Chinook's Edge School Division

06/05/2026

Forging future success!

“From never welding before in my life to becoming a Journeyman Welder by 20 is something I would have never imagined for myself before I was offered all the dual credit courses at Olds College." - Skyla Grenier

Skyla Grenier graduated from Hugh Sutherland School in 2023. She completed Pre-Employment Welding in Grade 12 (March–June 2023) and is currently completing the Period 3 Welding program at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology.

Grenier took advantage of dual credit programming during high school. Taking Readiness for the Skilled Trades Level 1, which included TEC 1000 and WLD 1167, allowed her to gain hands-on experience and practical skills that prepared her for further studies in Welding.

“I never even thought about welding before I was offered the dual credit program in Grade 10,” said Grenier. “Once I started TEC 1000 through Olds College, I began exploring welding and realized all the cool things I could do with these skills, as well as the earning potential in the industry.” She says she also found she enjoyed the shop time and welding.

Grenier said the most valuable experience came from Pre-Employment, where she was able to challenge herself, learn theory, and gain hands-on welding experience.

Read more at https://www.cesd73.ca/about/news/post/alumni-with-a-head-start

06/04/2026

Congratulations to the top three winners of the School Bus Road-eo on May 23rd! These talented professional drivers are now moving on to the Provincial School Bus Road-eo in Nisku on June 6th.

1st place - Sam Smith (middle)
2nd place - Lori Whitlow (left)
3rd place - Arnold Begeman (right)

Thank you to our judges and to all who participated for impressing us with your skills!

(Photos 3 & 4 courtesy of Patrick Teskey of Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools)

06/04/2026

Fast track to a career in animal health!

“I hope to become a veterinary technician that clients can trust and feel comfortable bringing their pets to for care. My goal is to help ensure animals receive the treatment they need to stay healthy and happy.” - Lily Gee

Lily Gee graduated from École Olds High School in 2025, having earned her Veterinary Technician Assistant certificate through dual credit in Grade 11 (2024). She is currently working towards her Veterinary Technician Diploma at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology.

In 2025, Gee gained valuable work experience with the RCMP Dog Training Program, providing her with a unique perspective on professional animal care. This opportunity was coordinated through the Chinook’s Edge Career Connections / CLC team, and Gee was the successful candidate.

Gee said the dual credit experience was extremely valuable in preparing her for college courses. She learned how courses are structured, how to manage the workload, and developed practical skills, including safely handling animals using fear-free techniques.

Read more at https://www.cesd73.ca/about/news/post/alumni-with-a-head-start

06/03/2026

The Chinook's Edge School Division 2026-2027 Budget supports the launch of two Integrated Student Support Teams.

The Integrated Student Support Teams will focus on responding to current student needs in schools and building staff capacity in the area of complex needs and differentiated programming.

Not to be confused with the complexity teams funded by the government, these Integrated Student Support Teams will each include a Learning Needs Specialist and a Behaviour Specialist. Additional specialized support available to schools via these teams include increased access to Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, and a Nurse.

85 per cent of the teams’ time will be spent in schools responding to emergent needs and collaborating with support staff in building their capacity to aid students. The teams will also focus on ensuring that data on complexity in CESD classrooms is collected to help drive future funding and support.

To learn more about the Chinook's Edge School Division 2026-2027 Budget, visit https://www.cesd73.ca/about/plans-reports.

06/03/2026

“Let’s Chalk About It” is a Youth Empowerment and Support (YES) initiative that has taken place annually across the Division for more than 10 years. This year, students took up their chalk May 4th to 8th. Success Coaches work directly with students to create positive mental health messaging to share in chalk drawings and collaborate with teachers to organize participation locations throughout their communities.

The initiative is designed to connect students to their communities while encouraging them to take a leadership role in spreading positive mental health messaging during Canadian Mental Health Week.

The YES Program began in the Division in 2004 as part of the Mental Health Capacity Building Initiative funded through AHS. What started as a very small program operating only in Olds has grown significantly over the years. Today, it serves every community within Chinook’s Edge and provides Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programming to all Kindergarten to Grade 8 students across the Division.

Success Coaches provide universal classroom SEL instruction, targeted small group support for referred students, lunch hour programming, after-school opportunities, and year-round support including summer and non-instructional day programming. Currently, 12 Success Coaches work across 22 schools in 12 communities.

06/02/2026

Catch up, stay ahead, and get where you want to go with CESD Online Summer School.

Earn credits toward Graduation
Pick a time, any place - accelerated pace!
Certified teachers supporting your success

Runs June 30 to July 24
Registration Deadline: June 15

www.cesd73.ca/programs

To inquire about in-person summer school, email [email protected].

06/01/2026

A reminder to our families that Friday, June 5th is a Professional Learning Day. Students do not attend school that day.

05/29/2026

It appears there are some in the works at Sundre High School & Sundre Learning Centre! Fashion Designer | Tailor | Costume Designer | Sewing Instructor | Milliner | Footwear Designer | Embroiderer | Bridal Consultant...

The Grade Nines started the sewing portion of their Foods / Fashion class this week. We can't wait to see what Mrs. Bloomer helps them create!

05/29/2026

ENDS MAY 31! When registering for Chinook's Edge School Division 2026-2027 Transportation, some families may see an early registration discount of $50.00 if registered by May 31st, 2026, based on eligibility for partial provincial funding. These partially funded Chinook’s Edge students who are registered before May 31st, 2026 will also be entered into a draw to win waived transportation fees for the 2026-2027 school year for registered, partially funded Chinook’s Edge students in the winner’s household. Full draw details can be found on the Chinook’s Edge website: https://www.cesd73.ca/parents/transportation-2

A note about "partial funding": Chinook’s Edge School Division will receive partial provincial transportation funding for kindergarten to grade six students living at least 1.6 km away from their designated school and for grade seven to twelve students living at least 2.0 km away from their designated school. These requirements are set by the provincial government.

Remember, all students requiring transportation are required to complete a new registration form yearly.

05/28/2026

On May 26, 2026, the Board of Trustees of Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) approved a $151 million budget for the 2026-2027 school year, following a presentation from CFO/Treasurer Nadeem Altaf and a detailed Board discussion. The budget reflects a commitment to supporting complex classrooms and learner needs.

“The budget was developed in alignment with the Chinook’s Edge Education Plan and our strategic priorities,” said Holly Bilton, Chair of the CESD Board of Trustees. "This budget reflects our determination to be where students come first, in every classroom, in every community, and in every decision we make."

A key focus for the Board of Trustees is providing support for complex learners and classrooms. To further support the increased complexities of its classrooms, CESD is launching two Integrated Student Support Teams.

The Integrated Student Support Teams will focus on responding to current student needs in schools and building staff capacity in the area of complex needs and differentiated programming.

Not to be confused with the complexity teams funded by the government, these Integrated Student Support Teams will each include a Learning Needs Specialist and a Behaviour Specialist. Additional specialized support available to schools via these teams include increased access to Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, and a Nurse.

85 per cent of the teams’ time will be spent in schools responding to emergent needs and collaborating with support staff in building their capacity to aid students. The teams will also focus on ensuring that data on complexity in CESD classrooms is collected to help drive future funding and support.

For 2026–2027, the division projects an enrollment of approximately 10,919 full time students, slightly lower than the previous year.

CESD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ryan Sawula noted that while the division faces declining enrollment and a provincial funding model based on student counts, the current budget prioritizes classroom resources. He emphasized that the plan decentralizes funding to maintain key learning supports and ensure class sizes remain below the Alberta average, fulfilling commitments made to stakeholders.

The Board of Trustees approved the 2026-2027 budget at its regular public meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The Board anticipates revenue next year of $151.3 million, with a budget deficit of $364,300. The division will use reserves to balance the budget, anticipating that reserves at the end of the 2026–2027 school year will be approximately $5.2 million.

More budget details are available at https://www.cesd73.ca/about/plans-reports.