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educational partnerships
partnership highlights
Community Support Partnership Initiatives Beverage Container Recycling Program Beverage Container Recycling Program
All schools that are recycling beverage containers are encouraged to sign up for the ABCRC school programs so that their data can be tracked and reported on. Also, singing up and participating allows schools to be eligible for great prizes. For example, the high school prizes total $5000 in each category! For more information, please contact www.abcrc.com. Big Brothers and Big Sisters – Between Generations Program On June 15th, 2006 Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary and Area held a year-end celebration for the Between Generations Program. Between Generations, a senior’s mentoring initiative for adults aged 55 and over, connects Calgary’s children with seniors who care. The volunteers are matched to children in participating CBE elementary schools and meet with them for one hour each week throughout the school year. The intent is to provide these children, often from single parent families, with a caring adult mentor to spend quality one-on-one time with them. Funded in part by First Calgary Savings, the program is currently in six schools encompassing 29 volunteers and 51 children.
Boys and Girls Club of Calgary-CBE Partnership
The Calgary Board of Education and the Boys and Girls Club have been working together for many years. This relationship was formalized in 2000. CBE students are major participants and beneficiaries of Boys and Girls Club programs. These programs include preschool initiatives, out-of-school care, Food and Nutrition at School, community clubs that provides children, youth and families that experience a variety of learning-directed activities like homework clubs, outdoor programs, parenting workshops and active living and peer support programs. Calgary Board of Education Partners with Calgary Winterfest The Winterfest Foundation believes that the Calgary Board of Education Snow Days Program adds a significant value to the existing festival. This will be achieved through the execution of an in-school program mobilizing teachers and classes to learn about the bounties and benefits of the season through the organization of winter specific events and programs. Holding events in schools will create an opportunity for an entire neighborhood to celebrate the Winterfest.
Calgary Economic Development and the Calgary Board of Education have developed strategic partnerships to support sustainable economic development in Calgary. Collaborative initiatives have emerged and resources have been leveraged to respond the issues and opportunities that affect multiple sectors and jurisdictions. This type of collaboration provides the greatest potential for success and meaningful results that are beneficial for the Calgary Region. The CBE and CED have been involved in extensive collaboration in the logistics and manufacturing sectors. Child and Youth Friendly Calgary continues to support the CBE CYFC accomplishes its purpose with innovative programs and outstanding commitment to the community. Its three goals are to: create opportunities for children and youth to participate, volunteer, and practice philanthropy; raise the self-esteem in Calgary's children and youth by encouraging them to understand they have infinite capacity for growth and achievement; and enable youth to be more active and productive citizens by encouraging the charitable and non-profit sectors to welcome youth as volunteers. Youth in modern society are an undervalued resource and should be asked to take on more responsibility. They need to be included in all aspects of community life. Through various youth initiatives, we provide the opportunity for youth to volunteer, serve on a board of directors, voice their opinions to business leaders and politicians, learn about diversity in their community, serve on a youth foundation and experience citizenship. To create these opportunities for youth involvement, CYFC runs ten different programs: Youth Volunteer Corps Clubs in Schools, Youth Volunteer Corps, Youth Week, Youth of Distinction Awards, Business Accreditation Program, Kids Critic, Mayor’s Youth Council, Youth for the Future, Calgary Urban Vibe, and Youth Foundation. These programs give youth the opportunity to grow as individuals and broaden their educational experience. In addition, youth learn leadership skills, increase self-esteem, make new friends, make a difference in the community and learn about its diversity, and gain valuable employment skills to help prepare them for the future. But, when The Burns Foundation read about the project they wanted to lend their support. They funded a series of ads in the Calgary Herald and Calgarians responded enthusiastically. The project grew rapidly beyond all expectations. CBC Television Local and National, “A” Channel, Global, The Calgary Herald and the Calgary Sun all covered this project. Gown donations came pouring into Churchill and instead of the expected 20-30 gowns, more than 650 dresses were donated. When the collection was finished more than 400 usable gowns were ready for the graduating students. The remaining dresses were re-donated to a variety of school drama departments, childcare facilities and women's shelters. Such a profound response changed the whole format of the project and a new facility had to be found to house the fittings. The Delta Bow Valley generously donated their Main Ballroom to run a whole day event. Dresses were showcased in half the ballroom and the other half was converted into dressing rooms. Wal Mart donated 20 full-length mirrors and the House of Mirrors donated a portable three-way mirror. Super Drug Mart provided makeovers, jewelry and gift baskets. Through the many generous donors and volunteers The Cinderella Project created one of the most amazing and touching events. More than 70 volunteers took part in the preparation activities or acted as God Mothers for the day and more than 110 graduating students from 21 different high schools in Calgary and area had their Cinderella Experience. The Cinderella Project continues to grow in scope and support. The 2006 program sponsors were:
Grand & Toy Back to School Donation
The official launch of the sixth year of the program will took place on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at the Scotia Centre location. Chief Superintendent Brendan Croskery as well as a representative of CBE Trustees accepted the cheque on behalf of the CBE. Grand & Toy has generously committed to supporting this initiative again for 2007 and are working with us to develop some new programs to further support CBE students. University of Calgary Campus Fair 2007
All working-to-change-the-world and no fun makes for a dull campus. That’s why the University of Calgary (U of C) holds a Campus Fair each year in June. With entertainment, games, prizes and more than 60 exhibits, 8,000 Calgarians, from young families to senior citizens, recently enjoyed Campus Fair and learned more about the University of Calgary.
Students who take part in Campus Fair get a taste of the myriad of possibilities within their reach and come away from the experience with renewed enthusiasm and excitement for their education.
The Out of School Care program provides structured activities and free play before and after school for Grades K – 6. The YMCA School Support Program is a 90-minute program that runs daily after school on site at six elementary schools. It provides academic and recreational activities for Grades K – 6. The YMCA Early Literacy Program has a Calgary Board of Education kindergarten teacher and YMCA staff working together to plan develop and implement activities that enhance the development of literacy skills. With the Calgary Board of Education, YMCA Calgary offers a weekly 2-hour evening recreational program for children at several CBE schools. Many schools participate in Outdoor Education Programs for school children grades 4 – 9. YMCA career training is offered to high school students who wish to be counsellors in the Outdoor Education programs at the Rocky Mountain YMCA. The YMCA Youth Achievement Program (YMAP) for Aboriginal Youth is a stay-in-school and work placement program for high school students who are at risk of dropping out of school. Job search, life skills training, job placement, career planning and leadership development are included. Work experiences and summer job placements are part of the learning experience for the participating high school students. During 2006 the CBE has been the beneficiary of a large number of non-cash donations. The Calgary Hitmen, TELUS and TransCanada Corp have donated tickets for CBE students to attend various games and events. TD Bank and TD Waterhouse donated thousands of dollars of office furniture. Computers For Schools also provided several hundred non-CBE standard computers that were given to schools to give to parents for home use. The CBE also continues to be the recipient of donated supplies through the Calgary Educational Partnership Foundation’s Petro-Canada Resource Sharing Program. Content Moderator: L. Milner
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Community Support Partnership Initiatives
ABCRC
has developed a recycling program for schools to encourage and support
the recycling of beverage containers in schools. Since its inception in
2004, approximately 56 schools have signed up for the program, and 28
of these 56 schools track their data on the ABCRC website. The schools
that actively participate in the program by tracking their information
on the website are eligible for incentive prizes from the ABCRC. The total
amount of beverage containers diverted from landfill from the 28 actively
participating schools for the 2006-07 school year is 305,705 containers!
The Between Generations Luncheon was an opportunity to celebrate the growth
and successes of the past year. Mentors ranging in ages from 55 –
94 years had the opportunity to share their stories and experiences while
lunching at the Canmore Opera House at Heritage Park. Dave Gregory, CEO
of First Calgary Savings was on hand to offer his support and thanks to
those that have contributed to the success of the program. Earlier this
year, the program was honored with the Mayor’s Excellence Award
for Multi Sector Partnerships. Each of the participating schools was presented
with a copy of the award as a token of appreciation and recognition for
their involvement in the program.
Since
1939, the vision of Boys and Girls Club has been to give all kids the
chance to realize their potential. From a shelter for homeless teens
to vital support programs in the community, Boys and Girls Club services
recognize and respond to the emerging needs of kids and their families;
particularly those most affected by complex social and economic issues.
The
economic growth, vitality and success of Calgary are dependent upon
the collaboration and support from a wide range of business, community
and government stakeholders.
Child
and Youth Friendly Calgary (CYFC) is a charitable non-profit umbrella
organization established in 1992 and is based on the firm belief that
young people who experience being contributing members of society will
become adults who have a sense of ownership and a responsibility to their
community. Our purpose is to “lead in providing meaningful opportunities
for young people to contribute to our community”. Last year, approximately
2,000 youth gave 55,000 hours to volunteering in our community! 
The
Cinderella Project began in 2005 as a small effort by Sir Winston Churchill
High School's fashion studies teacher, Lynn Herman and her fashion students
to collect 20 to 30 previously loved and worn graduation or formal dresses
for students from different Calgary high schools who may not be financially
able to attend their graduation banquets. The students, as well as some
retired teachers would worked with Lynn to fix and prepare the gowns and
arrangements were made for Martinizing Dry Cleaning to clean the ones
that needed it.
In
June of 2001, the CBE and Grand & Toy entered into a partnership to
develop a program to support CBE parents who apply for a waiver of the
fees for school supplies. Grand & Toy generously agreed to donate
$10,000 a year to the CBE to help offset the costs of these fee waivers. 
In order to reach as many children as possible Campus Fair and the Calgary
Board of Education collaborate to bring Campus Fair to more than 200 Grade
3 and 4 students a day early at the annual Sneak-a-Peek opportunity! This
year, participating students previewed several exhibits including Robo-Dogs
and Awesome Artic Animals. They learned how fun and interesting poetry
can be, and watched Roman Gladiators battle at lunch time. Each class
that attended had written and illustrated a short story as part of their
preparation for Campus Fair and enjoyed hearing their stories read out
loud by a storyteller while watching their pictures on the “big
screen”. 
The
partnership between the University of Calgary’s Campus Calgary and
the Calgary Board of Education was initiated to provide a unique opportunity
for students to get a chance to experience the exciting possibilities
of, one day, being a student at the University of Calgary. 
On
April 25th, 2001, the Calgary Board of Education and the Young Men’s
Christian Association of Calgary signed a formal partnership. High-quality
education programs have been offered in partnership with the CBE for
20 years. In 2002, YMCA programs were in place in over 100 Calgary schools,
the majority of which are in the public system. The YMCA offers a large
number of programs within CBE schools. 