Millarville Community School Engagement

At Millarville Community School, we are exploring the opportunity of offering a full-time Kindergarten program beginning next school year (September 2026). To help us understand the needs and interests of our families, we are gathering information through this Expression of Interest.

Kindergarten at MCS supports early growth in key areas such as early literacy, numeracy, social skills, communication, and problem-solving. Students build confidence, develop positive relationships, and engage in learning experiences that help them understand the world around them. A full-time program can provide additional time for skill development, consistent routines, and enhanced support for children’s academic and social–emotional growth. As Alberta Education and Childcare funds part-time Kindergarten programming, there will be a $250 per month fee to access the full-time program to cover the unfunded portion of instruction. Families may choose to opt for part-time programming regardless if the full-time option is available.  

Your feedback is important in helping us determine whether a full-time option would meet the needs of our school community. Thank you for taking a moment to share your thoughts—your input will guide our planning moving forward.

Protection of Privacy – Personal information provided is collected in accordance with section 4(c) of the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) and protected in accordance with section 10 and used and disclosed in accordance with sections 12 and 13 of the Act. It will be used for the purpose of determining the viability of programming at Foothills School Division and to be informed of enrollment opportunities.  Information collected may be transmitted to and stored on servers outside of Foothills School Division, Alberta and Canada and Foothills School Division cannot guarantee protection against disclosures as a consequence of foreign laws. Foothills School Division may use automated systems in processing this collection of personal information. Should you require further information about collection, use and disclosure of this collection of personal information, please contact: ATI & Privacy Officer, (403) 652-6502, communications@fsd38.ab.ca. 

Dear Millarville Community,

As part of our commitment to open communication and thoughtful decision-making, we are seeking input from our community about the future of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) at Millarville Community School.

Since adopting the PYP, students have benefited from its emphasis on inquiry, reflection, and strong conceptual understanding. The highly recognized programme is used in both private and public schools around the world. It is important to note the IB:PYP at MCS concludes at Grade 5 and does not continue into Grades 6–8.

Also, over the last 3-4 years the cost of the program has increased to $12,000 USD which is drawn from the school's fundraising funds. In the early years, grant and Division funds supplemented both programme fees and teacher training. This is no longer available.

A few years ago, the Foothills School Division introduced a division-wide concept-based learning framework that prioritizes big ideas, essential questions, inquiry, and knowledge that transfers across subjects and real-world contexts. While not an IB program, it shares many of the same strengths—such as focusing on student thinking, encouraging curiosity, and helping learners make connections between concepts—providing a consistent approach to teaching and learning from kindergarten through Grade 12.

Families can be confident that, whatever decisions are made moving forward, inquiry-based and concept-focused approaches to learning will continue to be part of our school experience. These practices are supported throughout Foothills School Division and remain central to our focus on deep understanding and learning for transfer.

The purpose of this survey is to understand the perspectives and priorities of our community as we plan for the future. Your feedback is valuable, and we appreciate the time you take to share your voice.

contact:

Emily Baranyay
Principal
Millarville Community School