1. Welcome/Call to Order
2. Approval of the Agenda
3.  Reports:
   • Chair – Carolyn Whitelaw
   • President & CEO – Dr. Greg Bass
   • Principal – Tim Carlson
   • Calgary Academy Parents Association (CAPA) Update – Aaron Lane
   • Director of Stakeholder Engagement – Sarah Hoag
4. Next Meeting – March 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
5. Future Agenda Items
6. Q & A
7. Thank You/Adjournment

Meeting Link

1. Welcome/Call to Order
2. Approval of the Agenda
3.  Reports:
4. • Chair – Carolyn Whitelaw
   • Principal – Tim Carlson
   • Volunteer Update – Courtney Buchholz
   • Calgary Academy Parents Association (CAPA) Update – Aaron Lane
   • Calgary Academy Student Executive (CASE) – Sarah Hoag
5. Next Meeting – Feb. 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
6. Future Agenda Items
7. Q & A
8. Thank You/Adjournment

Meeting Link

The holidays are a time of connection between family, friends, and everyone in between. People are looking forward to warm meals, but many Calgarians experience pressure during December, balancing their holiday budget and daily necessities. 

This holiday season, Calgary Academy helped raise funds and awareness for disadvantaged families through Closer to Home’s Baby Drive, Cool Kids Care, and Adopt-a-Family. From one neighbour to another, the CA community has made an unforgettable impact for those in need. 

While our initiatives have closed for the season, their impact will last long. With over $10,000 raised and two trucks overflowing with diapers, cribs, strollers, and other necessities, students, staff, and families helped spread some holiday cheer. However, the amount of money raised isn’t important—the thought, care, and kindness behind these donations are the real gift.

From the CA Community to the Calgary Community  

Altruism is a guiding principle of Calgary Academy—one the CA community represents every day. Throughout December, students, staff, and parents worked hard to bring donations for meaningful causes, whether diapers and formula, or money for holiday gifts. CA’s Director of Stakeholder Engagement, Sarah Hoag, understands the impact of these donations. 

 “It’s amazing what our families bring in. It ends up impacting so many families. Our CA community is incredibly generous.”  – Sarah Hoag, Director of Stakeholder Engagement

CA students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 participated in Cool Kids Care, a fundraising initiative for vulnerable Calgary families. Students receive a profile of a child, their interests, and what they’d like for the holidays.  

Participating students understand the impact they make with these donations for those in need. CA student Luka K. believes the importance of Cool Kids Care is the simple act of helping others. 

Besides wishing an enthusiastic, “happy holidays” to the families receiving donations, Luka says he enjoys helping those in need: “I like helping out. My favourite thing is knowing that you can make a difference in someone’s life.”  

Closer to Home’s Baby Drive helps young mothers and families access necessities like formula, diapers, bottles, and toys. This year, Grade 7, 8, and 10 students brought supplies to their classrooms for over a week, sending donations to a resource centre on Dec. 9. 

The turnout for donations was impressive, with cribs, toys, and strollers lining up on the sidewalk outside the school. With one truck about to overflow, a second was necessary to handle all the items CA students and parents donated. 

CA student and spokesperson for the Baby Drive, Solomon D., looks forward to December fundraising each year. He enjoys seeing the entire CA community come together to help those in need. 

“There’s a group of people who love making a difference. It’s great as a school because everyone really cares.”  – Solomon D., student and Baby Drive spokesperson

The final initiative CA students participated in was Adopt-a-Family, a program providing in-need families with gift cards to cover expenses this holiday season. The Grade 9, 11, and 12 classes created fundraising pages to share throughout the school and with family and friends. 

With rising costs, any amount can help families enjoy the holidays and celebrate with those they love. Student Ava. T appreciates the focus Calgary Academy puts on giving back as a community. 

“I like that CA provides these altruistic opportunities. It’s fun to help and know I’m doing something good through my school. Everybody as a group contributes, not only a few people.”  – Ava T., student

 

Happy Holidays from Calgary Academy  

Adopt-a-Family ended in the best possible way, an appreciation from Closer to Home. Students passed hot chocolate and candy canes out to each other, celebrating the success of this year’s fundraising. 

The money raised for the Calgary community shows what can happen when people come together toward a common goal.  

As the school prepares to break for the holidays, stay updated on what Calgary Academy has planned for 2023! 

At Calgary Academy, the REACH principles guide our beliefs and actions. One of these principles is altruism, the selfless concern for others. This December, CA wants to encourage altruism in the greater Calgary community, spotlighting local organizations making a difference. 

Learn more about these organizations and how you can help support their missions this holiday season! 

Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids 

Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids (BB4CK) is a local non-profit providing students with homemade lunches. Children deserve food, and they shouldn’t have to worry about when and where it comes from—BB4CK has followed this belief since serving its first lunches.

If you’re looking to help, you can volunteer time to a meaningful cause. 

Calgary Food Bank 

Since 1982, the Calgary Food Bank has helped the local community by providing food to those who need it. No one should have to go hungry—especially during the holiday season. You can support the Calgary Food Bank’s mission in several ways. 

Make an impact by donating your time this December.   

The Immigrant Education Society  

The Immigrant Education Society (TIES) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing Canadians with quality training and education. Founded in 1988, TIES supports immigrants and low-income Canadians with language and employment training, assisting over 1,400 students daily.  

If you’re looking to help TIES provide its essential services, view this organization’s volunteering opportunities.   

Closer to Home 

Closer to Home Community Services (CTH) is a local charity, providing essential support to Canadians since 1995. With a goal that every child thrives within their family and community relationships, CTH offers parent and family, child and youth, and Indigenous support programs.  

See how you can help CTH by volunteering this December. 

The Calgary Academy Ski and Snowboard Club (CASSC) has been one of the most beloved programs to emerge from our school. CASSC has opened its doors even wider this year, with the launch of Junior CASSC, allowing more students to participate in this amazing program.  

Every year, students jump at the chance to learn from engaging instructors and spend 12 glorious school days hitting the slopes. This club creates an empowering environment for students—one where they can utilize the confidence they gain on the hill in the classroom. 

Empowerment certainly describes Adam Bourns (‘11). Adam struggled as a student, faced with the obstacle of severe dyslexia. He had difficulty finding a place where he fit in at school and constantly worried about his future.  

This anxiety faded when he met CA Integrated Studies teacher, Lanny Donde, and began repairing bikes at the school. Adam believes he grew into himself in this environment—Mr. Donde stuck with and encouraged him over the years. He gained confidence and found a home in CASSC—in fact, Adam was a part of the very first CASSC program.  

Mr. Donde first created CASSC after working with Adam, realizing skiing and snowboarding could provide students with an avenue to be proud of themselves at school separate from their academic achievements. The frequent outings to the slopes taught Adam lessons he couldn’t have learned in the classroom. The freedom and skills he gained through skiing taught him how to refashion his learning process. Like on the ski hill, he found other ways to overcome learning obstacles. 

Adam often remembers the significance of his time at CA. Besides helping him grow as a person and develop his love of skiing, CA helped him understand there’s a solution to any challenge you face. You just have to look for it. 

Currently, Adam is the program director at Evolve Ski Cross team. He travels the globe, training world-class athletes from all backgrounds. CA has taught Adam to never overlook potential—anyone can develop their skills, no matter how big a challenge may look. In the future, he plans to work with Nakiska Ski Area to bring new camps and lessons to the next generation of champion skiers.  

Adam’s love of skiing is carrying over to the holiday season. He plans on spending time with family in Sicamous, getting as much ski time as possible at Revelstoke with his wife, parents, aunts, and uncles.  

His New Year’s resolution is to continue encouraging others to take leaps in their sports—he wants to inspire as many athletes as possible! 

If you’re interested in the programs offered by Evolve, visit their website. 

To learn more about CASSC and the impact that it’s had on our school community, watch our CASSC Spotlight below!

The Calgary Academy community is proud to recognize CA Alumni and celebrated Canadian artist: Kent Merriman Jr.  

Kent started his CA journey in Grade 7 and graduated in 2003. While he is a full-time professional artist, his journey didn’t start with that goal in mind. Kent dabbled in art at CA, but his focus was sports. He felt torn between committing his time to Phys ed or art, ultimately choosing to spend time moving his body and getting his energy out.   

Despite his choice, Kent often found himself in the art studio—his curiosity about what other students were creating was undeniable. During his spare time, Kent made art at home, winning awards and growing his passion.  

After graduating from CA, Kent furthered his education at Mount Royal University. He studied business, but working in the corporate world helped him realize his true passion was art. On a whim (and with encouragement from his family), Kent submitted his work to a call for local artists. He was selected for a solo show which promptly sold out. This success was the sign Kent needed to enroll at AUArts (then the Alberta College of Art and Design) and pursue his art career. 

Kent believes CA saved him in many ways. The privacy of the campus and focused attention from his teachers benefited his learning. He notes that the confidence he gained at CA helped him pursue a challenging career path. It takes a special kind of talent to succeed in the art world, and Kent’s passion shines in his work.  

Kent has fully embraced his learning differences through his art—creating magic through the vessel of the mundane: hyper-realistic expressions of everyday, overlooked items. He brings steel, plywood, and torn paper to life with mere acrylic and oil paint on canvas.  

Currently, Kent is represented by commercial galleries in Calgary and LA and shows his work internationally. His work notably features in the private collections of the Shaw family, the Glenbow Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  

CA is thrilled to be a part of Kent’s journey and cannot wait to see the incredible work he produces in the future! 

Unprecedented.

That’s the word Calgary Academy Head of Athletics Nick Waterbury uses to describe the 2022 volleyball season. For a season filled with unique challenges, it ended as sweet as possible—three more banners hanging on the CA walls.

The Grade 8-9 boys, Grade 8-9 girls, and Senior girls’ volleyball teams won their divisions. They overcame the odds as no teams entered the playoffs as the top-seeded school, showing the tangible results of their incredible seasons.

“The smiles on their faces were amazing. They were so pumped to see their hard work come to fruition.”  – Mr. Waterbury, Head of Athletics

The Grade 8-9 boys started their season with their backs against the wall, sporting a 0-2 record. However, they picked up momentum as the season went on, winning their final set 15-3 to win the league!

The Grade 8-9 girls finished their league tournament, winning against a previously undefeated Master’s Academy 15-13 in the final set. With a league championship banner hanging on the gym wall, their determination showed throughout the season.

Finally, the Senior girls went through a tough, hard-fought season that left them with gold hanging around their necks. They won their final set 15-8 to become league champs!

While three volleyball teams won the school’s first banners since 2020, every team and player deserves their own spotlight for a successful season. Seven teams further developed their skills and learned the value of teamwork. Mr. Waterbury believes all of CA’s volleyball teams came together as cohesive units.

“It’s like the volleyball teams walked into the gym with a different mindset this year. ‘It’s not about me, it’s about everybody’. They realized that when they’re working together as a team, they can accomplish so much.”  – Mr. Waterbury, Head of Athletics

 A Return to Normalcy for Knights Athletics 

There’s more to celebrate than banners at CA this year. Athletics returned to normal following two years of COVID-19 health measures.

The stands are full again with cheering fans, giving CA Knights the support that fuels their play. Mr. Waterbury sees this energy shift in his student-athletes, saying it makes them feel on top of the world.

“The change from COVID-19 is astronomical between the last two years and this year. It feels like there’s more support than ever before in coming out to celebrate our student-athletes. There was a feeling of pride throughout the school.”  – Mr. Waterbury, Head of Athletics

It’s clear the CA sports experience isn’t the same without the support of its fans. While volleyball has wrapped up for the year, there’s plenty to be excited for. Basketball season is starting soon, and Mr. Waterbury looks forward to seeing momentum continue into the new year, with fans continuing to come out to cheer on our teams, and hopefully, some more banners to add to the wall.

“I’m excited about seeing the pride on the parents’ faces as their kids play.” – Mr. Waterbury, Head of Athletics

Ask anyone in the culinary industry, and you’ll hear that kitchens can be hectic, stressful, and even unorganized. Chaos can rule when the lunch rush arrives. However, something good is cooking at Calgary Academy’s Castle Café—and it isn’t just the food.

Chef Colleen Brown and the Castle Café team run a kitchen based on trust, respect, and a passion for cooking.

Meet Colleen Brown

Chef Brown has a storied history in the culinary arts, including experience in the catering industry and working and teaching at previous schools. With Red Seal certification signifying her skill, she began her latest role, Executive Chef of the Castle Café, a few months ago.

Seeing the smile on someone’s face after trying the Castle Café’s creamy avgolemono (Greek chicken and rice) soup or crispy chicken salad warms the heart, but what really makes Chef Brown smile is the enthusiasm students have for her team’s cooking.

“The biggest thing for me is when kids are practically running to get into the Castle Café lineup because they’re so excited for the food. That to me means a lot more than someone just enjoying my food.” – Chef Brown

It’s no surprise kids are running for lunches at the Castle Café when you’re aware of the process for choosing and preparing the menu items each month. Chef Brown and her team seek out nutritious meals from around the world, each taking plenty of prep time. Their famous butter chicken marinates for days before it’s cooked, helping bring out the rich, savoury flavours—with a little kick of spice.

“There are a lot of different culturally balanced foods that are quite healthy. It’s a pleasure to bring in any international menu items.” – Chef Brown

The Castle Café Is a Foundational Piece of Calgary Academy

It can be easy to dismiss food as just “something you eat,” but it’s so much more, whether in someone’s culture or community. For many students, it’s a way to connect and build relationships over a hot meal.

These relationships are ever-present at the Castle Café, especially in the kitchen. Sous Chef Valeria Truchon describes the kitchen as a place of collaboration. The team can find the food they’re currently obsessed with and incorporate them into menu items for students and staff.

“There are always new trends in cooking, there’s something new every year. It’s really fun to come in and say: ‘Hey, let’s try this. What do we need?’”

For Chefs Brown, Truchon, and Food Services Assistant Charlene Stuckert, their relationships with students are just as important as the ones between them. From the smiles, appreciation, and occasional jokes, lunchtime is a special place at Calgary Academy, something Chef Truchon agrees with.

“Everything can be going wrong, and then one of the students says something hilarious that brightens your entire day.” – Chef Truchon

Chef Brown and the rest of the Castle Café hope to continue creating nutritious, delicious foods for the CA community. She explains that they’re always looking for ideas with the menu, following the trends students have in food.

The Castle Café menu is always changing, so keep to date by visiting the CA website. Learn more about what Chef Brown and her team are serving now, what to expect for the upcoming month, and pricing information.