Students set to return to class at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools

“We’ll continue our mid-day disinfections, so for sure, those protocols are still in place,” says Finnigan. “We always encourage our families to stay home if you’re sick. That whole mantra will continue to ensure that hand sanitizer is in our classrooms and in our open spaces for youth.”

Finnigan further points out additional Ukrainian students in their classrooms this year.

“We’ve joined in community with St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Catholic Church to welcome and support families from Ukraine into our division school communities,” says Finnigan. “To date, we have 50 Ukrainian children enrolled in our schools. We don’t have any teachers yet, but definitely our students are here, they started to come last year and continue to move into our school communities.”

Finnigan admits a true sense of pride throughout the division in being able to help the displaced Ukrainian students.

“We have very strong practices to help our English as a Second Language (ESL) students, so we’re always excited to implement those strategies,” shares Finnigan. “I think what’s important to note is our school communities came together last year. Our parent councils had fundraisers, we had dress down days to support the people over in the Ukraine, and then as soon as the students came over, there was just elation to support them and their sponsoring families any way we can.”

Also of note is a new K-6 curriculum implemented by the provincial government this year. Finnigan says Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools is taking a measured approach to the new changes.

“It started last year with bringing teachers in to the conversation and starting our strong approach with how implementation is going to look,” she explains. “So we are ensuring that the expectations that we have are aligning with the government expectations. But they’re manageable for our teachers and we are recognizing that teachers are the pedagogical experts in the classroom and we will continue to tap into their expertise as we roll out implementation in a step-by-step approach.”

“A key element to our approach would be to get continual feedback from our teachers throughout this year on how our implementation and plan is working for students and for themselves,” adds Finnigan.

She says strong community support continues to be crucial for everyone moving forward.

“We have to keep working together. It’s been evident the last two years how well that has gone for all of us to stay connected and be in community and I look forward to continuing that focus this year,” exclaims Finnigan.

Catholic students in Red Deer, Blackfalds, Sylvan Lake, Innisfail, Olds, and Rocky Mountain House return to class September 1, while students at the year-round St. Patrick’s Community School began their new school year on August 10.

Elsewhere throughout central Alberta, students at Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) resume classes September 1, as do students with Clearview Public Schools (CPS). Students enrolled in the Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) will have a staggered start to the new school year on September 1 and September 2, while students at Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS) return to class September 6.

Students with Red Deer Public Schools returned to class August 31.

by Sheldon Spackman

Students set to return to class at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools

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