October 2020 Agenda
- Welcome/Call to Order
- Approval of the Agenda
- Introductions of the School Council Executive
- Chair Report – Carolyn Whitelaw
- Reports:
- President and CEO Report – Dr. Greg Bass
- Principal Report – Tim Carlson
- Volunteer Update – Shannyn De Kruyff
- CAPA and Advancement – Natalie Kowalenko
- Strategic Plan – Lindsey Meredith
- Learning and Innovation at CA – Susan Poole
- Learning Supports – Sarah Hoag
- Next Meeting – November 23, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
- Future Agenda Items
- Student Council report
- Q &A
- Thank you/Adjournment
The New Normal for PE
This time last year, our gyms were packed with students playing basketball and volleyball. Today, the gyms are empty, and individual sports are in. Last week we sat down with two teachers from the Physical Education department, and what follows is an interview with Tracy Sullivan and Alora Popow.
What is different about PE this year?
TS & AP: This time last year our courses consisted of flag football, volleyball, basketball and kickball. Obviously, none of that is happening right now. We’ve had to completely reinvent our units to protect our students from COVID-19. There are no team sports, and we are sanitizing all shared equipment after each student’s use.
The intentionality in the new structure for PE created much more consistency in programming. Every class gets same programming – one unit per week. This alignment makes it possible for consistency with sanitizing, which is crucial, but has also created a very predictable and safe environment for the students, which aligns much more closely with the CA Way.
We’re outside way more than before, which has been awesome. We are seeing payoffs not even related to COVID-19 precautions. Students are taking more individual risks, they are happy to be in class, and there’s been no complains about sanitizing.
What’s been your biggest challenge?
TS & AP: A lot of our students love team sports and are really good at them. It is challenging not to support their passions. Using PE time for sanitizing instead of activity is also tough. But we’ve felt incredibly supported to get the tools and equipment we need for COVID-safe activities – like a class set of scooters!
What have you learned?
TS & AP: Teachers are resilient. We originally felt like we had nothing – our usual lesson plan just were not going to work. We all felt like rookie teacher in our first year teaching. Now that we’ve wrapped our heads around the new reality, all we see is our department (and every teacher in the building) coming up with cool new ways to do things.
You can teach an old dog new tricks! The shift in mindset, our ability to adapt and overcome, we are all learning new ways to teach – we are even using the technology differently.
In summary, things are crazy. But there’s such an atmosphere of “let’s do this; we are a team; we can get through this.”
How has this experience informed your views on the educational world?
TS & AP: I never thought we could teach PE digitally or remotely. It’s outrageous, but we did it. We’ve learned you really can learn anything, anywhere, at any time. We’ve always believed that personally, but it’s different putting it into action. However, just because you can learn anywhere, doesn’t mean it’s a fulsome replacement for a physical experience. Schools are an important place to come together and learn together.
May 2020 SCOCA Annual General Meeting
Click the video below to see a replay of our May 2020 SCOCA AGM.
May 2020 Agenda
- Welcome/Call to Order
- Approval of Agenda
- Reports:
- Chair Report: Carolyn Whitelaw
- President and CEO Report: Dr. Greg Bass
- Mr. Gary Purcell
- Student Executive Report: Sarah J
- Principal Report: Tim Carlson
- Volunteer Report: Shannyn de Kruyff
- Q & A
- Next Meeting: September 2020
- Thank you/ Adjournment
Arlette Speaker Series: Dr. Jody Carrington
The Re-Connection Revolution: Tap into your parenting superpowers
Date: May 6, 2020
Program:
Interactive Virtual Reception: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Webinar: 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Parents! This is a challenging time, but a great opportunity for us to connect and support each other.
Join us LIVE to hear Dr. Jody Carrington speak about how to tap in to our parenting superpowers. Dr. Carrington is a child psychologist, highly sought-after speaker and best-selling author of “Kids These Days: A Game Plan for (Re)Connecting With Those We Teach, Lead, and Love.”
Expect laughter, stories and a tangible boost to your parenting toolkit. If you join us for the reception, you will also have a chance to meet other parents in your child’s grades and connect with them prior to the talk.
If you join us for the reception at 7:00 p.m., you will also have a chance to meet other parents, grandparents and educators and connect with them prior to the talk.
This is a FREE, LIVE event made possible by a generous donation from the Arlette Education Fund at the Calgary Foundation.
Share with your friends, bring a drink of your choice, and join us!
Register now: Arlette Speaker Series – Dr. Jody Carrington
April 2020 Minutes
SCOCA April Meeting
For April, we held our school council meeting online for the first time. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend. There were some important school updates as well as a great presentation on executive functioning skills at home from our Junior High Assistant Principal, Erin Ellis. If you weren’t able to join us or would like to re-watch the information provided, please view the recording of our meeting below.
https://youtu.be/zVsq-DXDvwg
April 2020 Agenda
- Welcome/Call to Order
- Approval of Agenda
- Reports:
- Chair Report: Carolyn Whitelaw
- Principal Report: Tim Carlson
- Volunteer Report: Shannyn de Kruyff
- Thank you to all our Volunteers
- Q & A
- Next Meeting: May 11, AGM 6:30 p.m.
- Future Agenda Items
- Thank you/ Adjournment
Continuity of Learning Plan
Early in the COVID-19 situation, we began work on the learning continuity plan for CA. We want to assure you that we are carefully coordinating the learning for students and services to our families. We recognize that learning from home may present learning challenges for our families and we want you to know that we are here to support you.
The full Continuity of Learning Plan can be accessed here.
Calgary Academy in the News
“What actions can we take to further the spirit and intent of the Journey of Reconciliation?”
This is the essential question that Grade 7 students in Ms. Calder and Miss Song’s class asked when beginning their new Project Based Learning assignment. Designed in objective of this project was to nominate a “bank NOTE-able” Canadian as part of a call for nominations from the Bank of Canada to appear on the next $5 bank note. The focus of this classroom project was to learn about and choose an iconic Indigenous Canadian they felt was deserving of this honour and design the bank note based on the chosen individual. We were thrilled when Global Calgary reached out and asked if they could visit the class.
Click the link below to see the news story from Global Calgary. Thank you to Silvana and Tim from Global for spending time with our students!
Our students were also featured on an article by Calgary Herald!
Students draw five-dollar bills with Indigenous heroes to submit for redesign nominations
