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Grant Recipients
On this page:
2009-10 Inclusive Learning Schools Grant Recipients
| Tawow Days |
Abbot R J Scott Elementary, Edmonton
Brad Mamchur |
This school has a large Aboriginal population. The program, which would take place during National Aboriginal Week, would promote understanding and caring in the community. It would feature such things as elder visits to the school, drumming and dancing performances, fiddle and Métis dancing, puppetry, traditional foods, and visits by Aboriginal artists to teach art and crafts. |
| Multicultural Fair |
Chestermere High School
Candice Horne
chorne@rockyview.ab.ca |
The purpose of this project is to hold a multicultural fair to celebrate the ethnic diversity of the school (approximately half of the school’s students are from a visible minority). The ultimate goal is to teach citizenship skills and appreciation of differences; to support second language learning; to encourage mutual understanding of different cultures; and to identify diversity through positive experiences of music, food and dance. Activities will include students bringing traditional foods and performing music and dance from their ethnic traditions; exploring the immigrant experience through slam poetry; aboriginal drumming; clothing from around the world; belly dancing; and western Canadian culture, such as roping and cowboy culture. |
| Drumming Across Cultures at Evansdale |
Sheila Tingley
Shantelle Webb
sheila.tingley@epsb.ca
shantelle.webb@epsb.ca |
Evansdale school has students from many backgrounds and cultures, including Aboriginal students and students from Africa. The aim of this program is to use the universal language of music, specifically drumming, to teach all students to drum with the ultimate objective of creating a sense of unity and working together to reach a common goal. Eventually, the drumming performance will be part of multicultural week. Students will also develop leadership skills and respect for one other. This will be a way for students to break down barriers of race, gender and age and learn to work together. |
| Peace Jam: Alberta Heading for Peace |
High Park School, Parkland
Marianne Rogers |
This project is a student-led initiative to promote peace in Parkland School division. The project, part of a partnership with 10 Nobel laureates, began in May 2008. Goals include presentations on peace awareness; committing peaceful acts; issuing challenges that encourage awareness of human rights, the environment and violence reduction; leadership training; working to achieve UNESCO ASPnet school status; and partnering with a village or school in Africa. To achieve these goals, six students will attend meeting, plan events, create communications plans, give presentations, develop a video and issue challenges to other schools. At least one student will join the John Humphrey Society. All students will work towards getting UNESCO ASPnet status for the school. |
| First Nations Connections |
Innisfail Middle School
Christine Chalaturnyk
cchalaturnyk@chinooksedge.ab.ca |
The goal of this project is to enhance First Nations students’ historical perspective of place in the history of Canada. To achieve this goal, students will visit archaeological sites and engage in learning activities facilitated by elders. There are many important sites in the school division. Students would get the chance to see petroglyphs, a buffalo jump, powwows, dances, and ceremonies, and to conduct enquiry-based research and use wikis. Other modes of learning are conferencing, photo journals and video conferencing, with the ultimate goal of passing down knowledge of native traditions to ensuing generations. |
| Grandmothers’ Circles |
Lethbridge Outreach High School
Heather Colburn
heather.colburn@lethsd.ab.ca |
Grandmothers’ circles, as part of Supporting Healing and Wellness for Life (SHAWL), are intended to educate FNMI outreach students about the importance of healing through cultural teachings. Most of the students at the outreach school have experienced family breakdown or been involved with the legal system. In this program, those students will attend healing circles held by elders, which will show the value of community healing. This understanding will extend beyond the school year and will help build resiliency in FNMI students and provide them with life skills. Also emphasized will be the role of women in Aboriginal culture. The ultimate goal is to empower young FNMI women and encourage them to finish school and make healthy choices. Non-FNMI students will also be welcome. |
| Diversity and Tolerance |
Louise Dean School, Calgary
Brenda English
blenglish@cbe.ab.ca |
The project is designed to engender respect for human rights and diversity, specifically with regard to the school’s pregnant and parenting young women, who are in a precarious position—trying to forge an identity and yet be part of a school culture, all while being pregnant or having to mother young children. They often face bullying, lack of empathy, negative family relationships and social isolation. The goal of the project, then, is to increase empathy towards these young women; reduce bullying and negative stereotypes; model healthy relationships; teach conflict resolution skills; and create antiviolence programs. To do this, the school will encourage leadership and community work among students; hold off-campus antibullying sessions; and have students create presentations on empathy, diversity and antibullying. |
| History in the Hills |
Medicine Hat High School
Deborah Lloyd
deborah.lloyd@sd76.ab.ca |
History in the Hills is a project that takes place in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park; it involves bringing students to the park to help with archaeological digs and to learn more about Aboriginal history and culture. The project serves as a primary resource for teachers to engage students in hands-on projects that apply to various levels of the curriculum. Last year, 1,600 students took part.
The money requested in this project would be used for the elder-in-residence program. |
| The Art of Working Together (Mamawihisicikewin) |
Olds Elementary School
and
Ermineskin Primary School
Helen Fisher
hfisher@chinooksedge.ab.ca |
This project brings together two schools: one with a primarily Caucasian population and the other with a primarily Aboriginal one. The goal of the project is to introduce the children to each other, to inspire respect for diversity, and to engender an appreciation of difference and an understanding of similarities. Among the activities are a visit to the Glenbow Museum outreach program, experiences with Aboriginal elders, a visit to Dry Island Buffalo Jump, and the purchase of materials for the schools’ libraries that show respect for Aboriginal people. |
| Service Project |
Our Lady of Snows Catholic Academy, Canmore
Nica Giannandrea
ngiannandrea@redeemer.ab.ca |
This project involves students from Grades 1 through 9 developing community service projects that connect to the curriculum. The themes of the service projects are Aboriginal education, antiracism, inclusive learning, human rights and poverty. Examples of projects are visits with seniors, holding an ice cream sale to raise money for the SPCA, working with World Vision, a recycling project, a Terry Fox run, helping with Christmas presents for the needy, a food drive, working with Habitat for Humanity, and First Nations Cultural days. The ultimate goal of the project is to instill empathy for others and pride in one’s own culture, and to encourage students to improve the world. |
| Dual Language Books |
Prairie Waters Elementary School, Chestermere
Kerri Jordan, Val Stecyk
kjames@rockyview.ab.ca |
This project hopes to provide student-authored dual-language books that will increase the involvement of non-English speaking parents in their children’s schooling; introduce all children to different languages; encourage bilingualism; and improve the reading skills of both students and their parents. The project will begin with a visit by an author who has written a dual-language book. Teachers and students will choose a curriculum-related topic for their own class and will write the book collaboratively. The books will be translated into Vietnamese, Punjabi, Korean, Urdu, Chinese and Arabic, published and kept in the school library. |
| Peace Works |
St James Elementary School, Edmonton
Colleen Ring
ringc@ecsd.net |
This project is intended to introduce students to the themes of peace education, with specific reference to social justice, cultural diversity, conflict resolution, human rights and environmental responsibility, and will help students develop a sense of community, appreciation of equality and an awareness of global issues. The project has two parts: (1) students will create visual art projects that promote these ideals, which will be then be posted the school, and (2) students will write reflections on peace-related themes, which will be compiled, published and distributed to all students, their families, members of the community and administrators. The underlying ethic of the projects is to show students that they have the power to be the change they want to see in the world. |
| Student Social Justice Club |
Sir William Van Horne High School, Calgary
Debbie Noesgaard
denoesgaard@cbe.ab.ca |
Funding is requested to enable the school to begin a social justice club and to train a core of student leaders who will work on projects related to antiracism, peace education and poverty issues, and who will create a positive and inclusive school climate. Training for these students will include attending the CAASA leadership conference in Olds, attending weekly meetings, working with the food bank, research, and assistance with a charity project such as Women to Women in Afghanistan or Free the Children. |
| Literacy/Cultural Backpacks |
Tipaskan School, Edmonton
Andrea Cooper
andrea.cooper@epsc.ca |
This program aims to increase parental involvement in literacy and to celebrate cultures by preparing backpacks containing books, games, journals and activities. The school has noticed that a large number of the parents of its many Aboriginal and immigrant students do not speak English and are therefore less involved in their children’s education. The material in the backpacks will increase student literacy and provide them with stories in their first language that they can share with their parents. The backpacks are meant to serve as a bridge to involve parents in the education of their children and motivate them to develop relationships with the school and community. |
| Celebrating Diversity |
Spitzee Elementary, High River
Marina Schoon
schoonm@fsd.ab.ca |
The goal of this program is to inspire students to respect others and celebrate diversity, especially in light of the growing ethnic diversity in this once almost completely Caucasian school. The main activities include a flag-raising ceremony, a Canadian citizenship ceremony, cultural storytelling through dance and a year-long focus on games from around the world, including a school “World Cup of Soccer.” In the end, the project is meant to show students the value of everyone’s heritage, encourage their curiosity about others, develop their critical thinking abilities, prevent racism and motivate students to appreciate similarities and differences. |
2008/09 Inclusive Learning Communities Grant Applications
| Expanding Literacy for All Children |
Douglas Harkness School, Calgary Board of Education
Lorraine Kinsman, principal lckinsman@cbe.ab.ca |
Over 70 per cent of the student body at Douglas Harkness School is ESL. The purpose of this project is to develop a collection of dual-language textbooks to foster literacy in home languages as well as in English; the project will encourage families to see literacy as a joint responsibility of home and school, and welcome kindergarten students with books and learning tools to encourage pre-literacy. Other aspects of the latter strategy are expanded school library hours and a trip to the public library. |
| Building a Community, Sharing the Spirit |
Exshaw School (Canadian Rockies)
Jeff Horvath, Aboriginal liaison teacher cpauls@crps.ab.ca |
Ninety-seven per cent of the students at Exshaw School come from the Morely Reserve (Stoney/Nakoda First Nation). This project addresses FNMI, anti-racism and intercultural education to complement the school’s Eagle Pride Education program. The grant will be used to promote peace, cultural diversity and human rights by inviting members from the reserve and the nonreserve community to share their knowledge. Traditional Aboriginal knowledge will include crafts, drumming, medicine and storytelling. The program will emphasize violence prevention and making healthy choices. |
| Building the Bridge: Improving FNMI Sense of Belonging |
Canmore Collegiate High School
Jeff Horvath, Aboriginal liaison teacher jhorvath@crps.ab.ca |
The aim of this program is to bridge the gap between mainstream culture and Aboriginal culture and to raise awareness of and appreciation for Aboriginal culture among the student body. Of the 600 students in the high school, 40 are from the local Stoney/Nakoda First Nation reserve. Staff have observed that there is little interaction between the reserve students and the rest of the student body, and that reserve students experience much less academic success. This program will involve elder visits, drumming workshops, dance demonstrations, guest speakers, community visits and team-building workshops to inculcate a sense of belonging in the Aboriginal students. |
| Peace Patrol |
Dewberry School
Brad Romanchuk, principal brad.romanchuk@btps.ca |
The aim of this program is to train Grades 5 and 6 students in conflict-resolution skills to reduce bullying and bad behaviour during recess. This training will also give the Grades 5 and 6 students useful life skills. Activities will include training, daily lunch-hour peace patrols, brown bag meetings, and incentives to students to be patrollers and to use patrollers. Grades 5 and 6 students will organize and operate six afternoons of positive playground stations for the younger students throughout the year. |
| Peace Patrol |
Clandonald School
Chris Perry janet.jackson@btps.ca |
This program will combine the already established Peace Patrol program with Grades 7, 8 and 9 leadership classes. A survey revealed that 15 per cent of the student populations does not feel safe at school. The goal is to reduce playground conflict and bullying and to increase elementary students’ use of conflict-resolution and problem-solving skills. Activities will include training, daily lunch-hour peace patrols and brown bag meetings. Grades 5 and 6 students will organize and operate six afternoons of positive playground stations for the younger students throughout the year. |
| When I Go to School, I Must See Me |
St Francis Jr High School, Lethbridge
Kathy Jones-Husch, teacher jonesk@holyspirit.ab.ca
Gerry Muldoon, principal gerry.muldoon@holyspirit.ab.ca |
The goal of this project is to expand the school’s collection of physical artefacts, art and reading material to address the needs of an increasingly diverse student body, which includes many First Nations students as well as immigrants from Latin America, Asia and Africa. Research clearly shows that when students see themselves represented, they perform better than when they feel invisible and marginalized. Activities will include saying morning prayers in French and Blackfoot, increasing differentiated instruction, visiting a neighbouring reserve, forming an FNMI committee, increasing the physical representation of different cultures and purchasing a teepee for the school. |
| Making Connections Through ASPnet |
Olds Jr/Sr High School
Bev Toews btoews@chinooksedge.ab.ca |
This school, already recognized as a UNESCO ASPnet school, would like to host a diversity day, whereby the school would invite people from different walks of life (for example, living with diabilities, homeless, HIV positive) to talk to students about their situation. The aim is to reduce negative perceptions and stereotypes. The project will also involve music and a poster contest on the theme of celebrating diverity. Other adults important in childrens’ lives, including bus drivers and parents, will also be invited. |
| Native Dance Project |
Rosary School, Manning
Sheila Dillman, principal dillman@hfcrd.ca |
In this program, the school will invite professional Native dancers to visit and teach Native dance during PE classes. Because of the remote rural location of the school, it can be difficult and expensive to get outside presenters. Furthermore, 18 per cent of the school’s population is registered as FNMI, but FNMI resources for these students are limited. The native dance program will be part of a three-year FNMI program, which aims to provide quality learning opportunities, increase cross-cultural awarness and in general increase the achievement of FNMI students. |
| Video Conference for Hope |
Queen Elizabeth High School, Edmonton
Terry Godwaldt terry.godwaldt.@epsb.ca |
This project was a video conference that brought together 34 schools (18 from Alberta) representing 4,000 students from three continents, NGOs, aid organizations, UN reps, and the Canadian and Nicaraguan governments to raise awareness and funds for education. Activities included speakers, human rights workshops and language lessons. Last year, the targeted school was in Nicaragua; the previous year, the project benefited a school in Afghanistan. This is an ongoing project, the next of which will start in November 2008. |
| Jr High Transition Conference |
Ernest Morrow School, Calgary
Janice Luchenski jjluchenski@cbe.ab.ca |
This program is a one-day conference meant to help students make the transition from Grade 6 to 7. The student population at Ernest Morrow comes from 40 different ethnic groups, and staff, as well as child care professionals, have noticed that the school’s students struggle with poverty and the complications of transience. This program will enhance students’ emotional adjustment and help them feel welcome, Other objectives are to increase their resiliency skills and ability to self-advocate, and to create a sense of community in the school. |
2007/08 Inclusive Learning Communities Grant Awards
| Synergy Art Project and Group Leadership Collaboration |
Victoria School
Edmonton School District 7 |
Members of the Senior High Social Justice Group and the Student Council will participate in a leadership course, the goal of which is to coordinate activities to support social justice and social action. Various classes will participate in an art exchange program with students in Uganda. The goals of the project include increasing cooperation and coordination among students; enhancing their leadership skills and social awareness; and contributing to the school’s application to become a UNESCO world school. Activities will include a chili cook-off followed by the serving of chili at the Mustard Seed Church (an Edmonton inner-city social agency); a folk fest and craft market; donations to organizations such as the Bissell Centre and Mennonite Centre for Newcomers; women’s art show for International Women’s Day; and the donation of mosquito nets and school supplies to families in Uganda. |
| Diversity Backpacks |
W A Day Elementary School
Livingstone Range School Division 68 |
The aim of this program is to provide diversity backpacks that contain books, games, recipes and other ideas specially chosen to engage students and parents in literacy activities. An important aspect of the backpacks is that the material will reflect and celebrate the cultural diversity of the school’s K to 3 population, of which one-third is Aboriginal. The ultimate goal of the program is to increase literacy; to provide students with stories about other children they can identify with; and to address issues of inclusion as they pertain to gender, sexual orientation, learning styles, abilities, family makeup and racism.
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| Integrated Play Group |
Elizabeth Rummel School
Canadian Rockies Regional Division 12
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The purpose of this program is to use the Integrated Play Groups (IPG) system to improve the social and communication skills of autistic children, to diversify symbolic play repertoire and to promote a more inclusive education for autistic children. In the IPG program, an adult instructor meets regularly with small groups of children, including a child diagnosed with autism. The teacher helps the children to maximize their individual potential to play, socialize and form relationships, and helps the peer group learn how to be responsive, accepting and inclusive of the autistic child. The adult gradually withdraws, leaving the children to mediate their own activities. |
| Centennial Park |
Niton School
Grande Yellowhead Regional Division 35 |
The goal of this project is to involve students, parents and community members in the construction of a green space on the school grounds that will function as a multiple–use place for quiet reflection and conflict resolution. The space will also provide students a place in which to engage in citizenship activities and gardening (with the fruits of their labour being donated to the needy). The space will also be for the school’s Aboriginal staff member to show students aspects of native culture. Planned activities include involving all students in the construction of the park; planting flowers, shrubs and vegetables; developing path markers that describe different plant and animal species; and inviting community members, particularly seniors, to participate in cultural and historical talks.
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| Be the Change |
Ecole Queen Elizabeth Junior High School
Wetaskiwin Regional Division No 11
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Based on the Gandhian adage “We must be the change we want to see in the world,” the aim of this project is to challenge youth to be positive leaders in their home, school and community by encouraging respect and communication, whether that be with peers, parents or the community. Students will learn skills to handle such important issues as bullying, stereotyping, racism, violence, and drug and alcohol abuse to create a culture of compassion and respect. Possible activities include placing public service announcements in newspapers and on TV; designing billboards, T-shirts and banners; having youth attend conferences and speak to others about challenge day; making presentations at elementary schools; hosting a Be the Change lunch; and volunteering at shelters and old age homes. |
| Supporting Healing and Wellness for Life (SHAWL) |
Lethbridge Outreach High School
Lethbridge School District No 51
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With this program, students of First Nations, Métis and Inuit descent will learn the four aspects of the medicine wheel (spiritual, physical, mental and emotional) to help them learn about healthy lifestyles and deepen their understanding of their own culture, with the ultimate goal of individual and community healing. The program is especially for youth who have experienced family breakdown, foster care or run-ins with the justice system, or who have grown up in urban environments and lost touch with their culture. Activities will include sweat lodges, healing circles with elders, Aboriginal prayer sessions, shawl making, nature walks, and a name-giving ceremony at the end of the year (this is an important aspect of FNMI cultures).
The program will also invite participation from non-FNMI students to promote cross-cultural understanding.
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| Psychology 30 Labyrinth |
Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School
Red Deer Public School District 104
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This project involves the creation of a meditation labyrinth that all students can use. The labyrinth, which will be built and maintained by Psychology 30 students, will provide users with provocative questions to ponder as they make their way through it. Counsellors may refer students to the labyrinth for a time out; the labyrinth will also be open to staff. |
| Celebrating Diversity…Here Comes Everyone |
St Mary
Edmonton Catholic School District 7
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The goal of this cultural awareness/diversity program is to encourage students to address personal biases and prejudices; teach students about the world view of other cultures; promote culturally relevant services; and have students engage in cross-cultural interactions. This program has been conceived as a way to ensure that the school’s large ESL population feels welcomed and valued. Activities will include developing a photo story book to celebrate different cultures; creating vignettes that model tolerance and understanding; inviting guests (for example, Chinese acrobats) to the school; holding culturally relevant art programs; establishing circles of community that stress people’s similarities rather than differences; and establishing programs that recognize and validate all students. |
| Peace Patrol Dewberry School |
Buffalo Trail Public Schools Regional Division No 28 |
To counter an increased incidence of bullying, the school created a Peace Patrol program, now going into its third year. The peace patrollers are Grades 5 and 6 students who solve schoolyard conflicts (nonphysical) using problem solving and conflict resolution techniques. The goals of this program are to promote cooperative playground activities; provide students with opportunities to interact positively; give Grades 5 and 6 students life skills in listening, teamwork, mediation and conflict resolution; reduce bullying and tattling; and show elementary students the value of problem solving. Activities include training in conflict resolution; a Peace Patrol centre on the playground; monthly brown-bag lunches to plan peace-related activities; conflict resolution displays in the school; and more resources on conflict resolution for the entire school. |
| Peace Patrol |
Clandonald School
Buffalo Trail Public Schools Regional Division No 28
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This program is identical to the Dewberry School program (both are in Buffalo Trail school division) except that the peace patrollers are Grade 7, 8 and 9 students. |
| Stand Against Bullying |
Catholic Central High School
Holy Spirit RCSRD No 4
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The goals of this antibullying project are to increase awareness of the kinds of bullying that occur in a high school; increase understanding of why people bully and whom they choose to bully; and encourage bystanders and individual students to take a stand against bullying. Activities include working with the Safe and Caring Schools and Communities Society (SACSC) to develop an antibullying project; holding focus groups; creating a student-performed DVD on bullying and presenting it at the SACSC conference as well as to students in the school; producing antibullying posters and website messages; encouraging students to attend the Connections conference; developing lesson plans; and surveying students about bullying.
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| Diversity Week 2008 |
Lacombe Composite High School
Wolf Creek School Division No 72
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This project is an expansion of a yearly event and will coincide with the launch of the new grade 10 social studies curriculum. The aim of Diversity Week is to expose students to differing world views, cultures and experiences. The aim is to increase understanding of and appreciation for diversity. Activities in this project include a schoolwide multimedia assembly with a speaker on diversity issues; author visits and workshops; a banquet with a provincial politician, a variety of speakers during regular classes; multicultural meal days; and schoolwide displays. |
2006/07 Inclusive Learning Communities Grant Awards
| Community of Caring Peace Patrols |
Holy Spirit Catholic School
Calgary RCSSD No 1 |
Students on the Peace Patrol will keep a journal of any conflict resolutions in which they were involved. The supervising teachers will meet regularly with the Peace Patrol members to discuss playground situations brought to their attention and the outcomes. Teachers will also meet with the playground shift supervisors to see if they notice a difference in behaviour during their shifts. Success of the Peace Patrol will be evaluated, in part, by reviewing and comparing the number of incidences and the severity of altercations recorded in the playground behaviour book (a record that the school keeps of playground incidents and the children involved.) before and after the Peace Program is implemented. |
| Family Rooms Program |
Manning Elementary School
Peace River School Division No 10 |
All staff and students at Manning Elementary School (MES) will be assigned to multi-grade “Family Rooms.” The “families” will meet monthly to discuss and participate in various school activities. During these meetings, students will be able to connect with other students and with another adult staff member of the school. Character education themes such as good citizenship, respect and responsibility will be the focus of family time. Student will maintain their “family” membership during their time at MES. The purpose of the Family Room is to give students of various grades the opportunity to work together to build school spirit and to understand the meaning of citizenship, diversity and the importance of treating everyone in the school fairly and equally. |
| Somerset School Peace Leaders |
Somerset School
Calgary School District No 19 |
Two students from each class will be designated “peace leaders” and receive training. Peace leaders will meet bi-weekly and provide peer and mentor support. Guest mentors from the Calgary City police and a school nurse will meet with students. At the meetings, students will practice their skills and debrief about conflicts they have encountered on the playground and how they solved them. This project will teach children effective communication skills and help them to understand and celebrate diversity. |
| World Peace Club |
Summitview School
Grande Yellowhead Regional Division No 35 |
The World Peace Club at Summitview School consists of students who have identified themselves to the community as people who care about and strive to promote world peace. This year, the peace club will undertake a major fundraising project for a variety of UNICEF projects by selling organic hemp t-shirts featuring silk-screened logos. The club will also give t-shirts as gifts to members of the volunteer fire department. The year’s activities will culminate in a formal ceremony during which club members will make a presentation to the student body and community members. The ceremony will conclude with the “planting” and dedication of a peace pole on the school site. |
| Improving Student Achievement for a Diversity of Cultures |
McNally High School
Edmonton School District No 7 |
The purpose of this project is to improve student achievement for a diversity of cultures. Two groups have been identified as not achieving their full potential because they do not feel part of the McNally learning family. With assistance from the Northern Alberta Alliance on Race Relations (NAARR), this program will not only address the issues of minority students but also make all McNally staff and students more accepting and respectful of diversity. The program involves three initiatives: (1) A Peace Ambassador’s Initiative program that will be introduced in Social Studies 10 and 13 classes to promote racial harmony, (2) NAARR’s Aboriginal Shared Spaces program that will show staff how to use cooperative learning strategies to address the needs of Aboriginal students and (3) NAARR’s Improving Student Achievement for a Diversity of Cultures that will introduce teachers to teaching strategies designed to help students of all cultures meet their full potential. |
| Diversity Within Unity |
Dr Gladys M Egbert Community School
Calgary School District No 19 |
During the last two years, educators and staff at Dr Gladys M Egbert School have implemented several initiatives designed to increase students’ multicultural literacy and citizenship and to create a safe, caring and inclusive learning community. A variety of PD activities will be undertaken to help teachers further achieve their goal of creating an inclusive learning community. Students will receive workshops and presentations explaining how stereotyping and biases negatively affect ethnic communities. Students will also participate in a monthly Wisdom Circle. Finally, students will contribute stories about their culture that will be published in a book about diversity at Dr Egbert School. |
| Making Music Move Through Our Worlds |
Connaught School/École Connaught
Medicine Hat School District No 76 |
The purpose of this project is to build bridges among the cultural groups in the school by exposing students to a multi-sensory learning experience. Specifically, students will participate in a drumming group that will not only teach them how to focus and listen but will also improve their rhythmic abilities. In learning the skill of drumming, students will be exposed to different cultures, an exposure that will also increase positive peer interactions and, hopefully, lead to a greater level of cooperation in the general classroom. |
| Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) |
Bev Facey Community High School
Elk Island Public Schools Regional Division No 14 |
This project involves creating a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) at Bev Facey Community High School, the first GSA in the jurisdiction. The GSA is an attempt to create a safe space in which GLBTTQQ students, who often face harassment, discrimination and isolation in high school, can talk freely about their concerns. The initial impetus will be to inform students that a safe space is available for them to openly discuss GLBTTQQ issues. The GSA may also invite guest speakers, hold joint meetings with other school groups, write articles for the school newsletter and website, and develop a list of support materials for students. |
| Making Connections |
Olds Jr/Sr High School
Chinook’s Edge School Division No 73 |
As part of its ongoing effort to expose students to people from different cultures and walks of life, Olds Jr/Sr High School is organizing a week with David Thaiw (pronounced Chow), a master percussionist, engaging storytelling, singer, musician, composer, teacher, linguist (he speaks five languages) and author who was born in Senegal, Africa and moved to Canada as a young adult. For one week, David will work in social studies, language arts, French, band and art classes, lecturing and facilitating discussions on African geography, history, present-day situations and culture. David will also offer workshops on mask and instrument making. He will demonstrate how much of the music that we listen to today has its roots in African music. The week will culminate with a school-wide display of class projects completed during the week and a concert. |
| Challenging Attitudes and Knowledge About Persons with Developmental Disabilities |
Sturgeon Composite High School
Sturgeon School Division No 24 |
The life skills class at Sturgeon Composite High School is made up of students having development disabilities ranging from severe to profound. Our goal is to help these students feel included in the school. We will do this by encouraging them to develop relationships with students in the general population. We will also educate students in the general population about developmental disabilities, show them how to communicate with students having special needs and teach them to appreciate human diversity. All of our students will benefit from this interaction. |
| Centre for Social Concern Expansion |
Bishop McNally High School
Calgary Separate School Division No 1 |
During the last 12 years, Bishop McNally High School in north east Calgary has successfully operated a Centre of Social Concern. The school intends to expand the Centre so as to provide students with “real-world” training by becoming community volunteers. Volunteerism will help student acquire work skills outside the school and within the community. The school also intends to enhance its global citizenship program. |
| All Together Now |
Exshaw School
Canadian Rockies Regional Division No 12 |
The majority of students at Exshaw School are from the Morley Reserve. Some of these First Nations students do not attend school regularly. The purpose of this project is to encourage parents to become more involved in their children’s education, thereby improving the attendance rate. The school will also host a talent and fashion show designed to encourage the larger community to celebrate its culture. Other benefits of the project include fostering cultural awareness and acceptance; providing professional development for staff; celebrating the cultural diversity of the community; encouraging students to be proud of their heritage; helping students to retain their culture; and inviting members of the community to contribute to the school by teaching clothes-making, crafts, dancing, drumming and story telling. |
| Orientation Booklet to Understanding Our Diversity |
H.E.Bourgoin Middle School
Northern Lights School Division No 69 |
Located in Bonnyville, H. E. Bourgoin School serves students from the town, the surrounding rural area and the nearby First Nations Reserve. Recent oil and gas developments in the region have increased the racial and economic diversity of the population. The school plans to develop a strategy for promoting diversity, equity and human rights. Our goal is to publish a booklet that all staff and students will receive as part of our school-orientation process. In developing the booklet, we will canvas administrators, teachers, support staff, students and parents for advice and suggestions. |
| First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education in the Classroom |
Park Meadows School
Lethbridge School District No 51 |
Begun during 2005/06 school year as a pilot project in a single school, this project will be fully developed and implemented in 2006/07. The goals of the project are to (1) establish and enhance relationships between First Nations students and other members of the student population, (2) enhance the understanding of all students about the history, culture and traditions of First Nations students, (3) involve a First Nations liaison in delivering the new Social Studies curriculum, (4) help First Nations students feel more a part of the classroom and (5) help First Nations students take pride in their cultures. |
| Grandparents and Elders in Residence Program |
Canyon Elementary School
Livingstone Range School Division No 68 |
The school plans to develop a Grandparents and Elders in Residence program in 2006/07. This program will invite grandparents and elders to share their wisdom, knowledge and skills with students on a weekly basis. Here are the goals of the program:1.Piikani students will have a greater sense of belonging at Canyon School.2.Grandparents, elders and families will feel more comfortable participating in the Canyon School community.3.All children will develop stronger intergenerational ties.4.All students will deepen their understanding of other cultures in our community.5.Home and school communication will be enhanced. |
| Embracing Differences |
Menno Simons School
Hines Creek School
Worsley Central School
Peace River School Division No 10 |
This project will involve students from sparsely populated, relatively isolated rural areas who have seldom encountered people from other races, cultures and religions. We plan to invite people from other cultures to visit our schools to teach students about their culture. By exposing our students to diversity, we hope to promote respect for and fair treatment of all people. |
2005/06 Grant Recipients
| Children of the World Without Borders |
St Vincent School
Edmonton CSSD 7 |
This project will involve 175 students in three major projects during the 2005/06 school year. Each teacher will teach children to embrace diversity through the study of different cultural communities that are linked to the curriculum at each grade level. Students will study poverty issues in each country and learn how leaders in history have made the world a better place. The students will then design an international, city and community project to address poverty. These projects will be selected from all the projects that students submit. |
| Cultural Awareness Club |
G W Skene Community School
Calgary School District 19 |
G W Skene Community School is a culturally diverse school with a marginalized population. The Calgary Board’s mission statement “Educating tomorrow’s citizens today” means helping children to live in a world that is infused with diversity and complexity. Once children develop empathy, respect and understanding, they will be able to live effectively and peacefully with one another. By sharing personal stories and participating in meaningful activities, children will be able to ask questions safely, break down stereotypes and grow to appreciate diversity. |
| Students 4 Change: Making Change Happen |
George McDougall HS
Rocky View School Division 41 |
Students 4 Change is a student-run, teacher facilitated, social justice group at George McDougall High School. This group raises awareness about a number of issues both local and global. Student will address the following issues: women’s concerns, human rights, education, homelessness, the working poor and poverty. The students plan to mark various global awareness days, become involved in the community, and link with international non-governmental agencies and local non-profit groups. |
| Literacy Bags |
Prairie Waters Elementary School
Rocky View School Division 41 |
Prairie Waters staff and school council have observed that parents of ESL students have limited involvement in their child’s education. By increasing parental involvement, this project aims to enhance student literary in K to 3. In the course of the project, students will develop 26 literacy bags containing books, materials and instructions written in multiple languages. The literacy bags will act as a bridge to involve parents in the education of their children and develop relationships with the school and community. |
| Our School is a Multicultural Community |
Holy Family Academy
Christ the Redeemer CRSD 3 |
The school is planning to have a multicultural theme for the month of September 2005. Activities planned include placing a welcome sign in the foyer, flying the flags of the various nations represented in the school population, having each class study an assigned country and decorating the hallway door to reflect cultural aspects of that country, asking parent volunteers to cook cultural foods for the students, encouraging students to wear clothing reflecting their cultural heritage and inviting a speaker from Sudan to speak at a school assembly. |
| Circle of Hope: Fostering Resiliency |
Venture Middle School
Red Deer School District 104 |
This project is designed to teach students how to be resilient in the face of diversity and adversity. The target group are students having severe behaviour needs. Many of these students come from disadvantaged situations and do not enjoy “family privilege.” In addition to offering individualized program, the school will organize four ceremonial activities during the year using the Hope Wheel: 1) Clan Welcome (Respect), 2) Cultural Connections (Understanding/Acceptance), 3) Diversity Day: Accepting Ourselves (Relationships) and 4) Hope Ceremony (Responsibility). Students will also participate in such volunteer community activities as visiting seniors centres, collecting sports equipment for kids, helping out at the SPCA and being buddies to kindergarten students. |
| Stories of Belonging |
Connaught Community School
Calgary Public School District 19 |
The project, which builds on one initiated last year, consists of having students work with a professional group called All Nations Theatre over a six-day period to develop dramas called forum theatre. The subject and story matter developed in these plays are based on students’ own experiences. The plays build to a point of crisis at which time the audience is invited in to help solve the problem . The plays will also be performed at another elementary school. |
| Fishing for Male Elementary Teachers: How Do You Catch Them and What Do You Do With Them Once You Get Them? |
JC Charyk Hanna School
Prairie Land Regional Division 25 |
This project involves surveying a representative sample of Grade 11 students, first-year faculty of education students and practicing teachers to determine (1) the positive impressions they have of male elementary teachers, (2) the negative impressions they have of male elementary teachers and (3) ) their ideas on how to attract more males to elementary teaching. Some male elementary and secondary teachers will also be interviewed. The study will be finalized, approved and supervised by faculty in the Masters of Education at the University of Alberta. |
| Assessment of Aboriginal Students |
Dr Joan Jeary
University of Calgary |
This project will review the literature and collect statistical and survey information related to the special needs assessment of Aboriginal students in Alberta. Three issues are being investigated: (1) Are Aboriginal students overrepresented in the total number of students identified as having special needs? (2) Are Aboriginal students underrepresented in the total number of students identified as being gifted and talented? (3) Are the assessment practices being used to make these determinations culturally fair and valid? |
| Youth for Peace: Aboriginal Art Contest |
St Francis Jr H School
Holy Spirit CRSD 4 |
To help all students develop a greater appreciation for Aboriginal culture, students in art and social studies classes will be invited to create drawings or paintings that portray peace from an Aboriginal perspective. The Knights of Columbus will sponsor prizes. |
| School and District Leadership Awareness of LGBT Issues |
St Albert PSSD 6 |
In this project, one counsellor and one teacher from each school in the district will be invited to attend a workshop on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. In addition, awareness sessions will be conducted with trustees and school and district administrators. |
2004/05 Grant Recipients
| Nohkum's Den |
Sacred Heart School
(Greater Black Gold) |
This project will encourage Native youth to participate in extracurricular activities, portray the cultural richness of Aboriginal culture and provide a stimulating environment where students can gather and meet with the school Native liaison worker and community members. |
| Inclusive Communities/Value-Added Communities |
Terry Fox Junior High School
(Calgary Public) |
The aim of this project is to teach African culture, including traditional drumming and dance. |
| Saint's Café Nutrition Project |
St Andrew's School
(Greater Peace) |
The St Andrew's School cafeteria will implement the district nutrition policy, which is designed to promote healthy eating. The project will involve community agencies and students in the development of a survey and the marketing and implementation of a new cafeteria menu. |
| Our Circle and Beyond: Becoming Global Citizens |
Hillhurst Community School
(CalgaryPublic) |
This is the second year of a project entitled "How Can Inquiry Develop Global Citizenship?" In this phase of the project, students will develop an understanding of Aboriginal culture, participate in cultural exchange with students from Fort Assiniboine and partner with the Calgary African Community and Bow Valley College International Program. |
| Building Bridges in Our Community |
Brooks Composite High School
(Grasslands) |
The project is intended to support a cultural awareness fair and a series of workshops to help members of the community of Brooks develop an awareness of the value of diversity. |
| Picture Me in School |
McCauley School
(Edmonton Public) |
This project is designed to help immigrant students and their parents adjust to life in a new land. The project will involve a digitally photographed book of their experiences. The text will be translated into languages spoken in the homes of McCauley students. |
| Making Connections |
Olds Junior Senior High School
(Chinook's Edge) |
The aim of this project is to identify and reject discrimination through organizing monthly cultural celebrations, creating two outdoor murals on diversity/racism and inviting immigrants to speak to students. |
| Bring the World Home |
Griffiths-Scott Middle School
(Wetaskiwin) |
This project continues the work begun last year as part of the UNESCO ASPnet Project. The school will invite Tom Jackson, well-known singer, activist and UNESCO honorary spokesman, to kick off the project in September. Also planned are a pow-wow and a visit from a Bridges speaker. |
| Building Bridges: Success for Transient Aboriginal Students |
Assumption Junior Senior High School
(Lakeland Catholic) |
The goal of this project is to develop an orientation and liaison program to aid communication between students, parents and community members of the Cold Lake First Nations Reserve and the Elizabeth Métis Settlement. |
| Talents Under the Sun |
Corpus Christi School
(Calgary Separate) |
The aim of this project is to use music as a way of uniting the schools' ethnically diverse student population. |
| Learning to Listen and Care - Hearing the Small Voices Among Us |
Ross Sheppard High School
(Edmonton Public) |
In this project, a group of high school students will produce a video to support the work of the newly formed Gay Straight Student Alliance Group to be used in CALM, English and Social Studies classrooms. |
| Blackfoot Drum Club |
St Francis Junior High School
(Holy Spirit Catholic) |
The Blackfoot Drum Club is an extracurricular group dedicated to engaging students in a cultural school experience by funding performances in neighbourhood schools and community festivals. |
| Bringing Our Schools Closer Together |
River Heights Elementary School
(Medicine Hat) |
This project will involve students and staff at every grade level in establishing a webpage to serve as a resource on diversity for the entire school district. |
2003/04 Grant Recipients
| Arc-en-son : The purpose of this action research project is to create a website of resources for French immersion teachers. |
Leo Nickerson School |
Paylig Juniper |
| Building a Community of Character : The purpose of this project is to build a community of character in a school experiencing tremendous growth. The project will involve both students and staff. |
Percy Baxter School |
Elizabeth Shen |
| Diversity School-wide : The purpose of this project is to create a mural, Braille plates and other art objects to promote an appreciation for the diversity of the school population. The project is part of an integrated program. |
Southview Community School |
Bruce Rawji |
| First Nations Outreach : The purpose of this project is to encourage First Nations’ families to become more involved in preschool programs. Elders will be invited into the school to build relationships with families whose children are about to enter school. |
W A Day Elementary School |
Ronalee Orr |
| Friendship Groups : This project will create friendship groups to support students who are socially isolated. |
Canyon Meadows Elementary School |
June Jacobs |
| Global Issues—Comprehensive Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Catalogue : The purpose of this project is to produce an annotated inventory of speakers and resources from Alberta NGOs available to schools. |
N/A |
Ken Brown |
| Headstart Breakfast Program : By involving the community in developing a school breakfast program, this project will help to ensure that all children enter the classroom equally prepared to learn. |
Bashaw School |
Lynn Woffindin |
| Healthy Students, Healthy Schools : An anti-bullying program designed to help students appreciate diversity in the school and the community. The program includes a speaker series. |
Elizabeth Rummel School |
Nancy Crosley |
| Heroes 2 Others : The purpose of this project is to help students see the connection between environmental issues and human rights by asking such questions as “What is my role in the equitable distribution of water?” Student reflections and projects will be posted on a website. |
Riverbend School |
Kathryn Scheurwater |
| In Our Words: Lesbian and Gay Students’ School Experiences: The purpose of this project is to develop a video/CD ROM featuring students’ thoughts and feelings about being gay/lesbian in an Edmonton high school. It is part of a larger project funded by other sources. |
Safe and Caring Schools (with Edmonton Public Partnerships) |
Joni Turville |
| Multicultural Marketing of Healthy Behaviors : Drawing extensively on community partnerships, this project will encourage Aboriginal students to adopt a healthy lifestyle. |
Holy Family Catholic Regional Division |
Bonnie Stelmach |
| Respecting Diversity Through “Circle of Courage” : This project will focus on creating “Circles of Courage” as a way of mending rifts among teachers, students and parents. |
Roland Michener School |
Jacki McLaren |
| School Safety and Violence Protection : The goal of this project is to reduce violence by publishing a series of posters and developing a number of intervention strategies for students and parents. |
St Kevin Junior High School |
Cathy Nissen |
| Sex-and-Gender Differences, Education and Culture Conference: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Youth Activism in Canadian Schools and Communities: The purpose of this project is to organize a conference in the fall of 2003 that will lay the groundwork for developing an Alberta-wide network of resources related to the issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students and teachers. |
University of Alberta |
André Grace |
| Supporting Diversity and Equity Through Student Friendship Groups : The purpose of this project is teach school staff and students how to create and sustain friendship groups using the “Circles of Support” approach. |
Woodlands Elementary School |
Carol Dauphinee |
| TALK (Tolerance, Acceptance, Leadership, Kindness) : The purpose of this project is to foster a safer and more caring school environment by organizing a community-based student conference and developing an ongoing support program. |
Lacombe Composite High School |
Kathleen Galloway |
| The Virtues Project : The purpose of this project is to create and maintain a positive learning environment. The project is based on a leading-edge model program recognized by the United Nations. |
Central Bow Valley School |
Julie Sandersen |
2002/03 Grant Recipients
| AGAPE Conference and Follow-up Activities |
Educational Policy Studies, University of Alberta |
André Grace |
| Ambassadors of Welcome |
Wildwood Elementary School |
Patricia Fenske |
| Arc-en-son. (Rainbow of Sound): This participatory action-research project will develop relevant, high-quality resources for teachers throughout Canada by establishing a network of educators and resource people willing to share their work and experiences in building inclusive school communities. |
Ecole publique Gabrielle Roy (St Albert) |
Paylig Juniper |
| Building Community—Educate and Celebrate: The purpose of this project is to celebrate diverse cultures and languages by, among other things, organizing an international week and an international dinner, undertaking a cultural awareness campaign, promoting ethnic music and publishing a cookbook. |
Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive, Red Deer |
Sharon Lampard |
| Connections Over Coffee |
Cappy Smart School |
Linda Briggs |
| First Nations Proposal: A project intended to raise awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal culture through such things as field trips, consulting and visits with elders. |
Southview Community School, Medicine Hat |
Bruce Rawji |
| Focus International |
St Clement School |
Kathie Tourangeau |
| Graminia Community School Project |
Graminia Community School |
Gloria Wolff |
| Healthy Messages |
Holy Family Catholic Regional Division No 37 |
Bonnie Stelmach |
| Inclusive Aboriginal Recreation: This project is intended to increase Aboriginal involvement in school activities, foster interaction between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals, increase cultural awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal culture, promote respect for diversity, and create a peaceful, cooperative environment. |
Sacred Heart Catholic, Wetaskiwin |
C Yvonne Mar |
| Incorporating Traditional Blackfoot Knowledge in the Classroom |
University of Lethbridge |
Johnel Tailfeathers |
| Rainbow—A Multicultural Youth Magazine: Selected youth will work with the Multicultural Youth Circle to produce a special issue of Rainbow magazine. |
Millwoods Multicultural Foundation |
Anwar Qureshi |
| Westmount Elementary Native Club: This project will support the native club, which fosters pride in native culture by, among other things, visiting museums, arranging for guest speakers and organizing a native awareness week. |
Westmount Elementary, Strathmore |
Heather John |
| What’s in a Word? Community: This project is designed to foster creative thinking about community, the nature of heritage and the benefits of knowing a language other than English |
Jerry Potts |
Mahira Khan-Rea |
2001/02 Grant Recipients
| Blackfoot: A Study of Language, Culture and Art: Art projects focused on Blackfoot culture. |
N/A |
Sheryl Hawkins |
| Breaking the Silence: Addressing Sex-Gender Differences in Alberta Schools and Communities : An interactive website featuring educational resources that address the educational needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered youth. |
Faculty of Education, University of Alberta |
Kris Wells |
| From the Heart: a Celebration of Community : Student activities focused on the impact of globalization on a small rural school's sense of community. |
Bear Canyon School |
Janina Carlstad |
| Guide to Racism: A teacher's guide to racism developed in partnership with the Northern Alberta Alliance on Race Relations. |
W P Wagner School |
Sylvia Krogh |
| Promoting the Principles of Equity, Respect for Diversity and Human Rights: Supporting diversity in the celebration of culture and religion at holiday times. |
McKernan Elementary School |
Tom Davey |
| St Stephen's Girls' Club : A community-school partnership program designed to promote healthy lifestyles for adolescent girls from culturally diverse backgrounds. |
St Stephen's Catholic School |
Rita Smith |
| Students for Human Rights, Respect, Equity and Diversity (SHRED) : A series of ongoing classroom projects. |
Marlborough Elementary School |
Laurie Androsoff |
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