A Bold New Chapter: Unleashing Full Junior High Potential at FLVT!
Big, exciting changes are coming to Father Leonard Van Tighem (FLVT) School, and the energy in our hallways is electric! As we begin our journey from a K–9 school toward becoming a dedicated Grade 7–9 Junior High—starting with a Grade 6–9 structure for the 2026/2027 school year only—we aren’t just shifting classrooms. We are unlocking an incredible world of new opportunities built specifically for adolescent learners.
With more physical space and a sharpened focus on the middle school years, FLVT is gearing up to offer an expanded, dynamic experience that gives students the ultimate environment to grow, explore, and thrive.
The evolution of FLVT is a direct, enthusiastic response to the fantastic growth of our West Lethbridge community. The opening of the gorgeous new St. Kateri Elementary School has created a perfect moment of alignment. Because St. Kateri is also the patron saint of FLVT, there is a beautiful, faith-filled continuity for our families as younger students transition to their new campus.
For FLVT, this shift completely opens up the physical footprint of our building, giving us the dedicated room we need to supercharge our junior high programming and give our older students a space engineered entirely for their success.
Expanding Your Horizons: A Goldmine of Option Classes!
The most thrilling part of becoming a focused junior high? The massive expansion of our option classes and Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) programming! We are making the physical room to let students dive deeper into their passions, build real-world skills, and discover what truly excites them.
Our expanded lineup gives students the chance to explore a brilliant mix of brand-new, career-focused pathways and beloved, long-standing classics:
- Cutting-Edge New Additions: Students can look forward to diving into high-tech spaces like Esports, capturing the world with SLR Camera Photography, crushing goals in a new Fitness program, or producing media in our Broadcast Journalism suite complete with a green screen!
- Elite Specialized Academies: Hit the ice with our premier MVP Hockey 7/8/9 Academy, featuring elite instruction from former Lethbridge Hurricane Cason Machacek or hitting the links with Indoor/Outdoor Golf,
- STEM & Hands-On Innovation: Get technical with Coding, build and race in Co2 Car Design 8/9, or get practical in the Shop/Woodworking and Cooking labs.
- Culture, Language & Arts: Expand your mind and voice through the Blackfoot Language, French, Spanish, Sports Med, Choir, and Guitar.
Ready to plan your path? This means more choices, more variety, and more freedom to customize your junior high journey! To explore the full lineup, check out the FLVT School Programs page.
While our younger elementary students will now be making memories in a separate building, our heart remains exactly the same. We are proudly moving forward as one united community within the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division. This transition is a celebration of growth, faith, and forward-thinking education.
As Principal Shannon Collier (Miistaki anniski a Kii) shares:
"This transition is not about losing what we had, but rather about building on our strengths to better serve students in ways that are innovative, inclusive, and future-focused."
The future of FLVT Junior High is bright, spacious, and absolutely packed with possibilities. We cannot wait to welcome our Grade 7, 8, and 9 students into a space designed entirely to help them succeed!