Judi Hunter – Ward 5 Trustee
Schools are well underway with successful start-ups. I had the opportunity to attend the Welcome back celebrations at Elbow Valley Elementary, Springbank Middle School and Westbrook School. The weather was spectacular, and it was wonderful to watch the children playing and parents conversing. Thank you to the schools for hosting and providing food.
Rocky View Communications team have deservedly won a Canadian Association of Communicators in Education (CACE) award for the Space for Students advocacy campaign. This national award recognizes and honours exemplary work in all aspects of school public relations, communications, marketing, and engagement.
The Airdrie Community Engagement has begun. The engagement will inform parents of the serious space issues in the City of Airdrie and give possible scenarios to alleviate the overcrowding in schools. Options will include, changing a middle school to a high school, making boundary changes and making grade configuration changes. Parent will have the opportunity to weigh in through the School Engage platform as well as community consultations. Planning is in process for similar processes in Cochrane and Chestermere.
The Alberta government is consulting with stakeholders to gather input for revising the social studies curriculum. Public input will be sought in 2024. Alberta says $12.4M will create nearly 2,000 apprenticeship positions
The Alberta government is spending $12.4 million that it claims will create nearly 2,000 new apprenticeship positions to be spread over five different institutions across the province. The new positions are slated to go to students at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, Red Deer Polytechnic, Lethbridge College, and Keyano College in Fort McMurray. In an interview with Postmedia, Advanced Education Minister Rajan Sawhney said the announcement reflects a growing need from employers.
Classroom Champions receives $3.6M to expand educational programs for Western Canadian students. A mentorship program that connects Olympic athletes with children at schools across the country is set to receive a major funding boost aimed at bridging educational gaps and empowering young minds. Classroom Champions, a leading educational non-profit, has secured $3.6 million in funding from 23 Western Canadian corporations they’re calling the Energizing Community Collective. Steve Mesler is the CEO and co-founder of Classroom Champions, which now works with millions of students across North America by facilitating video lessons and interactive chats with athletes.
Alberta’s population continues to surge growing by 184, 000 last year. This will impact our already overcrowded schools. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-population-growth-statscan-report-1.6979657
The new Langdon Junior/Senior high school will open September 2025. Parents of Langdon are presently engaged in dialogue about the school grade configuration and attendance boundaries.
September 30 was Truth and Reconciliation Day, all of Rocky View participated in activities related to this day.
Caretaking is presenting a problem for many schools. Rocky View Schools received additional funding during COVID for caretaking. The funding has ceased so caretaking has been reduced and schools are adjusting to the new “normal”.
Springbank Community Associate in conjunction with Springbank High School is holding a raffle to support the Springbank High School Physical Education program. Please be expected students at your door selling raffle tickets.
Bussing times for Elbow Valley, Bragg Creek and Redwood for students going to the Springbank Schools due to construction on Stoney Trail and 22 X.
Gravel trucks were being detoured along RR 33 and RR 31 while RR40 waw being paved. All trucks should be using RR 40.
