March 2012 . Issue 7 . Volume 9
The Calgary Science School
Principal’s Message This last week of February is a significant one for CSS. You have hopefully heard about the school evaluation that is happening as part of the regular process around charter renewal. The evaluation team is spending this week in the school, observing teachers’ practice, interviewing parents, teachers and administration on the performance of the school, and conducting a thorough review of our documentation in order to compile a report that will list commendations, recommendations and mandatory changes to be made. This is an incredibly valuable opportunity for the school and one that I wholeheartedly welcome. Not only will the evaluation point out those many areas where CSS is performing exceedingly well, but it will also give us some independent feedback on how we can get even better. Thank you to those parents who were able to respond to the school evaluation survey, and a big thank you goes out to those parents who were able to participate in a group interview. Your time and feedback is very much appreciated.
lations around charter schools that may have some potential to allow charter schools to find even greater success and impact. With the recent release of the Fraser Report on provincial achievement test results, I welcome the evidence that our school evaluation will offer in regards to the degree to which our students are achieving, as I see great limitations in how the Fraser Report information is being used. Rest assured, if CSS were included in that report our results would be very strong, but I would rather point parents to the results of the school evaluation or the vignettes of excellence shared through the Connect! blog (http://calgaryscienceschool.blogspot.com/ ) as evidence of the excellent work of our teachers and students. We have also recently seen a more focused and concerted effort from the non-supporters of charter schools to degrade public confidence in and support of charter schools. I anticipate that the results of the evaluation will only reinforce the idea that CSS is making a tremendous positive difference for our students and that we are doing an excellent job of meeting our mandate as a charter school.
The timing of the evaluation could not be better. Provincially, we are anticipating some changes to the legislation and regu-
Darrell Lonsberry Principal
www.calgaryscienceschool.com
1