“We have an auto shop, welding, fabrication, cosmetology, professional cooking, blacksmithing, and woodshops in all of our high schools,” Fuzessy explains. More relevant to the province, the division has the Explore Program, which is an outdoor learning program available to students in kindergarten through sixth grade as well as a French Immersion program available to many communities in its system. One of the most well-known initiatives embodying this vision is the locally developed Holocaust Studies program. Created by a dedicated teacher at École Secondaire Highwood High School in High River, this course provides students with an in-depth understanding of the Holocaust, ensuring that history is remembered, and its lessons are learned. The program’s significance was recently recognized by the Minister of Education, who commended the division for its efforts in enriching the provincial curriculum. This recognition highlights Foothills School Division’s commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of historical events and social justice among its student body which seems to be due for future growth. “We’ve seen a small decrease in student enrollment over the last several years. But this past year…There has been a lot of construction taking place. Houses are being built in Okotoks but also in the High River area as well, so we anticipate that we’ll be growing soon,” Fuzessy explains. Along with its great curriculum, the school division also has a strong tradition of athletics, seeing students regularly compete at the provincial level. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the division’s fine arts and band communities are also front and center, with regional programs supported in areas like Blackie, Cayley, Longview, Millarville, and Diamond Valley. Thanks to support from the Division’s Board of Trustees and a variety of grant funding, the students of FSD continue to have access to innovative programs. In Diamond Valley at Oilfields High School, there is a vertical farm initiative that received the Alberta School Boards Association’s Innovation and Excellence Award in 2023. Sponsored by Xerox, this project integrates hands-on learning with sustainable agriculture, providing students with practical skills and knowledge about food production. 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 10
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