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Home > What's New > Mayors' Excellence Awards - CBE Shines |
Congratulations to our schools, programs and partners on receiving the 2010 Mayors’ Excellence Awards which recognize positive impacts on the education of children in our city.  |
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The Mayors of Calgary, High River, Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, Drumheller and the Senior Vice President of Bell Canada along with the President of CEPF proudly presented the following awards at the Palliser Hotel on January 26, 2010 during a Gala Dinner. The Calgary Board of Education salutes the success of these partnerships for their following achievements:
MULTI-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS
Presented to: Calgary Catholic School District, Calgary Board of Education, Calgary Police Services, and City of Calgary Community & Neighborhood Services, MASST
The Multi-Agency School Support Team (MASST) is a joint partnership between the Calgary Police Service (CPS); The Calgary Board of Education (CBE); The Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD); Community and Neighbourhood Services (CNS) – Children and Youth Services Division; and various youth serving organizations. This program facilitates a collaborative and comprehensive approach to early identification and the delivery of prevention/intervention to children in elementary and junior high school who are exhibiting anti-social and negative behaviour or are at increased risk of victimization. While the focus of the program is on children, the philosophy of the program also includes educating parents and inviting the family into an active role, as well as having a good understanding of the risks of both becoming victims and in participating in crime.
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PROGRAMS
Presented to: Vista Heights School and TAQA North
TAQA North has been involved with financing the breakfast program at Vista Heights School for eight years. They understood that the poverty level at Vista Heights was interfering with the lives and learning of the students. The number of persons in low-income households has risen from 25.4% in 2000 to 32.3% in 2005. TAQA North became involved when a former principal realized that many of the students were not eating breakfast before they came to school either because the parents could not afford it or they didn’t see the value of giving their child a healthy breakfast before sending them to school.
SCHOOL-TO-WORK TRANSITION PROGRAMS
Presented to: Jack James School and Homes by Avi
Jack James High School, as a Knowledge and Employability school, provides exceptional supports for students as they complete their high school education. Students graduating from Jack James do so with either a Certificate of Achievement or a High School Diploma and successfully transition to the workplace.
The Partnership:
The Building Tomorrow’s Future Together partnership evolved from a pilot project that took place in 1998. This project placed four Jack James High School students with two builders – Homes by Avi and Jager Homes. The project was intended to provide students with an overview of the residential construction industry and also give them some direct experience on actual construction sites. The project was a response to the construction industry’s concerns regarding the shortage of trained workers in all of the construction-related trades. Avi Amir, President of Homes by Avi, was pleased with the results of this project and expressed an interest in continuing the association with Jack James High School. This project has positively impacted many students and models the effectiveness of community/business partnerships.
SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS
Presented to: Bowness High School and Stepper Homes
Business partnerships can work if you have vision and commitment. Stepper Homes raised $50,000 by building and selling a specially built home in Rocky Ridge and donated the proceeds to Bowness High School in 2002. This helped establish a trades program. Seven years ago he initial the Stepper Trades Centre of Excellence was created. The objectives focus on direct business involvement and participation with the school, educators and students. Through the direct involvement with the business community students have the opportunity to explore a variety of construction trade areas. Stepper Homes representatives and CBE Career Pathways representatives were invited to participate in the first official meeting in September of 2004 in what is known as the BIG meetings (acronym for Bowness Implementing Greatness) at our school which are held once a month. At the meeting the foundations of the partnership plan were discussed.
The Partnership is now in its eight year and has continued to grow and share learning initiatives with industry, teachers, students and other schools and school districts.
CURRICULUM ENHANCEMENT
Presented to: Lord Beaverbrook High School, ConocoPhillips Canada and Education Matters
Water consumption is a large issue in high schools. Students from Lord Beaverbrook High School identified this issue and uninitiated discussion about designing an action project to examine typical water consumption at high schools, and use this data to identify ways to reduce water use and waste in schools. The City of Calgary Water Services installed water meters that would be monitored by the students. After an analysis of the finds, students suggested facility changes and an implementation plan for reduced water consumption.
This project began in spring of 2007 and the implementation plan was available in December 2008.
SPECIAL SETTINGS
Presented to: Calgary Board of Education, Calgary Catholic School District, Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary, City of Calgary, Community and Neighbourhood Services, Calgary and Area, Children's Services, Wood's Homes, and Alberta Health Services, Calgary
RADAR (Re-engaging Academically Disconnected Adolescents Respectfully) is a unique collaboration of youth-serving agencies that addresses the needs of homeless and disengaged youth (13-15) who are currently not attending school. RADAR’s mission is to reconnect these youth with school, family and community – the supports they need towards developing a positive future.
RADAR came together in Spring 2008 as the agencies serving Calgary’s most vulnerable youth identified an alarming trend: a substantial increase in the number of youth aged 13-15 who were accessing emergency youth shelters and not attending school. Various agencies concerned about homeless youth came together and possible solutions/actions to support the youth were brainstormed. Agencies at the table signed on to form a partnership to address the multiple needs of the youth. Partners donated time, personnel, space and/or funding. By October, 2008 the classroom portion of RADAR opened in the newly renovated hangar at the Renfrew Boys and Girls Club. One year later, in September 2009, the full complement of staff was hired and is in place (1.5 teachers, behavior support worker, two transitions workers, one recreational worker and a full-time project manager).
RADAR offers a flexible education program to meet the educational needs of the youth, supports youth in making healthy community connections, and ensures youth’s basic needs are met.
Congratulations again to the winners of the award and thank you to all of the schools who nominated partnerships.
Calgary Board of Education, Calgary’s public school system
"Educating Tomorrow’s Citizens Today"
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