At Niitsitapi Learning Centre, we are lucky to spend our days with students from preschool through grade two as we explore the Alberta curriculum from a variety of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit perspectives.

Thanks to EducationMatters donors, we have been able to expand our cultural programming to include our students’ families.

Through activities such as painting our own tipi, making drums/rattles, designing regalia, listening to Elder guidance, and purchasing resources for our family room and kitchen, we are encouraging the community that supports our students to come together in learning and healing.

One family shared their gratitude for the school and these unique opportunities:

“Our son doesn’t look like a typical First Nation student, so he felt a great deal of disconnect and ‘bullying’ in other settings. Today, he is proud and knows who he is. We needed the holistic approach to learning that Niitsitapi offers. This will help him throughout his life.”

The positive impact of these cultural initiatives was immediate to students and families and the benefits will extend over time to all who come to Niitsitapi Learning Centre to learn.

In 2018, researchers from the University of Calgary, Alberta Education, and Niitsitapi Learning Centre revealed the positive impact of the safe and culturally responsive space we have created in the school.

We could not have provided such rich, deep connections with students, parents, partners and the greater community without the support of EducationMatters donors.

Your support changes the lives of students in Calgary. Please consider making a donation today to the EducationMatters Back to School Campaign to help more students in our city.

We all have a role to play in public education. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Michelle Ranger
Principal, Niitsitapi Learning Centre

The post With Your Help We Are Learning and Healing Together appeared first on EducationMatters.

EducationMatters and Statoil Canada are excited to announce a new scholarship opportunity for art students in Calgary.

The Statoil Canada Arts Scholarship at EducationMatters is part of Statoil’s commitment to arts and culture development.

In 2018 the award will be granted to art students graduating from the Calgary Board of Education and the Calgary Catholic School District. The new scholarship will be awarded to Calgary students who are choosing post-secondary education in the artistic pursuits of dance, music, theatre, and visual arts.

Statoil Canada proudly promotes the arts and encourages students to pursue higher education in the arts. In recent years, the company has supported art students through scholarships in Newfoundland and Labrador, and after realizing the success of their investments in the province, Statoil Canada is excited to expand their support to students in Calgary.

“Statoil celebrates the heroes of tomorrow who inspire us to make the impossible possible,” said Alex Collins, Head of Communications, Statoil Canada. “We have a long-standing commitment to arts education, and we look forward to this partnership with EducationMatters to offer this scholarship opportunity to an aspiring artist.”

2018 marks the 15^th year of EducationMatters working closely with generous donors to create scholarships and awards for publicly educated students. EducationMatters is honored to facilitate the awards made possible by our partners and believes that the best public education happens when the community participates in its development to ensure that every student is prepared for adult life.

The application process for all 2018 student awards will go live on March 1, 2018. Click here for more details.

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Recipients of 2016 Generosity of Spirit Award

We would like to extend our congratulations to our Board Chair Mike Shaikh, and his wife Linda for winning a 2016 Generosity of Spirit Award from AFP Calgary and Area Chapter! It is a much deserved recognition for their lifetime commitment to philanthropy!

AFP Calgary and Area Chapter recognizes the many individuals, families, youth, groups and businesses who demonstrate the spirit of philanthropy through outstanding contributions of time, talent, leadership and financial support.  The Generosity of Spirit Awards provides the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate these philanthropic leaders that make a difference in our community - whether the community is local, regional, national or international.

For the past nineteen years, the Generosity of Spirit Awards have been a vital component to National Philanthropy Day.  This day provides an opportunity for non-profit organizations, professionals, volunteers, service organizations and others in the community to acknowledge and showcase their philanthropic partners.

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The students and staff at Ted Harrison School have developed a new program based on the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. iGEM is an annual synthetic biology competition that integrates science with other disciplines and involves teams from around the world. This program gives students the opportunity to build a “biological machine” while interacting with the community to determine the social and ethical implications of their ideas.

The iGEM competition is an amazing opportunity for students to engage in scientific exploration and present their progress at an international scientific conference. Through this program students will develop their practical understanding of the scientific method, as well as developing skills in communication, project management and leadership. The program requires students to not only understand how genetics and engineering work, but also how to apply this knowledge in a socially beneficial and responsible manner.

With the support of a grant from EducationMatters, the school assembled a team of students who worked together on a project for an entire school year. Though unable to present their project at the iGEM conference in Boston, the students were able to travel to the University of California - Berkley to present their project after it was completed.

The team focused their project on helping fight against skin cancer. The students wanted to explore the hypothesis that the bacteria that exists naturally in our skin could be engineered to express the Sirius protein, and protect us from harmful UV rays.

The students tested their hypothesis on plastic beads and recorded the changes that had taken place. From the information that the students collected from the research they concluded that their idea could work, that the bacteria could work as a natural sunscreen. The students had access to specialists to help guide and answer questions they had as they tested and refined their project.

The program allowed students to see how different disciplines could work together to find the most effective solution. It gave them the freedom to explore and inquire about ideas that they can take with them throughout their life. It has also allowed Ted Harrison School to offer new classes such as DNA forensics. The program allowed the students to take their thinking from “is it possible to” to “how do I make this a reality.” They are creating technology that allows them to address global issues and allows them to connect with the global community. This program is driven by student inquiry and challenges them to  analyze problems with a different lens; creating new solutions that may have been overlooked without this learning opportunity.

The post The iGEM Project Team at Ted Harrison School appeared first on EducationMatters.

A playground build, the urban equivalence to a barn rising, was built October 2013 at G.W. Skene School. This rebuild will be a collaborative effort thanks to the KaBOOM! Organization (KaBOOM!), The Foresters Group, and the Calgary Learning Village Collaborative. KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving kids the childhood they deserve by bringing play to those who need it most. Granting has been provided by EducationMatters to help with the rebuild.

Teachers at G.W. Skene School have been able to take advantage of the rebuild by including the process in their curriculum. Using the playground design day, teachers were able to create real world relationships on the use of math and measurements. Students also developed their persuasive writing skills and techniques. Letters were written to KaBOOM!, explaining why the school would be a deserving recipient of a playground.

Now completed, this playground provides students of G.W. Skene School a safe place to play and grow during the school day. The playground is also a great place for the Community of Penbrooke to meet and bring their children outside of school hours. The rebuild will enhance the lives of students and members within the community for future generations.

The post G.W. Skene School: Playground Build appeared first on EducationMatters.

Alberta is a province with a vast history and prosperous future.  King George Elementary School plans on adding to Alberta’s legacy through the eye of talented young artists. “A Century of Sustainable Living Under the Prairie Sky: A Visual Arts Heritage Project” is an initiative that encourages students to reflect on Alberta’s heritage and sustainable future and to design artwork around it. Thanks to generous donations from their supporters, EducationMatters is able to provide a grant to help realize this school-wide project.

This program also allows students the opportunity to engage with the community. They will be collaborating with local artists and taking field trips to a variety of locations to help expand their view of Alberta’s communities and ecosystems. Each student will work with experts to help create a large 10-panel mural that will cover the west wall of the school’s library.

King George Elementary School seeks to open the minds of their students with the use of creative and educational initiatives like this one. While the students are designing amazing artwork, they are also gaining valuable skills in teamwork, literacy, networking and understanding about community history.

The post King George Elementary School: Century of Sustainable Living Under the Prairie Sky appeared first on EducationMatters.

Uncover curriculum through the unique lens of public education and the role it plays in our democratic society. Based out of the historical classroom in the Carl Safran Centre (formally Calgary Collegiate Institute) discover how learning in the community is unique for every student.

Looking at the world... seeing what is possible. Explore how historical artifacts created the story and contribute to change.

How can I make a difference? Examine responsible citizenship, leadership and community service.

2School is part of  Campus Calgary/Open Minds

In collaboration with corporate Calgary and local community venues, the Calgary Board of Education has led the development of an educational model to address the needs of 21st-century learning.  These diverse groups share the common vision of supporting student learning within and beyond the four walls of the classroom.

Campus Calgary/Open Minds is an innovative curriculum-based program that moves the classroom into the community for an entire week.  The experience is a catalyst for learning activities that occur throughout the year.  Classroom teachers work closely with community experts to custom design a week that meets individual needs.  The program length, the deep thinking about first-hand experiences that transcend curricular lines and the time to reflect, transforms learning to its highest levels.

The Campus Calgary/Open Minds experience truly opens the minds of students, giving them a clearer idea of the role they play in the world around them.  They become an informed and involved member of their community.  Once back in the classroom, students apply their understandings beyond their local setting to national and global communities.

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