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E D U C AT I O N W E E K
SPONSOR CONTENT
1928...
a
HISTORY
of
The first Alberta School Week (Education Week) was held Dec. 2-8, 1928. It was initiated by the Alberta Teachers’ Alliance (later to become the Alberta Teachers’ Association) “for the purposes of interesting parents and others in the many problems which confront educationalists. [It was] the first definite attempt on the part of teachers to explain the problems, the difficulties and the triumphs of the school,” reported the ATA Magazine in January 1929.
1934...
EDUCATION WEEK in 1935... ALBERTA
The concept of a special week for celebrating the work of schools and of teachers was brought to the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) at its annual meeting in August 1934. Teacher representatives decided to adopt the idea in all the provinces and CTF assumed responsibility for co-ordinating the week. “It was decided that the (CTF) should take School Week under its wing.” (The ATA magazine, January 1935)
The first Canada-wide Education Week was held Feb. 3-9. The editorial read “The idea of an Education Week is new in Canada. Most of the provinces are well-organized, and there is close cooperation among the profession in the best interests of what is after all the biggest thing
in the country—the education of its youth. Here in Nova Scotia the result we trust, will be to inspire teachers afresh with the importance and dignity of their high calling, and parents and school officials with a sense of the responsibility which the problems of the day place upon proper standards of education.” (The Halifax Herald, February 13, 1935)
1937...
A daily program of topics on the theme Equal Opportunities for All Canadian Children for Education Week, Feb. 21-27, was published by The ATA Magazine in apparent frustration with national efforts at co-ordination.
1946...
Responsibility for Education Week was transferred to the Alberta Education Council, a new council of 21 organizations formed largely through the efforts of the ATA. Among other purposes, the Council was intended “to arouse public interest in and to cooperate for the promotion and improvement in legislation relating to all phases of elementary and secondary education. [The council] took over sponsorship of Education Week, a baby that had been handed back and forth between the ATA and the CTF, and mounted some promotional campaigns designed to persuade the public that education was a good thing.”
November. The department focused its Education Week campaign on the value of education to the taxpayers and the promotion of high standards of achievement for students. The department partnered with Canadian Regional Air to give passengers a pop quiz using difficult questions typically found on diploma exams.
1995-2006...
The ATA helped schools and locals plan activities that sent a consistent and topical message to parents and the community through the media.
2011...
The Alberta Teachers’ Association, the Alberta School Boards Association and Alberta Education worked together to co-ordinate communications for Education Week. -courtesy the Alberta Teachers’ Association
(Chalmers, John. Teachers of the Foothills Province, 1968)
1980...
In its 1979/80 Annual Report, Alberta Education stated that it had provided general supervision over provincial Education Week activities. “This year’s Education Week theme, 75 Years of Knowing and Growing, commemorated not only the province’s anniversary, but also the 75th year that the Department has provided Albertans with quality education.” (Alberta Education Annual Report, 1979/80, p.12)
1993...
Alberta Education, after consultation with partners, moved the date for Education Week from the spring to
Education Week dates back 75 years and celebrates the importance of education and educators in our province.
TEACHERS help shape our communities NOW AND IN THE FUTURE
M With the right preparation, extraordinary happens. The School of Business offers programs that open doors and prepare you for career success.
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ore than 75 years ago Education Week was introduced in Alberta in an effort to acknowledge and celebrate the role education plays in shaping our communities. This year, Education Week is May 5-9 and the theme is We Are Teachers. If you look around your neighbourhood, you are sure to find events that showcase education in various ways. One of the most important elements, especially for young people, is the teacherparent-child relationship. No longer is the child left out of the equation, and meetings, homework and agendas heavily involve the child to be sure they are communicating and understanding the connection between home and school. All staff want to instill a lifelong love of learning in each child. And this isn’t just a cliché. They truly want to help kids be excited about exploring our world. You can see the time and effort teachers and support staff put into their educational philosophies, especially when they spend extra time on things like garden clubs, sports teams and lunch-hour running clubs, planning fieldtrips, volunteer work and more. Many of us remember our favourite teacher and how they helped shape our school experiences. These committed, loyal and kind teachers are vitally important to our communities and to our children’s present and future. When you think of how many influential hours teachers spend with your child, having a healthy relationship with these educators is so very important. So take time to recognize and thank a teacher during Education Week and encourage a child to thank them as well.
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EDMON TON JOU R NA L edmontonjournal .com
EDGE — EDUCATION WEEK
New building announced for MacEwan University A rendering of MacEwan University’s planned Centre for Arts and Culture.
“I DIDN’T REALIZE IT UNTIL AFTER, BUT MRS. CAMERON PREPARED ME FOR WORK IN GENERAL. JUST THE QUALITY OF THE HOMEWORK SHE GAVE AND HER DILIGENCE WITH ONE-ON-ONE TIME.”
SHANNON
memories?
“MR. PAGE WAS STRICT, BUT HE ALSO ENSURED I WORKED MY HARDEST AND LIVED UP TO MY POTENTIAL.”
“MR. SCHULA WAS AN INCREDIBLY KIND TEACHER. HE HAD TONS OF ENERGY AND HE WAS SO GOOD WITH THE STUDENTS, EVEN THE ONES WHO WEREN’T STRONG IN MATH.”
hen the Alberta government announced plans to help fund MacEwan University’s new Centre for Arts and Culture building, a collective cheer went up from the hundreds who had gathered to hear the announcement. The building forms a significant piece of the puzzle to a plan that brings the university’s south and west-end campuses to the downtown core. The $30 million funding is part of a projected $153-million project cost. Slated to begin construction in fall 2014, the new Centre for Arts and Culture will be home to all the academic programming currently located at the existing Centre for the Arts and Communications. More than a thousand students along with faculty and staff will make the move in time for the fall 2017 semester. The current Centre for the Arts and Communications is home to a steady stream
FAVOURIT E TEACHER
“MR. OZ WAS A GREAT TEACHER, HE “MY FAVOURITE TEACHER WAS WAS GOOD AT WHAT HE DID. HE MR. HURLEY. HE HELPED GIVE ME TAUGHT ME MATH IN REGULAR TERMS CONFIDENCE, AND THIS BELIEF IN AND HE WASN’T SO POMPOUS. ME HELPED ME DECIDE MY HE TAUGHT US FIRST AND THEN UNIVERSITY CAREER AND THE TERMS CAME LATER. HIS JOB WAS THUS MY FUTURE.” TO TEACH NOT TO DEMEAN US IF WE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND IT.” SARAH EMILY
W
RYAN
what are your
of student showcase performances, art and design exhibitions, theatrical presentations and faculty concerts. The new building will bring that vibrant community to the centre of the city, providing the entire university community and the adjacent downtown neighbourhood with the opportunity to experience its lively atmosphere and artistic energy. The new Centre for Arts and Culture building will be, first and foremost, a teaching facility: offering state-of-theart technology, classroom and performance space for performing and visual arts students. But more than that, the building will be an architectural landmark on the downtown landscape. Who would have thought that more than 20 years ago, an abandoned corridor of Edmonton’s downtown would be transformed into a thriving hub of teaching and learning?
Since the opening of City Centre Campus, the university has expanded its breadth of programming to become a leading undergraduate institution serving nearly 13,000 full-time students with plans to grow to 17,000 fulltime students. MacEwan University’s downtown campus is a hub of creative, scholarly and cultural activity. It represents the university’s vision for an integrated academic community – one that reaches beyond the walls of the campus to build, share and contribute to the growth and prosperity of Edmonton and beyond. The university’s downtown campus strategy has been part of its long-term plan to create efficiencies in operations and to provide all students with the resources and services they need to be successful in their studies and to help them thrive as individuals.
“MR. ANDREWS WAS SMART AND FUNNY, AND HE JUST TOTALLY GOT ME.” KATHERINE
CHRISTOPHER “MR. SMEDLEY WAS ALMOST LIKE A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR. HE TAUGHT US LIKE WE WERE MORE MATURE THAN WHAT OUR AGES SUGGESTED.” CINDY
MATTHEW
“MRS. FERGUSON WAS A WONDERFUL MUSIC TEACHER. WE HAD FUN AND DEVELOPED A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR MUSIC AND MUSIC HISTORY THAT IS STILL WITH ME TO THIS DAY.”
Summer Programs for Youth Digital Photography Graphic Novel Portrait Drawing Claymation Steam Punk 3D Web Design Hip Hop Kulture ▪ Art of Rap / Emcee ▪ DJ Workshop ▪ Wild Style / Urban Art ▪ B-Boy/B-Girl
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EDMON TON JOU R NA L edmontonjournal .com
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EUREKAMP TEACHES KIDS CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
THE U OF A’S
BY SARAH PRATT
W
hen my son was a baby, he would Studies; Project Director, Living Archives often choke on chunky baby food. on Eugenics in Western Canada; and If the sweet potato/brown rice/ Director, Philosophy for Children Alberta. apple concoction wasn’t silky smooth, “These are activity-driven days and we the eating process almost always ended engage kids all the time and encourage with gagging and vomiting. This texture discussion.” sensitivity has followed my son through “We think these camps are important, his toddler years, and he’s now eight and and they are so good for kids,” said Jason it’s been a long road. Taylor, the director of Eurekamp and The day he ate rice was cause for program co-ordinator with Philosophy celebration, and for Children Alberta. “Our stir-fry was a counsellors care about mental high five. the kids’ experiences, and As we introduce each activity is built to him to new foods prompt some feeling that with differing leads to self-awareness tastes and and group discussions.” textures, we are For example, in one always looking of the camps kids were for new ways assigned the task of to encourage building a monster from a healthy, clay. Each open-minded monster would relationship have certain with food. We strengths and take him grocery characteristics. shopping, and he always Then they learns what goes into his would battle food and why. for fun and see Then one day I found how each clay out about Food for creation fared. Thought, a summer camp Next, the kids through the University of were directed Alberta Faculty of Arts’ to build a Eurekamp program. monster that Food for Thought is would be given Top: In the Food for Thought camp, students learn where food comes from, how we make it and why we need it. And they have some fun with food-related to someone else. a one-week camp for experiments as well. Above: A day on the river is a great way to get kids to students in grades And here lies the explore nature and work together as a team. Photos: supplied 1-3. Kids will explore interesting part their relationship of the activity. Do with food and learn about hunger, food the kids put the same time and effort production and preparation, new foods, into a monster for someone else as they garbage and more. Plus they will work do their own beast? How do they react with a chef and learn cooking techniques if they are given a monster that isn’t the and kitchen safety, as well as plant a same quality as their own? garden and try their hand at being a food Each camp is geared to a specific critic. age group, and students’ emotional Every activity at Eurekamp is part and intellectual maturity is always a of their experience-based learning consideration when planning camps. This philosophy. year’s camps include Playing Around “We want to teach critical thinking the World for grades 1-3, Masterminds skills and encourage kids to listen and for grades 4-6, Doctoring Curiosity for learn,” said Rob Wilson, Professor of grades 7-9, and more. Check out p4c. Philosophy and Educational Policy ualberta.ca/eurekamp for all the details.
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EDGE — EDUCATION WEEK
Teaching empathy
a focus of
BY SARAH PRATT
EHS summer camps
T
he Dalai Lama is quoted as saying “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” The younger we teach empathy, the stronger our society will be. This is a philosophy, combined with the belief that compassion and kindness strengthen the individual and thus the whole, which is supported by the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS). To provide a fun and interesting method of teaching empathy, the EHS is set to embark on its fifth year of Camp Sit. Stay. Play! for kids in grades 1-3, 4-6, and 7-8. The week-long camps include: Veterinarian Week, where kids learn the The Edmonton Humane Society’s Camp Sit. Stay. Play! teaches kids about responsibilities of being a vet and empathy as they learn to care for get to watch surgery; Animal Shelter companion animals. Photo supplied. 101, a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of a shelter; and Dog Trainers. Dog Trainers is an interesting camp, as it pairs shelter dogs with kids for a week of education, training and tricks. “Our animal behaviorists do assessments on the dogs and gauge their temperament,” said education co-ordinator Kristen McKenna. “They then mark the dogs as being appropriate for ages 13 and up, eight and up, and so on. We work hard to pair the right dog with the right child.” The focal point of all of the camps is empathy. “We want to promote empathy toward animals and people, and it’s one of the most difficult tasks to teach,” said McKenna. “We show the kids to be nice, to be gentle.” As the children go through the camp activities every day, they connect with the animals and the experience is immediate and real. They see they are making a difference, said McKenna. And fun is never forgotten at summer camp. One of the campers’ favourite things is to bathe the puppies. “They start out with dirty puppies and end up with clean, soft puppies that they get to name,” said McKenna. Do any of the kids come home with new pets? “We don’t allow adoptions during the week of camp, but what you do afterwards is up to you,” said McKenna with a laugh. Parents appreciate the camps as a real experience for their child and the opportunity for young ones to develop life skills. “Kids go home and tell their parents what they learned that day, and parents can see the benefits of this type of camp,” said McKenna. Go to edmontonhumanesociety.com for more details, including camp registration forms.
MASTER OF COUNSELLING
With your Master of Counselling from CityU, you’ll be prepared to help others when they need it most. If you have a bachelor’s degree and want a career as a Counsellor or a Registered Psychologist, CityU’s Master of Counselling program could be a great fit.
With the right preparation, extraordinary happens. The Faculty of Health and Community Studies offers programs in human services, public safety, nursing and complementary allied health.
Learn more at a Wednesday info session:
May 14, 2014, 6:30pm
City University of Seattle in Edmonton 10328 81 Ave., Suite 308, Edmonton RSVP to 780.437.0288 or 888.809.8352
SP3712/4.15.14
www.CityU.edu/Canada This program is offered pursuant to the written approval of the Alberta Minister of Advanced Education and Technology (effective September 1, 2009). City University of Seattle is a not-for-profit and an Equal Opportunity institution accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
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EDMON TON JOU R NA L edmontonjournal .com
EDGE — EDUCATION WEEK
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE? Thousands of post-secondary programs mean students need to know themselves and their strengths
W
hen busy high school students look to apply for post-secondary studies, it might help to know that Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education recognizes more than 2,500 programs in the province. That number is just the programs and doesn’t include the actual number of careers that branch off of each area of study. The choices can be overwhelming, so if you see someone lean into a student and ask them, perhaps like the irate, resentful father from Twisted Sister’s We’re Not Gonna Take It video circa 1984, “what do you want to do with your life,” you might want to have these numbers handy. It’s understandable that many students feel uncertain of where their future lies as they navigate intricate webs of information, but there is help available. Students can take advantage of local and online resources, such as counsellors and high school
seminars, post-secondary calendars and open houses, as well as independent consulting agencies. Sandie Matheson is a private career consultant and the founder of Pathways Educational Consulting based in Saskatoon. She is an experienced teacher, guidance counsellor and career counsellor who works with prospective students as they research and prepare for life after high school. Matheson uses a number of tools to help students evaluate career opportunities. “As a guidance counsellor in my last position at an independent school in Winnipeg, I offered career counselling classes at the grades 9 and 10 levels,” said Matheson. “Students were invited to explore various strengths and interest inventories through such online programs as CareerCruising.com, ScholarshipsCanada. com, and Schoolfinder.com.” Students in junior high should begin thinking about post-secondary, says Matheson, because they often
N
endangered habitats and animals and introduces scientists who are working to protect our planet’s vital biodiversity. Explore the recovery centre and the emergency response centre, learn about the captive breeding program, and find out how you can help. K’NEX: Thrill Rides is an engineer’s dream, with fully functioning amusement park rides built entirely from K’NEX. Create your own themed ride as you explore the reaches of your imagination. The TWOS also offers kids’ summer camps and birthday parties, so there’s always an opportunity to combine fun and education (the best way for kids to learn!). And remember, you’re never too old to learn. Check out telusworldofscienceedmonton.ca for more information.
early 60 million years ago the first lemur-like primates appeared on mainland Africa and soon afterward Madagascar, according to fossil records. Madagascar is now home to 60 “types” of lemurs, although much of their treed oasis is being destroyed by farmers’ fires as they make room for grazing and crops. This is some of what you’ll learn from the IMAX movie Island of Lemurs: Madagascar, playing at the Telus World of Science (TWOS). If the audience’s reaction is any indication, this 3D film is funny, endearing and hopeful. There is so much to learn and do at TWOS, including interactive displays at the travelling and permanent exhibits, and the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre. Learn about the environment, play with water, solve puzzles, test your engineering skills and challenge your senses. Two new exhibits open May 17, and kids and young-at-heart adults will be fascinated by them. Wildlife Rescue teaches us about
have to make choices about a particular academic stream and prerequisites for certain post-secondary programs. Matheson says exploring a student’s strengths, favourite subjects and activities, as well as community involvement helps them reflect on who they are and what direction they may follow. “From there I discuss the various career options that might fit into that realm and post-secondary institutions that offer relevant programs,” she said. “I also help students to arrange mentorships or time in a workplace of interest.” Open houses and school tours are also useful for helping students see what’s available. “This transition seems to be a growing challenge for more and more students,” adds Matheson. There’s also an area of career research that doesn’t get much attention: the day-to-day reality of what a
BY SARAH PRATT
job entails. For example, if you want to be a vet, do you know specifically what you will be required to do? Do you know what hours you work? What is the average salary? Do students look ahead to these details? “Generally, no,” said Matheson. “But how many 17- or 18-year-old students do? This focus on reality pertaining to a career is precisely another reason why schools need to make career development a priority.” Parental support and involvement cannot be underestimated. Parents need support from high schools to ask the right questions, according to Matheson, and communication between parents, students and schools is vital. The more research a student does, the better perspective they will have, and this can lead to selfknowledge, mature thinking and sound decisions.
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Exciting summer programs for Grades 1 to 12 Friday, August 8
Visit our open house on Sunday, May 18th from 1-4 pm • Canoeing • Swimming • Outback • Crafts • Archery • Geocaching! • Discovery
• Drama • Games • Mud Pit • Campfires • And so Much More!!
Register online now!
“IT’S GOOD TO BE CURIOUS ABOUT MANY THINGS.” — FRED ROGERS
“YOU CAN FIND MAGIC WHEREVER YOU LOOK. SIT BACK AND RELAX, ALL YOU NEED IS A BOOK.” — DR. SEUSS
“SOMETIMES YOU LEARN MORE FROM YOUR MISTAKES THAN YOU DO FROM YOUR MASTERPIECES.” — BOB ROSS
“POOH,” SAID RABBIT KINDLY, “YOU HAVEN’T ANY BRAIN.” “I KNOW,” SAID POOH HUMBLY.” — A.A. MILNE
“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO READ AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. IT WILL ENLARGE YOUR VOCABULARY.” J. K. ROWLING
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