Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) is pleased to share, after a year-long engagement effort, the Board of Trustees has finalized a solution for the Division’s French Immersion program—approved at the Board meeting on January 25. The solution also includes changes to the senior high attendance boundaries in Sherwood Park, as the two are inherently connected. Below is a brief summary, along with additional resources for more detailed information—including an overview, a video, the recommendation report and background.

RECOMMENDATION|
After an exhaustive review of all the stakeholder feedback, background information, trends, facts and figures, enrolment projections, attendance boundaries, available infrastructure, and input from working-group meetings with principals and staff, the Board has determined how best to address the anticipated enrolment pressures in Ardrossan, enhance French Immersion program retention and balance senior high enrolment in Sherwood Park. As such, at the January Board meeting, Trustees approved the following recommendation:

• relocate EIPS’ senior high French Immersion program, grades 10-12, to Salisbury Composite High—effective when the new Sherwood Park replacement school opens, expected in the 2026-27 school year;
• adjust Strathcona County’s senior high attendance boundaries for Lakeland Ridge to be redesignated to Bev Facey Community High—effective when the new Sherwood Park replacement school opens, expected in the 2026-27 school year; and
• adjust the French Immersion junior high attendance boundaries for Cambrian Crossing, to be redesignated to Sherwood Heights Junior High—effective in the 2024-25 school year.

Overall, EIPS administration and the Board feel the approved solution is the best path forward for the French Immersion program and to balance senior high enrolment in Sherwood Park. That’s because the solution:

• aligns with what was heard from stakeholders;
• aligns with the French Immersion vision and principles;
• addresses the anticipated enrolment pressures in Ardrossan;
• balances senior high enrolment in Sherwood Park;
• enables most alternative and specialized programs offered at the schools to remain unchanged;
• addresses students going to a school closest to where the majority resides;
• addresses program retention by supporting transitions and keeping students in their community as long as possible;
• enables robust programming, especially regarding program offerings, career and technology courses, options, extracurriculars and sports teams; and
• is sustainable into the future.

WHAT DOES THE SOLUTION MEAN?
For French immersion elementary and junior high students, kindergarten to grade 9
It’s status quo, no school or program changes. However, the Division is adjusting the junior high French Immersion attendance boundaries for students moving into Cambrian Crossing—effective in the 2024-25 school year. So, when there are EIPS French Immersion students living in this area, they will go to Sherwood Heights Junior High for French Immersion, grades 7-9—which supports school transitions by keeping all French Immersion students coming from Heritage Hills Elementary together for junior high.

For senior high French Immersion students, grades 10-12
The senior high French Immersion program will relocate to Salisbury Composite High for grades 10-12. Meaning, when the change takes effect, Salisbury will offer a dual-track senior high program—regular English and French Immersion. Relocating French Immersion to Salisbury allows the Division to manage student growth in Ardrossan. It’s also the feeder school for Sherwood Heights Junior High. So, long term, EIPS feels the change will make the program more robust and increase program retention. It does, however, mean more transitions for students in Fort Saskatchewan. That said, the No. 1 priority on the EIPS’ Three-Year Capital Plan is a new junior-senior high in Fort Saskatchewan. If approved, it will provide the Division an opportunity to further explore French Immersion options in Fort Saskatchewan.

For senior high students in the regular English program, 10-12
The only change is for students living in the Lakeland Ridge junior high boundary. When the change takes place, EIPS will redesignate these students to Bev Facey Community High instead of Salisbury Composite High, which is ideal as Bev Facey is closer for most of these students. The adjustment will balance the senior high catchment areas, ensuring both senior high schools in Sherwood Park have utilization rates in the 80th percentile. As well, both senior high schools in Sherwood Park will have open boundaries for EIPS students—being that EIPS is a school-of-choice Division, it allows students to register at any school with an open boundary.

For the junior high schools
The new Sherwood Park replacement school will offer a single-track elementary French Immersion program, K-6, and a dual-track junior high program, grades 7-9—regular English and French. Meanwhile, Ardrossan Junior Senior High will offer a dual-track junior high program, grades 7-9—regular English and French—and a single-track regular English senior high program, grades 10-12.

LEARN MORE
Below are a series of resources that explain the approved solution in more detail. The information is also available at eips.ca.

• Recommendation Report: Secondary French Immersion and senior high enrolment
• French Immersion Solution: Overview
• Superintendent’s Message: Superintendent Sandra Stoddard explains the French Immersion recommendation and the rationale behind it (time: 10 minutes)
• Background information

EIPS is also in the process of developing a frequently asked questions (FAQ) for families and staff. If you have questions you want answered, simply fill out and submit the EIPS French Immersion: Question Form. EIPS will do its best to answer your questions within the FAQ document. Once ready, EIPS will post the document online and send it to all impacted families—anticipated late next week. The Division will update the document regularly.

NEXT STEPS
Thank you to everyone who participated in the public engagement process. Both EIPS administration and the Board appreciate the time and thought put into the feedback provided throughout the consultation. Between now and when the changes take place, EIPS will continue to keep the school community informed; host information sessions with staff, students and families; and develop a plan to ensure a smooth and successful transition for everyone.

Again, thank you for your patience, understanding and ongoing support.