Division Newsletter: October 2025
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Edited October 16, 2025 E |
October 10, 2025 |
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Hello, As we look back on the week, we thank you for your continued partnership and understanding while we navigate the current Labour Action. Schools are not only places of learning but also spaces that provide a sense of community and belonging for so many of us.
We know that this is a challenging time for our families. This disruption in learning recalls memories of online learning several years ago for many learners and families. At that time, teachers and teacher leaders were running lessons online, and that has transformed our expectation of education. Through this labour action, our teachers and leaders are not in our schools to facilitate online learning, and the difference is impactful.
Foothills School Division continues to be committed to the engagement, support, and success of each learner, and in this newsletter from the Division, you can read what we can do within our capacity to meet that commitment. Should the labour action persist, we will continue to evaluate and refine what is within our ability to meet our commitments.
Based on reports from news media outlets (CBC, CTV), it is our understanding that negotiations between TEBA and ATA will resume on October 14, 2025. We remain hopeful that a successful agreement is reached between the two parties, and that we may welcome students, teachers, and teacher leaders back into school soon.
Thank you for reading this update, and for your continued partnership in education.
Chris Fuzessy
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What’s inside this newsletter:
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ATA Labour Action Update: Lockout October 9, 2025
The Teachers Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) has provided the ATA 72 hours' lockout notice, effective 1:00pm October 9, 2025.
What is a lockout? A lockout is similar to a strike, but it’s initiated by the other party in the bargaining process—in this case, TEBA. As noted by TEBA, this measure is a reactive approach in response to the ATA’s strike notice, aiming to reduce the potential disruption that other labour actions, like rotating strikes, could cause. This approach also means that teachers are not permitted to work in schools until such time as an agreement is reached and the lockout concludes. As ATA members are already on strike, the lockout does not change the current status of ATA members.
The lockout does not alter the current operations of schools noted below in the October 6 update.
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Student Learning Resources During Labour ActionAs we navigate the current labour disruption, we remain committed to student success. The decision to turn off student access to online learning platforms and resources was made to provide an equitable experience for all students. The educators who oversee the learning and activities are currently not available due to the labour action. These educators also monitor student interactions and progress and intervene if there are conflicts or concerns. As such, the Division does not have the capacity to meet its responsibility to provide a safe, welcoming, and caring learning environment for all learners.
Added October 16, 2025: Last week we shared the release of select core grade 10 to 12 course materials for FSD students to access during labour action. This was in response to parent advocacy and an effort to support the maintenance of key concepts in select subject areas for high school students. Some individuals raised concerns about general public access of these materials. Unfortunately, it is not possible to restrict access and only share these resources with Foothills families without re-activating student accounts. This would create student safety concerns as they would have access to division tools without teacher supervision. It is through these concerns that we have opted to no longer make these course materials available.
We understand that this may be a disappointment to some, and we thank you for your understanding.
Labour action impacting the Instructional CalendarOur instructional calendar is built to maximize student engagement, support, and success. The Division currently exceeds the minimum requirements of instructional time for students in Early Childhood Services (minimum 475 hours), grades 1 to 9 (minimum 950 hours), and grades 10 to 12 (minimum 1000 hours). Student achievement is at the heart of our planning moving forward. Depending on the duration of the labour action, we may need to reasonably adjust our calendar to ensure we continue to meet provincial expectations for instructional hours and our commitment to student success. Our commitmentWe know this is a challenging time for families, and we remain hopeful that a successful agreement is reached in the coming days. When we have additional or updated information to share with you, we are committing do so by email and posting the same information on our website. You can find the latest updates on our Labour Relations | ATA webpage (link).
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Letter to Parents from the Minister of EducationThe Minister of Education has requested Foothills School Division to share the following letter with all families within the system. We have linked this letter on our website | ATA Labour Action Updates as well as at the following link: Click here to read the October 8, 2025, letter
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What is my child’s student number?Upon enrollment into FSD, your child is assigned a Student Number, and will have an Alberta Student Number. These two numbers have separate purposes:
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Reminder: Please complete your verification forms
In addition to the legal requirement to gather updated information annually, it is essential that our division has the most current and accurate information for your child. This includes contact information, indicate allergies, and important consents including:
Additional Information regarding the above: https://www.foothillsschooldivision.ca/_ci/p/24713
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Where to Find: CurriculumFamilies can explore the Alberta curriculum and understand what their children are learning by visiting curriculum.LearnAlberta.ca. This platform provides access to the provincial programs of study from Kindergarten to Grade 12, including detailed learning outcomes across all subjects. For additional guidance and resources tailored to parents, Alberta Education also offers a dedicated section at curriculum.learnalberta.ca/parents/en/home, where families can find curriculum updates, learning supports, and contact information to stay engaged in their child’s educational journey. |
Your Board of Trustees |
The FSD Board of Trustees are dedicated to fostering open communication with parents and guardians. We are your elected representatives, ready to respond to your questions and concerns and ensure your voice is heard at the board level.
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Trustee Elections is October 20, 2025The next trustee election takes place on Monday, October 20, 2025—the same day as municipal elections across the province. Foothills School Division has partnered with the Town of Okotoks, Town of High River, Town of Diamond Valley, and Foothills County to administer the election of trustees. Voting days, times, and locations will be in accordance with these agreements with the municipalities and in in alignment with the Local Authorities Election Act. Please view voting information for your ward at our website (link). |
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Let’s Talk: WebsiteDo you wonder why Foothills School Division (FSD) sometimes has the number 38 associated with its name? The Foothills School Division previously operated as “Foothills School Division No. 38”, after amalgamating in the 1980s.
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