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École Secondaire Highwood High School receives grant to enhance foods program into Culinary Arts

  • Celebration, Program, Academic, Celebration, Program
ESHHS-Galley

High River, AB: Foothills School Division is thrilled to announce the successful approval of the Alberta Education Dual Credit Enhancement Funding Application, paving the way for a transformative new learning opportunity at École Secondaire Highwood High School in High River: A Culinary Arts Program designed to empower students with real-world culinary skills and open career pathways.

 

This exciting $100,000 enhancement to the foods program means students at École Secondaire Highwood High School will soon have even more practical opportunities to learn about cooking and baking, with clear pathways toward future careers. By working with a certified Red Seal culinary professional and collaborating with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), our students will benefit from hands-on learning right here in Foothills School Division. The Dual Credit program is designed to help every student build real skills in a supportive environment, opening doors to apprenticeships and future success.

 

Presently, the non-apprenticeship foods program at École Secondaire Highwood High School has enrollment of approximately 250 students, and those who wish to explore an apprenticeship pathway can do so through the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). 

 

With the enhancement funds, the current galley kitchen and foods space at École Secondaire Highwood High School will be upgraded to support the Cooking and Baking dual credit program in collaboration with SAIT. 


“This is more than just a cooking class," states Doug Stevens, Director of Student Learning (7-12) & Assurance Data for Foothills School Division. "It’s an opportunity for students to explore their passions while getting a jump start on their potential future careers. We’re proud to bring this opportunity to our students and grateful for the support from Alberta Education.”


This initiative marks a significant milestone in expanding experiential learning at École Secondaire Highwood High School and Foothills School Division. The funding will support:

  • Modification of the current space to support the dual-credit program.
  • State-of-the-art kitchen facilities tailored for hands-on instruction.
  • Curriculum integration that allows students to earn both high school and post-secondary credits.

 

Due to the nature of reconstructing the current foods space, work on this project will take place while students are not in session, with anticipated program start date September 2026. Students who are interested in pursuing the Culinary Arts or other dual-credit programs through Foothills School Division are encouraged to check out the division’s website or reach out to their school’s Academic and Career Advisor or the Division’s Off-Campus Coordinator at offcampus@fsd38.ab.ca. Click here to learn more about Career Education with FSD.

 

With Pathways for All, Foothills School Division remains committed to fostering innovative, inclusive, and career-focussed education. This funding is a testament to the collaborative spirit and forward-thinking team at École Secondaire Highwood High School.

 

Updates on the project will be shared following the project’s completion in Summer 2026. 


Media Contact:

Sara Fox
Manager of Communications and Community Engagement
communications@fsd38.ab.ca

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