Connect Charter Family Weekly Update

Holiday Greetings,

As we approach the holidays and hopefully warmer temperatures, I will take this opportunity to provide you with an update on a number of initiatives we have been working on.

Last week, our Board of Directors approved our 2022 Annual Education Results Report (AERR). This report uses local and provincial measures to provide an overview of our progress as a school board. I am very pleased to report that despite the challenges our families, staff and students have faced over the past couple of years, our students are performing very well. So well, that Connect Charter School outperforms the provincial average on almost every measure. You will also find a research report titled “Keebo Research Report- September 2022” recently posted on our website. The research report examines the approach we took to support students online during the pandemic and provides a summary of findings. The stability and continuity of learning Keebo provided our students undoubtedly supported the positive results we see in our 2022 AERR.

Recently, the Ministry approved our proposal to fund a 2 year mental health program, working in partnership with the Calgary Arts Academy and Mount Royal University. Our program will incorporate outdoor, place-based learning experiences for all students led and designed by mental health experts. One of the resources we consulted preparing our proposal was this position paper titled “Take Me Outdoors”. More details on this exciting new pilot will be shared with you early in the new year.

We had a very successful fall at the Field Experience Center. Our overnight camps were a success and many classes have taken advantage of the opportunity for day trips to the site to enrich learning opportunities. We are working with a number of partners, including other school boards, Outward Bound and Camp Kiwanis to ensure a variety of stakeholders have the opportunity to use our facility. Recently, Camp Kiwanis committed to running their spring and summer camp programs at the site from May 1, 2023 to August 22, 2023. This opportunity became available when we committed to re-introducing our grade-level trips across the province in the spring (instead of hosting the experiences at the FEC). There will be a lot more information and details on these trips early in the new year.

Our Board of Directors identified expansion as one of three priorities for the 2022-2023 school year. For more information on our Board priorities, please review our 3 Year Rolling Education Plan. Early in the new year, Connect Charter School will be submitting a request to our Minister to amend our charter to include programming from K-12. We have been in discussions with Mount Royal University to establish a campus on their land. These discussions remain positive and on-going. We are also seeking other buildings and locations across the city for either a K-3 school or a 7-12 school. Oftentimes, school boards are not provided a lot of notice when sites become available. We are prepared to act should the right opportunity arise. Our long term aspiration is to have a K-12 system with approximately 1,800 students. I will continue to update our community on expansion opportunities and planning in the new year.

I wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.

Chris Gilmour

Superintendent