from Karen Drummond, CBE Communications Advisor
Welcome back!
The Calgary Board of Education is delighted to be starting an exciting new year of teaching and learning.
The start of a new school year is an exciting time—a fresh start for students and schools. Welcome back to all our returning students—and welcome to the many new students who are joining us this year.
We are also pleased to welcome back returning school council members and new members. We look forward to working together for the coming school year.
Update your school council information
Please confirm your 2013-14 school council contacts with us. Even if you haven't had any changes to your executive this year, please confirm the contacts for the upcoming year.
Please forward the following information for your chair and for your key communicator/communications liaison: name, school, position on school council, e-mail address and phone number. If you don't have a key communicator, please provide an alternate school council contact.
This information will be used to circulate this e-newsletter in addition to sharing information and invitations relevant to your school council and parent community.
2013-14 school council handbook available online
The updated school council handbook is now available on the CBE website. It includes valuable information on how to operate your school council effectively. You can learn about how school councils work, membership, roles and more. In addition, you can access school council checklists, templates and resources to help you in your work.
Learn more about the personalization of learning and Iris at Sept. 18 CAPSC meeting
Come hear from Naomi Johnson, chief superintendent of schools and other CBE learning leaders about some of the ways personalized learning is happening in schools. One important tool that will be discussed is Iris, an award-winning web-based innovation that connects students and teachers in a dynamic and purposeful digital environment.
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 18
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: A.E. Cross School, 3445 – 37 St. S.W.
CBE wins 2013 Intranet Innovation Award for Iris
Step Two Designs, a global thought leader on intranets, has selected the Calgary Board of Education as a Gold winner in the 2013 Innovation Awards.
The CBE received this honour for its innovative resource to personalize learning called Iris.
The CBE developed Iris in collaboration with Habanero Consulting to help teachers better connect with students in a dynamic and purposeful digital environment.
Explore healthy options at Sept. 17 event
Join the CBE and the Calgary Catholic School District for an informative afternoon to learn about a variety of student-friendly and healthy options for “Food Fun Days” or “School Celebrations.” This is an opportunity for parents (children welcome) and school staff to talk to and ask questions of a variety of food vendors and representatives from Alberta Health Services.
Participate in CAPSC traffic safety week Sept. 23-27
We all play a role in keeping Calgary’s streets safe as we walk, drive and play outdoors. Schools, school councils, communities, youth groups, families and kids can participate in contests and safety demonstrations during Calgary’s School Traffic Safety Week.
Planned activities include:
Point-Pause-Proceed – information about safe strategies for crossing the street
Positive Pointers – a simple reward campaign schools can use to teach kids and parents about traffic safety
On the Safe Side – a traffic safety poster contest for k-12 students
Crosswalk Champions – a commitment to protect children in traffic
School Traffic Tips – a brochure that can be easily printed to educate your community
Meeting dates set for Council of School Councils
Be sure to attend this year's COSC meetings. They will take place 6:45 - 9 p.m.at the Education Centre (1221 - 8 St. S.W.) on the following dates:
fall meeting
Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013
spring meeting
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Reminders and full details will be sent closer to the meeting dates.
Check out Alberta Government's back-to-school toolkit
Prepare for a new school year with the Alberta Government's 2013 back-to-school toolkit, full of helpful tips and information. If you are a student, parent, teacher or administrator, check out: www.education.alberta.ca/backtoschool to explore all it has to offer.
