The 14th Annual Dig Pink Volleyball Tournament in support of breast cancer research took place this weekend. This was our first fully in-person tournament since 2019, and the support of the CA community over Dig Pink Week was tremendous! A full spirit week was organized by our student leadership group, the Calgary Academy Student Executive (CASE), who arranged for door decorating contests, classes “sponsoring” Volleyball players, and a week of fundraisers, all in support of breast cancer research.

The overall tally is not fully in yet, but with sales, registration fees, and donations, we are over the $10,000 mark of funds raised once again!

On the courts, the CA Volleyball teams played hard! Grade 9 girls played in the JV tournament and showed their determination against older, more experienced players but were eliminated in the round robin. Our Senior Girls team put in a tremendous effort and were eliminated in the quarter-finals in three sets by eventual silver medalists, Webber Academy. The girls fought so hard, and we should all be tremendously proud of them. They lost the first set, won the second in decisive fashion, and lost the third 15-12.

Senior Tournament

1. Stirling School
2. Webber Academy
3. Bearspaw Christian School

Junior Varsity Tournament

1. Stirling School
2. Webber Academy
3. West Island College

Thank you so much to the coaches this weekend (Mr. Ross, Ms. Lawrence, Ms. Myslicki, and Ms. Marshall), to Webber Academy for co-hosting and allowing us the use of their gym on Thursday and Friday evening, and to the countless volunteers that helped officiate, score keep, sell items, check people in, keep the facility clean and running smoothly, buy candy, buy MORE candy, make posters, make balloon arches, run the rally and generally help make this event encompass the entire community and bring us all together.

We look forward to coming back together next year!

It was a ten-year glow-up with the Class of 2012!

On September 17, our class of 2012 reunited at CRAFT to celebrate 10 years of growth since graduating from CA. Twenty-five of our esteemed alum shared stories of the past, reminisced about the good times within the CA walls, and even got to toast some familiar faces from the faculty. All grown up now, these individuals have accomplished so much. The room was a collection of teachers, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, and everything in between. Though their paths differed greatly, they all shared one thing: the spirit of REACH vibrated off them. There was such care for their peers and pride in their accomplishments, and it was clear to see that the lessons and character-building that they learned from their time at CA stayed with them no matter what path they took in life.

One of the students celebrating the 10-year reunion was Sean Fetaz.

Graduating in 2012 Sean went on to study Theatre at MRU. He has a passion for art and expression, and a natural ability to communicate that to others.

Through his study of theatre, Sean discovered a love for photography. To him, this was just a different way of storytelling. He took to the craft quite naturally and has been working as an independent photographer since around 2016. While he prefers portraiture his work also includes studio sessions, travel and commercial pictures – one of his notable clients is the Banff Springs Hotel.

You can see Sean’s work, and how far he has grown in the past 10 years here:
Seanfetazphoto.com

Another friendly face we encountered was Keith Aubrey.

CA Alumni and Class of 2012 Keith was keen to catch up with his peers, he has been working on a lot since leaving the Calgary Academy walls.

Post-high school Keith went on to further his flair for all things scientific by obtaining a Master of Science through Quest University and the University of Lethbridge, with a focus on Biochemistry.

This educational path was quite clear for Keith, as he had a love for laboratories and biology and wanted to translate that into a profession. This brought him to where he is now. Keith currently works as a genetic engineer for FREDsense in Calgary. There, he works with a team that produces genetically modified bacteria that help to detect arsenic in water. Keith hopes to continue his work as a biochemical engineer well into his very bright future, hoping one day to work on a bacteria that has the potential to create bioplastics.

CA is so proud of everything Keith has accomplished in the 10 years since graduating!

Allow us to introduce you to Nick Waterbury, Head of Athletics, and Senior School math teacher. Nick’s booming voice is matched only by his larger-than-life personality. He has an undeniable ability to motivate and excite a room just with his presence.

Born and raised in Calgary, Nick has always been involved in sports. It was a rugby injury and the surgeries that followed that inspired him to originally want to become an orthopedic surgeon. His education started with a Bachelor of Science and Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. From there, he went off to Grace College in Indiana for his Master’s in Science and Athletic Administration. He was Pre-Med when a former teacher encouraged him to get involved with volunteer coaching. It was then that his path took a turn and brought him to where he is now: a passionate educator, an enthusiastic coach, and most importantly, CA’s biggest fan!

Nick joined CA four years ago. He had known about our school and community through connections in the education sports world and always thought it was a cool place filled with even better people. He leapt at the opportunity to be part of our crew and since joining, has made many positive changes to our athletics at CA.

Nick has led the student athletics experience during his time here but has also focused on further developing a community where our school celebrates every form of student achievement possible. He’s been instrumental in driving the We Are All Knights campaign, which has taken the swag, branding, and celebration typically surrounding athletics, and expanded it to include clubs, drama productions, and other student activities. In his words, “teams and events are just foundations for relationship building.”

Outside of CA’s walls, Nick is a devoted father and husband, an athlete, ally, and friend. He enjoys taking his kiddos for a swim or a skate, getting a babysitter and enjoying date nights with his beautiful wife, playing badminton and squash, and never turning down the opportunity to cheer on the Calgary Flames and Green Bay Packers.

CA is proud to have Nick on our team, as our peer, teacher, coach, and pal!

Calgary Academy proudly presents the Senior School drama production of All Shook Up!, a jukebox musical that intertwines Elvis Presley and Shakespeare in a light-hearted musical love story. Take the music and rebellious ethos of Elvis Presley and add in a storyline based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, with just a dash of Romeo and Juliet for extra spice.

The production launches May 2 and continues until May 6, and is the Senior School’s first return to the stage in over two years. Creative Director Leeanne McLim is bursting with pride at the upcoming performance.

What you are about to see is not just a labor of love on so many levels, but also a lesson in leadership, mentorship, community, and learning from each other. The product of this show truly represents the heart of what we do at CA.

The production has been supported by an extensive creative team, including:

Student Choreographer: Anne Marie S.
Anne-Marie is one of our graduating students this year from CA. She is also one of our lead performers, Dance Captain, and student choreographer. She joined the Senior School play way back in Grade 9 for Calgary Academy’s production of “The Wedding Singer”. Since then, Anne-Marie has been the cast Dance Captain and performer for not only that show but also “The Addams Family” where she was also given the opportunity to choreograph. This year, Anne Marie is one of two student choreographers for the show, working collaboratively with her best friend of 10 years (Allison). This dynamic duo teamed up and worked together to create the dances you will see today. Anne Marie is grateful for this amazing opportunity and would like to thank the team for giving her this chance to explore her creative potential.

Student Stage Manager: Kaia W.
Kaia’s first experience as a stage manager happened during her final project in Grade 11. She was handed the task of being a stage manager in an extremely difficult group where she had to take on the role of director, stage manager, and at times an actor. At the end of her final project, she was taking over the entire show. This led Kaia to believe that being a stage manager is something that she would like to continue to do. Kaia is now in her final year of high school working as the stage manager for the senior high production of “All Shook Up”. Through the months of work into this play, it has been a roller coaster of emotions, but all in all, it has been such an amazing experience and truly something to look back on for years to come.

Leeanne McLim
Ms. McLim’s dance and theatre obsession began many moons ago when she kicked her heels up and sang her heart out on many professional stages across Canada and the US. McLim had many opportunities to work with professionals in the capacities of directing and choreography over the past 20+ years. When she is not teaching at CA she is a dance teacher, choreographer, and performing artist for various studios and theatre companies throughout town. Currently, she is the drama teacher for grades K-12 at Calgary Academy. She has been working with the Educational Theatre Association of Canada to bring opportunities that will shape lives through theatre education.

Jamie Lafond
Mr. Lafond began his career as a practicing artist in the 1980s working in video and performance art. For the last 30 years, he has turned his focus to abstract and referential painting. Jamie has been the resident Art teacher at Calgary Academy for the last twenty-five years and has worked on props and sets for the many theatrical productions during that time.

Charlotte Nixon
Ms. Nixon teaches Grade 10 humanities at CA, but she has been a theatre kid since her first performance of “Charlie Brown’s Christmas.” She was five and she played the wobbly tree, so being an assistant director is a step up from her acting days. Ms. Nixon is very excited to be part of the production team and cannot wait to share this year’s school play with family and friends. She hopes you enjoy the show.

Hayley Jonason
Ms. Jonason began her journey of dance at the young age of three. Since then, her love for the performing arts and dance has grown immensely. Throughout her junior high and high school years, she was active in musical theatre, being cast in leading roles and choreographing musical numbers. By 17, she began her dance teaching career and was able to share her passion and creativity with her students. This is Ms. Jonason’s first time working with the Calgary Academy Senior High Production. She has been extremely lucky to join forces with hard-working and dedicated student choreographers and believes that collaboration is key to bringing together an amazing show.

Jane Conrad
Ms. Conrad can’t remember a time in her life when music, theatre, and the arts haven’t played a role in her life. Over the years, she has participated in community choirs and theatre projects where she increased her confidence and skills as an amateur artist in several productions. When she became a Humanities teacher, she looked for ways to volunteer in the dramatic creative process, co-writing student productions, and lending her abilities wherever she could. Most notably, Jane enjoys learning from her students and colleagues in a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect.

Andrew Rigby
Mr. Rigby is thrilled to be a part of All Shook Up this year! As a student, he fell in love with participating in drama, band, choir, and improv throughout high school. As an adult, Mr. Rigby has participated in community theatre productions and searched for any opportunity to remain involved in the arts. This is the first time he has collaborated as an acting director for a production. He is honoured to have worked with an extremely flexible and dedicated team and cast.

Becky Funk
Ms. Funk’s life has revolved around music for as long as she can remember. Her passion for her main instruments – piano, flute, piccolo, and voice – has been a driving force that has enabled her to travel around Canada and the globe, and to form relationships with other inspired creatives. Although music is a defining aspect of Ms. Funk’s involvement in CA’s music theatre program, her favourite part is the community that is created amongst the staff and students. She is grateful to be a part of this musical family.

All Shook Up! is inspired by and featuring the music of ELVIS PRESLEY
Book by JOE DIPIETRO

All Shook Up is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036 (866) 378-9758

Creativity. Adaptability. Passion. Grit.

These qualities are essential for any top chef but are also needed by top chefs during a global pandemic. Calgary Academy Alumnus Sean Thornhill (’09) lives these qualities, and has spent the last year adapting, adjusting, and re-adapting to the ever-changing restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The path to his current role as Sous Chef at Rouge Restaurant has been anything but straight forward. Despite a resume that reads like a wish list for fine dining in Calgary (Q Haute Cuisine, Teatro Ristorante, and the Fairmont Palliser), his path to second-in-command at one of Calgary’s top restaurants has been a crooked line, repeatedly thwarted by COVID-19.

Having just accepted a dream job when the pandemic shut down restaurants in March of last year, Sean found himself like many other out of work professionals in the hospitality industry – wondering what was next, and for how long.

So, the chef turned into an entrepreneur, and Sean established Evoke Catering. While restaurants were closed, private, in-home catering and cooking lessons were a creative, safe alternative, and the people of Calgary were hungry for fun, safe, fine dining.

“The more events I did, the more people wanted to get involved. It started with a baby shower and grew all summer. Things were going really well until November, when in-home gatherings were restricted in response to soaring case numbers.”

Undeterred, he quickly pivoted to smaller cohort dinners, patio dining, and online cooking classes. Nearing the holiday season, and knowing holiday parties wouldn’t be happening, he decided to reach out to Calgary Academy to see if he could make someone else’s day.

“After speaking with a friend who was new to teaching, it hit home for me that it wasn’t just doctors and nurses having challenging times managing an environment where they are responsible for other people’s safety.”

One quick email to school Principal Timothy Carlson, and suddenly Sean was producing individually wrapped artisan chocolates as part of a holiday gift to staff arranged by the school.

“A large part of my childhood involved CA, and I remember learning to think in abstract, solution-oriented ways. That’s definitely helped me bend my business to the current situation. I can’t offer in-home dining during the busiest time of year? Okay, then what else is there? For me, this was the perfect place to put my time and energy, to make one day of the month brighter for others.”

Not surprisingly, Sean’s persistence has won out. In the spring of 2021, Rouge Restaurant called him about the role of Sous Chef, and he’s been cooking up a storm there ever since – even though they are already back to take-out and patio-only dining.

The Calgary Academy community is so proud of all you’ve accomplished Sean, and thank you again for the delicious chocolates!

We are delighted to announced the launch of a high school summer course program for summer 2021 for school-aged students looking to get a jump-start on the upcoming school year.

Throughout the month of July, students from Calgary Academy and the broader community may enrol in intensive summer programs for English 30-1, Chemistry 30, Biology 30, and Social Studies 30-1. Each course will run for 4.5 hours per day in either in the morning or the evening. These courses will be taught by expert Calgary Academy teachers in-person and on site at the Calgary Academy school. All students must have the pre-requisite course in-progress or completed prior to registration.

To learn more or to sign up, please visit summer.calgaryacademy.com to learn more.

Twice a year the Board of Directors recognizes staff and students for exemplary work, leadership, or contributions to the school community. This February, the Board was honoured to present Grade 7 student Will and teacher Jaclyn Demmers with this special honour!

We are delighted to announce Jaclyn Demmers as the recipient of the Exemplary Practice award for her work inside the classroom and as part of the Balanced Assessment committee. Grade 7 Student Will P. was honoured as the recipient of the Student Showcase award for his efforts building the CA Minecraft world, and for serving as a role model to his peers. Both recipients were presented their certificates and honoured at the February Board Meeting.

Exemplary Practice: Jaclyn Demmers

Ms. Demmers has been with Calgary Academy since 2016, teaching math and science in junior high in innovative and creative ways. While still early in her career, Jaclyn has actively sought ways to build her knowledge, apply her expertise, and share her experiences with her colleagues.

Working alongside a veteran project-based learning teacher, Jaclyn came to deeply appreciate and understand the value of integrative learning in the Calgary Academy learning model. She has advanced the junior high approach to math and science, as evidenced by her exceptional Ecosystems project this year, where students researched, built, and described their ecosystems in a documentary film of their own making. This project was an exemplary model of how both engagement and rigour to meet academic outcomes can coexist.

Going over and above her classroom commitments, Jaclyn was one of the first members of the Assessment Working Committee, lending her math and science background to the development and dissemination of the Balanced Assessment Framework. She has led professional learning workshops with large groups of staff and remains committed to promoting assessment practices that build the confidence and competence of learners.

Jaclyn is an excellent example of a teacher demonstrating excellence, leadership, and innovation to the Calgary Academy community.

Congratulations, Jaclyn!

Student Showcase: Will P.

Will is an incredibly gifted and creative thinker demonstrated by the leadership he shows in all of his classes, particularly in Multimedia. His imaginative and inspired take on Minecraft: Education Edition has been fundamental throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He has shown his teachers how it can foster an inclusive community and encourage a broad reach of learning even beyond the classroom. This has also inspired a collaborative environment as he encouraged his fellow students to add their creative flair to Calgary Academy’s Minecraft Server.

Will worked independently with one of the IT Administrators to build “Halloween Town” and “Christmas Town” for younger students to explore as a fun, creative activity. These are just two examples of how his empowered and creative leadership approach has given younger students memorable and interactive experiences.

Outside of class, Will also serves as a noble role mode to his peers. He volunteers as a Student Moderator for younger grades on his own time and has quickly become a beacon of guidance and support for younger students.

Will is not only enthusiastic, patient, and calm, but his spirit has created an inclusive community for his fellow students and teachers to learn from, making him a shining example of what REACH is all about.

Congratulations, Will!

What if school was designed to fit your family’s life rather than your family’s life fitting school? More than ever, traditional school experiences based on standardized seat time are only one way to approach learning. In 2021, students no longer need to learn at the same time—and at the same rate—and in the same place.

School can be different. Online learning has disrupted traditional in-person education, and it’s evolved to provide increasingly flexible and personalized learning options. While students can now learn anywhere and at any time, this raises some good questions. What’s gained and lost? What about relationships, a sense of belonging, and connections with peers?

With our Grades 9-10 Blended+ program (with future enrolment including Grades 7-12), it’s not an either/or choice. We’ve taken the best parts of in-person learning and combined them with the best parts of online learning. Expert teachers work with students on campus and online to meet individual needs in an engaging way.

The “+” in Blended+ refers to our extensive extra-curricular programs as well as the frequent integration of authentic off campus learning experiences that take advantage of facilities and expertise in our community.

Built into the tuition (no added costs), these frequent and rich off-campus experiences are designed to engage learners while reinforcing curriculum outcomes. For example, the Biogeoscience Institute at the University of Calgary provides students in Biology 20 (our Grade 10 group next year) with classroom instruction combined with guided field studies in the Kananaskis. Additionally, Physical Education moves beyond the gyms to include learning activities off-site such as kayaking, curling, wall climbing, and much more!

An instructional design difference in Blended+ is that learning materials and assignments are released online weekly and due at the end of each week. This provides anywhere/anytime access. Actively guided and supported by their teachers, students make meaningful decisions about their own learning. They can get into the zone by working on a particular subject for an extended time without the day being chopped up by arbitrary bell schedules. Students can accelerate their learning within the week to make time for competing priorities, or they can slow down their learning and get more teacher support in an area of need. Teachers regularly conference with students to guide their development with academics and transferable skills.

Learning is a social activity, and students need social experiences. During the week, teacher-led online lessons provide live, interactive direct instruction. Classes also get together on-campus where students focus on hands-on learning including labs, projects, integrated studies, and physical education. We make the time together in-person count. Hybrid-flex time, which is built into some afternoons, provides students the option of working on campus with peers, at home, or anywhere they have internet access.

The future of learning is flexible. Are you ready to take the next step? Sign up for one of our upcoming admissions presentations or reach out to speak directly with our team about the Blended+ program.

https://blended.calgaryacademy.com/

Every teacher brings a lifetime of experiences from before and beyond their classroom to school, and for Grade 10 teacher Charlotte Nixon, it’s her record as a published and celebrated playwright. Earlier in 2020, she began work planning a one-act traveling play, following the success of her January production Frog Prince: The Musical.

Like everyone around the world, her plans were impacted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Travelling plays would prove problematic in a cohorted world. Harder still would be in-person cast rehearsals and performances. So, she pivoted and turned a live, one-act concept into an animated film, and Nutty C and the Perfect Tree was born.

Charlotte notes, “when we think about what makes the perfect Christmas, it’s often the presents being nicely wrapped, or a lovely tree – everything as it “should” be. Often, the striving for perfect ends up underscoring the true meaning of Christmas and leaving someone out.”

Produced by SideNote Theatre, Nutty C and the Perfect Tree is about misguided tree ornaments desperately trying to achieve the “perfect” Christmas, and how the goal of perfection often ends up being what ruins Christmas. The musical features a whole cast of larger than life characters, but one in particular stands out, both for the character itself, and the actor picked to play, Pickle with Pizazz.

“I knew right away I wanted Thomas to try out for the role,” Ms. Nixon says. “I tried all summer to contact him and reached him just in time for auditions.”

Thomas, a Grade 12 student at Calgary Academy, has amassed a significant theatre background during his time at the school acting in and supporting junior and senior productions. Even further, he identified with Pickle and could bring a depth of understanding and knowing to such an important role.

Thomas only had 48 hours to learn the script, record his audition, and send it in on time. Luckily, he was offered the part only a few days later. COVID-19 continued to impact the development of this film, and the cast conducted rehearsals remotely via Zoom.

“There was a huge learning curve as we got used to rehearsing via Zoom, but in the end, it was almost better than in person, as I could see the other cast member’s full faces and reactions,” Thomas comments. “I loved being part of such an inclusive community, in a community of actors and crew who were so supportive of one another. Hurdles weren’t seen as problems but obstacles we could adapt to and overcome. We learned not to be afraid of changing things, and it turns out there is so much you can do with the recorded experience.

The cast in fact was only together in person to record a soundtrack, which was done while physically distanced and masked. Since the recording wrapped, it’s been a mad dash to production, and so Thomas and Ms. Nixon saw Nutty C for the first time alongside audiences when livestreaming began on November 24.

Nutty C and the Perfect Tree will be available for live streaming November 24 – December 31. 

For more Information on the production and to purchase live streaming tickets, visit Side Note Theatre’s Nutty Can and the Perfect Tree page

We are delighted to announce that longtime CA teacher and instructional leader Maureen Kelly Gibson has been recognized with the highest award given to teachers in Canada, as one of nine educators receiving the National Certificate of Excellence from the Prime Minister’s Award (PMA) for Teaching recipient.

Maureen was selected for remarkable achievements in education and for commitment to preparing students for a digital and innovation-based economy. For Maureen, the award recognizes her incredible contributions to CA over her career with us. This includes her expertise in remedial reading instruction, her contributions to the CA Learning Model and Kindergarten program, and her many examples of outstanding classroom experiences for her students.

The committee receives thousands of applications for this award yearly, and uses dozens of different readers and judges to come to a conclusion of the finalists and eventual winners. Thank you, Maureen, for representing Calgary Academy and for the many years of service to our school and to thousands of children that have come through our doors.

You can read the full announcement and details of her recognition here:

Award Announcement