News Archive

We’re excited to celebrate our Opening Mass tomorrow, Wednesday, September 17, at 10:00 a.m. at St. James Parish. Families are warmly invited to join us. Students are encouraged to come in their Sunday best to honour the celebration. Thank you for helping us begin the year in prayer, gratitude, and community. #WeAreSTFA #ibelieveincatholiced

✨ We realized we missed one teacher in our Guess Who video… and we couldn’t not share her photo because she was just too darn cute! 🥹💛 This one stumped so many of you… 👀 It was none other than Mrs. De Orbe! 🎉📸

🍎🍌 We are grateful to share that we’ve been gifted a nutritional grant again this year! Thanks to this support, our fruit bowls are back and started up again today. Students will always have access to healthy, fresh snacks in every classroom (with the exception of gym and music) or at the front office. These bowls are meant as a snack, not a meal replacement, but they’re a wonderful way to keep our students fueled and ready to learn throughout the day! 🥝🍇 #STFAHealthySchools

📅 A new week, a new chance to learn, grow, and gather in community. Here’s your Week at a Glance at St. Francis of Assisi Academy! #WeAreSTFA

Snack attack loading… 🌭🍿 Thanks to School Council, Hot Dog & Popcorn Day is almost here! 👉 Order online through Healthy Hunger.

✨ In all seriousness… while students are dismissed at 12:30 every Friday, our staff don’t spend the afternoon sprinting through the halls 🏃‍♀️ (that was yesterday’s post-learning fun 😉). Instead, we gather for professional development centered on three big questions: 💡 What do we want students to learn? 💡 How do we ensure they learn it? 💡 What evidence shows that student learning has improved? Of course, we also make time to laugh, connect, and grow together as a school family. 💙 Because when teachers learn and thrive, students do too! #STFAFaith #STFAAcademicExcellence #STFAHealthySchools #WeAreSTFA

📸 Say cheese, STFA! Photo Day is September 18—time to show off those fresh haircuts and big smiles!

☀️ Lunch recess looked a little different today—our Div I cross country runners laced up and hit the trail! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Full of energy, spirit, and joy in motion. Preparing our youngest for upcoming Jr. High programming! #WeAreSTFA

🌟 Finding joy in all things 🌟 One of our cross country runners showed up bright and early dressed in a blow-up dinosaur 🦖—reminding us that spirit, laughter, and joy can be found anywhere, even on a chilly morning run. #WeAreSTFA Ps. Our biggest cross country group yet! 🔥

Our September newsletter is now ready for you! Please take a few moments to read through—it’s filled with important updates (ex. new security system, open house, etc), celebrations, and ways we can continue to grow together as a community. Thank you for walking alongside us each day. We are deeply grateful for the trust you place in us and for the gift of your children in our care. Together, we are building a community where every child is known, loved, and encouraged to grow into their fullest potential! #WeAreSTFA

✨ We hope you’re having a wonderful long weekend under the sun! ☀️ Here’s what’s happening this week at St. Francis of Assisi Academy! ✨ We are so grateful for the energy, faith, and community that fills our halls each day. A new week is another opportunity to belong, believe, behave, become, and bless — together. 💙 #YouAreLoved #WeAreSTFA

Our halls are alive again as teachers gather for a day of learning and connection. With 100% of us committed to 100% of our students, we ground our work in a vision where every child can Belong, Believe, Behave, Become, and Bless. #WeAreSTFA

🌟 Please join us in welcoming Mme. Savage to our St. Francis of Assisi Academy family! Now in her second year of teaching after completing her studies at the University of Lethbridge with a specialization in French, Mme. Savage brings energy, creativity, and joy to her classroom. Through games and hands-on activities, she makes learning engaging and accessible, while encouraging students to take ownership of their education. Her passion is helping students grow into confident, independent problem-solvers who see learning as exciting, joyful, and full of possibility. 🇫🇷✨ Last year, Mme. Savage was honoured as the Edwin Parr Award Recipient at École Good Shepherd School. This prestigious award is presented annually to one exceptional first-year teacher in each Alberta school division, recognizing excellence in teaching, passion for students, and an outstanding start to a career in education. 🌟 Outside of school, Mme. Savage enjoys birdwatching, crafty projects, reading, and baking—and she especially loves spending time with her dog, Ollie. 🐾📚 We are so excited to welcome you, Mme. Savage—you are a wonderful addition to the STFA family!

🌟 Please join us in welcoming Ms. Cassidy Behm (though she’s no stranger to STFA!) back to our St. Francis of Assisi Academy family! Ms. Behm has always had a heart for teaching—beginning with coaching swimming and teaching lessons right here in the community. She feels blessed to have already taught so many children both in the pool and now in the classroom. 🏊‍♀️📚 Many of you will remember Ms. Behm from last year, when she graciously stepped in to cover two leaves in both Junior High and Grade 1 at STFA. We are thrilled to have her back with us full-time! A proud graduate of Christ the Redeemer schools from K–12, Ms. Behm has been deeply shaped by the values of faith, excellence, and belonging, and she now strives to carry those forward with her own students. This year, she is especially excited to begin her teaching journey in Grade 3, growing and learning alongside her class! Outside of school, Ms. Behm enjoys reading, crafting, and spending summers camping and exploring the outdoors. ⛺🌲 Welcome home, Ms. Behm—we’re so grateful you’re part of the STFA family! ♥️

Tonight our staff came together with their families to reconnect after the summer break! A little food, family, and fellowship. Tomorrow kicks off two days of professional development—District PD on Tuesday and our own staff PD on Wednesday—before we welcome back our amazing students on Thursday. 🍎✨ Here’s to a year filled with learning, growth, and joy—STFA, we’re ready for you! ♥️

🌟 Please join us in welcoming Mr. Arjay Hufalar to our St. Francis of Assisi Academy family! Born and raised in Calgary, Mr. Hufalar studied English Literature at Mount Royal University and also holds a certificate in Emergency Medical Response. Mr. Hufalar is new to us but not new to CTR. Holy Trinity Academy students maintain he’s the “GOAT” and that we scored a gem! He is passionate about getting to know students, creating space for kids to simply be kids, and bringing joy into the classroom every day. 🌟 Beyond teaching, Mr. Hufalar is an avid wakeboarder and skier, and he loves spending time outdoors—including an adventure this summer where he stayed in a ranger cabin with Mr. Booth! 🏔️ He’s also energized by coaching and looks forward to inspiring students both inside and outside the classroom. We are thrilled to welcome you, Mr. Hufalar—you’re a wonderful addition to the STFA family! 🌪️ #WeAreSTFA

🌟 Please join us in welcoming Ms. Isabelle Gemmill to our St. Francis of Assisi Academy family! Originally from Ottawa, Ms. Gemmill is a recent graduate of St. Mary’s University in Calgary, where she earned her Bachelor of Education. She also holds a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University in Halifax, with a background in biology and math. 🧪➗ As a new teacher, Ms. Gemmill is passionate about helping students build confidence in subjects that can sometimes feel intimidating. Beyond the classroom, she enjoys hiking, crocheting, and travelling—having already lived in five different provinces across Canada! 🇨🇦 This year, she is most looking forward to beginning her teaching journey at STFA and creating meaningful, memorable experiences with her students. 🫶🏻 Welcome to the STFA family, Ms. Gemmill—we’re so glad you’re here! #WeAreSTFA

🌟 Please join us in welcoming Ms. Sophie-Ana Cives to our St. Francis of Assisi Academy family! Ms. Cives is a recent graduate of St. Mary’s University and brings international teaching experience from her time teaching English in Taiwan. She has also spent the past four years coaching with the Okotoks Mavericks Swim Club, where she discovered her passion for guiding children to learn and grow through hands-on experiences. 🏊‍♀️ She is dedicated to helping students discover their unique strengths, talents, and sense of self through education. A fun fact about Ms. Cives? She loves to line dance 💃 and also plays the trumpet 🎺! Ms. Cives will be covering Mrs. Austen’s maternity leave until Christmas; Mrs. Austen will be returning in January after Christmas. We are so excited to welcome you, Ms. Cives—what a gift you will be to our community! 💙💛 #WeAreSTFA

👋 Please join us in welcoming Mr. Cian Booth to our St. Francis of Assisi Academy family! Mr. Booth is beginning his very first year of teaching with us after graduating from St. Mary’s University in Calgary. He is passionate about helping students discover just how special and powerful history can be when you know what to look for. Over the past four years, Mr. Booth has gained experience in CTR schools through coaching, supporting classrooms, and now stepping fully into his teaching role. This past summer, he also served as a Park Ranger in Kananaskis Country—trekking to backcountry patrol cabins, rescuing hikers, helping protect our mountain parks, and (as he puts it!) babysitting grizzly bears. 🐻 When he’s not in the classroom, you’ll likely find him outdoors hiking, camping, or fly-fishing in Southern Alberta’s beautiful trout streams. We are so grateful to have you here, Mr. Booth—welcome to the STFA family! #WeAreSTFA ♥️