Division Office ~
CASA Mental Health Classroom Coming to Pembina Hills
The Pembina Hills Board of Trustees has approved a new mental health program that will bring specialized support directly into one of our schools. Starting in September 2026, a CASA Mental Health Classroom will open within the division as part of a partnership between CASA Mental Health, the Government of Alberta, and Pembina Hills School Division.
CASA Mental Health is a provincially funded, non-profit organization that works with children and youth across Alberta. The CASA Classroom program places mental health professionals — including therapists and division-employed staff — directly in a school setting. Students in the program receive individual therapy, group therapy, and social-emotional learning, while still being part of an educational environment. Each classroom supports up to 12 students at a time. Students attend the program for one semester, followed by a semester of transition support as they return to their home school.
The results from other CASA Classroom sites across the province are encouraging. In 2024–2025, 90 per cent of students and all participating caregivers reported improved mental health outcomes after completing the program. Families who feel their child may benefit from the program can ask their child’s school for more information about the referral process.
The division’s contribution to the program is the provision of one certificated teacher, consistent with how the partnership works at other CASA sites in Alberta. Administration will confirm the host school and grade range of the classroom in the coming months. This program reflects the division’s ongoing commitment to student well-being and to making sure every student has the support they need to succeed.
New Courses Support Land-Based Learning and Leadership
The Board of Trustees has approved a suite of locally developed courses focused on Leadership, Character, and Social Responsibility, available at the 15, 25, and 35 levels for both three and five credits. These courses will be offered beginning in the 2026–2027 school year through to 2028–2029.
These courses are connected to an exciting hands-on opportunity for students. Pembina Hills will be hosting a Land-Based Learning Camp at Lessard Lake from May 27 to 29, 2026. Indigenous students who participated in the camp last year will take on leadership roles this spring, guiding and mentoring students who are attending for the first time. This kind of peer leadership is at the heart of what these courses are designed to support.
Locally developed courses are created by school divisions to offer students experiences that go beyond what is available through the standard provincial curriculum. They allow divisions to respond to the unique needs, interests, and strengths of their student communities. The Leadership, Character, and Social Responsibility courses recognize that developing strong values, a sense of responsibility, and meaningful relationships are just as important as academic achievement.
These courses reflect the division’s commitment to honouring Indigenous knowledge and fostering student leadership across our schools and communities.
Board Approves Three-Year Capital Plan
Pembina Hills School Division has submitted its 2026–2029 Three-Year Capital Plan to Alberta Education, identifying three school facilities in need of significant upgrades. Each year, school divisions across Alberta are required to submit this plan by March 31. Funding for the projects depends on provincial approval.
The division’s top priority is a partial modernization of École Barrhead Elementary School, estimated at $12,318,015. About 65 per cent of the building’s components need to be upgraded or replaced, including the heating system, roofing, electrical panels, fire alarm, and classrooms. The school serves 631 students and is the top priority because many of its original building systems have exceeded their useful lifespan.
The second priority is a partial modernization of École Westlock Elementary School, estimated at $7,652,469. About half of this building’s components need upgrading. While some improvements have already been completed in recent years, work is still needed on classrooms, corridors, electrical systems, and accessibility features.
The third priority is Swan Hills School, estimated at $7,534,948. This K–12 school serves a small, remote community and is the only school in Swan Hills. The plan includes significant upgrades to the building as well as right-sizing — reducing the school’s physical footprint to better match its current enrolment of 220 students. Combined, the three projects represent a total request of $27,505,432 in provincial funding.
The 2026-2029 Capital Plan will be posted to the division website Assurance Reporting webpage soon.
RF Staples Students Heading to California
The Board of Trustees has approved in principle for 12 students from R.F. Staples Secondary School in Westlock to travel to California from December 26, 2026, to January 2, 2027.
The trip is being organized through Encore Sport Tours, a company based in London, Ontario, that specializes in sports travel for student groups. Students have been invited to compete in the So Cal Holiday Classic, a basketball tournament held in Southern California. In addition to the tournament, students will have the opportunity to watch a live NBA basketball game, visit the USS Midway Museum, and tour the San Diego Zoo and Sea World.
International tours at Pembina Hills must be approved in principle by the Board before detailed planning can begin. This initial approval allows the lead teacher to start sharing information with students and families and to move forward with organizing the trip. Safety and educational value are key factors the division considers when reviewing any international tour proposal.