École Fox Run School experiences a year of transformation: rediscovering its heart and positive culture
École Fox Run School staff and students are looking back at the past year, with excitement and appreciation for the journey that has transformed their school. The school has seen a significant increase in student and staff satisfaction with the school culture, because of an intentional plan collaboratively executed throughout the 2024-25 school year.
Cassidy, a Grade 8 student, says, "This year, our school just felt different — the most amazing school I have been to. Teachers and kids are respectful, kind, and want you to succeed and you can really feel that people care about each other. Our staff like to get involved and really care about us. It feels like people actually want to be here. That says a lot.”
This year’s journey began with a recognition that after many years of positive school culture, the pandemic and some challenging events external to the school had had a dampening impact on how students and staff felt about their school. Staff decided they would proactively address the challenge.
In the summer of 2024, a group of staff members took their own time to attend the Josten's Renaissance Global Conference in the United States. The conference is focused on school culture, and specifically on developing strong, positive relationships and connections to the school. The conference allowed Fox Run staff members to collect best practices from schools all over North America, and time to collaborate with each other to develop a potential plan for Fox Run School.
“Staff went to the conference with the idea that we wanted all staff and students to feel valued, supported and connected,” says Tracey Lynn, Principal of École Fox Run School. “It energized staff for the start of the school year, and created potential common goals that we could all share throughout the year.”
The group that returned from the conference presented their observations and thoughts to the rest of the staff in August, and then all staff worked collaboratively to ensure the plan was one that they shared.
“Our goal was simple but powerful: build a school culture where every student and staff member feels seen, valued, and connected — every single day,” says Don Rattray, Principal, Fox Run School.
“We wanted to shift from ‘managing’ behavior to nurturing belonging. After some challenging years, we knew that deep relationships and a united sense of purpose had to be at the heart of everything.”
Staff, as well as leadership students, worked together to plan fun and engaging activities meant to build strong school spirit. Some of the activities through the year included:
- Dividing the students into five coloured ‘houses’ to create comradery and friendly competition across various classrooms and grade levels at assemblies
- “Hungry Hippos” live game at a month-end recognition party
- Mobile treat cart for staff / faculty
- “Oilers Jersey” day
- “Rhyme without reason” rhyming day, where students buddied up with one or two other students, dressing as rhyming characters. For instance - dangler (hockey player), angler and wrangler
- Month-end celebrations to recognize students who consistently meet their goals. 90 per cent of students attended these
Also, staff were intentional about connecting with students to build positive relationships. That looked like:
- Every staff member choosing to actively participating in school spirit activities
- Staff members volunteering for events with students after school at the school and in the community
- Staff members planning and organizing “Student Leadership Nights” at the school and in the community
Cody Reynolds, Grade 8 teacher, says, “You can feel the difference — this is a place where people want to be. This has been a successful year with strong connections and relationships.”
Renee Eastwood, teacher, says,"I love teaching again and look forward to each day!"
Huxley, a Grade 8 student, says, "At Fox Run, everyone really cares and wants you to do well. There’s always an adult you can go to, and they’re willing to help. I love the spirit days and rallies — there’s always something fun going on! The teachers even join in and compete, which makes it even better."
Malyssa, a Grade 8 student, who participated in helping to plan some of the activities, says, “It feels really good to know I’ve made a difference.”
She says, “Being part of leadership means I get to help plan fun things and make sure everyone feels included. When I see other students smiling or getting excited about something we helped organize, it makes me proud. It’s cool to know that what we’re doing helps people actually want to come to school. We also make a difference and help the community. It’s not just about planning events — it’s about making school feel like a place where everyone belongs.”
“We have noticed a very happy and connected vibe in our school this year,” says Rattray. “Students and staff comment about how great this school year has been and we have had visitors to the school comment on how welcoming the school feels walking into it and around it. In our meetings with individual staff members in May, many commented on how they felt that this is the best year they’ve had in a while.”
Rattray says also, students, staff and parents have all indicated their increased satisfaction on surveys they completed. While many of the measures on both the Alberta Assurance Survey collected by the province, and also the Chinook’s Edge survey have increased for Fox Run, there is one key measure that specifically reflects this year's growth. The school has seen a 20 per cent increase this year in the satisfaction of students, staff and parents with how safe and caring Fox Run School is.
“While those results are dramatically improved, they are much more indicative of how Fox Run has traditionally been experienced by our students, staff and parents. We feel like we are back on track to working with our school stakeholders to build and sustain a very supportive and encouraging learning environment for every middle school student,” Rattray says.
He says, “The impact of this work has been much larger than we initially anticipated. What started as a focus to strengthen relationships and build culture grew to more and can be seen in all corners of the school. The atmosphere feels more positive and welcoming and students love being a part of it.”
Reynolds says, “I’m excited because the results reflect something truly meaningful, not just improved data, but a real shift in the heart of our school. This year, we saw strong relationships grow between staff and students, and that sense of connection has transformed our culture. We’ve had a noticeable decline in behavior incidents and a clear increase in positive feedback from both students and families through our survey data. It’s been a successful year, not because of one program, but because our whole staff leaned in, stayed consistent, and made the day-to-day moments matter.”
“I am incredibly proud of our students, and especially our staff for the work we have done together this year,” says Rattray. “It is meaningful and impactful, and it sends a powerful message to each staff member, student, and Fox Run family that they matter.”
