Blackfalds Engagement Evening Information
Dear St. Gregory the Great School Parents and Guardians,
Let us begin this message with celebratory comments regarding the overwhelming success that St. Gregory the Great Catholic School has had in the community of Blackfalds. Since its establishment in 2017, St. Gregory the Great has grown by 64%, far exceeding the general population growth of the community’s 12% growth. As a response, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools requested that a new Catholic school be built in Blackfalds and we are very excited that RDCRS was granted design funding by Alberta Infrastructure for a new school. We are very grateful for the part you have all played in this success story.
Success to this degree has also resulted in some challenges and this messaging is intended to bring these challenges to your attention and begin a process to find solutions collectively. On Wednesday, January 10th, at 6:30 p.m., we invite you to an Engagement Session where we will share the ideas we are exploring for creating additional space and provide you with an opportunity to ask clarifying questions or seek further explanation so you will be able to share your thoughts and ideas.
St. Gregory the Great Catholic School has grown to over 700 students. The school capacity is 545 students and this year the administration turned away over 40 non-resident students wishing to register. Unfortunately, the new school is not scheduled to be ready until the Fall of 2027 and this leaves three more school years before new space is available. The highest allowable number of modular classrooms has already been added and the administration team feels that additional space is necessary to ensure a high level of programming and student support for the next 3 years.
Please join us as we work collaboratively to address the classroom space issue for the school community of St. Gregory the Great. We will also provide an online response form to submit your thoughts and ideas after the January 10, 2024 Engagement Session. You will have the option to join the Engagement Session in person or online. To register, click on one of the two links below:
Engagement Session - In Person
Thank you for your continued support and collaboration!
Sincerely,
Dr. Kathleen Finnigan
Superintendent of Schools