Annual Report (.pdf) - Campus Calgary/Open Minds - Calgary Board ...

Campus Calgary/
Chevron Open Minds
2013-2014 Annual Report
Submitted by Trish Savill, Jennifer Gray & ITA KISTORMA

Table of Contents
13/14 annual report
Overview 2
People, Places and Partnerships 4
Doing Together What We Can’t Do Alone 5
Benefits and Accountability 6
The Flood 8
Excellence 10
What’s New 12
Program Statistics 14
Awards and Achievements 17
Thank You 18
Last Word 20

Overview
In collaboration with the Calgary Catholic School District, corporate Calgary and local community venues, the
Calgary Board of Education has led the development of an educational model that has celebrated 20 years of
excellence and innovation in education. Creating flexible and personalized learning programs for each student,
CC/OM provides a dynamic learning experience by taking students into the community and connecting them
to experts who are passionate about experiential learning.
CC/OM’s first inception, a weeklong experience at the Calgary Zoo in 1993, has expanded to 12 sites within
the City of Calgary:
• Chevron Zoo School
• Chevron Museum School
• Chevron Science School
• Cross Conservation School
• University School
• Stampede School
• Aero Space School
• Encana EcoAction School
• 2School at the CBE Education Centre
• Healthy Living School at Cardel Place
• Nature School
• City Hall School
“We are
here to learn
with all of
our senses.”
- student
“ This is by far
the most risk taking
I have witnessed from this
group of students. They tend
to default to asking how to do
something rather than trying
to figure it out and here they
found confidence in
their failures and
successes.”
- teacher
2

13/14 annual report
This year 240 teachers and more than 6,500 students
in Calgary participated in the program, reaping the
benefits of these rich learning experiences.
“Our concept of education should expand beyond
the school and make the community a true partner.”
(Alberta Education, Inspiring Education, 2010).
Campus Calgary/Open Minds is the future of learning
right now, creating opportunities for students and
teachers to move their classroom into the community
for an entire week. These sites are fascinating,
educationally rich environments that engage students
in exploration and discovery. Each of the twelve
sites offers a unique lens with which to uncover and
examine curriculum. These experiences make learning
meaningful for students because they are engaged in
authentic educational activities that allow them to make
personal connections. CC/OM creates an environment
that allows teachers to gain a deeper understanding
of student’s prior skills, knowledge and aptitudes, and
use those to advance student learning.
At the site, students are involved in hands-on
learning and spend extended periods of time
observing and reflecting within an authentic setting.
These opportunities deepen student learning and
play a significant role in helping to foster attitudes
and understandings of social, cultural, global and
environmental responsibility. The CC/OM experience
truly opens the minds of students, giving them a
clearer idea of how they fit into the big picture, and
the role they play within it. They become ethical
citizens within their community. Students apply their
entrepreneurial spirit when they take up current
issues which push their understandings beyond their
local setting to national and global communities.
Their creativity, innovation and communication of
understanding continues back in the classroom.
A CC/OM week is a time to ask questions, have
conversations with experts in the community, to slow
down and reflect, to journal and to sketch, and to
“I am here to
learn from my
own observations.”
- student
make sense of the world around them. It is not a week
in isolation, but rather a week that makes a myriad of
connections to personal experiences and classroom
learning. Students gain confidence as learners and
engaged thinkers, and see that they can make a
positive difference. CC/OM has the potential of being
a life changing experience for teachers and students.
It embraces life long and personalized learning,
personal management and well being, literacy
development, citizenship, and generates effective
relationships with the community at large.
The experience encourages and promotes inquiry,
problem solving and critical thinking for students,
teachers, parents and community organizations as
they interact with experts at each site. As students
learn from and share their knowledge with these
experts they not only gain academic awareness but
they also develop a strong sense of respect and fair
treatment of others. When they prepare themselves
for working in the community they begin to develop
the charter to do what is right, act morally with
wisdom, and balance individual concerns with the
rights and needs of others.
The program length, the deep thinking about first
hand experiences that transcend curricular lines and
the time to slow down and reflect transform learning
to its highest levels.
3

People, Places
and Partnerships
Support for the Campus Calgary/Open Minds model comes from funding partners, community sites and education
institutions that collectively share the responsibility and privilege of ensuring that the philosophical tenants of the
program are upheld. We are indebted to all the partners for their commitment to the success of this innovative way
of teaching and learning. Annual contributions to this program from community and education is in excess
of $1,400,000.
Open Minds Chevron Canada Resources Victoria Smith
Zoo School Calgary Zoo Andrea Beaty, Coordinator
Museum School Glenbow Museum Michele Gallant/Marnie McCormack, Coordinator
Science School TELUS Spark Donna Kipta, Coordinator
Campus Calgary
Cross Conservation School Cross Conservation Area Maureen Luchsinger, Coordinator
University School University of Calgary Lois Kokoski, Coordinator
Healthy Living School
Nature School
City Hall School
Stampede School
Aero Space School
EcoAction School
Cenovus
Cardel Place
Suncor
Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
City of Calgary
Calgary Municipal Building
Stampede Foundation
Stampede Park
For the Love of Children
Aero Space Museum
Encana
Ralph Klein Park
Jessica Yarnell
Leigh DeLong, Coordinator
Christine Leach/Sid Andrews, Coordinator
Kathy Sokolan-Oblak/ Greg Knowler
Jody Danchuk, Coordinator
Sarah Hayes
Amanda Hansen/Alison Buie, Coordinator
Ashid Bahl
Kim Hunter/Arnold Ingelson, Coordinator
Hadi Fares, Coordinator
2School Calgary Board of Education Trish Hubbard, Coordinator
Education
Calgary Board of Education
Calgary Separate School District
Naomi Johnson, Chief Superintendent
Cathy Faber, Superintendent, Learning Innovation
Kathy Salmon, System Principal,
Corporate Partnerships
Gary Strother, Chief Superintendent
Andra McGinn, Superintendent, Instructional Services
Mark Berger,Supervisor Instructional Services
Ryan Hanna and Meaghan Pohozoff from the University of Calgary teacher training program worked with University School this spring
as Assistant Coordinators.
4

Doing Together What
We Can’t Do Alone
13/14 annual report
Cardel
Place
Reader
Rock Garden
Glenbow
Museum
Calgary Board
of Education
Centre
Ralph Klein
Park
Calgary
Zoo
Calgary Municipal
Building
Stampede
Park
Sites
Telus
Spark
University
of Calgary
Inglewood Bird
Sanctuary
Cross
Conservation
Area
Aero Space
Museum
The Calgary
Foundation
Suncor
Encana
For the Love
of Children
Society
FUNDERS
Cenovus
City of
Calgary
City of
Calgary
Parks
*Circle segments do not
accurately describe proportions
of contributions
Calgary Catholic
School District
Calgary Board
of Education
education
Independents
Chevron
Resources
Stampede
Foundation
5

Benefits and
Accountability
A Campus Calgary / Open Minds week is a time to ask questions, have conversations with experts in the community,
to slow down and reflect, to journal and to sketch. It is not a week in isolation, but rather a week that brings all
classroom learning together. Students gain confidence as learners when learning is structured to capitalize on each
student’s interests, skills, and aptitudes. It has the potential of being a life changing experience for teachers and their
students, as it embraces life long, personalized learning, literacy development, citizenship, and effective relationship
building with the community at large. The outcomes that we hope will evolve from a Campus Calgary / Open Minds
experience are:
• Increased teacher capacity.
• Personalized learning opportunities for students.
• Increased connections to facilities and experts in the community.
• Realization of curricular mandates.
The indicators of these outcomes are as follows:
• Teachers feel more capable and confident with inquiry and object based learning.
• Students will have the opportunity to learn in the community and take responsibility for their own learning journey.
• Student performance / achievement will improve.
• Teachers will seize opportunities to utilize the resources of the community for experiential learning.
“Looking at older
buildings really
shows a trail from
our past and
where our dreams
can go.”
- student
6

13/14 annual report
Teacher STORY:
On our ‘Journey of Risk and Discovery’ my students and I set out together to explore
and face challenges to grow as learners.
In the CC/OM Program, my students shared their ideas, took risks, designed space prototypes, printed in 3D,
photographed their learning with iPads, reflected in their journals, made stop-motion animation movies, worked together,
and learned from each other.
The growth and gains we made at Science School allowed us to take on new challenges such as collaborating in
planning and coordinating our chain-reaction machine back in our classroom.
We know that we are still on our journey. It has been truly amazing to watch each student in my class discover their
strengths and blossom in their own special way. As we part ways, changed by our experiences together, I am a
different teacher; influenced by all of the new things I have learned from my students.
PARENT STORY
My son shared his stories with us each day. When I joined as a volunteer, I witnessed him journaling with a sense of urgency
and writing more than usual. He moved near to the front of the group to hear experts and to answer as many questions as
he could.
The thing that really stood out for me is that he is not often like that in the regular classroom; which speaks to how great
the program is. In the CC/OM Program, he was excited and engaged and successful.
All the things I believe about my son and his abilities were there in front of me.
He was thriving.
7

The Flood
What makes Calgary a beautiful city brought damage and destruction when flood waters turned the Bow and Elbow
Rivers into the source of one of our City’s worst natural disasters. The impact was immense on all Calgarians. For the
first time in history, schools were closed at the end of June. Students and teachers struggled for closure to end their
school year together. When classes resumed in September, it was no surprise that students wanted to discuss what
they had seen, heard and experienced. The waters subsided but the actions did not.
Zoo School, Stampede School and Nature School at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary were hit hard. Calgarians came
together. In the flood’s wake there was uncertainty but amazing things happened. Despite the zoo island being closed
and all educational programs being cancelled until January, advocates rallied and Zoo School continued! The historical
committee from the Stampede came together to replace the artifact Saddlebags that were lost in the Stampede
School classroom. Nature School students experienced the devastation of the Sanctuary and sought to understand
the forces of nature.
Each Campus Calgary/Open Mind site became a venue for grappling with this historical event. Students and
teachers took up inquiries of the flood. Issues such as resiliency, building structures for flood mitigation, citizenship,
volunteerism, and community brought students to an understanding of June’s events. Students worked with experts at
the sites to gather evidence and knowledge. Classes witnessed, experienced, reflected on, and sought understanding
of the impact of the June floods.
8

13/14 annual report
9

Excellence
Every year teachers participating in Campus Calgary/Open Minds join in a variety of inservices. These experiences
support teachers in moving their classroom into community settings by providing time for them to feel comfortable
in their new places. During these inservices there is the chance to meet experts, become familiar with the environment
and practice reflective journaling techniques that pique curiosity and focus observations.
This year, the CC/OM operations team, in collaboration with some site coordinators, were able to offer two workshops
throughout the year. Optional for teachers to attend, 80 teachers chose to partake in this professional learning and
collaborative opportunity. These workshops were hosted in schools, inspiring ways to think outside the four
classroom walls.
Topics and Presentations included:
• How do we explore our world and who are you in this place Discovering your school through the eyes of a
mathematician, an artist, a scientist.
• West Dover teachers sharing their experiences in preparing for and attending Museum School, 2School and
Stampede School
• the Story of the O.S. Geiger ecologists (before, during and after their week at Nature School)
• Children’s literature links to new journaling techniques
Thank you to West Dover and O.S. Geiger Schools’ administration and teaching staff for sharing their space and
experiences with those who participated. Thank you to the site coordinators who shared their voice and expertise.
10

13/14 annual report
Teachers:
“I appreciated the opportunity to be with like minded people.”
“This motivated me to prepare my students to be in their new learning space.”
“I liked learning new ideas for journaling and have the time to explore them.”
“We want more of this! It’s great to learn how other teachers are working in this way.”
“It’s difficult to choose a session. I want to attend them all!”
“It’s not just about
the week, I surprise
myself at ways the
experience weaves itself
into discussions
& observations
in our classroom.”
- teacher
11

What’s New
Throughout the year we have worked on implementing recommendations set out last year by The Development Group
and those gathered from our CC/OM stakeholders. The review recommended the building of a centralized governance
and leadership foundation to ensure the integrity of the program and to take advantage of growth and advance next
opportunities. As a result of this work, the following has been accomplished:
• Operations team established– 2 CBE FTE and .5 CCSD FTE
• Signed Memorandum of Understanding between CBE and CCSD outlining a five year commitment and how
we work together around this initiative
• Shared governance model created
• Team of Advisors assembled representing all stakeholders
• Stakeholder gathering to share updates and plan for strategies to move forward
As we look forward to next year the foundation of our work will be to continue to support excellence at our existing
sites. In addition we hope to expand beyond our existing sites, increase awareness of the program across our
community through a travelling exhibit and engage in a research project that will demonstrate that when students
participate in the CC/OM program their daily activity increases.
Our heartfelt thanks to those who have embarked on this journey as Advisors:
12

“This experience
has helped to
provide a focus
for my class that
can be used in
all curriculum
areas.”
- teacher
13/14 annual report
“We are
here to learn
with all of
our senses.”
- student
Marlene Mulligan, community member
Chris Lough, community member
Victoria Smith, Chevron
Lorelei Piotto, Chevron
Bill Dickson, The Calgary Foundation
Dan Thorburn, The Calgary Foundation
Greg Knowler, City of Calgary
Judy Archer, community member
Jessica Yarnell, Cenovus
Frank McClernon, CCSD
Ita Kistorma, CCSD
Kathy Salmon, CBE
Jennifer Gray, CBE
Trish Savill, CBE
Graham Thomson, Genesis Place
13

Program Statistics
Data for Campus Calgary / Chevron Open Minds
Proposals Accepted for 2014/15 (as of June 2014)
Site
CBE
Applied
CBE
Accepted
CCSD
Applied
CCSD
Accepted
Ind.
Applied
Ind.
Accepted
Total
Applied
Total
Accepted
Calgary
Zoo School
Glenbow
Museum School
Science
Centre School
Cross
Conservation
School
33 22 10 5 1 1 44 28
40 20 8 8 1 0 49 28
33 21 10 6 1 1 44 28
14 7 5 3 2 0 21 10
City Hall School 43 22 3 3 3 2 49 27
University
School
Stampede
School
Aero Space
School
13 7 5 5 0 0 18 12
28 20 8 6 2 0 38 26
4 9 3 3 0 0 7 12*
2School 9 21 - 5 0 0 9 26**
Healthy Living
School
28 17 3 0 2 0 33 17
Pilot – Centre for
the Performing
Arts
Teachers for this pilot were selected from applications to existing sites:
Two weeks came from City Hall School
Two weeks came from Science School
Two weeks came from Cross Conservation School
6
Totals 245 166 55 41 12 4 312 220
* from wait list – 2 from Glenbow, 3 from City Hall
** from wait lists – 2 from Cross, 2 from Healthy Living, 4 from Glenbow, 2 from City Hall, 3 from Zoo and 2 from Stampede
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13/14 annual report
Campus Calgary / Open Minds
Teacher / Student Participation 1994 - 2013
School (Community Site) Starting Year Number of Teachers Number of Students
Aero Space Museum 2005 83 2,208
Nature School
Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
1997 - 2013 307 10,045
City Hall 2000 386 10,315
Canada Olympic Park 1997 - 2012 202 5,398
Cross Conservation Area 2000 104 2,708
Ralph Klein Park 2010 - 2013 83 2,241
Fire Training Academy 2007 15 390
Glenbow Museum 1996 495 13,280
Science Centre 1997 472 12,127
Stampede 2003 306 8,190
Talisman Centre 2006 - 2009 48 1,264
University of Calgary 1997 199 5,079
Zoo 1994 571 15,319
Cardel Place 2011 34 919
CBE Education Centre 2010 70 1,876
Leighton Arts Centre (pilot) 2007 4 110
Reader Rock Garden (pilot)
2007
2012
2013
Performing Arts Centre (pilot) 1999-2001 16 432
Riveredge Park (pilot) 2002-2003 8 216
TOTAL 3,417 92,493
6
4
4
162
106
108
15

Applications Submitted to Campus Calgary / Open Minds
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2001-2002 2005-2006 2009-2010
2013-2014
Catholic Seperate School District
Independent Schools
Calgary Board of Education
We are unable to accommodate 30% of the teachers
who applied. Demand for the program exceeds our current capacity.
16

Awards & Achievements
13/14 annual report
June, 2013 – Chevron, CBE Lighthouse Award, Zoo School, Museum
School and Science School
September, 2012 – Global Best Award for Building Learning Communities,
International Partnership Network, Durban, South Africa
June, 2012 – Encana EcoAction School, CBE Lighthouse Award
January, 2012 – Mayor’s Excellence Award, Calgary Partnerships
in Education Foundation
September, 2008 – Global Best Award for Building Learning Communities,
International Partnership Network, Helsinki, Finland
November 19 – 23, 2007 – Mayor Bronconnier proclaims this to be
Campus Calgary/Open Minds Week
2007 Heritage Awareness Award – City Hall School for exceptional and
innovative achievement in the heritage field
2007 – Woman of Vision Award – Gillian Kydd, program founder
2006 Calgary Board of Education Lighthouse Award: Stampede School
2006 SIGTEL – on line learning award. First place project – Calgary
Stampede and Treaty 7 First Nations, a historical perspective. International
society for technology in education.
2005 Mayor’s Excellence Award – Calgary Partnerships in Education
Foundation – Chevron Open Minds: Special Settings
2004 Canadian Environmental Award (Silver) – Petro-Canada Bird School
2004 Mayor’s Excellence Award – Calgary Partnerships in Education
Foundation – Stampede School: Curriculum Enhancement & Development
2003 Alberta School Boards Association – Premier’s Award for School
Board Innovation & Excellence – Campus Calgary/Open Minds (Finalist)
2003 City Hall School- Calgary Heritage Award for Heritage Education
2002 City Hall School: CH2M-Hill Sustainable Community Award,
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities
2002 Mayor’s Excellence Award - Calgary Partnerships in Education
Foundation - City Hall School: Professional Development
Calgary Awards 2001 - City Hall School - Community Achievement Awards
- Honorable Mention: Education
The Emerald Awards 2001: Education - Petro-Canada Bird School– (Finalist)
The Calgary Awards 2001 –Environmental Achievement: Individual –
Cathy Cochrane for Petro-Canada Bird School
Alberta Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development:
Innovative Practice Award 2001 – Gillian Kydd
Global, Environmental & Outdoor Education Council: Appreciation
of Service Award 2001 – Campus Calgary/Chevron Open Minds
Museums Alberta 2000: Award of Merit
Calgary Board of Education Lighthouse Award 2000: Chevron Zoo School
Pan Canadian Learning Innovation Award 2000: Campus Calgary/Chevron
Open Minds (Honorable Mention)
Conference Board of Canada: Broad Community Collaboration Award
1999 – Campus Calgary/Chevron Open Minds
Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching 1999: Awarded to
Lindsay Johnston – Site Coordinator at Chevron Science Centre School
Royal Bank Partners in Education Award 1999
Canadian Association of Zoos & Aquariums: 1998 Tom Baines Award –
Chevron Zoo School
Museums Alberta: 1998 Recognition of Contributing Organization –
Chevron Glenbow Museum School
Financial Post Award for Business and the Arts 1997 – Chevron Canada
Resources for Chevron Open Minds Program
Calgary Downtown Merchants Award 1997 – Chevron Open Minds
The Calgary Awards: 1997 Citizen of the Year – Donald Harvie of
the Devonian Foundation for his work on Campus Calgary/Chevron
Open Minds
American Association of Science & Technology: Honor Role of Teachers –
Sue McIntyre, participant in Chevron Science Centre School
American Zoological Association Award 1997 – Chevron Zoo School
Mayor’s Environmental Award 1997 – Chevron Zoo School
17

Thank You
In 1997 Bird School was the first venture into outdoor
nature sites for Open Minds/Campus Calgary. According
to Gill Kydd, there was so much to discover about
children and learning at a natural site. As we look back
over 17 years of amazing experiences for teachers and
students we are grateful that Kym McCulley, with the City
of Calgary connected with Gill and walked through this
incredible urban Calgary oasis. Gill thought it seemed like
a good fit, but wondered how students would respond
Gill’s impression of those first weeks in the Inglewood
Bird Sanctuary go something like this:
“None of us could believe what happened. When the
sessions began, the magic was evident. The students
didn’t need to be kept busy; they were immersed in
the quiet, in the small happenings that they learned
to observe. And so it was:
• the coyote footprints in the snow first thing in
the morning.
• the distant sound of traffic on Deerfoot Trail.
• the buds appearing on the trees.
• the woodpecker’s drumming.
• the silent Great Horned owl perched up high.
We learned that Bird School became almost a spiritual
refuge for these urban children. They loved “the sounds
of silence”. Children who had trouble functioning at
school were in their element. I remember a visiting
principal who was being told all the fine points of
camouflage by a Grade Six boy. Later she said to me
“I can’t believe that is the same student – I usually see
him on a chair outside my office, when he needs time
away from the classroom”.
Hazel Gillespie from Petro-Canada fell in love with
the idea and Bird School was born. For years she
championed the program recognizing that it promoted
science and environmental literacy in a way that directly
connected students to nature, strengthened their
appreciation of these areas and raised their awareness
of pursuing a career in these areas.
So, here we are years later, over 300 teachers have
adopted this space as their classroom, more than 8,500
students have been scientists, explorers and researchers
in this rich environment and 5000 + parent volunteers
have witnessed the lives of their children transformed
by the magic of Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and the
innovative Campus Calgary program.
More recently, we are indebted to the Suncor Foundation
for their most generous support, allowing the program
to continue. Their commitment and dedication to this
innovative teaching and learning model has permitted
these students and their teachers to be part of
experiences that have fostered student appreciation,
attitudes and understandings of cultural awareness,
civic pride, community responsibility and stewardship.
Students have gained a clearer idea of how they fit into
the big picture and the role they play within it.
In 2010 City of Calgary Parks partnered with Encana to
create EcoAction School at Ralph Klein Park. We are
most grateful they came together to make this unique
teaching and learning opportunity available to our
teachers and their students. Over the last three years
85 teachers, 2,250 students and numerous parent
volunteers have explored the wetlands. As students
grappled with issues around environmental stewardship
and sustainability they gained confidence as learners
and have come to recognize that they can make a
positive difference.
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13/14 annual report
In addition to these two amazing sites, the Campus Calgary program has been very successful at Reader Rock
Garden. Over the past 7 years over 15 teachers and their students have spent a week immersed in this unique garden
set in the heart of the city.
In addition to our generous funders and City of Calgary Parks, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the
Inglewood Bird Sanctuary volunteer stewards and other City of Calgary staff who have given so freely of their time
to help our youth understand the value of these precious places in our city.
And lastly, many thanks to the teachers and students and their parent volunteers who embraced these opportunities
to see curriculum come alive in such rich learning environments.
“My favourite part
of the week was
slowing down
and, maybe for the first
time in my life, really
appreciating nature.”
- student
19

Last Word
Dear Swarna, Kamala and Rani,
I will really miss you all but I know what it’s like to move. It feels sad kind of to leave your old home but eventually
it feels fine when you get there. I know your skin is really sensitive to the sun. Kamala I wish I could buy one of
your paintings. I was also thinking I could see you one more time.
I hope you have a great time in Washington D.C. I heard that your new home is twice the size bigger than ours.
I hear you have a walking path to walk on. I’m wondering if you will remember Shanthi and Bozie from the orphanage.
Yours truly,
Morgan
20

Campus Calgary/Open Minds
Calgary Board of Education
1221 - 8th Street SW
Calgary, AB T2R 0L4
Telephone: (403) 817-7583
Website: http://ccom.cbe.ab.ca