This month, we welcome Erin Ellis, Director of Learning, to discuss our month’s theme of diversity.

At Calgary Academy, we are proud to embrace REACH (respect, enthusiasm, altruism, commitment, and honesty) as a value system that anchors our community in continuous social-emotional learning (SEL). Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of this approach, working together as intertwined principles that guide us in fostering a supportive learning environment for all.

When I was asked to write this month’s submission focused on diversity, I began wandering the halls looking for evidence of learning and immediately noticed how the mantra “We are All Knights” prioritizes a sense of belonging, wellness and relationship building (the core of our learning model) into our community. The following list is just a few of the highlights:

• Student work honouring Black History Month.
• Pink Shirt Day at the Saddledome.
• Images and key understandings focused on brain development decorate the walls.
• Calgary Academy’s house system builds positive school culture—a poster on the wall states that 87% of neurodiverse students in schools with house system report feeling more included and connected to their peers.
• Lunch hour clubs offered on the senior side like Tabletop Games Club, QSA, Grad Committee, CASTLE, yearbook, and International Travel Studies (ITS).

When SEL is used to embrace diversity, promote equity and honour inclusion, it becomes a powerful tool for creating meaningful and lasting change. Some ideas steer this work in school but can also serve as discussion points within your home:

• Building Partnerships: True equity in education is achieved when students, families, and communities are engaged as authentic partners. We must continue working together to support our children’s social and emotional development.
• Relevance for All: SEL ensures that everyone’s diversity and dignity are affirmed and valued.
• Individual Voice: SEL provides students with the opportunity to express their thoughts, ideas, and concerns, promoting agency and civic engagement while empowering them to lead positive change.
• Systemic Improvement: SEL serves as a pathway for systemic change by fostering inclusive practices that can be implemented throughout our school and into the greater community.

Wellness Updates

Grades K–9

This month in MindUp, our students have been diving deep into lessons on perspective-taking and empathy, learning how these essential skills help us build strong, positive relationships with others. Some classrooms have also begun exploring the fascinating neuroscience behind optimism, specifically how rephrasing negative self-talk into more positive, growth-oriented language can create new neural pathways in the brain.

This practice is not only an excellent tool for emotional resilience, but it helps students recognize their power in shaping their mindset, even when faced with challenges—such as the cold weather we’ve been battling! Through this, we emphasize that our brains are capable of change and growth with consistent effort and that small shifts in our thinking can lead to big changes in how we feel.

Looking ahead, we’re gearing up to celebrate SEL Week from March 3–7. Throughout the week, students will engage in deeper explorations of the five competencies of social-emotional learning (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making). These competencies are the foundation of our SEL programming and are central to our school culture, supporting the REACH principles that guide our daily interactions.

If you have questions about wellness programming in Grades K–9, please reach out to Dylan Dean.

Grades 10–12

This month, students in Grades 10–12 discussed perspective-taking during their LYF block. This is such a rich topic of discussion as our teens are constantly bombarded by the algorithms of social media.

If you have questions about wellness programming in Grades 10–12, please contact me at sbraun@calgaryacademy.com.

Counselling Services and Wraparound Support

We continue to have a counsellor supporting the needs of our learners in K–8. If you want to have your child connect with her, please reach out to Jenny Duffield.

I am here to support the needs of our Grades 9–12 students. If you want your child to connect with me, please reach out to sbraun@calgaryacademy.com.

Lastly, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s learning journey, you can also reach out to our Director of Learning, Erin Ellis.