Holy Spirit Catholic School Division is pleased to announce that it has been successful in receiving a $120,000 grant from Alberta Education dedicated to improving the learning of our First Nation, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) students.  This proposal, entitled "Niitoohpookso'op - Relationships: Springboards to learning for FNMI Students," includes a partnership with the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge, and is specifically designed to achieve the following goals:

• Create opportunities to work with FNMI community and leaders.
• Increase staff knowledge understanding and appreciation for FNMI students in our division.
• Meet curriculum outcomes while integrating culturally appropriate resources.
• Identify unique learning needs, recognizing the environmental and cultural factors that impact student learning.
• Foster relationships with FNMI parents and students.

"This grant proposal is very timely since it helps fund our current efforts to achieve the government and board's joint strategic priority to encourage FNMI students to achieve at the same rate as the general population, while still respecting their culture and their history," stated Superintendent Christopher Smeaton.  "We are also very blessed to have Division Principal MaryAnne Murphy and FNMI Lead Teacher Jamie Medicine Crane collaborating on this project.  The varied skills they bring, combined with their collective passion for student learning, have been invaluable to the proposal's development."

 The project's lead, Mrs. MaryAnne Murphy, expressed that, "Our division mission is rooted in our Catholic faith, and the foundation to our faith is the understanding that, only in communities of authentic relationship, do individuals come to realize their potential."  She went on to note, "This grant allows us to more fully engage in the work of building relationships with the FNMI community in order to respond to the needs of our FNMI learners." 

For further information regarding this release please contact:

Christopher Smeaton, Superintendent of Schools
St. Basil Education Centre
Phone: (403) 327-9555
Email: smeatonc@holyspirit.ab.ca