Holy Spirit School Division saw positive changes in 2025

By Lethbridge Herald on December 30, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

For the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division 2025 was a year of growth, and that brought boundary changes and the beginning of construction of a new elementary school in West Lethbridge. 

Board Chair Linda Ellefson shared some of the highlights and challenges the division experienced throughout the year, and said the division continues to recognize the growing demand for programming in the trades, dual credit, collegiate and off campus settings. 

“We have seen significant uptake in dual credit and career pathways courses through Lethbridge Polytechnic and the Southern Alberta Collegiate Institute, along with strong participation in pre-employment welding and pre-employment carpentry,” said Ellefson. 

She said collaboration with Southland Trailers, local businesses, post-secondary partners, and industry stakeholders continues to expand meaningful pathways for students. 

“We also honored the wisdom, generosity, and leadership of the Elders and Knowledge Keepers who continue to walk with us. Their teachings help us deepen understanding, advance reconciliation, and create environments where all students can flourish in belonging and dignity,” said Ellefson. 

She added that 2025 was not without its challenges and shared that tension surrounding job action invited them to listen more deeply, communicate more openly and reflect carefully on their commitments. 

“Throughout all, our teachers and staff continued to show professionalism, compassion, and dedication to students. We are grateful for their unwavering commitment and for the grace with which our communities responded to uncertainty,” said Ellefson.  

As they look to the future, Ellefson said there’s much to be excited about. Building is well underway for the new elementary school in West Lethbridge.

“This new school will offer families a vibrant Catholic learning environment. In addition, Father Leonard Van Tigham School is transitioning from a K to 9 school to a dedicated junior high school, providing an exciting opportunity to re imagine programming for this age group,” said Ellefson. 

She said this change will allow them to better serve the developmental and learning needs of students as a junior high population expands rapidly in the community, and it offers valuable insights as they plan for what a Junior High School on the West Lethbridge could provide. 

“In January, our Superintendent will be meeting with the principal and staff to look at what is next for Father Leonard, what we want this junior high to look like, what we want to focus on and what we’ll do with the spaces that are there,” said Ellefson. 

Since almost half of the population of the school will be distributed among Children of St. Martha Elementary School, St. Patrick Fine Arts School and St. Kateri Elementary School, the new elementary school, Ellefson said they might need to consider the possibility of using the modular classrooms that are currently being used at FLVT to accommodate the influx of students in the other schools as needed. 

“We also remain hopeful for an announcement regarding St. Francis, recognizing the important role this project will play in meeting the long term needs of our junior high students and families,” said Ellefson. 

She explained that after completing a value scoping for the school, to find out if a modernization would be appropriate for the school, a decision was made to replace it instead, as it was more cost effective. 

“That report has gone to the government and on behalf of the board and division, I wrote a letter to go along with that. St. Francis was built in 1957 and it’s one of the oldest junior highs that hasn’t had a renovation or anything n in years,” said Ellefson. 

When talking about being appointed as Board Chair, Ellefson said it is an awesome privilege and a big responsibility as the voice for the whole division. 

“You want to represent well, with dignity, with respect and for everybody. Even if you’re encountering people who have different points of view, that’s perfect, because that hones your thinking process too right and I really reflect on it a lot,” said Ellefson. 

She shared that she prays every morning that she models good leadership and that she speaks well for the division. 

“As we reflect on all that has been accomplished, it is important to remember that we are more than our successes and achievements, we are, at our heart, a community shaped by relationships and by the stories of the people who have walked before us,” said Ellefson. 

She shared that this year, the division experienced the loss of two faithful trustees, Bosco Baptista and Judy Lane. And said that both served with profound dedication guided by deep desire to offer the very best to the students entrusted to the division’s care. 

“In November at a powwow, we also celebrated Peter Strikes with a Gun, whose wisdom, leadership and generosity has shaped our division in lasting ways,” said Ellefson. “He continues to offer us teachings, relationships and truths that will continue to guide us for generations.”