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Honouring Tradition through Blackfoot Language & Culture Evenings

<img src="/images/8c2117aa-e682-440a-9c8a-4690fbfa984b?fingerprint=ppb20251217011901" alt="Blackfoot Language3" width="591" height="394" style="width:591px;height:394px;float:left">The Holy Spirit Catholic School Division is fostering deeper connections to language, culture, and community through its Blackfoot Language and Culture Evenings. Hosted throughout the 2024/2025 school year by our First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) Team, in collaboration with Changing Horses and Mioohpokoiiksi, these gatherings offer a meaningful learning experience.“Once a month, we hold these special Blackfoot Language and Culture evenings at schools across Holy Spirit for families to gather, connect, learn from our Blackfoot Elders, and take part in activities,” said Mrs. Shelley Kirkvold, Holy Spirit’s FNMI Coordinator. "It's a rare opportunity that we are blessed to be able to share with our community on a regular basis."These nights are a vital part of Holy Spirit’s ongoing commitment to truth and reconciliation, creating spaces for cultural connection and learning.“When we look at these evenings, they are actually reconciliation in action,” said Mr. Kendrick Fox, a Blackfoot Language Instructor with Holy Spirit. “Through colonialism, the Blackfoot language was lost, and it is very important for our families and children to relearn it. Our Elders always say that language is the basis and root of our culture, and we want to bring that connection back.”<img src="/images/779fd16c-6da2-43a8-ab49-ac0b009b8424?fingerprint=ppb20251217011712" alt="Blackfoot Language2" width="592" height="394" style="width:592px;height:394px;float:right">The Blackfoot Language and Culture Evenings first began in 2022 at Father Leonard Van Tighem School. Since then, attendance has grown, with more Elders and families taking part. As interest has expanded, so has the reach—this is the first year these evenings are being held at multiple schools across the division. Over time, the impact has become evident, particularly in how they help Blackfoot students feel a stronger sense of belonging in their school communities.“It was important for us to expand beyond Father Leonard and involve the whole school division to create an even larger family and community,” added Mr. Fox. “We found that the children of the families who attended weren’t as withdrawn at school, and attendance improved. It helped create a sense of identity and place.”The most recent gathering was held at St. Michael’s School in Pincher Creek, where families enjoyed a night of learning and fun. Elders emphasized the importance of preserving the Blackfoot language and its pronunciation, and attendees played a game of Animal Bingo using Blackfoot names.Elders Joann Yellow Horn and Rosaline Crowshoe, both fluent Blackfoot speakers and respected knowledge keepers, shared their wisdom. They continue to pass down their language to new generations, including some who are now teaching it themselves.<img src="/images/f0880f6f-9572-47f3-b831-dbace4b6cc29?fingerprint=ppb20251217012715" alt="Blackfoot Language1" width="576" height="428" style="width:576px;height:428px;float:left">“It scares me that we’re going to lose our language, so it’s crucial for teachers to teach it properly,” said Elder Crowshoe. “Speakers won’t be around forever, so I want to pass on proper Blackfoot because we really don’t want to lose our language. Once we lose it, we lose a crucial part of who we are.”“Our language has evolved over the years, and we want to keep it as true and natural as possible,” added Elder Yellow Horn. “My hope is to continue our oral traditions into the future. That was always our way—it was never written. That’s why these evenings are so special. We need to listen to our speakers, and it’s up to each and every one of us to carry it forward.”Looking ahead, Mrs. Kirkvold has high hopes for the future of Blackfoot language learning in Holy Spirit schools.“The hope is that Blackfoot is spoken in our schools just as we have additional language learners,” she said. “It’s exciting to see this understanding grow as we continue to provide that sense of belonging.”

2025-03-28 16:59:52.392 +0000 UTC

Excellence in Catholic Education Award Recipient

Mr. Aaron Skretting Honoured as Holy Spirit's 2024/2025 Excellence in Catholic Education Award Winner

<img src="/images/4d46030f-bdcb-4668-882a-b2ca279eb116?fingerprint=ppb20251217011352" alt="Aaron Skretting" width="499" height="494" style="width:499px;height:494px;float:left">Holy Spirit Catholic School Division is proud to announce that Mr. Aaron Skretting has been named the division’s recipient of the 2024/2025 Excellence in Catholic Education Award. A dedicated leader in Catholic education, Aaron has served the division since 2016 as Associate Principal at Catholic Central High School and Director of Religious Education. His journey with Holy Spirit began as a student, making his continued commitment to the division even more meaningful.Superintendent Chantel Axani commended Aaron’s deep faith and leadership, stating, “Aaron Skretting is a humble yet strong leader who is deeply committed to his faith and dedicated to pastoral guidance within our school community. As a servant leader, he leads with humility, balancing his ability to guide while also walking alongside others in their journeys. Through his unwavering support and encouragement, he inspires all staff to grow in their own faith, fostering a deeper relationship with Christ. His presence is a testament to the power of faith in leadership, creating an environment where spirituality and personal growth flourish.”Aaron’s contributions to Catholic education are far-reaching. He plays a key role in organizing spiritual retreats, Faith Plans, and Catholic programming, ensuring that faith remains at the heart of all school initiatives. His colleagues admire his kindness, humility, humor, and steadfast faith, which make him a respected leader and mentor.When asked about receiving the award, Aaron shared his gratitude: “There are many, many people in our schools who are deserving of recognition, so it’s humbling to think that people value what you bring to the table as an educator in Catholic schools.”Beyond his role in the division, Aaron is an active volunteer at All Saints Parish in Lethbridge, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and previous Parish Council Chair. A scripture passage from 1 Kings 19:11-13 deeply resonates with him: “The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’” This verse serves as a reminder for him to maintain an open and attentive heart, a quality that has guided his life and work.Aaron will be honoured at the ACSTA’s upcoming Blueprints Conference on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Please join the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division in congratulating Aaron Skretting for being selected as our recipient of the “Excellence in Catholic Education Award.”

2025-03-27 19:30:59.147 +0000 UTC

Shooting for Glory: St. Mary School Hosts Boys Basketball Provincial Championships

<img src="/images/e5f39fb4-2504-40ee-8dd1-ac1f8f90fa42?fingerprint=ppb20251217012636" alt="SMT BBall3" width="445" height="294" style="width:445px;height:294px;float:left">Excitement filled the air on Thursday, March 20, 2025, as St. Mary School officially kicked off the 2025 1A Alberta Boys Basketball Championships. This tournament was not only a fantastic opportunity for all participating teams but also a chance for St. Mary and the town of Taber to showcase their ability to host an event of this magnitude.The tournament began with an inspiring opening ceremony, where all 12 teams entered the gym to hear from dignitaries, including St. Mary School Principal Mrs. Michelle Nevil, the Mayor of Taber, and other notable guests."It's very exciting for us to host a tournament of this scale, both for our school and our community," said Mrs. Nevil. "For these student-athletes to witness leadership in sport—through both players and coaches—while seeing the community come together to make it happen is truly special. It's inspiring, and we're thrilled for this weekend."Before the ceremony, players were treated to words of wisdom from two accomplished Olympians—Ross Bekkering and Kacie Bosch. The star athletes shared personal experiences, offering motivation and insight into their journeys in the sport."As a high school student, it was always inspiring to hear from athletes who had walked this path before," said Kacie Bosch, a member of Canada’s 3x3 Olympic Women's National Basketball Team. "It's pretty amazing to now be that person for some of these incredible students in the crowd."<img src="/images/b652d3f9-a1ac-42a8-8642-2e485b1a6017?fingerprint=ppb20251217012233" alt="SMT BBall2" width="465" height="310" style="width:465px;height:310px;float:right">Ross Bekkering, a member of the Dutch 3x3 Olympic Men's Basketball Team, encouraged the players to fully embrace the experience. "I think it's important to remind these athletes to stay in the moment," he said. "As a young kid, you're often looking ahead, but it's good to cherish times like these and realize how special they are because they don’t come around often."The tournament ran from March 20 to March 22, featuring over 150 student-athletes and coaches from 12 schools across the province. For St. Mary School Celtics Captain Rex Bell, it was an opportunity to prove themselves, especially against teams they rarely get to face."It's important for us to experience different levels of competition from across the province," said Rex. "These tournaments test our skills and show younger players the kind of talent that's out there. We're ranked fifth coming into this, so we’ve earned our spot and want to prove what we're made of."Bringing the tournament to life was no small feat. Associate Principal and Basketball Coach Mr. Josh Van Uden credited the event’s success to the unwavering support of volunteers from Taber and Southern Alberta.<img src="/images/507871c3-fb22-4e85-9b33-0a6a402804df?fingerprint=ppb20251217011406" alt="SMT BBall1" width="456" height="303" style="width:456px;height:303px;float:left">"Over the last two years, countless community members have stepped up to donate, volunteer their time, pray for us, and contribute in any way they can," he said. "It's been outstanding and overwhelming to see this level of support. Even now, as the games are underway, we have so many people from Taber coming out to cheer on not just our team, but all the teams participating this weekend."The tournament wrapped up on Saturday, March 22, with Coaldale Christian School defeating Taber Christian for the championship title. The St. Mary Celtics finished in sixth place but walked away with new friendships and a greater appreciation for the sport.

2025-03-24 22:12:12 +0000 UTC

Faith In Action: Holy Spirit Staff Unite for Spiritual Development Day

<img src="/images/89224f2f-90bf-461e-913d-2f598cdf6000?fingerprint=ppb20251217011846" alt="SD1" width="448" height="289" style="width:448px;height:289px;float:left">At Holy Spirit Catholic School Division, faith and spirituality guide all that we do. On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, we gathered for our Division-wide Spiritual Development Day—a time to unite, reflect, and grow in our Catholic faith."There are only really two days that we formally gather as a school division—Opening Mass and Spiritual Development Day," said Mr. Aaron Skretting, Holy Spirit's Director of Religious Education. "These occasions are significant in our relationship with one another as a faith community and it is important that we have these times together."Superintendent Ms. Chantel Axani echoed the importance of the day, stating, "Our divisional Spiritual Development Day offers an opportunity for our staff to reflect on their journeys as pilgrims of hope. It has been thoughtfully designed to inspire and uplift everyone, and I sincerely hope that it served as a time of renewal."<img src="/images/0b611ac4-cdfd-4b6f-a723-288c33fca219?fingerprint=ppb20251217010827" alt="SD3" width="312" height="440" style="width:312px;height:440px;float:right">This year’s theme, "Proclaim! Pilgrims of Hope," set the tone for a day of faith-filled experiences. The morning began with Mass led by Fr. Troy Nguyen from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary, who later concluded the day with an inspiring keynote session, "Seeking Beauty," where he shared insights from his journey walking the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage."It is a great honour and privilege to be asked to come and speak," said Fr. Troy. "I love talking to schools and, as both a priest and former teacher, I see the vital role Catholic Education plays in shaping young minds and hearts."The day also featured two powerful speakers: Dr. Troy Davies, CEO of Catholic Social Services, and Dr. Matt Hoven, Author, Associate Professor, and Kule Chair of Catholic Religious Education at St. Joseph's College, University of Alberta. Dr. Davies explored faith through imagery in ‘A Pilgrimage of Hope in Four Images’, stating, "My discussion revolves around the fact that we’re all on a pilgrimage that leads us back to the Father." Meanwhile, Dr. Hoven, in his talk ‘Capturing the Fleeting Idealism of Our Youth’, shared, “I'll be focusing on sources of hope that we can find within our schools as well as in our faith to be more hopeful people."<img src="/images/c7ac81a6-6d1e-480d-bf47-6301417d60ab?fingerprint=ppb20251217012404" alt="SD2" width="471" height="308" style="width:471px;height:308px;float:left">In her first year as Superintendent, Ms. Axani expressed her excitement for this special day."I was very excited to share in my first Spiritual Development Day," she shared. "From the moment I joined this division, I was genuinely moved by the profound commitment to our faith that I observed among my colleagues and it is clear that our faith serves as the fundamental cornerstone of our work at Holy Spirit."While Spiritual Development Day is a chance to grow in faith, its greatest impact lies in bringing us together as a Catholic community."When we come together as a faith community, we are proclaiming our faith to one another and taking stock of where we are at now and what the next steps are - which is really what one does in pilgrimage," said Mr. Skretting.

2025-03-24 18:00:14.682 +0000 UTC

A Shepherd Among His Flock: Bishop McGrattan Visits Holy Spirit Catholic School Division

<img src="/images/4cb3fdc6-315c-473d-afe3-c937cd56183a?fingerprint=ppb20251217011352" alt="Bishop Visit1" width="367" height="244" style="width:367px;height:244px;float:left">A spirit of faith, learning, and community filled the air on February 5, 2025, as Bishop William McGrattan of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary made a special visit to the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division.  His involvement brought an atmosphere of reflection and unity, reaffirming our deep-rooted mission of Catholic education.The day began at St. Basil's Church, where His Excellency presided over Mass, fostering a sense of belonging, belief and purpose among the leadership of Holy Spirit Catholic School Division.“Having the Bishop lead Mass was a great way to start the day,” said Aaron Skretting, Director of Religious Education. “We are blessed that he was able to come down and join us. We were excited to show him our schools and give him a picture of the good things happening at Holy Spirit.”<img src="/images/d80b8549-4e5a-4fa5-ae21-8436059d05fe?fingerprint=ppb20251217012518" alt="Bishop Visit5" width="388" height="258" style="width:388px;height:258px;float:right">Following Mass, Bishop McGrattan enjoyed presentations from all 16 schools within the division, each highlighting their unique contributions, achievements, and the work that makes them special. The event was attended by the clergy, trustees, senior administration, and school principals.“Holy Spirit Catholic School Division, by name and by all that we do, is a holy place to learn and to grow. Having His Excellency, Bishop McGrattan, celebrate and walk alongside our leaders is nothing short of a blessing,” said Chantel Axani, Superintendent of Schools. “We were able to highlight each of our schools, with principals sharing many of the wonderful things they are doing to support students’ spiritual, emotional, and academic growth. It is my honor and privilege to work with such fine educators and be able to share in this celebration with our Bishop, clergy, and trustees.”<img src="/images/6e65eaca-7d00-4de5-aaa4-86d58985e26f?fingerprint=ppb20251217011630" alt="Bishop Visit4" width="373" height="249" style="width:373px;height:249px;float:left">“To have Bishop McGrattan visit is hugely important,” said Dr. Carmen Mombourquette, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “This is more than a typical guest visit. The Bishop is our leader in faith. We exist, as a Catholic school division, because we live in union with him. Through canon law, it is the Bishop’s authority which allows Catholic education to exist. For him to come and pay a visit to his schools is very important and hopefully becomes an annual event.”In the afternoon, Bishop McGrattan toured schools including Catholic Central High School, École St. Mary, and St. Francis Junior High School. During his visits, he engaged with staff and students, offering words of encouragement and faith.“I was excited to tour His Excellency through a few of our schools,” expressed Axani. “With the success of this day, we look forward to making this an annual event and having Bishop McGrattan witness the amazing works within all our schools. It is essential that His Excellency gets to experience, for himself, the wonderful things happening at Holy Spirit.”<img src="/images/648092d6-a5f3-4f13-8ab5-6855f011c967?fingerprint=ppb20251217011544" alt="Bishop Visit2" width="373" height="260" style="width:373px;height:260px;float:right">“As the Bishop, I always want to be close to the parishes and schools anytime I have the chance. I see it as an opportunity for me to draw closer to view the Catholic faith in the schools and also our parishes,” said Bishop McGrattan. “To come down and understand some of the challenges in Holy Spirit, what are the blessings that they experience; all of those are important for me as Bishop to appreciate and understand.”Bishop McGrattan also shared his passion for education and his appreciation for interacting with students. “As a Bishop, I used to teach, so I enjoy classrooms and anytime I have the opportunity to be with students. I really see it as an opportunity to understand, open up their minds and to give an example of Christ, who was a great teacher.”<img src="/images/71003e55-1c7b-4674-ac72-0161b103c48f?fingerprint=ppb20251217011645" alt="Bishop Visit3" width="370" height="246" style="width:370px;height:246px;float:left">Reflecting on the day, Axani expressed deep gratitude: “It was a blessing to have hosted His Excellency and I would rank this experience within the top three days of my superintendency up to this point.”Holy Spirit Catholic School Division was profoundly grateful for the Bishop’s visit, a day filled with inspiration, grace, and proclaiming the beauty of Catholic education in action. His presence and heartfelt engagement served as a powerful reminder of the call to discipleship, the pursuit of knowledge, and the strength of our faith-filled community.

2025-02-06 20:29:42.962 +0000 UTC

QuickLinks

Honouring Tradition through Blackfoot Language & Culture Evenings

Mr. Aaron Skretting Honoured as Holy Spirit's 2024/2025 Excellence in Catholic Education Award Winner

Shooting for Glory: St. Mary School Hosts Boys Basketball Provincial Championships

Faith In Action: Holy Spirit Staff Unite for Spiritual Development Day

A Shepherd Among His Flock: Bishop McGrattan Visits Holy Spirit Catholic School Division

2025/2026 Holy Spirit Re-Registration and New Student Registration

New Superintendent of Schools Celebrates First Day

Installation Mass for new Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent of Schools Announced for Holy Spirit Catholic School Division

Become A Homestay Family