Volunteer Recognition

Each year, CAPSC recognizes the Calgary volunteers who make an enormous difference to the success of our schools and students. Do you know a master community builder, fundraising champ, financial wizard or amazing event organizer? Tell us how this person’s involvement has improved your school community. Your nominee will receive a certificate of recognition and a copy of your letter, and you will both be invited to our volunteer event in autumn 2016. If you know a volunteer that deserves city-wide applause, please take a moment to nominate that person.

Welcome to CAPSC’s 2016/17 Executive

CAPSC welcomes our new co-presidents Gerald Bartels and Andrea Brehm, along with our executive team Althea Adams, Sheri Bolitho, Lisa Davis, Kelly Guggisberg, Michael McIntosh and Jillian Millar Drysdale. Thanks to our outgoing executive for their service in 2015/16.

Access the 2016 AGM Minutes.

About the Alberta fires

Parents know that teachers make an enormous difference in the daily lives of our children, but may not stop to think about what happens when crisis hits. As Fort McMurray was evacuated, school staff made sure that children in their care were safe.

CAPSC thanks these educators and all of the first responders, volunteers and community organizations who supported others during the Wood Buffalo wildfire. You can be a wildfire hero too – visit our site for tips on how to help or donate.

CBE Transportation Update

If you have taken part in the CBE’s transportation consultation, you will be aware that six scenarios have been brought forward for parent review. The current $5 million gap in the transportation budget will be made up either through cuts to service or by increased parent fees.

Without additional funding, service levels will continue to deteriorate. In our commentary, CAPSC executive request that the CBE invest in the technology and training recommended in the independent technical review, and that Alberta Learning provide additional short-term funding to support transportation of special needs students in the CBE system.

A contact form is available on our website for parents who would like to communicate with stakeholders in education about transportation in the 2016/17 school year.

Parents play a role in improving transportation efficiency.  Please let the CBE know whether your child might take the bus next year. While you can choose to cancel the service later, anticipating the correct numbers ensures there is enough room for all the students who want to ride.

Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Learning Talk

Thanks to mathematics educator and research Dr. Gina Cherkowski, who joined our April meeting to discuss STEM learning. A passionate and collaborative educator, Dr. Cherkowski is highly involved in developing successful STEM education strategies. She spoke about how future jobs will depend on proficiency in this area. In addition to volunteering for STEM Alberta, Dr. Cherkowski founded STEM Learning Lab as a way to get meaningful STEM activities to kids so they are aptly positioned to reap the rewards and benefits of our highly technological world.

Changes to Parent Communication

CBE is installing a new website and communication system for parents, and will be updating CBE parent council pages as part of that process. In order to comply with the anti-spam legislation, parents must opt in to receive ‘commercial messages’ from their fundraising associations. Agreeing to receive these messages allows the CBE and your parent association to inform you about any school-related events or activities that involve a financial transaction, such as school fundraisers, parent education sessions that involve a ticket price. Watch for more information coming from the CBE in regard to opting-in.

Clarification on Bill 10 

In the last newsletter, CAPSC included information about parent response to Bill 10.  We agree that individual parents are best positioned to provide input to policymakers, and as such we are not making any representations on behalf of parents on this issue. We realized almost as soon as the update went out that important information with respect to CAPSC not taking a position was missing, and updated the website as follows:

CAPSC executive is hearing from many parents in regard to Bill 10. CAPSC is not taking action on this issue. Our executive voted to make information sent to us available to allow parents to form their own opinions about the legislation and related concerns. If you would like to share a link that outlines an opinion in favour or against this legislation, please contact us.

Thank you for supporting CAPSC’s actions. We look forward to working with you in the upcoming year.

For more frequent updates on what is happening in education, please visit and like CAPSC’s Facebook page.

As discussed that evening, CAPSC invited all school boards and types in Calgary to take part and thanks those who participated. Schools were selected on the basis of high achievement, with the major indicator being strong performance on PAT scores. Diversity and parental choice are one of Alberta’s strengths, and we were interested in hearing from a variety of schools who had achieved strong results.

We thank our speakers for sharing information about best practices in mathematics education. A brief summary appears below for the benefit of those who were unable to attend the presentation.

All of our speakers are passionate about math education. Although they have some differences in how they approach teaching math, they agreed on the following:

• learning the mechanics of math is necessary and important
• direct instruction is valuable
• teachers who excel in this area love the material, and are able to improvise in explaining it to allow students deep understanding
• standardized testing, though imperfect, is a necessary part of ensuring student success.

All expressed concern about standardized testing being removed, believing that we will see a significant reduction in achievement levels.

STUART WACHOWICZ | B.Ed, B.Sc, M.Ed
Previously Director of Curriculum, Edmonton Public Schools | Director of the Confucius Institute, Edmonton

Stuart Wachowicz showed how a population with high English Language Learners and low socio-economic status achieved superior results.  He shared results from Youngstown School, in an average Albertan town. Youngstown students achieved a percentage of excellence – almost four times above the provincial standard. Forty-five percent of Grade 6 students achieved excellence compared to 12 percent  of students across the province. The Youngstown Model was used to develop curriculum delivery for the Cogito program in Edmonton Public schools, and was the basis for TLC schools in Calgary. It used a direct instruction rather than a child-centered model. Cogito students were not considered privileged. Thirty-five percent were English Language Learners, and 40 percent in a low socio-economic category. Many were children of immigrant families from Asia and eastern Europe. Again, this program approach delivered exceptional results.

Stuart presented compelling data and is one of several seasoned educators expressing concern about recent curriculum changes that have resulted in reducing math achievement. He reiterated the need for ensuring calculations can be made automatically. As well, he believes in minimizing use of technology for basic computation, using a good printed textbook so that parents can follow and support, and using direct instruction to introduce and explain topics. Stuart expressed concern about removing formal geometry from curriculum. He recommends the JUMP math and Singapore Math Resources, and advises against Math Makes Sense textbooks.

• Wachowicz Math Presentation

ANNA STOKKE | BSc, MSc and PhD (Math)
| Associate Professor at the University of Winnipeg | cofounder of a non-profit math tutoring program and WISE Math

Anna Stokke is Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Winnipeg and co-founder of a non-profit math tutoring program and WISE Math. She says math is relentlessly cumulative, and understanding math is like climbing a ladder. You must do it rung by rung. For example, to master multiplication you must first be fluent with addition. Memorizing times tables and practicing procedures does not interfere with understanding. Understanding is important, but not more than skill. Children can master a math skill or concept if they have the previous knowledge required to learn that skill, they receive clear and straightforward instruction, and they practice the skill. If something in your child’s learning seems off, speak up! Fix the problem before it snowballs.

Dr. Stokke compared results from many countries in assessing successful techniques and had interesting comments about where Alberta is not performing well.   She provided several links to resources in her presentation. Dr. Stokke recommends JUMP Math, Singapore Math, and Saxon Math.  She advises against Math Makes Sense textbooks.  She recommends an 80/20 ratio of direct to indirect instruction, and included some recommended resources. Interested parents or teachers are invited to contact her at [email protected] for more information.

• Stokke Math Presentation

JAY NIVEN | BEd, Masters in Mathematics teaching
NEIL WEBBER | PhD, Mathematics Curriculum
| Webber Academy, Calgary

Mechanics and deep understanding are not conflicting concepts. Jay’s personal preference is to teach mechanical proficiency first, then deeper understanding.  Direct instruction doesn’t have to be boring – Jay may choose to begin the lesson with a story, instead of the specific math concept, in order to generate excitement on the topic. Trust that your teachers are professionals and know what must happen to help your child succeed in math, but also hold them accountable. Many metrics can be used to measure school and student performance, and standardized exams should be one of them. For elementary students, Webber uses Everyday Mathematics and Math to the Max, as well as other resources.

AARON RENERT | M.Sc, LL.B
MOSHE RENERT
| The Renert School and Bright Minds, Calgary

Children must be cognitively ready to learn the material. However, once a child is ready to understand the concept, they can learn fast and go deep. The curriculum is only a benchmark, and quite low. Good performance is not achieved through rote memorization only, but is a combination of approaches. A complete understanding of concepts is necessary to master the curriculum.  Successful teachers all have rigor. The most skillful educators combine deep understanding and rigor with improvising to allow students to understand. There is concern that if PAT and diploma exams disappear, the results will plummet. The school uses Singapore Math, along with other resources.

Become a member today – it’s free! Congratulations to member A. Hausermann, who won two free tickets and an invitation to the VIP reception preceding the event.

AGENDA | Public Engagement – Transportation – Math Learning – Budget

Thanks to the parents who joined us at our November meeting to discuss transportation, public engagement, math learning and school budgets. We were pleased to meet with you in person to talk about current events in education.

Transportation
We discussed transportation challenges such as a shortage of school space, the development of alternative programs which encourage moving children to inner city schools with more room, budget shortfalls, and how transportation dollars are currently being used. Strategies used to help the transportation budget go further include:

• double busing (buses drive two routes, one immediately after the other)
• longer walk distances, up to 1.6 for elementary school students, and 1.8 km for middle/junior high school students
• a combination of double busing, longer walk distances and longer routes for alternative program students
• the possibility of moving junior high school students to public transit, which is complicated by the CBE’s Grade 5 – 9 middle school grouping.

As student learning is affected when families struggle with reductions to transportation service, this issue needs to be addressed. We touched briefly on our opinion editorial published in the Calgary Herald, detailing concerns about the safety of children, transparency around decision making, and managing of cost. We understand that the CBE plans to begin consulting families about transportation in January.

Public Engagement
We appreciate that the CBE chose public engagement as their focus item for the November 5 CoSC meeting. Our members discussed the same questions presented in that forum. Concerns mentioned were similar to those defined at the CoSC meeting, and include:

• gathering input/ideas from parents at the beginning of the process, rather than tweaking a plan that has already been made
• providing details before meetings so parents have time to review information before the discussion happens
• allowing sufficient time for consultation – such as bringing forward ideas in January for changes that will happen in September
• developing metrics – such as a five year timeline on how the CBE will meet goals for standardized testing.

We encourage you to get involved in the CBE’s process for improving public engagement.The survey and discussion guide contributions closed in December. Although submissions for the report are now closed, you can continue to use the council discussion guide to make suggestions on improving communication with parents. Look for the first draft of a new system-wide approach to be released this spring.

Math Learning
Members at this meeting had considerable concern about math education. PAT results, while an imperfect tool, are the best measure of how children are performing. We asked if parents were aware of the curriculum update for math learning that the Deputy Minister of Education provided to school boards. Consistent with the last meeting, no school councils represented were aware of any changes. Please ask your principal to advise your school council how these changes are being implemented in your school.

Some excerpts from the update include:

1. The updates clarified the expectation that students are able to recall addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts, as well as multiplication tables, and that they investigate a variety of strategies and become proficient in at least one appropriate and efficient strategy (strategies may include traditional algorithms, such as long division and vertical addition).
2. Some new and updated supports: The Alberta K–9 Mathematics Achievement Indicators (2015) resource. This resource has been updated to include standard/traditional algorithm achievement indicators in the Grades 2 to 5 number strand.  Achievement indicators provide suggested samples of how students may demonstrate their achievement of the learner outcomes in the mathematics program. The Summary of Updates highlights all revisions for easy reference and comparison.
   Sample Standard/Traditional Algorithms is the newest fact sheet in our series aimed at supporting teachers in the implementation of the K-9 Mathematics Program of Studies. The fact sheet provides samples of standard/traditional algorithms for all four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).
   

Results from the spring 2015 PATs show that roughly 30 percent of Grade 9 students did not have an ‘acceptable’ score in math exam results. ‘Acceptable’ begins at 42 per cent for grade 9. CBE trustees voted last fall that grade 9 math scores were unacceptable, and there was a tie vote on grade 6 math scores. We note this year’s math scores were worse.

Parents discussed that part of the issue seems to be that ‘Inspiring Education’ ideology has not yet translated into successful and consistent classroom strategies. CAPSC representatives attended a meeting this summer with the Assistant Deputy Minister of Education to express parental concerns about math in Calgary. At this meeting, a University of Alberta math engineering professor stated that the October midterms now have to be simplified for first-year students emerging from high school as they are unable to do the work.

Parents want help in supporting their kids with this learning. Suggestions included:

• asking schools for a two-page document giving examples of what children should be able to do when they finish the grade level
• accessing the Jump math program, which is newly recommended by Alberta Ed and also by a teacher in the room
• increasing math awareness in other ways – one council did a math quiz night as a fundraiser.

CAPSC is planning a Math Learning presentation in January or February, which will focus on best practices from schools with excellent results in this area. Details will be posted on the website soon.

School Budget
CAPSC executive are encouraging more clarity and transparency about how funding is used at the administrative level.

Meeting Focus Items
We asked members what they would like to have covered in upcoming meetings. Suggestions included:

• Nutrition – for instance, how packing a healthy lunch can support learning
• Science and math
• Appropriate amounts of technology in the classroom and at home; best practices for computer use
• Supports from police, including social network safety
• Encouraging more interest in school council.

Thanks to all who joined us on November 16th. We look forward to seeing you at our January event on math learning.

Evergreen Theatre’s Oak Room | 1709 8th Ave NE | Mayland Heights

All parents are welcome to join us to discuss issues of concern in education. Our agenda will include the following topics:

Current Action Items

• CBE Communication with Parents – CBE administration and the Board of Trustees are currently discussing how to improve communication with parents. We thank trustees for making this a point of discussion at the November 5 Council of School Councils.  Do our parent members have suggestions for improving communication?
• Transportation – Walk a Kilometre in My Shoes Event – Parent concerns about transportation include long walks to bus stops, reduced service, longer drives, and concerns about safety related to tightly scheduled buses. The plan is to move middle school and junior high students to public transit, with an associated doubling of cost.
  Do you have thoughts to share about the CBE’s transportation changes? Access our stakeholder form or keep us in the loop by sending a brief email to [email protected].
• Math Learning – The province has directed school boards to ensure math basics are being taught. What feedback do parents have on student understanding of math?  Recent PAT scores indicate that 30 per cent of grade 9 students are failing. What processes and programs is your school using to ensure that math achievement improves?
• School Fees & Budget Transparency – Parents and councils currently fund everything from band-aids to computer technology.  Recent changes to CBE transportation services have directly affected family schedules and budgets.  For this reason, our executive recommends more transparency on how funds are being used at the administrative level.

Input from CAPSC Membership

As our September meeting was brief, we will continue the discussion of what topics in education interest our parents. Possibilities include:

• sharing best practices in schools
• current status of the Inspiring Education initiative and curriculum changes
• resources for children with learning challenges
• particular areas of interest such as math, science or a second language
• regional concerns for feeder elementary, middle, junior and high school programs in different  geographical parts of Calgary
• interest for meetings focusing on the needs of specific educational groups, including elementary, middle/junior high and high schools.

CAPSC Needs You – Call for Volunteers

CAPSC belongs to parents. What better way to help it grow than by volunteering your time and talents? Our executive would appreciate volunteers to assist with the following tasks:

• Assistance with certain organizational tasks, including booking meeting space or mailings, finding speakers on topics of interest, or doing research.
• Organizers for the School Council Volunteer/Traffic Safety awards.

If you are willing to help, please e-mail [email protected] and we will contact you when we have a volunteer requirement.

Learn more about CAPSC’s purpose and actions.

We look forward to the November 16 discussion, and invite you to RSVP to [email protected].

• Sign The Petition 
• Contact Education Stakeholders
• Access Latest Update from CAPSC
• Report to the Minister of Education Regarding Transportation Concerns

Parents, we want to talk to you about issues in education!

Please join us for our first meeting of the 2015/16 school year. Let us know that we can expect you – please RSVP to the September 28 meeting.

Monday, September 28 | The Calgary Arts Academy
Knob Hill Campus | 2036 – 20th Avenue S.W.

Part 1 –  6:15 p.m. | Update from CAPSC Executive
We will discuss recent meetings with both the CBE and the Minister of Education regarding issues of importance for parents, including:
• bus changes and solutions
• funding that reaches the classroom
• math results and curriculum
• and concerns about governance.
We want to know what issues in education are key for parents, so please come armed with ideas. If you are not able to attend, please send an email to [email protected]. 

Part 2 – 7:30 p.m. | Living With A Learning Challenge
Former high school resource teacher Sarah Bieber will speak about how to support children with learning challenges.  See full details below or access the Learning Challenges Presentation link.

For a full update on all of our activities, you can review our latest newsletter:  CAPSC – Working for Parents in 2015/16.  Please note that the date for E.P. Scarlett’s presentation on The Mask You Live In is Wednesday, September 30.

A lively and informed speaker, psychologist Dr. Steiner-Adair spoke compellingly about the effects of technology on developing minds and bodies. She referenced current research on neurological development, suggesting that caution and thoughtful limits for technology are an important part of parenting today. Dr. Steiner-Adair’s eight suggestions for strengthening family connections can be found on her website, along with details on her book, The Big Disconnect.

CAPSC thanks Calgary Reads and Juno House Foundation for partnering with us to bring this event to Calgary parents on May 7 & 8, 2015. Representatives from Juno House and CAPSC are shown above, along with Dr. Steiner-Adair.

Want to stay informed about this and other upcoming CAPSC events? Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Facebook and become a member. Thanks to the generosity of a sponsor, individual memberships are currently free.

If you want to skip forward in the video: Question 1 at 04:05, (Q2 wasn’t asked), Question 3 at 12:15, Question 4 at 19:20, Question 5 at 28:00.

Articles

Metro News – Calgary school trustee candidates call for funding, parent input

Calgary Herald – CBE trustee candidates talk budget concerns

Live Tweets

Jeremy Nolais @Metro_Nolais.

• Just into opening remarks at #yycbe forum. Five candidates, one seat, who will survive. #realityshowthrowback #yyc #abed
• Question is how to engage parents/solicit feedback. Lloyd points out she was head of CAPSC until recent. CAPSC hosting forum #yycbe #yyc
• McAsey says school councils primarily focus on in-house issues. Says trustees help escalate plans to next level #yycbe #abed #yyc
• Morgan says she wants to talk more with students. Notes they’re becoming more vocal on issues. #yycbe #abed #yyc
• Have covered a few trustee forums. Biggest crowd I’ve seen at one http://ow.ly/i/abcDy  #yycbe #abed #yyc
• “Kids don’t have a filter, they tell it like it is,” Morgan says #yycbe #abed #yyc
• Hrdlicka says many don’t know role of trustees, “this a problem” #yycbe #abed #yyc
• Next question is on no funding for growth. over/under 3 candidates say “predictable, sustainable” in that order #yycbe #abed #yyc
• McAsey has talked a couple times already about partnering with pvt industry. Interesting stuff #yycbe #abed #yyc
• Did McAsey say he would or wouldn’t question #yycbe expenditures. Isn’t that part of the job? #yycbe #abed #yyc [note: he said “wouldn’t”]
• Morgan says #yycbe needs to stop spending on non-essential items #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Morgan says at one school parent council was asked to fundraise for toilets. Wowza. #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Phillips say tech in schools “archaic,” says many comps are “hand me downs.” He is a former teacher #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Hrdlicka says “cuts have ripple effects,” addressing 3 per cent reductions in certain grant areas #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Hrdlicka says if teachers can’t perform at their best, how will students #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Lloyd says boards “fighting for teachers, not textbooks.” Province has said boards not allowed to reduce teacher counts #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Lloyd references cuts to CAPSC last year. Says her campaign focuses on value of money, smaller signs, etc. #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Interesting — everyone sticking close to notes. Have seen past forums where candidates pretty much went at it free of paper #yyc #yycbe 1/2
• Not sure this way engages audience as much. See many bowed heads . . . and just caught one guy dozing a bit #yyc #yycbe #abed 2/2
• Phillips talks staffing. Big question is who will teach in new schools. Some BG near bottom of this http://ow.ly/L3ypv  #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Lloyd says no way gov. gives back taxation powers soon. Hrdlicka has called for such a move http://ow.ly/L3yA1  #yyc #yycbe #abed
• McAsey says there “lots of businesses out there that have funds, that want to spend it” #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Early schtick of McAsey is pvt partners, Llloyd is past CAPSC experience, Hrdlicka is community connections. #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Morgan focusing on talks with kids and school councils. Phillips talks from view of man who was in system #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Yes, there will be free-for-all audience questions. I expect will be more telling part of forum #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Hrdlicka says CBE is a “huge bureaucracy,” reiterate that people don’t know about trustee role #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Hrdlicka refs Christine Meikle, notes Varsity saying it wasn’t consulted. Here’s where that’s at http://ow.ly/L3yZ8  #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Lloyd says she’s the only candidate to have attended board meetings for past year. I don’t even go anymore #yyc #yycbe #abed
• McAsey says “we can only beat this horse so long” when it comes to prov. funding #yyc #yycbe #abed
• McAsey is really straying furthest from current practice, methinks. Do others in the audience agree? #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Morgan says twice she’s been “disillusioned” in CBE decision-making, has been denied ability to have her say twice #yyc #yycbe #abed
• First question is vision for system. Hrdlicka vouches for “community hub” schools, including during summer #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Morgan says she doesn’t want to see kids put on list for charter school #yyc #yycbe #abed
• “Public education needs to be everybody’s first choice,” Morgan says #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Phillips wants kids to become “lifelong learners,” says many HS students disengaged #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Question asked about learning from charters and expanding their mandate, trustees have no control over the latter part #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Lloyd says charters should remain, but wants to build base for public board #yyc #yycbe #abed
• “CBE is just as good as any of the other schools,” McAsey says, adds too much focus on the “bad” #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Morgan says 5 charters within walking distance of her community. Says kids leave CBE for Grade 4 #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Phillips is talking about alternative CBE schools, not charters. I don’t think he gets the question. #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Charters are publicly funded, pvt schools do receive funding too, but not 100 per cent #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Hrdlicka says charters have created “competition,” doesn’t vouch for them. Says all kids should have equal opportunity. #yyc #yycbe #abed
• McAsey says he’s not aware of pvt school funding model. He doesn’t see problem with those schools #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Morgan says she wouldn’t take money from charters, pvt. #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Phillips says “he’s totally against” pvt school funding, but says trustees have no say #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Phillips draws one clap, at least one boo for speaking against pvt schools #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Hrdlicka has problem with pvt, says priority has to be with public #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Morgan brings up the “new math” some fear with Inspiring Ed. Says there’s a need to embrace fact that society’s changing #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Phillips says Inspiring Ed varies among schools, teachers, says it will work with proper funding #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Hrdlicka says “many teachers haven’t been trained in this process,” referring to Inspiring Ed #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Question is who knows best principal or board — Hrdlicka say likes local autonomy #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Lloyd says building strong community base is key. She’s said it a few times #yyc #yycbe #abed
• McAsey gives the most blunt answer — vouches for principal. “Principal knows best” #yyc #yycbe #abed
• Last question — how will you work trustees you disagree with? 1/2
• Fun! Hope none say “we’d go in pvt and come up with a common answer” #yyc #yycbe #abed 2/2
• Lloyd says board camaraderie is key, but also notes majority rules #yyc #yycbe #abed
• McAsey says few of the candidates actually live in the ward. Anyone have a count on that? #yyc #yycbe #abed

TRADE SHOW FAIR – JANUARY 21

It was incredible and a ton of fun too! Prizes were flowing freely from our fabulous presenters, and there was a great turn out from the school councils in Calgary. We will do it again next year and it will be even bigger. Bringing the community and the schools together is one of the ways that we can strengthen education in Calgary and CAPSC is here to do just that.

Thank you so much to everyone who participated and to the CBE for donating the use of the school: A.E.Cross Jr High. Principal Shartau and his staff were amazingly helpful as always. Hats off to all great school Principals and teachers in Calgary for all they do.

Confused about what CAPSC does? Click on the link to understand the roles of CAPSC, CoSC and ASCA in supporting parents and school councils. 

Responding to the evaluated needs of many of our city school councils, CAPSC created a Saturday training seminar for city school council executives. We had space donated by CBE, and very strong support from the Alberta School Council’s Association (ASCA), which presented three full workshops.  Professional groups, experts, and experienced school council executives also contributed information sessions. Dr. Jim Brandon, PhD (University of Calgary) spoke about his recent research regarding Alberta School Councils. It was an excellent seminar with lots of positive feedback from those who participated. Over 70 busy school council volunteer executives in Calgary took the time to attend and benefit from the five hours of training.

link to seminar overview and materials