It started with a voice; someone wanting their voice to be heard, and to help others to be heard. 

The Student Voice group at Centennial High School was concerned about stress and anxiety. The students took part in the Speak Out Forum which is a way to communicate students’ experience in the education system to Alberta Education.  They discovered that students were worried: about their futures, their grades, class size, their exams, their extra curricular time, and their jobs.  

The group decided to take action, and find ways that students could manage stress, depression and anxiety in a positive way. They created an action plan at the HASS (Healthy Active Schools Symposium) which  they rolled out over the 2014-2015 year. First on the docket was learning more about mental health with Centennial High School’s Mental Health Teacher. Students created pamphlets and presented resources to their peers in YOTES (homeroom) class. In March 2015 Student Voice sent students to The Youth Mental Health Summit. Students were able to talk to their peers about mental health, as well as listen to personal stories of people who struggled with their mental health and learned healthy, positive ways to manage mental health. 

The Student Voice group is now embarking on organizing a Mental Health Week to correspond with Canadian National Health Week on May 4-8th.  I am so encouraged by these students who want to educate people about Mental Health to remove stigma and to make the world a better place.


Lexie is a teacher who enjoys reading, bike rides, Netflix and puppy snuggles in her spare time.  @MrsKinjo is her handle on Twitter

My trade is known for being shallow, you know the stereotypes about “COS girls”. People often assume my day is filled with hair and gossip, that there is little substance to what I do. Yes, we do hair and make-up, but what we really do is support each other as a community. I have the honor of working with a group of students who support each other, through all of life’s struggles.  We talk about the power of media on our self-perception and how we can learn to love ourselves. They share because they feel safe within their community.  I do this in an amazing school where staff sets the tone by caring for each other. 

As I write this I have bright pink hair to raise funds before I shave my lid and all I hear walking through the halls is words of encouragement from both staff and students. I am amazed by the ability of students to support each other. 

As an inclusive specialist and Bullying Prevention Educator I talk to students and staff about inclusive language and am so proud of how well it is accepted and absorbed into daily practice. When someone slips, a friend asks them to choose a new word, there is no shaming, only care.  What I learned today is that it does not matter what you teach because what stays with students is not what you write on the board, but how to care for themselves and others.


Chris is a first year high school Cosmetology teacher with a passion for social justice and beauty inside and out.  

I currently teach Knowledge and Employability at Centennial High school where I have chosen to bring mindfulness education into my class using literature. Recently, in both my 10-4 and 20-4 English/SS (Humanities) classes, I have committed to being present and in the moment with my students by reading outloud to them.  Together, we agree upon few common understandings of how to be present with one another.  We agree to disconnect ourselves from our devices but sketching or doodling is okay.  

Last year, I read Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and its sequel Hollow City.  Students were engaged, asked questions, did not understand when I did not know that the Hollows were following (read the book!).  They would NOT let me miss a single day of reading.  It was by far the most powerful experience I have had being present 'with' my students.  This experience encouraged me to continue to support my students to 'live in the moment'. Mindfulness practice occurs as they learn to focus on my voice as I read the story, tune out all the distractions in their lives and just listen.  

It's important to me to create a safe and welcoming place for all my students.  I often use humour to create an environment where students are encouraged to try again tomorrow.   It's a place where students, especially those with elevated anxiety, can find an opportunity to relax and learn. I feel that his type of support promotes and encourages students to do their best work, positively participate, and communicate with others in the classroom. I have an 'open-door' policy that welcomes any Centennial student at any time and includes those that feel like sitting in, interacting with myself, or doing work.  A large part of my job is to engage our students around the issues they are dealing with and can include some thing as simple as organizing a “get work done calendar,” a supportive conversation around anxiety and stress, or celebrating getting onto the grad list.  Wellness is most the most important thing I do with my students.

The Teaming Up For Healthy Learner’s (TU4HL) Backpack initiative began in September 2010 continues to be going strong and encouraging Comprehensive School Heath (CSH) culture.

Committed staff, parents, and the school nurse that participated in this committee planned, created backpack activities and collected resources for over a year to get this initiative up and running. The committee had a vision to bring the three priority areas of Comprehensive School Health into the homes of families. This vision was made possible from provincial and donor funding associated with Alberta Health and Wellness and Education Matters to support and enhance “Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Positive Social Environments” (the three priorities) in the lives of Tuscany students.

Thirty two different back packs were created with unique and fun filled activities. Each backpack is filled with a children’s book that makes connections to one of the three priorities. Activities coordinate with the theme of the book and necessary equipment to complete the activity is included in each backpack. Afterwards, each family is encouraged to complete a response in a journal to reflect on the activity. Children from each class take the backpack home for approximately one week.

Activities vary for each grade ranging from cooking activities, taking nature hikes, designing a creative craft project, imaginative play activities, to outdoor and indoor games. Over the four years a Tuscany student will be at the K-3 school, the child and their family will have had the opportunity to participate in 4 different back packs activities.

The back pack initiative is one of the ongoing initiatives that the TU4HL committee continues to implement each year at Tuscany School to keep the essential pillars of “Active Living, Healthy Eating and Cooperative Play” strong and evident in all the work that we do!

The back pack initiative is one of the ongoing initiatives that our committee continues to implement each year at Tuscany School to keep the essential priorities of “Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Positive Social Environments” strong and evident in all the work that we do!


The Tuscany Teaming Up For Healthy Learner’s Committee includes teachers, parents, and the school nurse. They are dedicated to bring Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Posiitive Social Environments into the lives of Tuscany students and families which falls under the umbrella of Comprehensive School Heath (CSH).

Have you ever wondered the impact that 120, 5-year-old Kindergarten students can make?  With only 7 months into a 12-year journey these little, big-hearted people have made a difference.

It all started in October.  Kindergarten was about to embark on an adventure of planting, growing and giving.  The Kindergarten program at Evergreen school is connected with “The Little Green Thumbs Project” from the Calgary Zoo.  One of the main components of being a Little Green Thumb is to share.

With many different ways to share plants, the Kindergarten teachers and students came up with a plan to help Calgary Kids.  One of the seeds we planted in our garden was basil.  It was growing very well so we decided to plant enough basil to sell a plant to each family at our school for 5$.  The money raised would go to “Calgary’s Brown Bagging for Kids”.  Five dollars goes a long way, it feeds a hungry child lunch for an entire school week.  The children have decorated brown bags for the lunches to go into.  Not only will that child get a lunch, but also a thoughtfully decorated bag.  The children are excited about the process of selling basil and are taking plants home themselves. Most of all, they are delighted to send a lunch to a child who needs it.  The plants will be sold on Earth day.

The children have planted, grown and consumed from our garden.  Among many things the children have learned is that they can help others with just a tiny seed.


Suzanne Smith teaches Kindergarten.  Gardens flourish with love and care, so do children.

On February 17, 2015 North Haven School hosted their First Annual 6 School Charity Floor Hockey Tournament to raise money for Jumpstart.  Participating schools were:  North Haven (host), Simons Valley, Rosedale, Langevin, Rosemont, and Calgary Christian School.  

The gym was pumping with our guest DJ and we were honored to have a celebrity guest join us to open up the tournament.  Meaghan Mikkelson, National Women’s Hockey Team, opened with a motivational speech and sharing of two Olympic Gold Medals from the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.  Her speech had our school population, visiting players, coaches, and sponsors on the edge of their seats engaged in laughter and tears.  Following the speech, we had an acapella version of Oh Canada followed by Meaghan’s celebrity puck drop.  

Each school was guaranteed two games in the round robin format. The top teams from each division played for Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals.  When teams weren’t playing they were participating with other teams exploring Physical Vocabulary with Trickster Theatre, sharing community learning with other classrooms within North Haven School.  It was a storybook ending to the day with North Haven winning the gold medal with a goal in the last minute of play against Team Rosedale (silver).  Calgary Christian took home the Bronze in an exhilarating win over Team Rosemont.  We were all winners on multiple levels that day and as a large community, together, we proudly presented a cheque to Jumpstart on April 1 for $10 089.21... so ALL kids can play!

Bio:
Shauna Gooliaff is a Learning Leader and PE Specialist at North Haven School.  Passionate about sports and giving kids authentic opportunities.  An idea’s person who likes to have fun and loves teaming with encouraging, enthusiastic people who have an eye for detail and excel at paperwork.
@esaj249

 Tournament Committee:

Alison Bates-Church – Acting AP, NHS.  Passionate about student learning and student success.  Enjoys spending time with family and friends! Loves to spend time outside, especially playing ultimate frisbee!

Lisa McConnell – Learning Leader, 5/6 Teacher, NHS - Lisa McConnell dedicates herself to school-based projects like North Haven's Floor Hockey Tournament for Jump Start in order to encourage students to develop skills to think ethically and to grow as ethical citizens. 

Judy Bowman – Grade ¾ Teacher, NHS – loyal, enthusiastic, encouraging, and committed to students and creating a positive environment.

Brandi Burns – Grade 2/3 Teacher at NHS:  Energetic, Generous, Helpful, Hard-Working, Supportive.  Loves the Calgary Flames!

Shane Spriggs –grade 4 teacher and Learning Leader at Simons Valley School.  Student Learning, Innovation, Creativity, Fundamental Movement Skills, Physical Literacy, wanna be tech nerd and all about giving students authentic, fun opportunities.
@sbspriggs

Barrett Long
Content Creation Manager - Trickster Theatre/Kids Go Global

Today was my first day back from my spring break. While I had told myself many days prior to this that school was coming quickly I had easily let the days pass without worry. Needless to say I had an abrupt awakening from going to sleeping in late to getting up early so I could walk to school. I was exhausted and dreading taking my long anticipated Math test, my spirits picked up when I got to see my friends again. All of our schedules had been busy so we rarely saw each other over the break and I had missed laughing along with them. What I learned was that even though I was wishing I could go back to bed, the reunion with my friends had made getting up early and walking in the cold worth it all to be able to be around the ones I was closest to. That even though things may not look well, there will always a light in the dark waiting for you to find it.


Laisa Kelly is a student who is dedicated to her learning and is passionate about the arts.

This is a question that we ask at the end of each day, as we are composing our Blog to the Grade Two parents in our class.  One afternoon, we also had a question added to the Blog to figure out at home:  What makes tomatoes turn red from green?

Just before Spring Break, we had been focusing on our garden, the worms that make compost and the tomatoes that are turning red.  This is our second year with our Little Green Thumbs garden and how we approach it this year has morphed with the students.  This year, the students had a say in what we were going to grow.  They needed to use persuasive writing to convince their classmates what we should grow.  From last year, they knew that we made treats from our garden bounty (tomato and basil pizza, steamed green beans, salsa) and were thinking ahead to what they would like to make to eat.  Our little garden has tied into studies of the Inuit (contrasting what they could not grow), the Acadians (who the students thought were devastated to leave their gardens and homes when they were deported), and now while learning about the prairie pioneers and how they grew their own food in our climate.  Our garden work is starting to spill into the students’ homes and they have encouraged their parents to grow food in and outside of their house.  A few students have brought home red wiggler worms from our harvests to start their own vermicomposting bins, seeing the cycle of food waste being able to help fertilize new food growth. 

So, what makes tomatoes turn red?  After some home discussion and research, it was reported back that it is because of the chemical changes in the tomato when it is the full size.  Next, we wonder if it is the same as what happens with fall leaves?


Fiona Watkins learns alongside her students and is trying to turn her black thumb green.  When not at school she can be found outside with her sons and dogs, usually close to mountains or lakes.

On March 18 students at Bishop Pinkham Middle School took part in a Health & Wellness Morning.  This coincided with all of our Grade 9 students taking part in the PARTY Program.  Grade specific learning opportunities were put together by staff that complemented the Health Curriculum. This is the third year we have be providing this to our students.  This year was quite dynamic, and varied from grade to grade.  Grade 5's had speakers talk to them about their careers, and also did a session that focused on goal setting and hope.  Grade 6's rotated through two sessions that looked at the benefits and examples of leading an Active Healthy Lifestyle and Nutritional Awareness.  Gr 7's also rotated through  two sessions.  One that had them listen and ask questions to a panel of speakers on their respective careers.  Followed by each student creating their own personalized Vision Board.  Lastly our Grade 8’s had the opportunity to go through two of the following five session topics:  Body Image & the Media, Drug Awareness, Compassion, Presentation from Calgary Mental Health, and Nutrition. (174)

At Bishop Pinkham we follow a Comprehensive School Health Model in providing our students the information and skills they need moving forward in their schooling and their lives.  In our case it takes a whole school.  The students, staff, administration, and outside supports like our school nurse to provide these types of days so that all can see the benefits of a Healthy Active Lifestyle.

Doug Jordan is a Physical Education / Environmental Outdoor Education Teacher, and the Health Initiatives Learning Leader at Bishop Pinkham.  When not in the building he will be on one of his bikes in the mountains year round, or on his skis in search of the elusive powder!

As you step into the hallway of Panorama Hills School there is a noticeable difference. Colored tiles, in different patterns, are spread throughout the lengths of the hallways. Children are jumping, skipping and clapping their hands. They are patiently waiting for their peers to finish before beginning their own personalized dance routine, and then you hear - “Did you see the pattern I just did?” 

This year I learned something scary from my friend and co-worker, Mr. Fenlon-MacDonald: 

This means students are engaging in less physical activity on a daily basis… Yikes! 

So this year, my team partner and I have been consciously incorporating movement into as many everyday activities as possible. Enter numeracy, agility ladders, bean bags, hula hoops AND a hallway full of strategically placed, colorful floor tiles!

Now - these floor tiles aren’t just for students to get out their “wiggles” when moving through the halls. They are a chance to MOVE and LEARN and PRACTICE. Students are developing their literacy, numeracy and physical literacy through engaging, rich learning experiences. Physical literacy (moving with confidence and competence during activities) is as important as our students’ ability to read, write or mentally calculate how much it will cost to buy their new favorite video game! 

By keeping specific outcomes, diverse student backgrounds, flexibility to “go with the learning flow” and learning styles in mind, our student engagement and understanding across math strands is enhanced daily. Completing activities such as skip-counting while doing two-foot jumps, using different strategies to count the blue tiles and creating routines with an increasing pattern rule, students are solving problems without even realizing they are using math. 

And it doesn’t stop there! 

Measuring the width of the hallway, comparing lengths of the different strips of colored tiles, estimating how many patterns could fit down the hall, designing their own hallway patterns… these are just some of the ideas being “thrown around” by our staff. 

Now we’re just waiting for our students to have their say. We know there will be lots of questions, ideas, explorations and opinions, just waiting to be had! 

 
Sara Laslo (@saralaslo) teaches grade 3, is passionate about engaging students in meaningful, authentic learning experiences, would do anything for coffee and loves teaching her dog, Optimus Prime, new tricks!