooks, there will be an election for with three candidates running. You can read more about all school trustee candidates by visiting our website! https://www.redeemer.ab.ca/meet-the-candidates-2025-election?hash=wwL21lZXQtdGhlLWNhbmRpZGF0ZXMtMjAyNS1lbGVjdGlvbg==

Congratulations St. Francis of Assisi Academy on 10 years! #IBelieveinCatholicEd

Every other month, CTR's Board of Trustees has their monthly board meeting in one of our eight communities. This month we met in Oyen and celebrated our last meeting with this group of eight trustees together. We have been blessed to have such strong leadership by Mark McDonald, Mark Chung, and John de Jong who will be retiring from their positions next month! #selfiewiththesuper #ctrcatholic #weareCTR

Selfie with the Super from Assumption Roman Catholic School in Oyen - one of the few places where Dr. Holowka could fit the whole school into one selfie! 😄💙 She had a wonderful visit, engaging with students, staff, and parents to hear about their experience with our Catholic faith at ARC. The visit also included a Board of Trustees ward meeting and regular Board meeting both hosted at the school last Friday and Saturday demonstrating the Board’s commitment to all communities across our vast geography in CTR. #selfiewiththesuper #ctrcatholic #weareCTR

CTR Catholic is grateful for the hard work of our amazing Custodians and Maintenance staff! Your care keeps our schools and offices clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone. Thank you for all you do behind the scenes to support our students and staff! #weareCTR #ctrcatholic

Today is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. For the children who died in residential schools throughout Canada and for all those who continue on a journey through the darkness, that there may be healing founded on truth and that the Spirit will inspire our ongoing commitment to reconciliation. Amen. 🧡🙏

Throughout next week, CTR schools across the division will focus on age-appropriate student learning, raising awareness of the impact of residential schools, honouring the experience of survivors, their families and communities, and building cultural awareness. Staff and students are also encouraged to wear orange on Monday, Sept. 29 A reminder there is no school on Tuesday, Sept. 30. Be sure to check your local community for opportunities to engage in commemoration of this day. May God bless Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation process. 🧡

Today, CTR Catholic superintendents and senior staff gathered to celebrate the Site Blessing of the new École Good Shepherd School in Okotoks. The afternoon was a beautiful tribute to the dedication and advocacy of our trustees, school leadership, parish, parents, government partners, and the wider community. Rooted in faith, the celebration included a blessing from Father Vijay and a traditional blessing and fancy dance from our Indigenous partners Elder Sa’akokoto, Tyler Heavenfire, and Kyle Young Pine, a former Good Shepherd student. We also heard from Highwood MLA R.J. Sigurdson, CTR Board Chair Andrea Keenan, Superintendent Dr. Andrea Holowka, and Good Shepherd Principal Melissa Baxter. As we begin the next chapter for École Good Shepherd School as a place where generations of students will continue to grow in faith, wisdom, and love, we look forward with gratitude. When we open these doors in the fall of 2027, it will stand as a visible symbol of the priority we place on Catholic education in Okotoks. #weareCTR #iBelieveinCatholicEd

When we meet with our senior and school based leaders each month, we have the opportunity to establish coherence across CTR while also hearing from our outstanding principals and vice principals. So blessed to work alongside a phenomenal group of leaders in Catholic education who serve with faith, heart, and purpose. #selfiewiththesuper #ctrcatholic #weareCTR

The position of School Board Trustee for the High River Ward with Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools (Ward 3 – St. Thomas Aquinas-Foothills) remains open. Nominations will close Monday, September 29. Eligible candidates must be Catholic, at least 18 years old, Canadian citizens, and residents of the High River electoral subdivision. Employees of any school division are not eligible. For more information, boundary maps, or nomination forms, please contact Returning Office Michael Kilcommons at 403-923-9507 or mkilcommons@redeemer.ab.ca. Nominations forms are also available on the CTR website at www.redeemer.ab.ca

As of 12:00 noon yesterday (Sept. 22), nominations for municipal elections, including Trustee positions for Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools, ceased. We expect to hold one election, in Brooks, on October 20. It also appears at this time that there will be six acclamations announced and one vacant position. All Wards are currently represented as follows: - Foothills: Andrea Keenan (incumbent) is the sole nominee. - Oyen: Michelle Rude Volk (incumbent) is the sole nominee. - Drumheller: Louise Henrickson is the sole nominee. - Brooks: three nominees: Michelle Gietz, Shane Grove, and Chris Neeser - Strathmore: Harry Salm (incumbent) is the sole nominee. - Okotoks: Andrew Gustafson (incumbent) is the sole nominee. - Canmore: Matt McIsaac (incumbent) is the sole nominee. - High River: no candidates have been nominated. Nominations will remain open until September 29. Please contact mkilcommons@redeemer.ab.ca for details.

📸 Selfie with the Super - Saturday edition from St. Joseph’s Collegiate in Brooks! Dr. Holowka joined principal Andrea Schell for a meaningful gathering focused on storytelling, history, and community. She connected with Ahmed Kassem from Global Village and documentarian Tyler Duffy for the filming of "Lessons Learned", a powerful documentary capturing the history of Brooks and Newell County. Dr. Holowka was grateful for the opportunity to witness how education and community come together to preserve stories that shape our shared future! #selfiewiththesuper #ctrcatholic #weareCTR

Our connections to our parish are so special! Check out why at St. John Paul II Collegiate in Okotoks! #IBelieveinCatholicEd

A beautiful space for prayer at Holy Spirit Academy in High River! #ibeleiveincatholiced

Selfie with the Super from the Centre for Learning@HOME Edmonton site! Dr. Holowka had a wonderful visit connecting with dedicated team members who support students in unique and meaningful ways. She was grateful to spend time with Nouchik Taslakian, Sherwaine Arthurs, and Lynn Cooper, as well as other CFL staff who bring care, creativity, and commitment to online learning every day. Thank you for the incredible work you do to help students thrive, no matter where they are learning from! #selfiewiththesuper #ctrcatholic #weareCTR

📸 Last Friday, CTR superintendent Dr. Holowka visited Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy in Canmore and snapped a few Selfies with the Super! Dr. Holowka joined principal Ryan Fox for a visit to a Biology 30 class celebrating Formal Friday while the rest of the school embraced Pajama Day! She then headed to the high school foods lab with Mrs. Malenfant, where students were busy preparing delicious chicken caesar salads. To end her visit, Dr. Holowka spent time with Mrs. Faupel’s Grade 3 class, one of OLS’s wonderful new teachers, who was fully embracing Pajama Day. What a beautiful day of learning, laughter, and connection in the Rockies! #selfiewiththesuper #ctrcatholic #weareCTR

📸 Selfie with the Super from St. Mary’s School in Okotoks! Dr. Holowka had a wonderful time visiting classrooms filled with faith, energy, and joyful learning! She popped in to see Mr. Peraino’s Grade 4 class with principal Shari Gustafson and then joined Mrs. Brennan’s energetic Grade 5 students. A special highlight was witnessing the incredible early learning happening in the kindergarten classroom of Mrs. Jensen. So much love, learning, and laughter in one school - thank you, St. Mary’s! #selfiewiththesuper #ctrcatholic #weareCTR

Check out this event at St. Mary's University!

📸 Selfie with the Super - Okotoks edition! Today, Dr. Holowka met with principals from Okotoks and the surrounding area to collaborate on new ways to support students across our schools. These leaders are working together to build strong, faith-filled learning communities where every student can thrive. We are grateful for their vision, teamwork, and deep commitment to Catholic education! Principals include (left to right) Lana Clark, The Centre for Learning at Home, Shari Gustafson, St. Mary's School, Melissa Baxter, École Good Shepherd School, Leslie Woehleke, St. Luke's Outreach, Lindsay Avramovic, St. Francis of Assisi Academy, Diana Atkinson, Holy Trinity Academy and Jamie Leidl St. John Paul II Collegiate. #selfiewiththesuper #ctrcatholic #weareCTR

Our relationships with our parish priests is an extremely valued one! We are blessed! #IBelieveinCatholicEd

📸 Selfie with the Super from St. Anthony’s School in Drumheller! What a wonderful visit full of faith, dedication, and CTR spirit! Dr. Holowka was thrilled to snap a selfie with Principal Celeste Schrock, who was teaching her Grade 12 Religious Education class. Our principals are truly excellent educators! She also met the amazing office staff, Raelene Manula and Michelle Doyle, working hard to ensure a smooth and welcoming school start-up. A big shout-out to Kevin Barrett, the school’s longtime and dedicated head custodian, and to Grade 2 teachers Mrs. Engler and Mrs. Straub who were excited to get a selfie with the Super! 😊 So much heart goes into making St. Anthony’s a special place to learn and grow! #selfiewiththesuper #ctrcatholic #weareCTR

📸 Another heartwarming Selfie with the Super this time from Holy Spirit Academy in High River! Dr. Holowka had the joy of connecting with the incredible Learning Support Team, including Azure McNeil, Amber Langille, and Principal Lacey Dubeau. Their dedication is making a big impact in the lives of students every day! Later in the day, Dr. Holowka spent time learning and laughing with Mrs. Anastasopoulos' wonderful Grade 1 class. What a blessing to see young learners growing in faith and knowledge! So much love and learning under one roof! #selfiewiththesuper #ctrcatholic #weareCTR

Celebrating Mary! #IBelieveinCatholicEd

Our schools are welcoming and Notre Dame Collegiate is no different! Check out this beautiful display of messages to uplift and let our students know they are loved! ❤❤❤

Visiting schools is one of the most rewarding parts of a superintendent's job! Today, Dr. Holowka met with St. John Paul II Collegiate teacher Blaire Steele underneath a beautiful archway to welcome students back to class. She then met up with new teacher and former St. John Paul II student, Sawyer Sprague, principal Jamie Leidl and teacher Michelle Lendvay. Dr. Holowka also snapped a selfie with another new teacher Emily Klein. #selfiewiththesuper #weareCTR #backtoschool2025

🎓 Congratulations, Class of 2025! To all of this year’s CTR graduates, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you, be gracious to you, and grant you peace as you step into this next chapter. We are proud of every student from: 📍 Holy Trinity Academy – Okotoks 📍 St. Luke’s Outreach – Brooks, High River & Okotoks 📍 The Centre for Learning @HOME 📍 Notre Dame Collegiate – High River 📍 St. Joseph’s Collegiate – Brooks 📍 Our Lady of the Snows – Canmore 📍 St. Anthony’s – Drumheller 📍 Holy Cross Collegiate – Strathmore #CTRGrads #ClassOf2025

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2025 at Holy Trinity Academy in Okotoks who will be celebrating their commencement this Thursday, June 26! 🎓🙏

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2025 at St. Joseph's Collegiate in Brooks who will be celebrating their commencement this Thursday, June 26! 🎓🙏

☀️ Wishing all our CTR students, staff and families a joyful and safe summer! May your days be filled with laughter, rest, and special moments with loved ones. We will keep you in our prayers throughout the summer and look forward to welcoming you back on Thursday, August 28. Until then, enjoy every blessing this season brings! #ctrcatholic

On June 21, citizens across Canada recognize and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of Indigenous Peoples of Canada. CTR teachers and students across the division will be recognizing this day in a variety of ways. As we continue to move forward, striving for the truth and reconciliation with one another, we invite all to seek out guidance, healing and peace through prayer and loving our neighbour as we love ourselves. For more on National Indigenous Peoples Day visit this federal website: https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100013718/1534874583157

Today we celebrate all fathers - the father of the family, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. "Do everything in love." 1 Corinthians 16:14

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2025 at Holy Cross Collegiate in Strathmore who will be celebrating their commencement this Saturday, June 14! 🎓🙏

Congratulations to four amazing leaders who were honoured at the Council for School Leadership Distinguished Leadership Awards Gala in Calgary! The Distinguished Leadership Award was presented to (left to right) Tara Lyn Westlake, vice principal, Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy, Canmore; Darren Dornstauder, vice principal of Holy Trinity Academy in Okotoks; Rebecca Enright, vice principal of Notre Dame Collegiate, High River; and Cindy Freimark, principal of Christ The King Academy, Brooks. Each were recognized for their inspiring leadership and commitment to Catholic education!

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2025 at The Centre for Learning @ HOME who will be celebrating their commencement this Friday, June 6! 🎓🙏

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2025 at St. Anthony's School in Drumheller who will be celebrating their commencement this Saturday, June 7! 🎓🙏

Check out the Board of Trustee Highlights from the regular meeting held May 28!

All CTR schools participate in Adoration twice a year! Christian devotion to the Eucharist is an early practice of the Church, and dates back to the 4th century. Exposing the Blessed Sacrament for public adoration began in the 13th century, allowing all people to sit and pray in the presence of Jesus Christ. Here is a glimpse from St. Mary's School in Okotoks.

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2025 at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy in Canmore who will be celebrating their commencement this Thursday, June 5! 🎓🙏

Check out this video featuring students from St. Anthony's School in Drumheller as they share their experiences working with local businesses! These students gained valuable work experience while earning high school credits - an opportunity that’s helping them discover their career passions and make meaningful connections in their community. Registration for summer work experiences is now open for all CTR students in Grades 9-12. Check out our website to learn more!

Wearing blue to celebrate Catholic education! #IBelieveinCatholicEd

Walking for Catholic education at Holy Family Academy!