Fullarton floored by surprise teaching award

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

When Holy Rosary High School’s (HRHS) athletic director, Ashley Fullarton, returned to school last Monday after the February break, she wasn’t expecting the surprise she received.

Fullarton was this year’s Lloydminster Catholic School Division recipient of the Excellence in Catholic Education Award, presented by the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta.

“She doesn’t know we’re here this morning doing this award, so you’re part of the surprise,” said LCSD director of education Nigel McCarthy told media prior to the event.

“Ashley is a mentor, and that word really means something in Catholic education because it’s about walking together with children throughout the experience of their high school years and having them understand not only their potential, but what their responsibilities are to the future.”

Fullarton has been with the LCSD for the past nine years and started out as many educators do, teaching physical education.

“Then you take on roles of responsibility, like the director of athletics, and coordinate between all the schools,” said McCarthy. “As a young person, Ashley is full of life. She’s vibrant and she really enables us to reach out to schools across the entire region, and the whole province. She never lets an opportunity be missed for our kids,” added McCarthy.

“I think this will inspire others. As we mentor, we motto, and that gives us a pathway to understanding what we need to do as teachers.”

For Fullarton, the shock of receiving this prestigious award left her a bit speechless.

“Oh my goodness, I’m very shocked but I’m completely honoured,” she said last week.

“I love our school division, I love our school, and I’m so happy to get to represent our school in such a great way. I always say I bleed burgundy. I eat, sleep and breathe Holy Rosary Raiders and I absolutely love everything our school has to offer. I think everyone who works here is so lucky to get to come to school every day and get to do this as a job.”

One of the aspects of Fullarton’s mentorship within HRHS was the introduction of Raider Mass, which was something she was recognized for through this award.

Working with vice principal Chelsey Strilchuk, Fullerton explained HRHS wanted a stronger connection to the church and the community, and after discussions with the school’s various coaches, Raider Mass was born.

“When you walk into mass on Sunday nights, our Raiders are the greeters,” said Fullarton. “It’s nice to have our Raiders out in the community but also within the church community as well.”

This relationship with the parish is something McCarthy is in full support of.

“We have hundreds of students on sports teams, and each of those sports teams comes and greets and serves at the mass, and connects the school’s athletic endeavour, to the faith that we hold dear as a Catholic school system