From Karen Drummond, Communications Advisor for the CBE:

Making school councils the best they can be

The Board of Trustees initiated some changes to how CBE school councils operate this year. This was part of an effort to strengthen the Board’s connection to school councils, and is meant to serve as a starting point for improvement. Some of the key changes are as follows:

§ the creation of the “council of school councils”;

§ a different approach to system-wide and area meetings with school councils;

§ the development of the 2012-13 school council handbook;

§ more opportunities to connect with the Board of Trustees; and

§ a new date and process for submitting school council annual reports.

Another significant change is less emphasis on the key communicator role. That does not mean the role has been eliminated. What it means is that CBE administration now needs to examine how the role functions in light of these changes.

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School council survey results posted

An online survey was circulated to gather information about school councils early in the school year. The survey was open Sept. 28 to Oct. 18. There were 49 people who started the survey and of those, 42 who completed all questions on the survey. Another school council survey will be done closer to the end of the school year to compare perceptions and opinions.

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Parents advised about possible bus delays

Our school bus carriers are currently experiencing a shortage of school bus drivers. While the carriers are working hard to recruit new drivers, this shortage of drivers combined with winter weather conditions can cause delays for some school bus routes.

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Grade 4-12 students to complete Tell Them From Me survey

Beginning this December, an online school survey calledTell Them From Me (TTFM) will allow students in Grades 4-12 to give their anonymous input into school improvement initiatives.

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Kindergarten registration begins Jan. 14

Kindergarten registration for the 2013-14 school year begins on Jan. 14.

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Buy tickets for a night with the Hitmen Jan. 18

CBE students, staff and their families can buy discounted tickets to the Hitmen game Jan. 18. A portion of all ticket purchases will support the Fuel for School Breakfast Program.

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School councils eligible for grants from The Calgary Foundation

There are upcoming deadlines of Jan. 3 and Feb. 18 to apply for Neighbour Grants.

To apply for Stepping Stones grants, you can apply by midnight of the first day of every month.



For more information on these issues click here.