CBE Prioritizes School Construction

The following is a portion of a news release from the CBE. This segment of the document seems to be the most applicable to our school and community. However, you can read the entire letter by clicking on the link at the bottom.

"In addition to new school requirements, many CBE schools require significant upgrades, repair and modernization work.

“Sixty per cent of our schools are more than 40 years old and a number are nearing the end of their life cycle,” says Frank Coppinger, Superintendent, Facilities and Environmental Services. “Our schools must be safe for our students, without question. These projects are urgently needed, and represent a significant financial requirement.”

The 2014-17 Three-Year School Capital Plan and the new ranking methodology will be debated by the Board of Trustees at a Public Board Meeting on May 28, at 3 pm at the Education Centre, 1221 – 8 St S.W.

Johnson adds, “As much as we are grateful for the new school funding that was announced earlier this month, this report highlights that without significant capital investment in the coming years, it will be very hard for the CBE to catch up to the demands of Calgary’s growing population.” "

Read the full document here.

CAPSC Final Meeting Tonight

Please join the Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils for our final meeting of the school year.  The meeting will take place Tuesday May 21st at 7:00pm, AE Cross school library (3445-37th St SW). This month Chief Superintendent Naomi Johnson will be in attendance to discuss the budget.  Trustees Joy Bowen-Eyre and Sheila Taylor, along with several members of the CBE administration, will also be joining us to answer questions from our members.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Board of Trustees Decision

From the CBE:

"The Board of Trustees reconvened in public today to debate support of the proposed framework agreement between the Province of Alberta, the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the Alberta School Boards Association. The Board of Trustees continues to reject the agreement.

Trustees voted 5-1 in support of a motion such that the Chair of the Board of Trustees advises the Minister of Education that the Board of Trustees does not ratify the proposed Framework Agreement between Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Alberta (Government), the Alberta Teachers’ Association (The Association) and the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA). One trustee was absent from the vote due to a pecuniary interest.

Information about the Board of Trustees’ initial response to the agreement, made public on March 20, can be found here."

Wilma Hansen School Recognized at the Mayors' Showcase!

Mayor Naheed Nenshi recognizes student's leadership and citizenship actions during the Mayors’ Showcase & Celebration of Citizenship event, held on April 24. Wilma Hansen School was a proud recipient of this recognition for being "superstars of citizenship."

Read the story here.

Wilma Hansen School Parent Association Needs Your Input!

From Nancy Staples:

 

"Dear parents,

 

We want to know your thoughts.  For the past year, the WHSPA has experienced great difficulty fulfilling our commitment to our Bingo License.  At this time, we are seriously considering cancelling our Bingo License. This would be a permanent decision as it is difficult to get another bingo license once you have relinquished a prior license.  We would no longer receive AGLC revenue from Bingo profits. We are looking for your comments, questions, concerns, suggestions and ideas about this issue."

 

Please forward any messages to nstaples@shaw.ca

Alberta Education is Offering Teens a Trip to China

Student Summer Camp in China 2013
(July 16 - 31, 2013)

What is the Student Summer Camp in China 2013? The Student Summer Camp in China is a great opportunity for Alberta students (aged 14 to 18) to gather in the beautiful settings of Beijing and Harbin, China for the purpose of promoting exchange between the youth of Alberta and China, building up their global view, and enhancing the understanding of Alberta students of Chinese language, culture and society.

How much will it cost?Alberta Education will provide $1,000 towards each student’s round-trip airfare to China. Domestic costs, such as accommodation, food, transportation, and site-seeing in China will be borne by Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters. Students are responsible for all other costs.

How do I apply?To apply and learn more about the Summer Camp, please download the application package. Student applications must be accompanied by a letter of support from their school principal.

Application Deadline: May 24, 2013

Questions?Contact Rania El Saadi, International Education Standards Officer, International Education Services Branch, by email at rania.elsaadi@gov.ab.ca or by phone at 780-427-2035 (Toll Free by dialing 310-0000 first).

 To find out more details, click here.

Great Advice for Teens (and their parents)!

Janell Hofmann, mother of five and writer,  posted a contract she created for her son's new iPhone on her website.  There is sound advice in her message for both teens and adults when it comes to using cel phones.

The contents of the contract include:

"It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you."

"I will always know the password."

"Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30pm every school night & every weekend night at 9:00pm. It will be shut off for the night and turned on again at 7:30am." 
 
"It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It’s a life skill. "

"Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person."

"Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public. Especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not a rude person; do not allow the iPhone to change that."

"Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling."

 Read the full contract here.

New Schools Benefit CBE Students

"Premier Allison Redford announced new schools for Calgary at an event in the northeast. Of the nine new schools that will be built, six will be for students of the Calgary Board of Education. Jeff Johnson, the Minister of Education, is pictured right of the Premier." "Students from the CBE’s Ted Harrison School and a Grade 1 class with the Calgary Catholic system were on hand for the announcement of new schools by the Premier of Alberta. Some of these students may attend a high school announced for the CBE in northeast Calgary. " "Print, radio and television reporters gathered with a crowd of anxious parents for the announcement of new schools for Calgary. The event was held at the YMCA Saddletowne in the northeast. One of the schools announced by the Premier will be a new high school for CBE students that will be built near the Saddletowne YMCA. "

"Students in the Calgary Board of Education will have six new schools thanks to the Government of Alberta.


Alberta’s Minister of Education, Jeff Johnson, announced the eagerly anticipated schools today. The schools come at a time when the CBE expects to welcome almost 10,000 more students within three years.

“We are thrilled that the province recognizes that education is a priority for Albertans,” said Pat Cochrane, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Given the fiscal challenges facing the province, the decision reflects the importance the government places on our children and their education.”

The government announcement paves the way for new schools in six Calgary communities in the coming years. Elementary schools were announced for Copperfield, Evanston and New Brighton. Middle schools will be built in Saddle Ridge and Royal Oak. Northeast Calgary can look forward to a new northeast high school.

The time to plan and build new schools varies, depending on the procurement approach. As a general rule, elementary schools take three years. Based on the CBE’s recent experience of building the Ernest Manning High School a new high school takes about four years.

Cochrane continued, “On behalf of our students, we thank the Government of Alberta for making our students, and their success, a priority.” "

CBE Anticipates New School Announcements

From www.cbe.ab.ca :

"The Calgary Board of Education is excited the Government of Alberta is announcing new schools for Calgary on Wednesday.

The government chooses which schools to announce from a list of priority projects which the CBE submits annually in the form of a capital plan. The 2013-2016 Three-Year School Capital Plan, submitted in the spring of 2012, requested 36 new schools and major modernization projects for a total of $667,000,000. The CBE has used the same methodology to create its capital plan for 10 years.

The Capital Plan was approved at an open meeting of the Board of Trustees March 20, 2012. For more information, see our publications page where the School Capital Plan is listed.

The CBE looks forward to Wednesday’s announcement. We are delighted that this community’s need for new schools is being recognized. Jeff Johnson, Minister of Education, is announcing the new schools at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the YMCA lobby, 7556 Falconridge Blvd. N.E.

The next CBE Three-Year Capital Plan, which covers the period of 2014-2017, will be discussed at a public board meeting this spring."