Media Release: BRSD Announces a Fantastic September School Start-up

BRSD Announces a Fantastic September School Start-up

With the start of a new school year, Battle River School Division (BRSD) welcomed students back with an engaging array of activities, including barbecues, pancake breakfasts and various celebrations, all aimed at fostering a warm and inclusive atmosphere for students, staff and families.

BRSD extracurricular programs were off to a fast start, with students participating in cross-country running, golf, volleyball, and football right from the beginning of the year. The spirit of teamwork, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm is already shining brightly throughout the division!

September also saw the continuation of a cherished tradition—the Terry Fox Run. BRSD schools planned and participated in run events across the division to commemorate the legacy of Terry Fox. Viking School students created this Terry Fox Run Day video to share with school communities.

Rhae-Ann Holoien, superintendent of schools, is proud of students’ efforts to support cancer research.

“Throughout the history of BRSD’s participation in the campaign, our division has collectively raised a total of $1.063 million during 447 events,” said Holoien. “This is a testament to the commitment and generosity of our students, staff and community.”

Additionally, BRSD is preparing for meaningful engagement for Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Schools planned numerous lessons and activities to foster understanding, reflection, and growth, affirming BRSD’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation and education on Indigenous histories, cultures and perspectives.

September 30 will be a non-instructional day for both students and staff, allowing everyone time to reflect on the significance of the day and honour the experiences of Indigenous Peoples in our journey toward reconciliation.

BRSD is excited about invaluable and innovative opportunities for educational growth that will significantly impact the progress of student learning.

BRSD is proud to announce that 17 of its teachers will be participating in Alberta Education’s pilot of the new K-6 social studies curriculum during the 2024-25 school year. This pilot is part of a province-wide initiative involving over 1,700 teachers from 429 schools across Alberta. The pilot will focus on enhancing key areas of student learning, including diverse Canadian cultures, literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills to prepare for the demands of the future.

BRSD educators will be working closely with Alberta Education to implement the revised curriculum, while ongoing evaluations will refine and strengthen the curriculum for full implementation in upcoming years. BRSD educators are embracing this opportunity to provide valuable insight and feedback to help shape the future of education in the province.

BRSD received financial assistance through the Alberta Education Low-Incidence Supports and Services (LISS) funding during the 2023-24 school year. This helped to offset the high cost of specialized equipment, assistive technology, resources, materials, and specialized consultative services. Resources have also been extended to playgrounds.

The Early Learning team is excited to share that Core Language Boards have been installed in early learning classrooms, which will help with the development of critical expressive and receptive language.

BRSD is also excited about Real-time Reporting (RTR). RTR ensures that student progress updates occur at least every two weeks, allowing teachers and parents to engage regularly. This approach offers timely updates and personalized communication between teachers and families. RTR also allows for a more individualized experience while supporting each student’s learning journey.

It has indeed been an exciting and busy month of learning, growth, community engagement and relationship building. We are thrilled to see the energy and enthusiasm that BRSD students and staff are bringing to this new school year, and we look forward to all the accomplishments and memories that lie ahead.

Here's to a fantastic year of learning and growing together in BRSD!