Transcript Welcome To Alexander Ferguson School

Welcome To
Alexander Ferguson School
where we’re
Making a World of Difference!
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The Building
We turned 50 years old on October 24, 2006. With this special year, the following renovations and
additions were done to continue making this great school a “school of choice”:
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The roof replacement was completed
Ceilings painted where necessary
Three sets of windows in the administration area were replaced
Grade 5/6 coat hooks were raised and the area painted
The front ramp walkway was repaired and painted
School was rekeyed
New office curtains were purchased
New fire, alarm and electrical systems were installed and tested
The curtain dividing our library from room 6 was installed ($3500.00)
Whiteboards in four rooms were installed as well as in the staffroom retrofitting this area
as an efficient and pleasant part time classroom
Installation of the 50th Anniversary Mosaic mural, commemorative tiles and
hanging Gully Day Natural art piece was completed
Picture frames for student artwork were purchased for the library
Two grants of a total of $75 000 were received to begin installing the Naturalization Area
(www.raingarden.ca) . This included removal of the blue “bucketball” nets.
Two classrooms were painted (Rm. 7 and 8)
A portable green house was purchased for Rm.8
Beautiful visual displays changed frequently throughout the year
Motivational pictures hung in the bathrooms
Feng shuied classrooms – on-going work
The People: Adults
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We were at capacity for 2006 -07 due to positive marketing and reputation – outstanding staff,
program and community. This has allowed us to have Dan Dornan, our new assistant principal.
LTTA has been a great success with a true team of Fine Artists backing us up.
We have a half time Resource Teacher and an 8/10 Class Size Initiative teacher.
Teachers have participated in over $5000 in workshops/ courses/visitations
Additional workshops by Karen Shaw ESL consultant, Student Services, GLAR team and
Elementary Language Arts consultant, Julie Bain
We have mentored a full cadre of student teachers again this year (9) and 4 Mount Royal S. T.
We have run an extremely successful Before and After School Care program and a lunchroom
servicing 160 students
We have hosted two International Bureau visitations – 8 teachers from England and 2 from
Japan. Both groups honored us with extremely positive comments
We have hosted numerous Kindergarten workshops and small group visitations
Our kindergarten teacher, Lana Kostiuk, was featured in 7 national newspapers
Our mural artist, Doug Driedeger, has displayed his work during the “Ferguson Festival – a
Celebration of Visual Learning”, and is again coming to teach our students on Activity Day
We continue to have more volunteers generously donate their time to the school
Enough parents returned the Gr. 4 Accountability Pillar Survey so their responses could be
analyzed
All support staff are returning and there was increased support
staff time this year
Full time help again from Cheryl Beatty, literacy support
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People: The Students
Our population has increased from 169 in 2004 to 225 (capacity)
Students have participated in numerous acts of Generosity such as the
Give Meaning Program, Children’s Cottage (Mitten Tree); Food Bank;
Foster parents, Alberta Cancer Foundation, YWCA Sheriff King Home
and the Naturalization project.
School Patrols won First Place trophy in their Division.
Scholastic Book Fair’s annual “Kids Are Authors” competition recognized
our Gr. 1 /2 entry “A Northern Alphabet” are one of 9 finalists out of
202 entries across Canada.
Excellent participation in continuing Division I Leadership Core and high
participation in Division II Leadership Core, particularly in the Phys Ed
Monitors.
Alberta Learning’s Accountability Pillar Survey of 2007 shows students’
increased feelings of safety and engagement. Overall
continued improvement and Ratings of Excellence
were received from students, parents and teachers.
Student Activities
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Over 2 / 3 the younger students are in Division I Leadership Core
Intramurals, Games Club, Drumming Club, Choir, Computer tutors, West
African Dance, Games Club
Presenting musical composers on the PA system
Halloween dress up and dance
Division II Leadership Core including Special Projects, Office Helpers and
Phys Ed Helpers
“Dress Your Best” Day and Winter Dance
Grade 5/6 Painting Club
Children’s Festival Flag Contribution
Two Writers Clubs
“Dress as a Famous Person” Day and Dance
Crazy Hair Day
Activity Day
Farewell Assembly
Talent show
The Programs
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Music instead of the bells at school
Two Book Fairs
Monthly sharing assemblies
Pizza lunches
Half Pints Presentation on Bully Proofing
50th Anniversary Celebration including “Dress in your Decade”, the Mosaic Mural, the Commemorative Tiles,
Canadian Folk Songs and planting Alberta Wood Lilies
School Evacuation and Emergency Phone Fan out practice
3 day Outdoor School at Rocky Mountain YMCA
Alien In-Line Skating
Every student has had one or two field trips this year. In addition, several guest speakers and presenters
have visited our classrooms.
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December’s “Light and the Sharing of Song”
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Honens Scholarship provided Gr. 6 with a chance to compose music with a professional from U of C
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3 Day Circle of Courage Student Radio Broadcast on 106.1FM
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Author Dan Bar-el presented to both Divisions
Presentations by Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Dr. Robert Thursk
Swim Program
6 String Nation Presentation
“Ferguson Festival – a Celebration of Visual Learning”
Naturalization Project installation
To maintain a link with our successful graduates, volunteer opportunities have been made available. We had
9 students return and give service this year.
½ Day with City architects on LRT proposal
Bottle Rocket Challenge
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The Resources
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A new copier has been purchased.
New staffroom flooring was purchased.
New shelving for the library has been purchased and will be installed as part of a successful
$10 000 Grant to “Energize” the library. Wall to wall murals will be painted by professional
artists, and we will have a solar panel operating a moveable device. Our grant enables us to
have students and/or interact with “Energy Sources” and experts, in order to work with
musicians to develop a CD on Alberta’s Energy sources/resources.
New Grade 3 /4 Social studies materials purchased.
New Gr. 5 /6 Literacy Collection purchased.
JUMP Math purchased again for Gr. 3-6, due to positive feedback.
“Printing Without Tears” program purchased for Gr. 1 – 2.
$2500 of new books were placed in our library.
We have significantly upgraded our Music program to include new computer programs, new
percussion instruments, a karaoke machine and CD’s, and two synthesizers. We began using
our Wireless Internet service.
Phys Ed equipment has been updated and maintained by the Division II Leadership Core.
Two carts of wireless mobile computers have been used effectively and daily in the
classrooms. The laptops were significantly increased in number. We purchased a new
Server as well and then we were reimbursed because of the grant for technology that we
received.
Volunteer and staff name tags were created
8 palm pilots and mini-keyboards were received from Area 4 for teacher use
Media Coverage
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October: City TV – Coverage of 50th anniversary, focus on dress from a
decade, music from different eras.
November: Calgary Journal – “Applied School Hits Milestone” – Coverage of
50th anniversary,
LTTA, Innovative Teaching
Coverage of the November fire on City TV which emphasized students’
orderly behavior during the fire and evacuation.
December : Calgary Herald, Regina, Winnipeg (7 National newspapers)
Articles focus on Alexander Ferguson Teacher Lana Kostiuk and her Reggio
centered Kindergarten program.
February: CTV – Coverage of student interviews with Calgary Stampeders
– City TV – “Coverage of Circle of Courage Radio” Broadcast
– Shaw Cable –
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– Global TV –
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– Calgary Herald – “”
– Calgary Sun – Coverage of student interviews with Astronaut Dr. Thursk
Thank you!!!
• Thank you to everyone! You are what makes a
world of difference! We can’t do it without our
“TEAM”:
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T – Together
E – Everyone
A – Achieves
M – More!
Here’s to our ongoing Naturalization Area installation and
our new library “Transformation”.