okotoks.news

Tag: Schools

  • Big Rock Grade 3/4 class gets year-end pizza party

    That class ended the year on a well-earned pizza mind.

    A Grade 3/4 class at Big Rock School received a year-end celebration as Eagle 100.9’s June Classroom of the Month.

    Chantelle Stevens’ Grade 3/4S class was selected for the final Classroom of the Month visit of the school year after being nominated by Kim Mabee.

    The radio station crew brought prizes from program sponsors and lunch from Tom’s House of Pizza for the students before summer break.

    The Classroom of the Month event was sponsored by Tom’s House of Pizza, Cobs Bread, Murray Jeep Ram Chrysler, Kids’ Stop Children’s Centre, Firehouse Subs, Alberta Dance & Drama Academy, Armadillo Acupuncture, Select Floors, Rim 2 Rim Tire Centre, My Pizza Steak House, Music Central, Okotoks Sobey’s, and Carstar.

  • Nanton joins FlixBus route that also stops in Okotoks

    With Okotoks on the route, this service is making all the right stops.

    Nanton has been added to FlixBus’s intercity bus network, giving passengers another travel option on a route that also includes Okotoks, Claresholm and Fort Macleod.

    Service began Thursday, July 30, with pick-up and drop-off at the Nanton Visitor Information Centre. From Nanton, travellers can access up to four daily departures with connections to Calgary, Calgary International Airport, Red Deer, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Regina and Winnipeg.

    The Town of Nanton said the timing lines up with Nanton Round-Up Days, which run July 31 to Aug. 3. The town also noted the Visitor Information Centre does not provide day or overnight parking, so passengers need to arrange parking elsewhere.

    FlixBus says passengers can expect fares, seating, Wi-Fi, power outlets and luggage allowance typical of its intercity service. Tickets are available through the FlixBus website.

  • Okotoks campaign gathers school supplies for Foothills students

    This drive is helping students rule the first day of school.

    MyCityCare Okotoks is collecting school supplies for families who need extra support ahead of the new school year.

    The annual Stuff the Bus campaign gathers backpacks and classroom supplies, which are packed and distributed to hundreds of students from kindergarten to Grade 12.

    Backpacks and general stationery items are being accepted. The organization says rulers, Sharpies and erasers are among the supplies especially needed this year.

    Donations can be dropped off at Foothills Cleaners at 71 Riverside Dr. or McMan Youth, Family and Community Services at 72 North Railway St. Residents can also contribute money or buy items through MyCityCare Okotoks’ online Amazon wish list.

    Donations will be accepted until Aug. 17. Filled backpacks are scheduled to be distributed to families on Aug. 21 and 22.

    Families looking to receive supplies, or residents wanting to donate, can visit MyCityCare’s website.

  • Okotoks Library opens early reading program for young children

    This program gives young readers a strong first chapter.

    The Okotoks Library has launched a free early literacy program for children from birth until they enter kindergarten.

    The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, announced May 8, encourages families to read one book a day for just under three years to reach 1,000 books before a child starts school.

    Participating families receive kits with books and other materials. The program also includes milestone rewards, and children who complete 1,000 books receive a picture book and graduation certificate.

    The library says the program is intended to help parents and caregivers build daily reading routines and support early literacy, social-emotional development, imagination and creativity.

    Registration is open now in person at the Okotoks Library. The program is supported by the Rotary Club of Okotoks.

  • Okotoks children to run 38 stands as Lemonade Day returns

    After six years, Okotoks is ready to make a fresh squeeze.

    Lemonade Day is returning to Okotoks on Saturday, June 13, after a six-year break.

    The Okotoks Optimist Club is hosting the event, which will feature 38 lemonade stands across town. Each stand will be run by local children as a hands-on lesson in operating a small business.

    The program began in Houston, Texas, in 2007 and is designed to teach children and youth entrepreneurial skills, including financial literacy, responsibility and basic money management. Organizers say nearly 750,000 participants have taken part across North America since the program began, with more than 150,000 students expected in more than 50 communities this year.

    Parents are encouraged to help children plan and run their stands. Local businesses and organizations are also supporting the event by mentoring participants and providing stand locations.

    Organizers say charitable giving is part of the program, with 63 per cent of Lemonade Day participants choosing to donate some proceeds to community charities.

    A map of Okotoks stand locations is available on the Okotoks Lemonade Day website.

  • Foothills student bands recognized at provincial festival

    These Foothills students clearly struck the right chord.

    Several Foothills-area school bands earned Superior Band Awards at the Alberta Festival of Bands, held in Red Deer in May.

    Holy Trinity Academy said its Grade 10 Symphonic Band received a Superior Band Award in the Grade 3 category after performances, sight-reading and adjudication. The school’s Grade 11 and 12 Wind Ensemble also received a Superior Band Award and an Adjudicator’s Choice Award in the Grade 5 category.

    Only four of the 154 bands at the festival received an Adjudicator’s Choice Award.

    Holy Trinity Academy’s bands are directed by Brianne Coventry.

    Other Foothills-region groups were also listed among the festival’s Superior Band Award recipients.

    • Foothills Junior Concert Band, directed by Breanne Jamieson, in the Grade 1 category.
    • Senator Riley Middle School Grade 7 Concert Band, directed by Paul Stetler, in the Grade 1 category.
    • St. John Paul II Collegiate Grade 8 Concert Band, directed by Jennifer Ralph, in the Grade 2 category.
    • Alberta High School of Fine Arts Concert Band, directed by Matthew Ellis, in the Grade 4 category.
    • Highwood High School Grades 9-12 Concert Band, directed by Jace Stearn and Dylan Wiest, in the Grade 4 category.

    The Alberta Festival of Bands drew more than 150 bands from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

    In a Facebook message, Stetler said 51 bands performed in the Grade 1 category. He said the Okotoks middle school was one of two bands in that category made up of Grade 7 and 8 students, and credited school support and the middle school’s Grade 6 band start for helping students take part.

  • Okotoks RCMP urge lawful response after accused man released on conditions

    In a case this serious, staying within the lines matters.

    Okotoks RCMP say they are addressing public concern after Corey Airhart, a local man charged with possessing and accessing child sexual abuse material, was released from custody by the courts following a judicial interim release hearing.

    Police said Airhart’s release includes court-ordered conditions intended to protect community safety.

    Those conditions include:

    • He must stay at least 50 metres away from public swimming areas, schools and school yards, daycares, playgrounds, youth shelters, public libraries, and any place where children under 16 may be present.
    • He must not communicate directly with anyone under 16.
    • He must not possess devices with internet access or cameras.

    RCMP said they understand residents may have strong concerns about the case, but police have received reports of threats and comments suggesting some people may try to act outside the law.

    Police said threats, harassment, intimidation, or vigilante actions are illegal and will be investigated. Residents are being asked to raise concerns through lawful and respectful means.

    Okotoks RCMP said they will continue to monitor the situation.

  • Foothills School Division approves deficit budget for 2026-27

    For FSD, the numbers are headed back to class.

    The Foothills School Division board of trustees approved its 2026-27 operating budget on May 27, with spending planned to exceed revenue as the division focuses on class sizes, curriculum work and inclusive education.

    The budget is guided by FSD’s 2024-29 Education Plan. Board chair Theresa Letendre said trustees aimed to align resources with priorities for students and families while considering the long-term needs of communities served by the division.

    FSD is budgeting $104.48 million in revenue and $105.57 million in expenses using the Adjusted Enrolment Method. The division says it will remain above Alberta’s minimum reserve requirement, which requires school boards to hold operating reserves of at least one per cent of expenditures based on their most recent audited financial statements.

    The division plans to spend approximately $80.7 million on staffing, about 75 per cent of budgeted expenditures. Other planned spending includes $3.36 million for custodial services, $14.96 million for contracts, services and supplies, and $6.55 million for capital and debt servicing.

    FSD projects 7,406 kindergarten-to-Grade 12 students in 2026-27, down 2.2 per cent from 7,573 students in 2025-26. The division says enrolment has declined 8.36 per cent since the 2022-23 school year, and it hopes to increase enrolment through Foothills Digital School expansion and continued program development.

    The division’s capital priorities include proposed new schools in Okotoks and High River. The Okotoks proposal is for a 900-student K-9 school, while the High River proposal is for a school in the Spitzee Crossing development with the grade configuration still to be determined.

    FSD also listed nine modernization priorities, including Riley Middle School, Turner Valley School, C. Ian McLaren School, Cayley School, Joe Clark School, Big Rock School and Longview School.

    A separate new Grade 10-12 high school in Okotoks, announced by FSD in February 2025, is being developed with Alberta Infrastructure, the Town of Okotoks and the project’s engineering, design and consulting firm. The division expects occupancy in April 2029.

    FSD said budget planning was shaped by feedback from education partners, including calls for manageable class sizes, literacy and numeracy supports, services for diverse learners and resources for curriculum implementation. Superintendent Chris Fuzessy said the budget and education plan reflect what the division heard from families, students and staff.

  • Okotoks council recognizes milestone basketball season for Holy Trinity Academy

    HTA's teams gave council plenty of reasons to take a shot at celebrating.

    Okotoks council recently recognized the Holy Trinity Academy senior girls and senior boys basketball teams following a season of firsts for both programs.

    The girls won the school’s first 4A zone basketball banner and advanced to provincials for the first time. Co-captain Sierra Dudar credited the coaching staff and the team’s consistent work in the gym. The players set early goals of reaching provincials and defeating cross-town rival Foothills Composite High School.

    The boys captured HTA’s first 5A zone championship and provincial banner. Noah Barlow said the team chose to move up from 4A, where it competed last year, to take on a new challenge. The 5A classification is for schools with more than 1,400 students, while 4A includes schools with enrolments of 700 to 1,399.

    The boys roster included twins Enzo and Nicholas Diaz, who transferred to HTA for their senior year, as well as the Barlow twins. Enzo Diaz said the team shared a memorable tournament experience in Edmonton on the Diaz twins’ birthday.

    Four players are graduating from the girls team and seven are graduating from the boys team.

    Council also honoured senior boys coach Sam Aiello for 29 years of volunteer coaching at HTA. Mayor Tanya Thorn recognized the time Aiello has dedicated to players and the Okotoks community.

  • Tributes shared for Okotoks teen Jasper DeBoer after fatal collision

    The community is stepping up to the plate for the DeBoer family.

    Okotoks residents and local organizations are sharing condolences following the death of 19-year-old Jasper DeBoer in a motorcycle collision on May 26.

    A GoFundMe organized by Carlin Lutzer to help the DeBoer family raised more than $14,000 within two days.

    The Foothills Minor Baseball Association shared condolences and noted the family’s long-standing involvement in Okotoks minor baseball. The association also remembered DeBoer as a member of the Okotoks Outlaws.

    Yooneek Books also posted a message of support for the family and shared the fundraiser.

    A celebration of life is scheduled for June 10 at 1 p.m. at the Viking Rentals Centre Events Hall. The family has asked that, instead of sending flowers, people consider donating in DeBoer’s memory to a charity of their choice or an organization supporting youth sports or outdoor activities.

    DeBoer is survived by his parents, Scott and Jen, and his brothers, Kruz, Rocky and Sonny.