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educational partnerships
partnership highlights
ACT Foundation CPR Training
The ACT Foundation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to establishing CPR in every Canadian high school. Members of the City of Calgary Emergency Medical Services group provide the teacher training for this program. Each of the participating schools receive at least one class set of mannequins for the program as well as teaching manuals at no cost. The ACT High School CPR Pilot Program was initiated in Calgary in the 2000-2001 school year. In the pilot stage of the program some 50 CBE teachers participated in a CPR training session to prepare them to implement the ACT Foundation CPR Program in their schools. Another 15 teachers from two more CBE high schools participated in the training program in late August of 2001 and 25 more from four additional CBE high schools were trained in late January 2002. A further 28 teachers were trained in 2003, 25 more in 2004 and a further 22 in 2005. Currently all CBE High Schools are involved in CPR training for students and the ACT Foundation continues to support the training and recertification of CBE teachers and the Kiwanis Clubs of Calgary have agreed to help with replacement of worn and damaged mannequins. ATP offers 20 different LEGACY Programs in total, including mentorship, apprenticeship, script development and workshop opportunities. Financially accessible and innovative, our LEGACY Programs fall into three categories which are available to young people interested in the art form, to emerging professionals looking to stretch their creative muscles, and to members of the public looking to learn more about theatre. Classroom Connections are made up of three LEGACY Programs. Teachers' Guides, Student Matinees, and Classroom Connections are all designed with the school curriculum in mind. Alliance Pipeline, Southland, and the Calgary International Children’s Festival
This year’s festival, took place at Olympic Plaza and the Epcor Centre for Performing Arts from May 22 to 26. The Festival was as exciting, stimulating and diverse as ever. The Festival is renowned for its ability to expand children’s horizons, stimulate their imaginations and increase their understanding of different cultures and traditions Alliance Pipeline has helped CBE students requiring support to attend the festival for the past several years. This year their support will allow groups of students from about 20 CBE elementary schools to attend a performance at the Calgary International Children’s Festival and participate in a variety of venues available during festival activities. In addition to covering the costs associated with attendance at the event, Alliance Pipeline also provides adult volunteers to help supervise students in the downtown core.
Calgary Philharmonic Education Programs The CPO also has provided performance opportunities to school choirs from around the city and other youth arts organizations. The CPO Education Series consists of three sets of three concerts, performed in the Jack Singer Concert Hall. These concerts, geared for elementary school children feature the full Orchestra and are hosted by the resident Conductor and Chorusmaster, Rosemary Thomson, In addition to these concerts, the CPO sends small ensembles into elementary schools to perform concerts and interactive sessions. The CPO is currently developing programmes for junior and senior high schools. A new CPO this year is the Open Rehearsal programme. Music students attend a rehearsal, participate in a question and answer session with musicians, and are then taken on a tour of the Jack Singer Concert Hall.
Calgary Regional Homebuilders and the Calgary Fire Department - Smoke Detector Contest Winning students in each category (K-3 and 4-6) accepted prizes sponsored by New Home Living Magazine: K-3 winners: Grades 4-6 winners: 2007 marks the 11th anniversary of the Smoke Detector Program in Calgary. The program is a joint initiative between the Calgary Fire Department and The Calgary Region Homebuilders Association. The objective of this program is to educate the public about the importance of working smoke detectors. Firefighters keep a stock of smoke detectors when out on calls, but twice a year specific areas are visited by firefighters to check smoke detectors. They go door-to-door and when they come across a smoke detector that isn’t working or the existing one is over ten years old, a new one is installed at no charge. If the batteries don’t work, then they are replaced with new ones. In 2006 alone, 13 lives were saved in Calgary by the presence of working smoke detectors. CBE Student’s Design Wins First Prize at Aggie Days This year, the Agriculture Education Committee of the Calgary Stampede together with the Calgary Herald and sponsor Bayer CropScience Inc. offered elementary students the added opportunity to participate in the ‘Aggie Days: Front Cover Art Contest’. It was a great opportunity for students to showcase their creativity and knowledge around the theme: ‘Agriculture and the Environment.’ The winning design featured on the front cover of this year’s Aggie Days insert was created by Jillian K., a Grade 4 student from Edgemont School. A cheque for $200 was presented to Jillian at a special Aggie Days Reception. In addition to her prize, Edgemont School received a SMART Board valued at approximately $5,000 sponsored by Bayer CropScience Inc.
Other CBE Honourable Mentions included Michele T. and Hazel S., also from Edgemont School, Jasmine H. from Hawkwood School, Logan S. from Brentwood School and Justyn S. from Midnapore School. We acknowledge the many wonderful entries created by CBE students and the great encouragement and support from their teachers. Aggie Days along with other programs and scholarships demonstrates the Calgary Stampede’s commitment to education.
Calgary Stampede Story Contest This competition provided an opportunity for students to think about what western heritage or values meant to them. Students in three grade categories: grades 4-6 and 7-9 and also 10-12 were invited to participate. Students were asked to write stories to a maximum of 500 words. One winner was selected in each category and each won a complete Stampede Opening Day package, including riding in the parade, attendance at special events, and tickets to the rodeo and chuckwagon races and Grandstand Show for themselves and their immediate families. Each winner’s school received a package of gate entries to the Stampede to be used at the school’s discretion. City of Calgary Parks Programs Support CBE Students Two other Calgary Parks programs that are of great benefit to CBE students are the Alliance Pipeline Nature Experience Program and the ChevronTexaco Learning Pathway. The Nature Experience Program was launched in 2003 and integrates the study of nature into all aspects of the curriculum. The Learning Pathway, located on the east end of Princess Island is another environmental education classroom. Water quality and storm water management are some of the issues examined at this site. Destination Conservation Partnership Since the program was introduced at CBE in September 2001, substantial savings in utilities and waste have been realized through the efforts of participating DC schools. School teams of students, teachers, administrators, custodians and parents work together to save energy, conserve water and reduce waste while at the same time saving money. ENMAX Power Safety School Program
Tuesday Night Arts Studios is a program where teachers who wish to know more about an art form can spend an evening making art with an artist. The Center also provides bursary support for deserving students to attend the EPCOR CENTRE Theatre School. The EPCOR CENTRE works closely with CBE personnel to develop and implement arts programs which support the System’s innovative work in arts education.
Educators, instructors, parents and volunteers were involved in this one-day conference as well as industry practitioners that volunteered as mentors for the day. The hands-on sessions were created by instructors of each participating institution, experts in their given fields. Fort Calgary Discovery School Programs
CBE – Junior Achievement Partnership Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta (JASA) has developed a broad range of inter-related courses spanning grades 3-12 which are delivered in CBE classrooms across the city, and facilitated by more than 1,200 volunteers from the business community. JASA is proud to be a partner with CBE in the development of the new Business & Finance Career Pathway at the high school level. The JA resource Student Venture – A Company Program is a core program in this pathway, and JASA’s strong business connections form the foundation for the Business & Finance summer internship program.  At one time or another, many of us have dreamt of being on television but few get to live out that dream. For some students of Thomas B. Riley School, however, it’s a different story. These auspicious kids get to try their hand at broadcast journalism through a unique program called Cardel Kidcasters. The Cardel Kidcasters program was created with the support of Cardel Homes and a partnership between CTV and the Calgary Board of Education and initiated by CTV reporter Lisa Bowes. The program introduces Grade 7 and 8 students to the world of broadcast journalism, while emphasizing the importance of research, writing and oral communication skills to the profession.
Students raved about their experience in this program: “Kidcasters was a fun and educational unit and I learned a lot from it. I would like to thank Lisa, the school and my LA teacher Ms. St Amour, for bringing me this amazing experience.” “It was pretty cool that we got to see and talk to Lisa Bowes from CTV because she gave us a t-shirt, took us on a field trip to Father David Bower Arena, and we got to interview Carla McLeod, so that was pretty cool.” “I liked talking to Carla McLeod she was kind of neat. She was in the Olympics. I think the Olympics are cool. I was supposed to ask her about music, I tried to ask her questions that were not just one word answers. This way when you’re doing your stand up to the people, you won’t just run through a bunch of facts it might be something people want to listen to.” “I’ve been on TV before and I kinda knew what to do and stuff. It was new to me to interview someone. I didn’t know you couldn’t have yes or no questions. You don’t want a short answer you want to have description in your answers. We wanted bigger answers. This is a bit different because it feels better having a professional helping us. Considering she is on big TV she can tell you what is good to do and what not to do. She gave me advise about using skinny questions of yes and no.” - Jordan Click here to find out more about this great partnership and to see the latest ‘Kidcaster’ in action.
The Learning Partnership’s Unique Opportunities for CBE Students
This has certainly been the case for the relationship that exists between the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and The Learning Partnership (TLP). At the heart of their longstanding relationship is an unparalleled dedication to students. Together, CBE and TLP coordinate enriched educational programming for Calgary students of all ages. From early learning initiatives for young children, to showcases that demonstrate student innovation and entrepreneurship, the success of these programs is the result of a truly seamless partnership. This spring, the partnership delivered three particularly remarkable programs. The Welcome to Kindergarten, Entrepreneurial Adventure and Investigate! Invent! Innovate! succeeded in delivering exciting educational opportunities to Calgary 's public school students. Each event proved to be an invaluable learning experience for students, parents, teachers and corporate partners alike. Welcome to Kindergarten
After its first year, the annual event has grown to encompass an overwhelming amount of community support. This year's workshops, held in May and June, featured additional treat bags from Calgary Health Region, Alberta Public Libraries, and several other community organizations. Rundle School was one of the 21 CBE elementary schools to host a Welcome to Kindergarten workshop this year. Rundle Principal Laurie Androsoff welcomes the opportunities that are present in a wonderfully diverse multicultural community. “We have 39 world languages represented in our school community”, she explained at the workshop. Androsoff invited interpreters to the hour-long event so that every child and parent could participate actively in the orientation. Entrepreneurial Adventure
Douglasdale School 's Grade 3 team received the award for their “Working Well” global project. “We were studying world water supply and we learned that girls in India can't even go to school because they have to walk 20km every morning just to get clean water for their families,” said Julia. “We decided to do something about it.” The team created three ventures. Home made greeting cards, glass hearts for Valentine's Day, and a walk-a-thon event raised enough money to support the construction of two new water wells in India . “We're proud of our project,” said a grinning Elyssa. “We want kids in our schools to conserve water, because not everyone can have water like we do.” Rundle School , which raised over $1100 for homeless people in Calgary , also boasted a winning team for their significant community impact. According to fifth and sixth graders Aman, Dylan and Ronelle, their “EA Popcorn” project had a pretty big impact on them as well. “Doing this project has taught me how to talk to people and present my work without being shy,” said Aman as the others nodded in agreement. “I feel confident now,” explained Ronelle. “We all learned how to help people through business.” Investigate! Invent! Innovate! ( I3 ) I3- Investigate! Invent! Innovate! is an integrated science and technology program for students in Grades 7 and 8. It is delivered through three developmental learning cycles. In the first cycle teachers and students practice going through the inventive process while learning the scientific concepts specific to the curriculum expectations. The second cycle focuses on the invention process and the third cycle teaches students what is required to commercialize inventions and bring them to market. I3 provides teachers with innovative learning opportunities and resources to help them excite their students in the areas of science and technology while achieving curriculum goals. Teachers received planning strategies, lesson plans and rubrics tailored to assist them in meeting the demands of the Alberta Curriculum.
More than 50 City of Calgary business units and local environmental organizations showcased their environment-friendly actions and initiatives at display booths throughout the event. In addition to this, interactive environmental workshops and environmental themed theatre were offered to further engage visitors and participants. Teachers that registered for the event received a resource manual to take back to their classrooms. The manual is full of materials about the initiatives showcased during the three-day celebration of the environment. One of the most popular exhibits was the mobile greenhouse temporarily located near City Hall. Operated by Calgary-based Greentech Industries Ltd. the greenhouse on wheels is designed to help students learn more about Alberta’s indigenous plants. Following the Environment Expo the mobile greenhouse will make regular stops at CBE schools across the city. The mobile Greenhouse is just one of the many displays and presentations students were able to enjoy during the three-day expo. CBE students who attended the Mayor’s Environmental Expo 2006 actively gained awareness about what they, and the broader community, can do to reduce our impact on the environment and find solutions for its continuing protection. As Calgary’s Mayor Dave Bronconnier wrote in his invitation to the Expo, “This year’s theme – ‘Step Up to Green – takes off’ showcases how the progressive actions each of us takes is the key to helping reduce our environmental footprint.” The Calgary Board of Education was delighted to participate in the Mayor’s Environment Expo again this year. Our students and schools are committed to ever-expanding our actions in support of a healthy, enduring environment. Robert Bateman's Our Wild Neighbors Program
Bateman, one of Canada’s most renowned wildlife artists, believes that familiarizing students with the names, features and characteristics of their ‘wild neighbours’ should start at a young age. “Caring begins with knowing”, says Bateman. Having students ‘gettoknow’ their wild neighbours creates increased empathy for their well-being and awareness about the need to protect wildlife habitat. The Gettoknow Program is delivered through the Gettoknow Interactive CD, through the Robert Bateman Writing and Art Contest and through the Gettoknow Fundraising Program. The Gettoknow Interactive CD provides an educational and entertaining way for children to learn about species in their backyard. A pilot session of the first draft of the Interactive CD is currently underway in Calgary and Edmonton. The CD includes footage of Bateman sharing the philosophy that underlies the Gettoknow Program and the techniques he uses to observe and record the world of nature. The CD encourages students to do their own nature journaling. The CD provides teachers with lesson plans and supporting reference materials and includes a section for students that features interactive hikes, games, and learning activities designed to help them ‘gettoknow’ common species in their neighborhoods. This program is being piloted in CBE elementary and junior high schools. The following schools are involved: • Altadore Elementary The Robert Bateman Writing and Art Contest
Bateman established participation as the key focus of the contest because each student that participates learns about their ‘wild’ neighbours of other species and the importance of protecting the environment. The program is designed to encourage youth to: • Become familiar with and develop an appreciation
for Canada’s incredible wildlife heritage; Through the Gettoknow Fundraising Program winning art and writing submissions from the Robert Bateman Art and Writing Contest are used to create calendars, tote bags, and t-shirts. The products celebrate the talent of Canadian youth and view the environment through their eyes and minds. For younger students there are ‘species at risk’ plush toys to help raise awareness about endangered species in Canada. The program donates a portion of every product sold to Canadian wildlife programs. SMARTer Kids Connection Program Teachers undertake curriculum-based projects so students can collaborate and communicate with the goal of encouraging mutual respect and understanding among students in North America. The SMARTer Kids Foundation of Canada equips participating schools with education technology for easy, effective collaboration and provides teacher professional development. The program culminates in the spring when teachers and select students visit Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for a week of friendship, adventure and learning. Once a school is accepted, selected sixth-grade teachers come to Calgary in July for professional development. Upon returning to the school, the teachers and their students engage in collaborative learning projects with other participating schools throughout the school year. A select number of sixth-grade students and their teachers participate in the Calgary student visit at the end of the school year. Costs covered by the SMARTer Kids Foundation include airfare, accommodation, meals, local transportation and admission to Connections-sponsored activities during the teacher training and the Calgary student visit. SMARTer Kids ImagiNations Program ImagiNations provides students and teachers with the opportunity to connect with others through a traveling teddy bear. A teddy bear and journal arrives at the participating school along with any other items collected on his prior stops. Students use the journal to document his adventures in their community. Students are encouraged to interact with the teddy bear outside of school and record the details of his time with them in the journal. In doing so, the Foundation hopes to encourage children to write, and promote a motivating learning environment in which students are exposed to various viewpoints from peers of different backgrounds. The ImagiNations program is a cross-cultural experience that aims to promote collaborative learning and awareness of cultural differences. Learning is an active process, and by involving students around the world in ImagiNations, doors are opened for learners to actively engage with their peers, examine similarities and differences, and become more knowledgeable, empathetic and respectful of others. Becoming involved in ImagiNations ensures that curriculum objectives come alive as students around the world communicate with each other. Southland – CBE Bus Safety Poster Contest Grades 4 – 6 students were invited to create a School Bus Safety poster. Grades 7 - 9 students were challenged to come up with a slogan about School Bus Safety. The themes for 2006 were: • Students - Stay out of the Danger Zone (If you
can touch a bus you are standing too close) Spectra Energy Urban Ecology Program
The day-long program begins in the Resource Centre with discussions about our urban environment and what types of wildlife live in the city among us. Students are then asked to think about how it is that wildlife can manage to fulfill all of their needs within the city environment. Classes then move to the outdoors to explore, with a Park Naturalist, areas along the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary pathways and river to discover evidence of wildlife and to make observations on what they see. Stops are made along the way to give students an opportunity to compare and discuss the urban and natural areas along the river and to look for the impacts of urban life on nature. In this day-long program students explore their impacts on the earth, the size of their eco-footprints and what they can do to promote a healthy and diverse urban ecosystem. The Naturalists offer a variety of activities to classes based on pre-trip planning done with each teacher. Topics examined include animal and plant adaptations, migration, wetland ecosystems, lifecycles, seasonal changes and more. City personnel from a variety of departments also take part offering presentations on Water Management issues and Parks and City Planning. In 2005 the Duke Energy Urban Ecology Program received one of the City of Calgary Awards.
This ongoing initiative empowers educators, through our professional development model and online tools/processes, to introduce innovation and achieve success in effective technology infusion in K-12 curricula. By, with and for teachers, the TLC through a cascade model provides leadership to classroom Teacher-Leaders, representing Alberta school districts, who cascade knowledge to their colleagues. By embedding ICT student outcomes in all curricular resources and processes, we empower teachers to focus on their curricular expertise as they transparently and successfully infuse technology into classroom practice. The synergy of the TELUS Learning Connection Team working with a very effective team of 32 CBE TLC Teacher-Leaders has been very successful, resulting in outstanding achievements for CBE teachers. The Learning Connection Team was also an active participant in the Read it Over Family Literacy Day in May, 2004. Content Moderator: L. Milner
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LEGACY
Programs (Lifelong Education and Growth for Artists, Community and Youth)
are how ATP shares its expertise, enthusiasm and resources with others.
Over the past 30 years ATP has developed a great breadth of accessible
professional development and community outreach opportunities. Entitled
LEGACY Programs, our vision is to offer this country’s emerging
theatre artists, audiences and practitioners an outlet for creative development
and training. 
CBE
students look forward each May to the Calgary International Children’s
Festival, an event that allows children to experience extraordinary
live performances from around the world. With its strong commitment
to curriculum connections, the Calgary International Children's Festival
is a significant annual event in the lives of children, teachers and
families throughout southern Alberta. 
The
Calgary Board of Education is also grateful to Southland Transportation
who provides the transportation free of charge for these designated
schools. We appreciate both Alliance Pipeline and Southland Transportation
for their ongoing support that enables as many of our children as possible
to attend Calgary’s premiere annual event for children, the Calgary
International Children’s Festival.
The
Calgary Philharmonic offers a variety of educational programming that
caters to elementary, junior and senior high school students. Through
partnerships with the Mount Royal College Conservatory and the University
of Calgary, talented young Calgarians will have opportunities to perform
as soloists with the CPO; there will be opportunities for joint orchestral
performances as well as opportunities for CPO guest artists to perform
master classes and more. 
In
an effort to increase student awareness of the importance of working
smoke detectors, the Calgary Fire Department, Source Media Group,
and the Calgary Region Home Builders Association sponsored the second
annual Smoke Detector Poster Contest for Calgary Board of Education
elementary school students this spring. For 2007, students were
required to show the value of smoke detectors by creating a poster
depicting something of value to them that they would never want
to lose in a fire.
Aggie Days just wrapped up another successful year of school programming. For over 20 years, the Agriculture Education Committee of the Calgary Stampede has promoted and educated Calgary and district youth on the value and importance of agriculture in everyday life from food products to clothing. 
In
an effort to bring students and the community together, the Calgary
Stampede sponsored the second annual “Story Contest” for
Calgary Board of Education students. Last year the Calgary Stampede
held a contest called “Sharing our Heritage” as one of their
Alberta Centennial projects. The response was wonderful and the quality
of the reflection and writing encouraged the Calgary Stampede to continue
this initiative. The core purpose of the Calgary Stampede is to preserve
and promote western heritage and values.
The
City of Calgary Parks recognizes and values their partners in environmental
education. Environmental education and the development of a personal stewardship
ethic requires a community approach. Teachers, students and parents from
the CBE have been instrumental in the development and growth of the Campus
Calgary, Petro-Canada Bird School that is one of the most popular environmental
education programs in the city. The work of Calgary Parks with Ducks Unlimited
Canada and the Frank Lake Wetland Program allows students and teachers
the opportunity to experience a true prairie wetland first-hand. 
Calgary
Board of Education schools are proud to participate in the Destination
Conservation (DC) program, an award-winning Canada-wide resource conservation
and environmental education program created in Alberta in 1986. Destination
Conservation is a school based, student-driven resource conservation
management training and education program that turns the operation of
each school into a learning ground for lifestyle changes that lead to
significant savings for the participating school district and a more
positive environmental footprint. 
With
the support of Conoco Phillips Canada, 45 CBE schools currently participate
in Destination Conservation. Recently these schools got together at
the Telus World of Science to celebrate the success of their conservation
efforts through student presentations and awards of recognition.
Every
year in Canada, thousands of people are injured in electrical accidents.
Most often, these tragedies could be avoided with some basic electrical
safety education. The ENMAX Power Safety School Program targets students
in Division 2 and supports the Grade 5 Science curriculum in the areas
of electricity and magnetism. Through this presentation, children learn
the importance of playing it safe around electricity - all in a way that
will keep their attention and encourage them to learn the facts about
electrical safety. Teachers also may request educational videos and “Ouch
the Outlet” kits at no cost to the schools. This program has been
very active over the past three years in CBE schools.
EPCOR
Centre EPCOR CENTRE's Arts Learning delivers projects where artists and
arts educators teach in, through and about the arts. In partnership with
the CBE, they provide: One Day Arts Schools, where classes spend a day
at the EPCOR CENTRE learning through the arts. Professional development
workshops take place in schools, on a variety of relevant arts related
topics.
The
2006 Explore IT Conference held in May 2006 was a very successful event.
This innovative conference aims to encourage grade nine girls from junior
high schools across the city and surrounding area to keep their options
open as they enter high school. Explore IT is designed to expand young
girls' awareness to the world of high tech, and the opportunities available
in information and communication technologies, and the sciences. 
For
twenty years Fort Calgary has offered hands on curriculum based Social
Studies and Science programs for students in the Calgary area. These programs
have helped children develop an understanding and respect for their own
community. This year, Fort Calgary is partnering with several teachers
and curriculum specialists to develop vibrant and valuable programs to
support the new Social Studies Program of Studies from Alberta Learning. 
As
a vital partner with business and education, Junior Achievement takes
a leading role in providing business education, career development, financial
literacy and workplace readiness skills to young people before they leave
high school to better prepare them to meet the challenges they face beyond
the classroom.
This year, the first eight weeks of the 16-week campaign are providing a lead up to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, while the remaining eight weeks will take place post-games. The students have the amazing opportunity to interview some of Canada’s Olympians in a real press conference setting. They then write and present an on-camera assignment and simulate the work of a reporter. 
The Welcome to Kindergarten program is a national learning initiative that invites parents of pre-schoolers to hands-on orientation workshops. At the sessions, parents receive a Welcome to Kindergarten Bag, containing an assortment of early learning resources, including magnetic letters and numbers, art supplies and books. Also included is an instructional pamphlet for parents with translations available in nearly 20 languages. Teachers encourage families to use the supplies with their soon-to-be kindergarteners to prepare them for school in the fall.
In early January 2006, six CBE junior high schools became pilot schools for I3, the latest program of The Learning Partnership to be introduced to Calgary Board of Education schools. As a result of the success of this pilot, 9 schools participated this year at the 2007 2nd Annual Invention Convention.
One of the most exciting aspects of the program for student participants was the Invention Convention. Invention Convention was held on Thursday, April 12, 2007 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the West Atrium of Calgary City Hall. This event offered students involved in the program, the opportunity to reveal their market-ready inventions to the public. The three I’s stand for Investigate! Invent! Innovate! I3 is an integrated science and technology program for Grades 7 and 8 that encourages students to develop a passion for learning about science, mathematics and technology, and fosters the entrepreneurial spirit from within. 
The
Calgary Board of Education is committed to working with the City of
Calgary to develop strong environmental youth leaders. Each year in
June, CBE schools and students enthusiastically take part in the Mayor’s
Environment Expo, a unique educational and interactive opportunity to
learn more about environmental issues and initiatives of The City of
Calgary and local organizations. This year, more than 700 Grade 3 –
9 students from CBE schools descended on the Mayor’s 17th annual
Environment Expo held in the Municipal building.
The
theme for the 2006 Mayor's Expo was Step Up to Green – Takes Off!
Which reflects the goal of the Expo to raise awareness about how Calgarians
are taking action to reduce impacts on the environment. 
New
this year, schools not only attended the Expo but also provided displays
that demonstrated how they and their schools help reduce their environmental
impact. Students from Lester B. Pearson High School who developed a
formal recycling program at their school – REAP (Recycle Everyday
at Pearson) were awarded a $1000 Jack Leslie Youth Environmental Grant,
which was presented by Mayor Bronconnier on the last day of the Expo.
It
has always been Robert Bateman’s desire to launch a school-based
program to help students ‘get to know their neighbours of other
species’ in major urban centres across the country, where he feels
environmental literacy is most at risk. The rationale is that in order
to raise a generation who will care for the planet, we must begin by
teaching them the ABC’s of environmental literacy. 
The Robert Bateman Writing and Art Contest has proven itself to be a
wildly successful program for youth. It was inspired by Robert Bateman
and launched in Vancouver in March 2000 by the Federal Minister of Environment.
Since its inception, the contest has received tens of thousands of writing
and art entries and has grown involve every Canadian province and territory
in both official languages. 
The
Connections Program celebrates the multicultural richness of students
across North America. It offers a range of cross-cultural activities
for sixth-grade teachers and students from the United States, Canada
and Mexico designed to foster respect and appreciation for similarities
and differences.
ImagiNations
is an international collaborative learning program for elementary/primary
school students. The program promotes cross-cultural experiences through
the travels of a toy ambassador who collects information and memorabilia
to share with students at each stop of his journey.
Rocky
was the first traveling teddy bear for the SMARTer Kids Foundation.
Having Rocky travel to the various connections schools was a fun and
interactive way for students to learn about each other. After witnessing
Rocky's success, the Foundation launched the ImagiNations program for
students and teachers on a more global level.
Spectra Energy Urban Ecology Program
For
2007-2008, the program has been redesigned for Calgary Board of Education
students combining outdoor field study with classroom sessions that
focus on environmental stewardship. This program takes into consideration
the Alberta Education Language Arts and Science Program of Studies and
supports a vision of responsible citizenship. It lends itself to a multitude
of curricular activities including journaling and art experiences.
The
TELUS Learning Connection, an educational alliance of Alberta Learning,
The Alberta Teachers' Association, The College of Alberta School Superintendents,
the University of Alberta [Faculty of Education] and the TELUS Corporation
is about shifting paradigms in learning. 