Division Calendars
The division has received just shy of 180 responses to the online survey requesting feedback for the 2024-25 division calendar.
Deputy Superintendent Chantel Axani noted responses are carefully reviewed and considered when drafting the calendar.
In addition to being presented the 2024-25 draft calendar, the board will also review a 2025-26 calendar, in principle. While the 2025-26 calendar will be subject to change, Axani said having a draft prepared in advance will allow families to plan ahead.
When drafting calendars Lakeland Catholic considers the current calendar, neighbouring divisions’ calendars, as well as feedback provided in the survey, while also ensuring the draft reflects the priorities of the division.
Annual Education Results Report
Axani provided the board with an overview of the 2022-23 Annual Education Results Report (AERR).
“The division continued to educate and empower students in the 2022-23 school year,” Axani said.
In alignment with Goal One: Catholic Christian Identity, the division:
- Continued to support and offer large group faith celebrations and activities with family and community members, which enhanced home-school-parish connections
- School visits by Parish Priests and Bishop Franken and faith retreat groups helped students and staff deepen their faith
- Staff participated in Sharing the Faith
- Professional and Paraprofessional staff were nominated and recognized through the Excellence in Catholic Education Award and Excellence in Catholic Education Support Staff Award
Aligning with Goal Two: Student Success, Lakeland Catholic Schools:
- Developed and implemented literacy and numeracy plans that supported targeted initiatives
- Offered professional learning for teachers in relation to curriculum implementation, numeracy, and structured literacy
- Provided reading intervention to all students who required supports in Grades 1 through 3 in both English and French Immersion
- Continued to administer standardized literacy assessments
- Approved new CTF, CTS, and Locally-Developed Courses, increasing student accessibility to innovative learning opportunities
Goal Three: Equity and Inclusion, is demonstrated:
- The division’s Multidisciplinary Team provided support for students with speech, occupational therapy, and psychology needs in all schools
- The Mental Health Matters Campaign continued to support students with their mental wellness
- A second Indigenous Peoples Map of Canada was purchased to ensure access to schools and learning opportunities for students
- Funds provided through the Low Incidence Supports and Services Grant were used to support students with complex communication needs
- Family Outreach Workers continued to support students and families
- Teacher was nominated for the Edwin Parr Award Zone 2/3
- The division continued to partner with Action for Healthy Communities to provide wrap around services to English as an Additional Language Learners (EALL) and their families
- Cree 101 was offered as a dual-credit course to all Lakeland Catholic high school students, and Cree Language was offered as a class to all students at Light of Christ Catholic School in Lac La Biche
Lakeland Catholic measures ahead of the provincial average and maintains its achievement in most AERR categories.
The division celebrates very high achievement in Citizenship (82) and Quality of Education (89.3).
The three-year high school completion rate was maintained at an acceptable standard (84.6), while the five-year scored excellent (92.2), both results are above the provincial average.
“Lakeland Catholic students, staff, and parents overall express very high satisfaction rates for the Catholic-Christian experiences, values, and development of faith,” said Axani.
Indigenous students in LCSD demonstrate strong success, exceeding the provincial average across most measures. This includes the three-year high school completion rate (79), which has increased 16 per cent from 2021-22.
Axani noted, the Provincial Diploma Exam (PDE) achievement at acceptable standard is higher than the provincial average at 78.8, and the PDE achievement at standard of excellence increased over 12 per cent to 15.3.
Ninety-eight per cent of Indigenous parents are satisfied there are opportunities for them to be involved in planning the services their child receives, and 90 per cent are satisfied with their involvement in decisions about their child(ren)’s education.
The dropout rate for EALL students remains zero, and the Rutherford Scholarship eligibility rate is above the provincial average at 63.2 per cent.
Teachers (95) and parents (100) are satisfied that full-day Kindergarten provides quality early learning opportunities. Parents (98) are also satisfied with how the staff at their child(ren)’s school work together to meet their child(ren)’s needs and provide additional support when necessary.
“Parents continue to be satisfied with the assistance and resources Lakeland Catholic provides to students who require additional support,” noted Axani.
She added, the overall satisfaction with the division is high.
“We continued to seek and create community partnerships to benefit all levels of the division and stakeholders. We focused on maintaining and enhancing already strong working relationships, while continuing to create further mechanisms for participation and communication with one another.”
Student/Board Engagements
Students will once again have the opportunity to sit down with the Board of Trustees to discuss a number of topics during Student/Board Engagement Sessions.
Following the same framework as previous years, the board will meet with students in each community: Bonnyville, Cold Lake, Lac La Biche, and Waskatenau, to hear what is working well at their school and opportunities for growth.
The first session will be held in January at Dr. Brosseau School.