Foothills School Division

A Flourishing District of Community-Led Learning

 

Supporting inclusivity and distinguished leadership at the forefront of Alberta academics

Each of Alberta’s many school divisions operate with an understanding that their growth, expansion, and success hinge on their ability to organize themselves and the surrounding communities for the benefit of the students.

While it is understood, applying this understanding on the same large scale as a school division is much easier said than done. Fortunately, a star division in Alberta is showing the rest how it’s done.

The Foothills School Division, nestled in the heart of southern Alberta, is making significant strides in education by fostering a flourishing community where students, teachers, and the wider community thrive together.

As an education leader, the division focuses on innovative programs, inclusive partnerships, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Division leaders have done a stellar job of creating a culture of trust, collaboration, and inclusivity for students.

The division maintains total transparency in decision-making processes, engaging stakeholders through meaningful dialogue, and leveraging data-driven insights to align the division’s goals with community needs.

It also prioritizes open communication and actively seeks feedback from parents, staff, and students, a crucial component to its long-term success.

Additionally, the division focuses on establishing strong partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, and government entities to provide students with real-world learning experiences and support services that extend beyond the classroom.

By nurturing these connections, Foothills has created a more integrated and supportive educational environment that addresses the diverse needs of its students.

Foothills School Division has become a central pillar of the community, where schools are not just places of learning but vibrant hubs of engagement and support.

It’s a division where students excel academically and personally, educators feel valued and empowered, and the broader community is committed to fostering a positive, flourishing future for all.

 

 

An Innovative Curriculum Rooted in Community Engagement

Established in 1938, the Foothills School Division, just south of Calgary, serves its schools with a core belief that education is not just about academic excellence but also about building a community that supports holistic student development.

“We provide the Alberta curriculum, but we do have some alternative programs that define us and what we do,” says Superintendent of Schools Chris Fuzessy.

In addition to the Alberta curriculum, Foothills ensures that students have a wide breadth of practical, and culturally immersive programs to help students cultivate both their talents and understand others in their community.

“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.

The initiative has drawn the attention of notable figures, including a visit from the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, further validating its impact and potential to inspire similar projects across the province.

Lastly, the Foothills School Division honors its Indigenous community, understanding the importance of representation across all cultures. One of the ways it supports this is through its inaugural Indigenous Graduation Feast, where Indigenous students and their families are invited to celebrate their achievements. This event will be held annually moving forward.

Cultivating Leadership and Pivotal Partnership

Foothills School Division prides itself on recognizing and nurturing leadership within its schools. In the past year, three principals from the division were honored with the ATA Council of School Leadership Distinguished Leadership Award.

This recognition reflects the division’s focus on cultivating strong, effective leadership that drives school success and positive student outcomes.

Additionally, the division’s commitment to community engagement was acknowledged when the Alberta School Councils Association recognized the Foothills School Division Council of School Councils for an initiative that fostered dialogue and collaboration with the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, and MLA for Highwood, further illustrating the division’s dedication to building strong community ties.

In keeping with this ethos, Spitzee Elementary School Council received accolades for their community engagement and partnership efforts, particularly for their work in collaborating with the town of High River to build a new playground at an older school.

This project exemplifies the division’s emphasis on community involvement and creating spaces where students and families can come together.

The division actively seeks partnerships with local businesses, towns, and other educational institutions to strengthen the social fabric of the community.

Through initiatives like the third annual Youth Mental Health Summit, the division, a part of a collective called The Network, collaborates with health and social services, education partners, local service providers, and local governments to address pressing issues such as mental health and readiness for learning.

One of the key partnerships The Network is exploring with Kickstand, a group funded by the Government of Alberta that focuses on integrated youth community services.

By working towards establishing an Integrated Youth Community Services Hub, the division, as a part of The Network, aims to create a centralized resource where young people and families can access mental health support, educational resources, and other services in one convenient location.

This initiative is still in the planning stages, but the division’s proactive approach to addressing community needs exemplifies its broader goal of positioning education as the cornerstone of a healthy, thriving community.

Finally, the division considers parents to be an extremely vital part of the community and does not slack in keeping its channels open for frequent and open communication.

“We stand by the fact that parents in the community are partners in education, so we keep up a constant dialogue to make sure that we’re checking in, gathering feedback, and sharing that feedback with the community to inform our decisions as we move forward,” explains Manager of Communications & Community Sara Fox.

 

Building Trust as a Catalyst a Flourishing Future

Looking ahead, Foothills School Division is committed to continuing its focus on placing education at the center of a flourishing community.

The division recognizes that trust in public institutions, including schools, has been eroded in recent years, and it aims to rebuild this trust by enhancing transparency, engagement, and inclusivity.

One of the strategic actions the division has undertaken is the Foothills School Division Assurance Survey, which solicits input from parents, staff, and the wider community on how to foster a more connected and supportive learning environment.

The survey results guide the division’s efforts to create systems and structures that respond to community needs, ensuring that the schools serve as a central meeting place where families can come together to celebrate learning and support each other.

The intention is for the division to “become a space where people can come together, celebrate and support one another, and recognize their community, as that’s been lost to a certain degree over the last several years,” Fuzessy says.

The division’s overarching goal is not just to be at the center of the community but to be a unifying force that brings people together around a shared purpose.

As the division embarks on this journey, it seeks to create opportunities for the community to engage in meaningful ways, whether through volunteering, participating in school events, or contributing ideas for future initiatives.

The Foothills School Division’s forward-thinking approach and dedication to community engagement set it apart as a leader in educational excellence and innovation.

By prioritizing holistic learning experiences, celebrating diverse achievements, and building strong partnerships, the division is well-positioned to continue making a positive impact in the lives of its students and the broader community.

As it moves forward, the Foothills School Division remains committed to its vision of education as a catalyst for a flourishing community, where every individual can learn, grow, and contribute to a brighter future.

AT A GLANCE

Foothills School Division

What: An innovative and community-focused school division that emphasizes inclusivity, leadership, and community engagement.

Where: Southern Alberta, south of Calgary

Website: https://www.foothillsschooldivision.ca/