News Archive

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!

The crowing of Mary! #IBelieveinCatholicEd

Last week we celebrated the gift of Catholic education during World Catholic Education day! Check out how some of our schools celebrated our faith! #IBelieveinCatholicEd

Students! Want to earn credits and get work experience? This summer, you can earn credits while you work at almost any type of job! Join our Work Experience 15-25-35 and the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) courses. Who can apply? Students aged 15 and older as of June 30th, in Grade 10/11/12 (including those completing Grade 9 and Grade 12 in June 2025), living in or near any CTR community. No cost to register! Register now and secure your spot! https://app.clearevent.com/register?form=e3192b90-fb44-41d3-b276-70c1d448c07d

Join us today on World Catholic Education Day as we wear blue in support of Catholic education. Join us to show your support for Catholic education by also wearing blue, praying, and by sharing the good that has come to your family through the gift of Catholic education in Alberta. #IBelieveinCatholicEd #BlueforCatholicEd

Congratulations to CTR's Division Award Winners! Recipients were honored at an awards banquet in Strathmore last night. Strathmore Trustee Harry Salm presented recipients with the Excellence in Teaching Award, in recognition of superior teaching characterized by exceptional levels of student learning, exemplary commitment, and the creation of strong relationships. Recipients include: Vince Marion, The Centre for Learning@HOME Edward Burla, Christ the King Academy Danielle Boudreau, École Good Shepherd School Carla Bisharat, Holy Cross Collegiate Lindsay Seibel, Holy Family Academy Christine McGuire, Holy Spirit Academy Joey Baldwin, Holy Trinity Academy Cathy Dudgeon, Notre Dame Collegiate Melanie Fricot, Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy Genevieve Volk, Sacred Heart Academy Sarah Mulgrew, St. Anthony's School Jeff Sa, St. Francis of Assisi Academy Heather Scott, St. John Paul II Collegiate Natalie Sturch, St. Joseph's Collegiate Vito Peraino, St. Mary's School

Congratulations to CTR's Division Award Winners! Recipients were honored at an awards banquet in Strathmore last night. Andrea Keenan, Board Chair and Foothills Trustee, presented recipients with the Power of One Award, in recognition of someone who contributes to the Vision, Mission and Fundamental Beliefs of CTR; shows an outstanding commitment to supporting all stakeholders; shows initiative and resourcefulness; has a positive, helpful and caring attitude; is viewed by colleagues as a builder of relationships; contributes to a positive work environment and is viewed as improving morale. Recipients include: Lynn George, The Centre for Learning@HOME Jaclyn Hemsing-Smith, Christ the King Academy Carlina Nori, École Good Shepherd School Peggy Paschal, Holy Cross Collegiate Tammy Hodder, Holy Family Academy Chelsea McEwan, Holy Spirit Academy Ivette Alvarez, Holy Trinity Academy Shannon Ditzler, Notre Dame Collegiate Cindy Ferguson, Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy Jeanette Desmet, Sacred Heart Academy Audrey Hems, St. Anthony's School Bonita Brawdy, St. Francis of Assisi Academy Genelle Garagan, St. John Paul II Collegiate Teresa Stolz, St. Joseph's Collegiate Teresa Morales-Villarreal, St. Mary's School Shar Sylvestre, Catholic Education Centre

Congratulations to CTR's Division Award Winners! Recipients were honored at an awards banquet in Strathmore last night. Okotoks Trustee Andrew Gustafson presented recipients with the Above and Beyond Award, in recognition of performance characterized by selfless dedication, unquestioning commitment and superior skill. Recipients include: Abbie Park, St. Mary's School Pat Wiens, St. Joseph's Collegiate Rebecca Freeman, St. John Paul II Collegiate Robyn Romaniuk, St. Francis of Assisi Academy Angela Jusseaume, St. Anthony's School Lauren Zulyniak, Sacred Heart Academy Michelle Moore, Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy Corrine Chisholm, Notre Dame Collegiate Crystal Lepp, Holy Trinity Academy Belinda Ziehl, Holy Spirit Academy Christian Mercado, Holy Family Academy Jason Burns, Holy Cross Collegiate Susan Rasmussen, École Good Shepherd School Jeff Haines, Christ the King Academy Curtis Carrier, The Centre for Learning@HOME Jacqueline Yu, Catholic Education Centre

Wear blue this Thursday on World Catholic Education Day in support of Catholic education! Join us to show your support for Catholic education by also wearing blue, praying, and by sharing the good that has come to your family through the gift of Catholic education in Alberta. #IBelieveinCatholicEd #BlueforCatholicEd

Christ The Redeemer (CTR) Catholic Schools is pleased to announce Jeff Sa as the temporary Vice Principal for St. Francis of Assisi Academy for next year. For full announcement visit our website. https://www.redeemer.ab.ca/news/leadership-announcement-st-francis-of-assisi-academy-20250526161358?hash=wwL25ld3MvbGVhZGVyc2hpcC1hbm5vdW5jZW1lbnQtc3QtZnJhbmNpcy1vZi1hc3Npc2ktYWNhZGVteS0yMDI1MDUyNjE2MTM1OA==

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2025 at Notre Dame Collegiate in High River who will be celebrating their commencement this Saturday, May 24! 🎓🙏

CTR hosted the third annual Curated. Art Collective Artist's Reception and Golden Brush Awards last night! The event is a celebration of our students who submitted art pieces for this year's Curated. Art Collective, now in its sixth year. The student work beautifully captured the theme of "Joyful Witness." To all the winners, runners up, and honourable mentions - thank you for your contributions and your talent! The artwork will be on showcase for one year at the Catholic Education Centre in Okotoks. Award recipients include: Division One (K-3): Winner: Antonio Ramos, Grade 2 École Good Shepherd School, Okotoks Title of Art: Flight National Runner-up: Avery Olson, Grade 3 École Good Shepherd School, Okotoks Title of Art: Flowers Division Two (4-6): Winner: Mackinley Balaban, Grade 5 Holy Spirit Academy, High River Title of Art: After the Rain Runner Up: Emma Uzelac, Grade 6 St. Mary’s School, Okotoks Title of Art: Beautifully Broken Honourable Mention: Kate Johnson, Grade 6 St. Mary’s School, Okotoks Title of Art: Interior Design Division Three (7-9): Winner: Zoe Gagne, Grade 9 St. John Paul II Collegiate, Okotoks Title of Art: Flight of Jubilation Runner-up: Mikiko D’Agostino, Grade 9 Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy, Canmore Title of Art: Life Developing Honourable Mention: Paulah Manalus, Grade 9 St. John Paul II Collegiate, Okotoks Title of Art: Joy In Every Stitch Division Four (10-12): Winner: Sydney David, Grade 12 Holy Trinity Academy, Okotoks Title of Art: Joy in Bloom Runner-up: Margareth Escueta, Grade 12 Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy, Canmore Title of Art: Even If The World Ends Tomorrow Honourable Mention: Kate Abayon, Grade 12 St. Anthony’s School, Drumheller Title of Art: Seventh Heaven Congratulations! ❤🏆🎨 #curatedartcollective

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2025 at St. Luke's Outreach in Okotoks, High River, and Brooks who will be celebrating their commencement this Thursday, May 22! 🎓🙏

Reminder: There is no school on Monday, May 19 for Victoria Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, May 20. Have a safe long weekend!

As there is no school tomorrow, today our schools will acknowledge International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. CTR Catholic stands in solidarity with those who have suffered racism or prejudice. As reflected within our Catholic Social Teachings, every person is created in the image and likeness of God, and so deserves respect, dignity, and love. As a Catholic school division, it is not enough to value our diversity and inclusivity. Solidarity requires us to see the other as another self, suffer with them, and love them as we would want to be loved. Join us in prayer today and tomorrow as we ask our God, who has created all people in His own image, to help us confront racism wherever it may be, and build a more just and peaceful world. #youareloved #manyandonectr #ctrcatholic #ctrfaith

A reminder to families that Parent/Teacher Interviews will take place in the afternoon on Thursday, March 20 and there are no classes on Friday, March 21. Contact your school to set up an interview with your child's teacher.

Christ The Redeemer (CTR) Catholic Schools offers gratitude for John de Jong, Trustee (Brooks), and best wishes on his upcoming retirement. Mr. de Jong will be retiring from his position as Trustee in October. CTR Catholic would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr. de Jong for his years of service to the division! For full announcement, click here: https://www.redeemer.ab.ca/news/retirement-announcement-20250314183823

Christ The Redeemer (CTR) Catholic Schools offers gratitude for Mark MacDonald, Trustee (High River), and best wishes on his upcoming retirement. Mr. MacDonald will be retiring from his position of Trustee in October. CTR Catholic would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr. MacDonald for his years of service to the division! For full announcement click here: https://www.redeemer.ab.ca/news/retirement-announcement-20250314182904

Attention Parents! 📣 The Alberta Education Assurance Survey is now open! 📝 From February 18 to March 21, 2025, parents of students in Grades 4, 7, and 10 are invited to participate and share feedback on their child’s educational experience. Your input is vital to improving our education system and ensuring that all students have a welcoming, respectful, and safe learning environment. ✅ Why Participate? • Share your thoughts on your child's learning environment and engagement. • Help identify strengths and areas for improvement. • Your responses are confidential, and participation is easy with a unique access code provided by your school. Watch for an email coming soon from your school. 📅 Survey Timeline: February 18 to March 21, 2025 💻 Survey Completion: Online or request a paper copy from your school. Let's work together to shape the future of education at CTR Catholic! 🌟 #CTRcathoic #AlbertaEducation #ParentSurvey #QualityEducation

It is with great excitement that we share the recent announcement of funding for the planning phase of a new Grade 9-12 school in Brooks. This investment marks a significant step forward in addressing the pressing space needs in our division and will greatly benefit the students and families in all of our Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools in Brooks. We are so appreciative of the provincial government for recognizing our needs and providing us with this opportunity to continue growing our success. We are also grateful for the designated and zoned land provided by the City of Brooks. Our commitment to providing exceptional learning experiences has resulted in a 95.3% three-year graduation rate at St. Joseph’s Collegiate, even as we serve a majority of students who are new to Canada and learning English for the first time. This recent announcement will support the growth of our shared facility which was at 107% utilization this past September. The advocacy to share our successes and needs has been a collaborative approach. We would like to express appreciation to all of our families, staff, and community members who have written letters to our municipal and provincial government regarding our need for additional learning spaces, advocated for the zoning of the old rodeo grounds to support a new school build, and shared the success of our faith-based learning at our Christ The Redeemer Schools in Brooks. The funding announcement will support the division’s work alongside the province and municipality to plan the next essential phases prior to moving toward design and construction funding. We are confident in the division’s ability to support these next steps. We will continue to communicate with our families as progress continues. Once again, your support of our schools is so appreciated and instrumental to the success of our schools in the Brooks community. Christ The King Academy St. Joseph's Collegiate Holy Family Academy

We are so grateful for the many substitute teachers who serve in our division. Substitute teachers are essential for our schools and the work they do for CTR Catholic, our students and our schools is invaluable! Please take some time to show them appreciation during Substitute Teachers’ Appreciation Week (March 10–14, 2025) 🙏

Check out the CTR Board of Trustee Highlights from its regular meeting held Feb. 27, 2025: https://secure.smore.com/n/t3wp9

Joined by her teacher Rachel Amatto, Grade 3 student Sierra Koppel from Holy Spirit Academy was presented with a gift from CTR Catholic for her winning entry in this year's Division Christmas Card Contest! Congratulations Sierra!

Blessings to all of our students, staff, parents and our communities for a very Merry Christmas and a safe and joyful New Year! Classes will resume on Monday, Jan. 6, 2023.

CTR HAS DYNAMIC ATHLETICS PROGRAMS: CTR Catholic offers dynamic sports opportunities for all students and skill levels. CTR’s educational athletic programs are highly successful with many tournament banners and provincial championships.

CTR STUDENTS ARE COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE: All CTR students complete 30 hours of community service as a part of our Catholic social teachings for preferential treatment of the poor. CTR guides all students to appreciate the goodness of all creation and to meet the challenges of life with hope and confidence.

CTR HAS SUPERB SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL AND LEARNING SUPPORTS: CTR is committed to supporting the mental health of students in our schools. Every school has a Family School Liaison Worker and/or Connections Worker dedicated to enhancing our schools as safe and caring places to belong. 93.7% of CTR students, parents and staff feel CTR is safe and caring. This is 6.6% higher than the provincial average of 87.1% .

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.

Welcome back The Centre for Learning at Home !

Welcome back Assumption RC !

Welcome students!

Students pitch in at St. Luke's to set up their new campus space in Brooks. We are grateful for the new space and the student help!

We wish all our staff, students, and families a restful long weekend! 🙏😄 Classes will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 3.