Principal’s Message – 2026–2027 School Year
Welcome St. Francis families!
We are thrilled to launch another exciting school year at St. Francis Junior High School. As we open our doors this fall, we are blessed to welcome over 720 students into our vibrant community, including many new and returning families.
Staff Updates:
We are excited to welcome back many familiar faces along with several new teachers joining our team this year:
- Mr. Cote – Math 7 & 9
- Miss Baron – Math 7 & 9
- Mrs. Peake – ELA & Social 7
- Mme. Paquette-Smith – FLA 7, 8 & 9
- Mr. Dyck – Grade 9
- Mr. Sandham – Grade 8 ELA & Social
Faith Life
We continue with our Holy Spirit Faith Plan: Open Wide the Doors – Sent to Share Christ’s Love. Guided by Scripture, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation”(Mark 16:15), our community remains dedicated to sharing God’s love across our school, parish, and city.
Program & Academy Highlights
- Fine Arts: Stay tuned, we will be announcing our upcoming fine arts show production very soon! Our Visual Arts, Band, Choir, and Guitar programs continue to thrive as creative outlets for our students.
- Sport Academies: We are proud to continue our partnership with Lethbridge Minor Hockey and host the U15 AAA Golden Hawks daytime program alongside our established academies in Dance, Hockey, Soccer, Baseball, and Elite Athlete development.
- STEM & Trades: Students will continue engaging in hands-on learning with advanced technology, including our laser systems, alongside cross-curricular projects in construction, agriculture, culinary arts, and metalwork and drones.
- French Immersion: Our French Immersion program continues its tradition of academic excellence and strong community growth.
Wellness, Athletics & Updated Technology Policy
- Athletics: All students participate in Daily PE to support physical wellness and academic focus. We also offer full LSAA league competitive sports and our E-Sports program (available as both a class and an after-school team).
- Updated Device & Technology Expectations (7:00 AM – 3:00 PM): To preserve a focused learning environment and foster meaningful face-to-face connection, personal devices are strictly prohibited during school hours (7:00 AM – 3:00 PM). This includes smartphones, smartwatches, AirPods, Meta glasses, and virtual reality headsets.
- Lunchtime Computer Use: School computers and laptops are permitted during lunch strictly for academic work and school projects. Recreational gaming is not allowed.
If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call the main office or email sfoffice@holyspirit.ab.ca and our staff will gladly assist you.
Our doors are always open, and we look forward to partnering with you for a memorable year grounded in faith, learning, and growth.
Warm regards,
Jackie Kraemer
Maatsoaapi'piitakii - Honourable Eagle Woman
Principal, St. Francis Junior High School
"Bringing to Light the Best We Can Become"