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Explore Connecting with Partners 2School: An Urban Experience at the Education Centre 2019-20 Annual Report

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We are proud of the 2School program and our students. All photos are of students who attended 2School.

learning beyond the classroom

2School at the Education Centre1221 - 8 Street S.W., Calgary, AB T2R 0L4t | 403-817-7247mbmontgomery@cbe.ab.cacbe.ab.ca/ccom2School Instagram: @2schoolyyc

2School: An Urban Experience at the Education Centre2019-2020 annual report (cover)

| 2School

27 years ago, the Calgary Board of Education led the development of an exciting new educational model that would take student learning beyond the four walls of the traditional classroom. Called Campus Calgary/Open Minds, the idea was for students to spend a whole week in a variety of environments where they could discover real-life connection to their learning.

The idea of 2School was first conceived in 2003 when plans were drawn up for a new administrative office in downtown Calgary. We knew we had the opportunity to bring students from around the city to an urban location where they could investigate the community and the role that public education plays in how a community is shaped. The urban environment provides endless learning opportunities, including a circa 1908-1912 classroom with original CBE furnishings and artifacts.

Celebrating 27 years this year, Campus Calgary/Open Minds with support of the Calgary Board of Education continues to lead the development of an exciting education model. With 13 full sites and one pilot site, the CC/OM model continues to grow and expand. The concept is so popular with schools that sites are booked a year in advance. CC/OM is 60 per cent over subscribed resulting in turning schools down for the following year. In 2019-20, 540 CBE and Calgary Catholic School District students spent a week at the Education Centre. This coming year, we will continue to expand the possibilities as we welcome teachers and their students who are new to the concepts of CC/OM.

This report includes some of the highlights from our 2019-2020 school year. 2School is a partnership between the Calgary Board of Education, its stakeholders, the surrounding community and Campus Calgary. As a program, 2School brings teachers, students and community experts together for a week-long curriculum-based experience utilizing the downtown urban environment as their classroom. This program brings together Calgarians to learn, talk and celebrate the vibrant rich inner city neighborhoods and the many exciting things they have to offer. Each week is personalized for the attending class with CBE employees and community members sharing their expertise while working alongside students. Students are immersed in education and come to understand how it serves citizens. Students explore stories and have direct experiences with spaces and places which help them develop a greater connection to the Calgary community and their own identity as a Calgarian. Students also create change as they realize their importance in shaping their city.

“2school helped me understand and appreciate the efforts and thoughts that went into making this city a beautiful place.” -Student

Introduction

Students get the opportunity to meet and ask questions with Chief Usih.

Each week is designed to be transformative for the participating class. The program is also intended to be an integral part of the students’ yearlong study. The program’s coordinator supports this relationship by sending a weekly newsletter to all participating classes entitled 2School News. Addressed to students, this is intended to highlight what is happening in our schools and in our city, community celebrations and current events that connect their studies and curriculum (Alberta Program of Studies). The newsletter also introduces teachers to resources that support learning in their classroom. Feedback has been very positive as it supports teaching and learning. These weekly newsletters also create a space for teachers and the coordinator to communicate and celebrate the work before, during and after a week at 2School. As such, this report aims to offer insight into how a week at 2School was embedded into a year of learning in the 2019– 2020 school year, highlighting our many partners.

This program brings together Calgarians to learn, talk and celebrate the vibrant rich inner city neighborhoods and the many exciting things they have to offer. Each week is personalized for the attending class with CBE employees and community members sharing their expertise while working alongside students. Students are immersed in education and come to understand how it serves citizens. Students explore stories and have direct experiences with spaces and places which help them develop a greater connection to the Calgary community and their own identity as a Calgarian. Students also create change as they realize their importance in shaping their city.

Each week is designed to be transformative for the participating class. The program is alsointended to be an integral part of the students’ yearlong study. The program’s coordinatorsupports this relationship by sending a weekly newsletter to all participating classes entitled2School News. Addressed to students, this is intended to highlight what is happening in ourschools and in our city, community celebrations and current events that connect their studiesand curriculum (Alberta Program of Studies). The newsletter also introduces teachers to resources that support learning in their classroom. Feedback has been very positive as it supports teaching and learning.

These weekly newsletters also create a space for teachers and the coordinator to communicateand celebrate the work before, during and after a week at 2School. As such, this report aims tooffer insight into how a week at 2School was embedded into a year of learning in the 2019-20school year, highlighting our many partners.

“I feel like I always grow as a teacher when I spend time outside the classroom, looking at the world from a different perspective.” -Teacher

Learning

Student poetry and art inspired by the question” How does the environment impact people?”

| 2019 - 20 Annual Report 1

| 2School

Partnerships are an integral part of the 2School program. Each week is uniquely designed specifically for that class. Students walk in the footsteps of the experts working side by side CBE staff and community partners.

Jennie Elliott School Grade 1What Creates Communities that Make People Want to Live There?

Grade 1’s from Jennie Elliott School focused on examining what creates communities that make people want to live there. Through the lens of gathering spaces, art, and the many people who help to foster a sense of belonging and add community vibrancy and spirit, they ventured into the downtown to discover answers to the question.

While students explored the community of the Beltline neighbourhood, they began to notice art, specifically murals, filling apartment blocks and brightening up alleyways and parking lots. This discovery got students thinking about how communities can create a sense of safety, belonging and gathering spaces in unexpected and, often, neglected places in our city.

Students learned how the Beltline Neighbourhood Association worked collaboratively with businesses, building owners, artists, and additional funders and volunteers to add 30 murals over three years to their

community. The Beltline Urban Murals Project (BUMP) has grown to become an annual festival event for the community.

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Partnerships Grade 1

Students become part of the mural making process in East Village.

“In this moment we became muralists!”-Student

| 2019 - 20 Annual Report

Students reflected that the art brought beauty, vibrancy, elements of surprise and wonder to the community and that many people helped to make this vision a reality. Students also noted that the murals told a story of place through the eyes of artists.

An unexpected surprise waited for students when they got the opportunity to work with Wendy Lees, a community art facilitator who planned a collaborative pop up mural in the East Village. Students were warmly welcomed to join in the painting and work alongside other people, each painting a square that became part of a larger block in the mural. Throughout the day more people came and added details on top of others contributions, creating layers of communal art. The students reflected that they, in that moment, became muralists and had all the people in the community of the East Village; old, young, residents, visitors to thank for the experience and work of art.

Partnerships

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Students become part of the mural making

process in East Village.

“We Are One” The final collaborative product.

“It really opened my eyes to a new world I already knew about but never explored. I met different people who play big roles in our society which helped me learn how my actions affect my future” -Teacher

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Partnerships Grade 8

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Apostles of Jesus Grade 8How Can We Be Leaders in Health and Wellness?

Grade 8 students examined the many physical, spiritual, mental, environmental, social and emotional structures that are a part of their lives and how these can inform them in being a health and wellness leader. By visiting the Avatamsaka Buddhist Monastery they met with Master Jin, a Buddhist nun, who shared her spiritual journey of quieting her mind from distractions. She also shared her focus doing things that benefit others rather than ourselves, noting that this has been a practise and struggle for her. This experience led to a conversation with students around comparing and contrasting their own beliefs and assumptions with how healthy our actions are for our minds.

Meeting with the Chief Superintendent and Public School Trustee, Students questioned leaders around what they were doing for student mental health and wellness. They inquired about interventions and asked for the evidence that indicated if the existing support were effective. This led students to examine the school supports and social structure they have in their lives to help support their own mental health and identify

possible strategies for making them more effective.In relation to physical health, students explored the role of dance with Calgary’s amazing Decidedly Jazz Danceworks Company. They learned about dance as a way to express their emotions in a social setting and stay physically active. Throughout the week students looked for evidence of communities intentional planning around health and wellness, coming to understand that there are many worldviews, perspectives and factors that need to be taken into account to honour citizens needs and be leaders in our city.

Student journal at Avatamsaka Monestary.

“Being downtown helped me see that there is so much good in the world. By learning and seeing it with my own eyes” -Student

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Partnerships

Students work with Cassie Suche to create a mural inspired by shapes in the urban landscape.

Students get a first hand experience talking with Cassie Suche about her Beltline mural.

Grade 3/4

Capitol Hill Grade 3/4Whose Story Are We Telling?

Grade ¾ students investigated the question, Whose story are we telling? Through examining unique perspectives from nature, art, architecture and community students gained an understanding of how identity and culture are shaped by what surrounds us.

Students got a firsthand look at how global architecture has shaped our cityscape by comparing and contrasting Bow Tower, Brookfield Place and Telus Sky. By investigating the world class architects that are being highlighted and how building designs have changed throughout our city’s history students made connections between our past and present and what might be beneficial for our future.

Grade ¾’s also got the opportunity to work with Cassie Suche, a Calgary-based artist, to learn strategies of what it takes to create a mural from an artist perspective. Students got the chance to go through the process of designing a large scale collage piece that told a story of shapes in our environment while working with scale, colour and 2 Dimensional shapes.

By visiting cSPACE and watching artists Cecile Albi and Feast Letterpress work in their mediums, students gained an understanding and appreciation for how local artists can create beauty for our city and share their passion with others.

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Students collect data from businesses along 17th avenue S.W. to determine what sustainability measures they are taking.

Queen Elizabeth Grade 7Who is Responsible For Making Calgary a Sustainable City?

Queen Elizabeth students were keen to examine what businesses were doing around issues of sustainability. They took to 17th Avenue to interview stores and compiled their results. Many students were surprised to discover that the majority of business had committed to being sustainable, whether it was through their ethical production of goods, their waste management and commitment to being part of a circular economy (Urban Fare), or growing their own fruits and vegetables and utilizing wind power as an energy source (The Coup). These findings led students to question their own purchasing behaviours and if they would be more likely to buy from certain businesses and companies if they knew about their commitment to sustainability.

Grade 7s got the opportunity to visit Strategic Group’s CUBE, an innovative repurposing project that turned an office space into a residential space. Cube reflected three areas of sustainability which were economic, business and social/community. Students reflected that the people responsible for projects such as Cube were governments in writing policy in which projects such as these are valued and encouraged, businesses in taking on projects such as these and citizens in how they act and where they place value will shape what sustainability measures are enacted.

Students met with Jackie, from the City of Calgary’s Transportation and Livable Streets department to learn about the role that streets play in creating and maintaining a livable city. They examined the needs of different citizens in order to get around and began to understand that many different modes of transportation and road design are necessary for cities to be sustainable. Students also got to analyze the three key issues related to the City of Calgary’s e scooter pilot program and provided suggestions that the City of Calgary will use in their Spring launch of the e scooters.

Partnerships Grade 7

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Discover

Participating in the 2School program gives students the opportunity to connect to their school in new ways. Many students don’t realize that the CBE is more than their school; they are a part of the almost 125,000 students who attend 246 CBE schools. Many students have never spent so much time downtown. Whether it is an examination of the value of public spaces, or how we collaborate within our community, students’ worlds become larger when they venture outside the four walls of their classroom. Students felt a greater connection to their school and to their city after attending 2School, building on their own identity formation and enhancing their sense of place-meaning. 2School students understand we all have a responsibility to create the type of community we wish to live in. After attending 2School, many students were able to think of ways they could make a difference in their own community. Colonel Sanders ripple effect inquiry took on a small actions project where the kids had to add something to their lives that promote goodness/kindness/change. Capitol Hill School has launched an inquiry around how things can be built with an understanding of parts, purpose and perspective. After examining the role of democracy in designing and creating public spaces, Queen Elizabeth has started to explore how they can design and implement ideas that combine environmental, economic and social sustainability factors in Eau Claire’s Public Realm vision. Throughout the year, students involved in this experiential method of learning, gained a deeper appreciation for their voice and how they can influence change.

Connecting

2School by the numbers | 2019 - 20 Statistics

540 students

20 classes

24 teachers

9 school board trustees

321 parent volunteers

27 CBE teaching staff

90+ school board, city and community

7 education assistants

2 administrative staff

7 student teachers

15 classes from the Calgary Board of Education

5 class from Calgary Catholic School

Students work in the historical classroom at the CBE Ed Center.

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We’re proud of our accomplishments this year2019-20 Program

Students examine and experiment with the public space BUMP in the East Village to evaluate its impact on the community.

Date Big Idea/Inquiry Question School Grade

Sept 9-13 How do humans impact Ian Bazalgette Middle School 6 the environment? Sept 16-19 & Oct 7 We all have an impact Chief Justice Milvain Elementary 3Sept 30-Oct 4 Sept 23-27 What creates communities that make Jennie Elliott Elementary 1 people want to live there?

Oct 15-18 & Nov 14 What components make a city St. Phillip Elementary 6 Oct 21-24 & Nov 15 wonderful and vibrant?Oct 28-20 & Nov 12, 13 Nov 4-8 How can small actions change the world? Nov 18-22 How can we be champions of health Apostles of Jesus Elementary 8 and wellness? Middle School Nov 25-29 Whose story are we telling? Capitol Hill Elementary 3/4 Dec 2-6 How are we connected? Sir Wilfrid Laurier 6 Middle School

Dec 9-12 & 16 What connects our communities? Colonel Sanders Elementary 4

Jan 6-10 Why do we have to protect the Senator Patrick Burns 6Jan 21-24 & Jan 27 environment to be a good citizen? Middle School Feb 3-7 Where does the Spanish language live in Calgary?

How do we find innovative solutions to solve problems?

Jan 13-17 What is conflict? How can it be resolved? Mayland Heights School 6

Feb 24-28 Who is responsible for making Calgary Queen Elizabeth High School 7 a sustainable city?

March 2-6 What does ethical, sustainable citizenship look like?

“We have a better understanding in how communities make decisions, how we choose to make our cities the way we want them and how that impacts those that live in and around it”. -Student

| 2019 - 20 Annual Report

The Community of Connaught/Beltline

The 2School program would not have been a success without the region of the Beltline, which includes the communities of Connaught and Victoria Park as well as other businesses and people in Calgary’s downtown and inner city neighbourhoods. Calgary is rich with businesses and organizations that are integral to the growth and vitality of our city. Through the lens of public education, community organizations work with schools to help explore their big idea/inquiry questions. These organizations, spaces and people provide rich and thoughtful learning experiences which challenge and push students to take their learning to a deeper level of understanding.

Thank you to our partners for devoting their time and expertise to work with our students:

n Alberta School of Balletn Avatamsaka Monasteryn Battistella Developmentsn Beakerheadn The Bow (building)n Brookfield Place (building)n cSPACEn Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD)n Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC)n Calgary Public Library n Memorial Park branchn Central branch n Calgary Operan Calgary Chinese Community Associationn Calgary Chinese Cultural Centern Cenovus Energyn City Hall Schooln City Hall Municipal Buildingn Christine Klassen Galleryn The City of Calgary Planning, Development and Assessment Departmentn The City of Calgary Public Art, Culture and Recreation Departmentn The City of Calgary Police Servicesn The City of Calgary Fire Departmentn Consul General of Columbian The Coup Restaurantn Connaught Schooln Contemporary Calgaryn CUPS

n Decidedly Jazz Danceworksn Devonian Gardens n Dialog Design n East Village Experience Centern Eau claire Marketn Enmaxn Feast Letterpressn Fort Calgaryn Grace Presbyterian Churchn Good Life Fitnessn Herringer-Kiss Galleryn Hispanic Arts Societyn Inn From the Coldn Jamieson Placen Junction North Galleryn Kit Interior Objectsn Mark on 10thn The Mustard Seedn Mountain Equipment Co opn The National Music Centern Newzones Galleryn Nexen Inc.n O2 Planning + Designn Phil and Sebastian Coffeen Strategic Groupn Sidewalk Citizenn Southland Transportationn Unimarketn University of Calgary (Student Conduct Office)n Urban Fare Marketn Vivian Art

Your support has made a difference. 2School is fortunate to have the continued support of the CBE Board of Trustees, the CCSD Board of Trustees, CBE and CCSD superintendents, as well as many CBE employees who welcome students to their workplace

Thanks

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If the Beltline community were a person what would it be like?

“I think my students will remember this experience throughout their lives when they visit public spaces, navigate city streets or plus 15’s, and see public art!” -Teacher

discover

engage

learn

explore

cbe.ab.ca

Explore Connecting with Partners 2School: An Urban Experience at the Education Centre 2019-20 Annual Report

cbe.ab.ca

partner |

We are proud of the 2School program and our students. All photos are of students who attended 2School.

learning beyond the classroom

2School at the Education Centre1221 - 8 Street S.W., Calgary, AB T2R 0L4t | 403-817-7247mbmontgomery@cbe.ab.cacbe.ab.ca/ccom2School Instagram: @2schoolyyc