By Nick Waterbury, Head of Athletics:

The last couple weeks of February saw the end of the basketball season for most teams. The Grade 7 girls finished a strong season of growth at Chinook Winds with their final game and a pizza celebration. Those girls have come a long way!

The Grade 7 boys had their playoffs come to an end on Monday but showed tremendous growth throughout the season. There is a bright future for these students! The Grade 8 boys and girls had their playoffs on Tuesday and Thursday this week. Both teams came out against opponents that they have seen all season and shocked them with how much they have improved. These student-athletes will make up a very strong group of Grade 9 basketball players next year.

Last Thursday saw the end of the Grade 9 basketball season as well, as these teams finished a very, very busy season. These students have honed their skills throughout the season, and are prepared for an exciting transition into High School basketball. The reincarnation of our Junior Varsity Boys Basketball team with students in Grade 10 and 11 showed us what can happen when you get a group of boys who love the game of basketball together. Though they didn’t see as much success on the scoreboard as they would have liked, the drive from each of these boys to improve and do the best they could was infectious, and very fun to watch.

Lastly, our Senior Varsity Boys team came together and surprised a lot of the teams in our league. This young team played some very tough games resulting in favourable outcomes (including the feature game in our home tournament), and have shown dedication to refining their craft. Congratulations to Matt Powell, our graduating senior, on a fantastic career as a Knight. We will miss you!

Looking ahead:

Badminton try-outs will begin the week of March 2 – 6, before and after school. Please pay attention to your inbox for more information. Track and Field, Floor Hockey, Soccer, and Ultimate Frisbee are also right around the corner. All information will be sent out via email to all Junior High and High School families.

The Grade 6 Challenge will begin on March 6 when CA competes against other local Elementary schools in a night of basketball fun. Looking ahead into the spring, these schools will get together again for Badminton and Cross-Country challenges. Good luck Grade 6s!

Lastly, if your son or daughter has been involved in Knights’ Athletics this year, please visit your PowerSchool link to see if there are outstanding fees. Attending to this in a timely manner will allow our Athletics program to flourish in the future. Thank you for your support with Knights’ Athletics!

1. Welcome/Call to Order
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Reports:
   1. Chair Report: Carolyn Whitelaw
   2. Principal Report: Tim Carlson
      1. Strategic Plan Event – March 6, 2020 – 12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.
      2. Principal Brunch – March
      3. Recognition Night
   3. Student Council Report: Sarah J
   4. Volunteer Report: Shannyn de Kruyff
      1. Parent/Teacher Dinner
      2. Upcoming Opportunities
         1. Scribes – March 9, 11, 13, and 16
         2. Last Teacher Lunch – April 24
4. Next Meeting
   1. Future Agenda Items
5. Q&A
6. Thank you/Adjournment

Our school. Your voice.

RSVP now at http://stratplan.calgaryacademy.com/2020/

Join us on Friday, March 6 from 12:30 – 4 p.m. for our Strategic Plan Celebration! We will celebrate the achievements from the past year and renew our thinking as we launch into our third and final year of the 2018-2021 Strategic Plan!

Your voice is crucial in this collaborative session.

Schedule of Events:

12:30 p.m.

Welcome and Overview

Meet and mingle with school community members

1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Strategic Plan Showcase

Learn about the work that’s been done to date and what’s to come

3:30 p.m.

Share Back and Wrap Up

Celebrate your learnings with cupcakes!

4:00 p.m.

Program End

​By Leeanne McLim, Theatre Director and Integrated Studies Teacher:

On its surface, The Addams Family are kooky and hilarious. Stories involving characters we have known and loved for years. But truly, despite their doom and gloom persona, The Addams Family have a remarkably positive attitude towards life. They frequently see the beauty in the world, even if their definition of it differs from ours. The Addams Family The Musical is the perfect tale of love and acceptance; two key philosophies we encourage at Calgary Academy. And while some of the Addams Family values certainly taught us numerous lessons and values we treasure in our inclusive CA culture, it is also at the very heart of this play. A theme that certainly bodes well with all of us at CA and an important reason this play was selected.

At its heart, the Addams family has always been a keen Gothic metaphor for anyone who has ever felt like an outcast for embracing the macabre. Nevertheless, in the Integrated Studies department we value individuality and accept and embrace each other’s differences. This is exactly what The Addams Family teach us; to love your individuality and celebrate your uniqueness.

At the time this show was chosen, my best friend, who ironically was a mortician, joked that with our own unique backgrounds it must mean that we were distant relations of the Addams Family ourselves. We had worked together in the professional theatre world, her sharing her technical talents and myself at the helm as director/actor/choreographer over the years. Many phone calls regarding this show about design ideas, costumes, casting, etc. during the beginning rehearsal weeks were shared as the birth of CA’s production of The Addams Family began. However, recently, I lost her, therefore making the success of this show even more motivating for me personally. A cathartic, passion project of sorts. A special tribute to perhaps one of the most quirky and misunderstood spirits I have ever known. A true Addams at heart, and an individual who sought acceptance her entire life but hadn’t found that nurturing, inclusive, family like we are blessed with at Calgary Academy.

There have been many other storms during the rehearsal process of this show. Many obstacles and a variety of challenges. But as the cast sings, “only at our lowest, can we rise above”, we have certainly learned during our time as a cast and crew together that it takes a challenge to really bring out the best in any group of people. As a cast, we have learned not just skills, but the lesson of how to grow through what we go through. It is in times of hardship and change when you find out what you are really made of.

And through it all, the IS and Creative Team has formed a family of its own, and the after school rehearsals has become a place where many of us, teacher volunteers and students, could temporarily retreat from daily life into a world that is distinctly “other”. A place where we could create – and for a time live in – an alternate reality. And for a few hours of our time, we all were able to transcend to that “other” place where life is enchanting, obstacles seem impossible, and life is both heartbreaking and heroic. As a team, we have created a safe place that encourages students to continue questioning, exploring and teasing out new ideas and ways of living and thinking. A place for creating and making, collaborating, exploring and responding in the search of our true selves and meaningful connections with others and the world around us. A bond which promotes strength, unity, reliability and support. And ironically, through it all, the stress and adventure of putting on a show is exactly the environment that fosters friendships that will last a lifetime.

At CA and in the IS department we breed dreamers. We continue to bring to this world individuals who believe in following their hearts, using their voices, and believing in who they are and who they can be. And that…is the CA Way. And while we may not share the Addams Family’s enthusiasm for exploding trains or carnivorous plants, and we certainly don’t encourage our children to play with hatchets, we could all learn a thing or two from The Addams Family about gratitude, friendship, compassion, and a general outlook on life.

School Council of Calgary Academy

January 20, 2020 – 6:30pm

Agenda 

1. Welcome/Call to Order
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Reports:
   1. Chair Report: Carolyn Whitelaw
   2. Principal Report: Tim Carlson
   3. Student Council Report: Sarah J.
   4. Volunteer Report: Shannyn de Kruyff
      1. Parent/Teacher dinner, upcoming opportunities
4. Next Meeting: February 24, 2020
   1. Executive Functioning Skills Presentation
   2. Future Agenda Items
5. Q&A
6. Thank you/Adjournment

Our November School Council of Calgary Academy (SCOCA) meeting is set for Monday November 18, 2019 at 6:30p.m.

We encourage all parents to come join us and see the value in their input and engagement in council meetings. It’s also a great way to connect with other CA parents, meet the CA admin team and SCOCA board, and to learn about the exciting plans for the year ahead.

The agenda will proceed as follows:

School Council of Calgary Academy
November 18, 2019 – 6:30p.m.
Agenda

1. Welcome/Call to Order
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Reports:
   • Chair Report: Carolyn Whitelaw
   • Principal Report: Tim Carlson
     • Survey Measures and Results from Spring 2019
   • Student Council Report: Sarah Johnson
   • Volunteer Report: Shannyn de Kruyff
     • Parent/ Teacher dinner, Dig Pink update, upcoming opportunities
   • Next Meeting: January 20^th, 2020
     • Future Agenda Items
   • Q&A
   • Thank you/ Adjournment

October 16, 2019 – 6:30p.m.

Meeting Minutes

Agenda

1. Welcome and Call to Order
   • Carolyn W, Chair, welcomed attendees (in person and Facebook Live) and called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m.
2. Approval of SCOCA September Meeting Minutes and SCOCA October Agenda
   • Motion to approve the SCOCA September Meeting Minutes posted on the CA web site.
     • First: Garth D
       Second: Shannyn K
       Motion carried.
   • Motion to approve the SCOCA October Meeting Agenda
     • First: Garth D
       Second: Shannyn K
       Motion Carried
3. Reports
   • Chair’s Report
     • Carolyn provided an overview of the SCOCA Bylaws, located on the CA web site. SCOCA will also abide by REACH value system. Carolyn also provided an overview of SCOCA with regards of Why, Who and How. SCOCA is here to facilitate open communication and transparency among the stakeholders: parents, teachers, CA administration and students. SCOCA’s goal is to enhance the educational experience of each student by:
       • Providing feedback to CA administration
       • Identifying special projects which would benefit CA’s students
       • Acting as a conduit for communication to keep parents informed about what is happening at CA
       • Supported areas with volunteers and parent engagement
     • As SCOCA is a school council and not a parent council, the association’s general members comprises of:
       • All parents/custodians/guardians
       • SCOCA executive members (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Volunteer Coordinator and Director at Large) elected positions at the AGM in May
       • Associated members including the Principal and CA Staff
   • Principal’s Report
     • The School Year Well Underway
       • CA has reached our goal of 600 students with the 601^st student being added
       • This allows for:
         • Increased staffing in our integrated studies and PE and outdoor programs
         • Educational assistant support for our students with more complex needs
         • Two part time psychologists working with more complex needs
         • Speech & Language and Occupational Therapy supports for students in Elementary
         • Supports for our staff in coaching and instructional design
         • Research on best practices that we can implement at CA for the betterment of our programs and students
         • Remedial experts working with students and with teachers
       • We are close to max capacity which CA hasn’t been at since the mid-2000s
     • Expanding opportunities for students
       • This year CA is planning for up to 6 days where we will be focused on student health and wellness. Many of the activities will be active-living focused and others will focus on wellness in other areas of student life. Our next Wellness Day will be in December before we break for the holidays.
       • Leader in Me – this is a program that we have brought into High School this year which supports leadership development in our high school students as we prepare our students for life beyond high school and help develop the characteristics of REACH through leadership opportunities. There is currently a LEAD team comprised of students from Grades 9-12 and teachers supporting them. We are also working on leadership growth within each of the classes during our mentoring and special projects time. More info to come in future meetings.
     • Collaboration and Professional Learning
       • With our shortened Fridays we now have clear collaboration time set aside for our staff to work together on short term and long term projects that will directly affect student learning:
         • Project based learning initiatives
         • Cross curricular opportunitiesStaff having time to examine student progress and set goals for the next week and beyond
       • With more Professional Learning days this year than last year, we also have a greater ability to meet the needs of our students by staying on top of the latest research, by focusing on our priorities in our Strategic Plan and by allowing our teachers time to ensure they are delivering the best education possible for our students. First PL day this month was focused on our IPP system which is new to us this year, getting familiarized with that so we are ready to present at our parent teacher interviews in November.
     • Alberta Education and AERR/3 Year Plan
       • With the change of government, we are anxious to see what the next steps will be for how this government and Alberta Ed in general will be approaching private schooling. We do not expect to see any change to funding in this coming budget but we are preparing for how to approach it if there are changes. But all indications from Alberta Ed are that we will remain status-quo in the funding we receive. This government will be continuing to ensure accountability, as they should, and this takes several forms that the school must work on to ensure compliance. This work all happens in the background so that teachers and families can focus on how best to support our learners.
       • In November, we will be bringing back to you our Annual Education Results Report and Three Year Plan. You can find last year’s plan online under the “About CA” tab. Every school has to upload their reports on their web sites and last year’s will be replaced with this year’s after we present to you and to the board in November. Please come out to our November’s meeting to see how we have done other the past year and what areas we will be focusing on this coming year.
     • PowerSchool
       • PowerSchool’s Parent Portal has been open since the end of September for all of the Junior High and High School. We have made the decision to hold off on opening Elementary because of the fact that our assessment system is different and needs context in Elementary. We will be looking at redesigning our system so that it makes sense and is helpful for parents for the Fall of 2020. For now, please reach out to the teachers if you have any questions about your son or daughter’s progress.
   • Volunteer Report
     • 33 new families signed up
     • 80 families in total
     • 2^nd Volunteer Orientation just took place on October 16 at 6 p.m.
     • Teachers’ Lunch on September 27 – 125 CA teachers and admin were treated to a hot lunch put on by the SCOCA Parent Volunteers
     • Terry Fox Run – October 2^nd, 2019 – 13 volunteers
     • Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
       • CA Photo Day – October 17, 2019
       • Dig Pink October 25 & 26 – Coaches/ref lunch and onsite volunteer opportunities
       • Teacher Appreciation Lunch – November 8
       • Book Fair – November 7 & 8
   • Student Coucil Report – Sarah Johnson
     • Council meets at lunch time
     • First initiative will be the REACH project
     • Working on first CA annual school dance in February 2020. Will need parent volunteers!
4. Next Meeting and Future Agenda Items
   • November 18, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.
   • Student anxiety and exams
   • Survey measures and results from Spring 2019
5. Q&A – New Business
   • No questions from the floor
   • Carolyn W – Motion to adjourn the SCOCA Meeting
   • First: Garth D
     Second: Shannyn K
     Motion carried
6. Meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m.

By Tracy Sullivan, Head of Physical Education: Quite a few people know that I am a cancer survivor, as are several other staff members at our school. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, and a disease that will directly impact 1 in 8 women in their lifetime, as well as touch the lives of close friends and family while they support her through the experience. When we started the Dig Pink Volleyball Tournament, we had no idea that I would personally face breast cancer.

Without the quality care I received, I might not be here today. And with further research and better treatment options – any of you or your loved ones who may face breast cancer will hopefully experience easier, better treatment. We are very happy that with the support of volunteers and sponsors, we donate all of the proceeds from the tournament to the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Our goal this year was to raise at least $6,000. We exceeded our goal and raised over $8,500, bringing our tournament total to $88,000 since its inception 11 years ago.

The Alberta Cancer Foundation actively seeks out and supports the most promising research and care initiatives that will have a direct impact on patients and provide real-life returns. With your help, they are pushing the pace of progress so that we can help deliver the best treatment and care possible. The goals of Dig Pink are many – to come together as a community, to celebrate our female athletes, and to raise funds.

What I have learned is that bravery is not the absence of fear. You don’t have to feel brave to be brave. Sometimes courage means just putting one foot in front of the other – when it comes to cancer treatment, you have no choice. Our students, staff and parent community has supported our efforts once again by making donations, wearing pink, supporting our fundraising efforts, cheering on our female athletes and taking part in our Dig Pink pep rally. I hope everyone feels it is a worthwhile cause and an opportunity for teaching altruism. I have never felt so supported as I have at Dig Pink, with all the crowd in pink at our pep rally. Each year as the event grows and changes, I see bravery in our team stepping in front of a huge crowd, in our students who have shared their stories and shaved heads, in our organizers who set huge goals to grow the event to be even more epic, and in each of you who take part in any capacity. Our community and the spirit of Dig Pink continues to give me courage I have never expected. The difference you have made goes well beyond the funds raised, and this year was no different.

A special shout out to Mr. Schuegraf, Mr. Waterbury, and Mr. Fleck, who have put a lot of time into ensuring the success of this event this year. The tournament also wouldn’t have been possible without the more than 50 volunteers, composed of students, parents, staff, and community partners. I was so happy to share in our celebration and success this past weekend!

By Becca Bouchard, Grade 8 Teacher: Bass thumping, lights flashing, the audience screaming. Nearly 20,000 voices swelling together: “We will be… heroes!”

WE Day Alberta, an annual event hosted by the WE Charity, is a “stadium-sized celebration of doing good locally and globally” held in Roger’s Place, Edmonton. It is a blood pumping, moral raising, and engaging event for students and schools that have aligned themselves with the WE organization. Its purpose is to celebrate our good works with amazing performances from Brett Kissel, Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine, and Daya! Its other purpose is to inspire altruism; the heart of our REACH principles.

This year’s theme was “WE are Heroes”. Heroes are iconically altruistic. They fight for the little guy and stand for what is right, even if they stand alone. We listened to the motivational words of NBA all-star, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, telling us to find other people who are passionate about the same issues as us, and to persist through frustrations that come with the long wait of change. The “Man in Motion”, Rick Hansen, inspired us to keep on rolling with our ideas and passions – we cannot let accidents keep us from moving forward. Paralympic athlete, Trinity Tratch, shared how things may seem like they’re going backwards, but you may actually be laying down the stepping stones to success. He found this out that, as a double leg amputee, skiing with one leg was more successful than with both. Finally, we heard from Noor Fadel, a Muslim girl who was attacked on the Vancouver SkyTrain because of her hijab and religion. She radiated resilience, perseverance, and strength as she refused to be silenced and fought for justice.

These, and all the other presenters, are heroes. They fight for the rights of others. They inspire people to find their voices. They clear the path for the young people of today to be the leaders of tomorrow. They do the work of heroes. They found that altruism was in their souls.

We have altruism in our souls. We go the extra mile for the struggler. We don’t turn a blind eye to injustices. We read the books the students think we’ll love. We allude to the memes our class is obsessed about. We keep the halls clean and beautiful. We supply students with nourishment. We welcome new families into ours. We keep our technology up and running. We pay the bills and sign the cheques. We are philanthropic. We close gaps. We build confidence. We coach. We embrace. We empower. We unleash. We are REACH.

We are heroes.