fall - 2015 the chinook’s edge advantage 2015... · fall - 2015 chinook’s edge school division...

AdvantageA Publication of Chinook’s Edge School Division No. 73

The Chinook’s EdgeFall - 2015

Chinook’s Edge School Division No. 73 • Phone 403-227-7070 • www.cesd73.ca

Welcome! Over 140 students from Carstairs Elementary School received a warm welcome from Hugh Sutherland Vice Principal Dean Nielsen, as they toured their new school at a special event in the spring. Hugh Sutherland is transitioning to become a Grade 3-12 school this fall, after a great deal of community consultation in response to the town’s rapid growth.

Soap Box Derby - Students from Delburne Centralized School lined the streets to cheer on their Grade 7 & 8 peers, who had designed and built their own cars.

Sidewalk Science - Grade 2 students at École John Wilson School in Innisfail studied resident insects up close before setting them free.

Class of 2015 - Penhold Crossing Secondary School celebrated the accomplishments of the new school’s first graduating class. Photo: Lifetouch Photography


The Chinook’s Edge Advantage -

Setting a strong foundation for successWelcome to a new year of learning, sharing and growing together in Chinook’s Edge School Division. As another year begins, everyone in our school communities is keen to provide learning opportunities that set each of our students up for a lifetime of success. We continue to take pride in the feedback we receive from our students, parents and staff regarding the positive culture that exists throughout our schools.

Within this healthy environment of support, our staff continues to challenge, encourage and believe in every one of our students each and every day. From the moment they enter Kindergarten to the time they graduate from high school, Chinook’s Edge students are surrounded by people who care about them and about their success. From this strong foundation, they are in a greater position to continue achieving throughout their lives.

We wish everyone a meaningful year of learning in Chinook’s Edge, where students come first!

Colleen Butler Kurt SacherBoard Chair Superintendent

Edwin Parr Award nominationMalynn Frank (centre right) was named the division’s nomination for the annual Alberta School Boards Association award, which recognizes teachers who are new to the profession who show significant promise in their first year. Along with Malynn, who is a Grade 1 teacher at Cremona School, Chinook’s Edge also considered Cassia Rawlinson (École Fox Run School in Sylvan Lake), Mathew Kennedy (École H.J. Cody School in Sylvan Lake) and Chris Grudeski (Bowden Grandview School – missing from photo). The teachers were honoured at a spring Board Meeting and are photographed with Board Chair Colleen Butler.

Parents Matter CommitteeThis Committee of the Board came together at Division Office for three meetings during the school year. The Parents Matter Committee is comprised of a representative from each municipality in our division, with the intention that Parents Matter reps will liaise with parents and community members about the topics and work of the committee. For more information, please visit the Board section of the website at www.cesd73.ca.



Valedictorian inspires entire community“If the last 313 fortnights of my education had been easy, it wouldn’t have been so worthwhile. Let this day serve as proof that you can go anywhere and do anything if you’re willing to put in the work, effort and dedication that it takes,” Valedictorian David Brown told the 2015 graduating class at Delburne Centralized School.

David Brown had a very busy spring. Not only was he preparing for his role as Valedictorian for the graduating class at Delburne Centralized School, he was studying for final exams in Physics 30, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, French 30 and Math 31. Many people would find that course-load overwhelming, but David was happy to get ‘the tough classes’ over with in the first semester. David has autism, and for him it is Social and English that pose the greatest challenges.

“The group work and interacting with people is very difficult for me,” said David. “In fact, this was the first year that I’ve taken all my courses in the classroom. Until now, I’ve always had a separate learning space away from everyone else or I’ve taken classes through distance learning. Social skills can be a big challenge for people with autism, and I wanted to work on my classroom skills. So I took a bit of a risk and took all my Grade 12 courses in the traditional classroom setting, and it has been successful for me. If you have the motivation to work for what you want, you can accomplish anything.”

David achieved top marks in virtually every academic course in the curriculum. This is a high accomplishment on its own, but it is extraordinary given the fact that David was quite uncommunicative when he first arrived at Delburne for Grade 9.

“When I came here I rarely talked to anyone, walked with my head down and sat alone at lunch. This year I’ve helped run assemblies and worked with half the kids here – and then was named Valedictorian. A lot of things have changed for me, because I put myself in situations that challenged me to learn the skills I needed. Math and Science are just about facts, so no emotion is required in that process - people with autism are wired for those numbers skills. But trying to understand all the complexities involved in working with people – that is my biggest challenge.

“I’m more qualified than anyone to know what my goals should be, and everyone at the school was really flexible in supporting the direction I wanted to go. I’ve had a lot of great things going for me. My teachers were great and I was prepared for every step along the way. I absolutely had people believing in me the whole way.”

David grew up in Elnora and feels the close-knit community and the small classes at Elnora School got him off to a good start. He was diagnosed with autism at age 5, and grew up enveloped in the support of his parents and two older sisters.

“People talk about autism as a disease, but my parents never saw it that way. They saw a boy who was great at some things and who struggled with others. They embraced the good things and set up networks to help with the others, and they were proud of all of it. It doesn’t have to be a barrier – everyone can choose to focus on the things they’re good at and work at the things they want to improve. The sky is the limit for everyone,” said David.

David is embarking on a Computing Science program at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. View David’s full speech on Delburne Centralized School’s Facebook page.

Collaborating for ChemistrySixty-eight students came together from Innisfail High, Penhold Crossing Secondary School, H.J. Cody School and Olds High for a Chemistry Tutorial in preparation for the provincial Diploma Exam.

High School Success- Chinook’s Edge maintained our all-time record high for the number of students

completing high school, which continues to be approximately five percent beyond the provincial average. Supporting this trend is the continually declining number of students who drop out of high school.

- Although the number of students qualifying for Rutherford Scholarships has dipped a small measure, Chinook’s Edge diploma exam results remain consistent.

- A growing number of Chinook’s Edge schools are qualifying for the provincial High School Redesign project.

- The number of students moving into post-secondary has increased 4.3 percent.- Each school, at every grade level, is working with a multitude of supports and strategies towards continued improvement in success for

every student. Please visit the ‘Plans and Reports’ link at www.cesd73.ca for detailed division reporting.



Engaging every student...

Something for everyone – As in most schools, the gym at Olds Koinonia Christian School is transformed every lunch hour into an activity hub. Students take part in organized intramural sports in the main gym or, like these students, form a spontaneous scrum on the stage. There are also board games set up in the Learning Commons and other activities throughout the school, making lunch hour the perfect time to connect, have fun and keep active!

Walk Across Canada – Students at Rainbow Colony School have been using pedometers to track their steps for the last two years, carefully measuring their progress as they trace the journey of Terry Fox. Their teacher, Debbie Rafuse, carefully marks their journey on a map of Canada, and each time they ‘enter’ a new province they share an activity or food that highlights something special about the area. By the end of June they had walked over 7,700 kms and hope to finish their Walk Across Canada mid-way through this school year.

Dinosaur dig – Spruce View students studying Paleontology 15 enjoyed field trips to the Royal Tyrrell Museum (right) and the Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibit in Edmonton. They also had two conversations through videoconference with professional paleontologists over the semester.

Mobile learning – A new mobile pre-employment program is a collaboration between Campus Alberta Central and Olds College/Chinook’s Edge, through the Community Learning Campus (CLC). It was offered to all Chinook’s Edge high school students through a ‘Regional Approach to Trades’ Provincial Dual Credit Strategy grant, and involves both high school learners and adult learners. Students receive 19 high school credits and credit for pre-employment welding from Olds College, and are able to write their first period apprenticeship exam at the end of the program. This type of regional trades program is relatively new to the province, and the CLC welding program is reported to be the first mobile delivery of a trade to a mixed group of high school dual credit and adult learners. Also unique is the partnership with Sundre High, which is providing classroom space in the school and trailer space on the grounds.

25th Annual Grandparents’ Tea – Grade 2 students at École Steffie Woima Elementary School in Sylvan Lake performed their version of ‘Stone Soup’, and then enjoyed tea and treats with their grandparents.



...in meaningful learning

Sparking their interest – Students at Cremona School are enjoying many great learning opportunities, through a partnership with Telus Spark in Calgary. Grade 6 teacher Cherra-Lynne Olthof has been involved in an extension program through the popular Science Centre, as she learns innovative techniques for teaching science and then brings those skills back into her classroom. The program inspired several projects in a a school-wide IGNITE event in the spring, when students stretched their skills in everything from acting in fairytales they had written themselves, to the more traditional science projects such as building the strongest bridge!

Taking learning to new heights – Deity Daunheimer joined 75 of her Grade 6 classmates at Westglen School for a day of aviation activities, provided by the Olds-Didsbury Flying Association. Students climbed inside the cockpit of a Cessna 150 and caught a glimpse into the world of piloting an airplane without even leaving the ground.

Duke of Edinburgh Award – Austin West, currently in Grade 12 at Innisfail High School, was honoured with an award named after His Royal Highness, Prince Philip. The Duke of Edinburgh Award began as a program to help young people develop a sense of responsibility to themselves and their communities, and it has been active in Canada for more than 50 years. It requires the completion of several components, and Austin used his experience in the new ‘School Within a College’ program to complete the Skills requirement (read more about this program on Page 8). Superintendent Kurt Sacher is seen congratulating Austin on achieving the Silver level.

Learning together – Spanish 10/20/30 students from H.J. Cody School in Sylvan Lake visited with newcomers from South America at the Central Alberta Refugee Effort in Red Deer, so everyone could practice their language skills.

Alberta Student Leadership Conference – Olds High School welcomed 940 delegates when they hosted the provincial student conference in May, some from as far away as Nunavut. The three-day event showcased inspirational, educational and motivational speakers and activities, and involved several artists and musicians – including a performer who was invited to sign a guest’s nametag (left). Olds High has hosted both the provincial and national Student Leadership conferences in the past, and is a UNESCO-recognized school.



Safe and Caring Poster Contest – Matt Geddes (KRAZE Radio personality) and Mark Linski (Chinook’s Edge Behaviour Specialist) presented the Grade 1 First Place award to Madelyn Cruickshank from École John Wilson Elementary School in Innisfail. To see the winning posters from each grade in the division-wide contest, visit ‘Relationships Matter’ under Quicklinks at www.cesd73.ca

Making a difference in the lives of students through the use of

assistive technologiesWhen she was growing up, Marcie Perdue carried a little toy tape recorder to class so that she could replay the day’s lessons in order to keep up. Her mom thought it was a great idea and everyone simply accommodated the device, because they knew it was helping her. Marcie was unknowingly working through a severe, undiagnosed learning disability and she had a natural feel for the right piece of assistive technology to help her surpass it. Now Marcie works with students across Chinook’s Edge, linking them with technology and supports so that they, too, can reach their full potential.

“There are so many great stories and amazing students that I think are inspirational,” said Marcie. “Stephen Hawkings is one of the great minds of our time, and his impact is great because of the existence of assistive technology. There are many types of technologies available to assist students in their learning – from a simple app to a sophisticated device. With backing from the right technology and support from our caring school staff, Chinook’s Edge students are reaching goals they once thought impossible.”

Over 200 students are currently accessing digital textbooks and other resources on their iPhone, for instance. There are apps that record, read back, make notes, and provide prompts to keep students organized and on track. Several students are using a Math app which prepares personalized strategies to enrich their Math success. Many students have been impacted by the extensive, division-wide use of the Read & Write for Google program, which has become pivotal in helping students achieve their next level of learning success.

“Another app has proven successful with behaviour self-regulation issues. It works on a timer and provides personal prompts and strategies that are a powerful way to ease escalating emotions. We use this a lot in the younger grades,” said Marcie. “It’s pretty amazing what students can do and how great things turn out when everyone works together. In the end, though, there is perhaps no one working harder than our parents. They know their kids and what they need to feel safe, to do their best and go on to thrive. Our students have invaluable people in their corner helping them reach their goals.”

Chinook’s Edge has developed a lending library for students to try out different technologies to ensure they are a good fit, or for use by families where cost is a barrier. Connor, a Grade 6 student at Innisfail Middle School, tried a few different technologies to assist him with his reading and writing. After years of agonizing over how to organize his notes and keep track of binders and paper and assignments, Connor’s assistive technology has allowed him to conquer his lessons.

“I am so incredibly proud of him and all the effort he has put into this,” said his mom, Janette. “This has been truly life-changing for him. He’s happy and confident, and independent with his device. He’s going into a new grade and feeling good about it for the first time in a very long time.”

Marcie gets emotional when she sees how far Connor has come. She still uses assistive technology in many areas of her own professional and personal life, regardless of her high-level achievements. Marcie already has attained a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and is currently working on her Doctorate. She has co-created a university program, plays Royal Conservatory piano, and spent part of the summer in New Zealand researching a digital tool that links student strategies and outcomes. And it all started because her mom gave her a toy tape recorder.

“That’s why I get so passionate about doing this work on behalf of our kids. Our schools are working incredibly hard alongside these kids, too, because every one of us knows what it means to individual lives,” said Marcie.

“We’re putting technology in the hands of students

who need it, and they aren’t sitting on the

sidelines anymore. They have found their voice,

controlled their emotions, built their skills.”

“Marcie has far exceeded our expectations to grow assistive technology supports to enhance student learning in Chinook’s Edge, and her expertise and skillset reach well beyond that role,” said

Wanda Christensen, Associate Superintendent of Student Services. “She is helping teachers differentiate curriculum, support learning accommodations and implement strategies for all unique and exceptional

learners. We are so appreciative of her leadership, expertise and passion to ensure each and every student has the opportunity to grow and achieve success.”

Learning Success – “I really like reading,” Connor declares, bringing tears to the eyes of his mom Janette (standing) and Student Services Coordinator Marcie, who have watched him grow into a happy, successful student with the help of assistive technology.



TRA

NSITIONS

Finding fame – MacGregor Manyluk is just starting Grade 10 at H.J. Cody School in Sylvan Lake, but he’s already gaining in notoriety for his work on the family farm. MacGregor was responsible for supplying seven pigs for Calgary’s fifth annual Pig and Pinot event at Hotel Arts in June. The pigs were distributed among 15 local chefs to prepare dishes for guests, as part of a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels. MacGregor caught the eye of Calgary food celebrity, Julie Van Rosendaal, who photographed him outside the event venue (left) and featured him on her popular CBC webpage. The Manyluk’s farm, called ‘The Farm With the Good Food’, is located between Red Deer and Sylvan Lake.

Leaving their mark – Grade 6 students from Penhold School pose by the tile mural they created along with their Grade 5 peers, as both grades transition to Penhold Crossing Secondary School this fall. Each student left their footprint at the school by designing a ceramic tile which came together to create the full mural. The grade configurations in the rapidly-growing Town of Penhold include: Jessie Duncan Elementary School – Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 1; Penhold School – Grade 2-5; Penhold Crossing Secondary School – Grade 6-12.

New friends – Hugh Sutherland students eagerly welcomed students from Carstairs Elementary School, who enjoyed a school-wide scavenger hunt to familiarize themselves with their new school. The grade configurations in the rapidly-growing Town of Carstairs include: Carstairs Elementary School – Kindergarten – Grade 2; Hugh Sutherland School – Grade 3-12. Information on the community consultation leading to this new grade configuration can be found at www.cesd73.ca in the Parents section - “Carstairs - Building a Plan”.

School Within a College – Senior school and division staff congratulated four Chinook’s Edge students, who were among the graduates of Red Deer College’s pre-employment Automotive Service Technician program. They were part of a year-long program that was delivered for the first time in Chinook’s Edge. High school students spent the full year onsite at Red Deer College, where half their day was spent pursuing the academic courses required for high school graduation and the other half in an industry-standard mechanics lab with RDC instructors.

Chinook’s Edge students from Delburne Centralized School, Innisfail High School and H.J. Cody High School joined students from Red Deer school divisions in the program’s inaugural year. The program supports students in obtaining their high school diploma in an environment that honours their personal learning style and introduces them to post-secondary opportunities.

“This is the only School Within a College program in Alberta,” said Barb Mulholland, who leads dual credit opportunities for students throughout Chinook’s Edge. “This is different from other dual credit programs, because it is full immersion, all day all year for these students. It has been a huge success, and it came about because our high school administrators and guidance counselors have been flexible and entrepreneurial about finding just the right place for all our students to succeed.”

New Associate Superintendent – Karyn Barber (right) brings over two decades of educational expertise to her role as Associate Superintendent of System Services, including 12 years as a school-based administrator in one of Alberta’s top-achieving high schools. Karyn is moving into Chinook’s Edge from her role as Principal of Hunting Hills School, a large Grade 9-12 high school in Red Deer renowned for achieving some of the highest Diploma Exam results in the province. She was an award-winning teacher in both middle and high school settings for 10 years prior to taking up her duties at Hunting Hills. She will be filling a role on the Central Office Leadership Team (photographed here at a casual year-end luncheon) which became vacant with the retirement announcement of Allan Tarnoczi, who is completing a distinguished 33-year career in Chinook’s Edge.



Benalto School 746-2626Bowden Grandview School 224-3250C. P. Blakely School 887-3570Career High - Red Deer area 346-9998Carstairs Elementary School 337-8670Chinook Center School 227-0170Cremona School 637-3856École Deer Meadow School 556-1003Delburne Centralized School 749-3838Didsbury High School 335-3356Didsbury Career High School 335-3407Elnora School 773-3624École Fox Run School 887-0491École H. J. Cody School 887-2412Horizon School 556-6310Hugh Sutherland School 337-3326Innisfail Career High School 227-0141École Innisfail High School 227-3244École Innisfail Middle School 227-0060Jessie Duncan Elementary School 886-2233École John Wilson Elem. School 227-3292

Neudorf Colony School 946-4011Off Campus Program 556-8606École Olds Elementary School 556-8477École Olds High School 556-3391Olds Koinonia Christian School 556-4038Olds Career High School 556-8606Penhold School 886-4390Penhold Crossing Secondary School 886-8604Pine Hill Colony School 886-2120Poplar Ridge School 343-8821Rainbow Colony School 227-4611Reed Ranch School 556-2429River Valley School 638-3939Ross Ford Elementary School 335-3234Spruce View School 728-3459École Steffie Woima Elem. School 887-3088Sundre Learning Centre 638-3135Sundre High School 638-4545Sylvan Lake Career High School 887-3239Westglen School 335-8700Toll Free - Division Office 1-800-561-9229

Chinook’s Edge Schools

Chinook’s Edge School DivisionBoard of Education

Each school also has its own website, accessible through www.cesd73.ca (click on ‘Schools’ tab)

The Chinook’s Edge Advantage

is published twice each year, in spring and fall.

We welcome your comments or suggestions for stories -

please email [email protected]

Writer / EditorSandy Bexon

Communications Officer

Design / LayoutMandy Pusey

Administrative Assistant

Remember to check our website for more details on

many of these stories!

Back Row: Sherry Cooper (Ward 2 – Penhold / Poplar Ridge), Ron Fisher, Vice Chair (Ward 6 – Sundre), Colleen Butler, Board Chair (Ward 3 – Delburne / Elnora), Kurt Sacher, Superintendent, Connie Huelsman (Ward 5 – Bowden / Spruce View)Front Row: Sheldon Ball (Ward 9 – Carstairs / Cremona), Trudy James (Ward 7 – Olds / Reed Ranch), Jackie Swainson (Ward 1 – Sylvan Lake / Benalto), Holly Bilton (Ward 4 – Innisfail), Gordon Kerr (Ward 8 – Didsbury)

New Sylvan LAKE School Site

Construction is underway at the site of the new Chinook’s Edge school in Sylvan Lake. Superintendent Kurt Sacher, Board Chair Colleen Butler, local trustee Jackie Swainson, Sylvan Lake Mayor Sean McIntyre and Sylvan Lake Councillor Megan Chernoff gathered to take a look at the progress of the school, which is scheduled to open in Fall 2016.

Inclement Weather ReminderWinter may feel far away, but we want to be ready! With the safety of students, staff and parents our highest priority, the Board of Education has supported the plan to close schools on extreme weather days when traveling is deemed unsafe for everyone. To that end, Central Office has developed a procedure that will allow school closures to involve a single school, a community of schools or the entire school division. Please familiarize yourself with this procedure before the snow flies! Visit CESD Inclement Weather under Quicklinks at www.cesd73.ca

fall - 2015 the chinook’s edge advantage 2015... · fall - 2015 chinook’s edge school division...

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