Thursday 17 December 2020

“What powers our world? How is empathy a catalyst?” - a SEEDSchool Exploration


“This is the best thing I’ve ever done!” – Student 

Grade 5 students at Divine Mercy school in Mahogany spent a week of SEEDschool exploring the questions “What powers our world? How is empathy a catalyst?” Throughout the week, students explored the ideas of empathy, responsibility, kindness, and innovation through various stories, interviews, community walks, and projects.   

One of the highlights of the week was making an advent calendar of acts of kindness and prayers for those around us over the Christmas season. Students brainstormed a list of ideas including setting the table, complimenting a teacher, making a new friend, shoveling someone’s sidewalk, and praying for those who are sick. The class decorated a star with one act or prayer for each day leading up to Christmas and hung those stars up around the class. As students learned about how empathy is a powerful force in our world, they committed to practicing empathy through these acts of kindness during the advent season.

Another highlight was our design thinking challenge. Students explored the challenges experienced by those who sleep outside (called “rough sleeping” or “living rough”). They learned that people may have trouble staying warm, finding privacy, keeping their belongings safe, finding somewhere safe and welcoming to sleep, staying healthy, and transporting their belongings from one place to another. Students worked in small groups to brainstorm inventions to mitigate some of these challenges, and then were tasked with making prototypes of their designs. The class came up with some brilliant inventions.  

“Our group designed a coat, the TBJ (The Blanket Jacket). When you pull the sleeves it folds out into a blanket. So we tried to solve the warmth problem. This would be helpful for winter.” – Ellie, grade 5

After brainstorming some of the challenges faced by homeless people, the students were asked to design an object that could help the homeless population.  
Overall, students spent the week diving growing empathy not just for those experiencing homelessness, but also for all those who live, work, and play on the land we call Mohkinstsis. We are so grateful for another wonderful SEEDschool week and can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!

“It’s a backpack that when you unzip it, it turns into a pop up house—tent. They can get their own house that they can take anywhere. The don’t have to pay for a house or electrical bills” – Beau, grade 5

~ Kelsey Brown, SEEDschool Coordinator




Wednesday 16 December 2020

SEEDschool students explore "How does empathy drive innovation?"

Grade 5 students from R.T. Alderman spent their SEEDschool week exploring the question “How does empathy drive innovation?” The classes spent time exploring creative inventions created to help people in need and built their own prototypes to solve problems surrounding homelessness.  



A highlight of the week was meeting with Alice Lam who is co-owner of Tigerstedt Flea in Crescent Heights, and who collaborated with friends to start a community fridge initiative on their shop’s block. The fridge is an example of mutual aid – neighbours helping neighbours. Everyone is encouraged to donate food to the fridge and accompanying pantry, and anyone in need is welcome to take from it, no questions asked. Alice shared about how her empathy for the community inspired both the store and the fridge, and how she continues to give back through social enterprise. Alice provides local makers' space in her shop to sell their homemade products and encourages the artists to donate some of the proceeds to causes they care about. 

The Grade 5 students were so inspired by her example, they decided to make works of art to see at Alice’s store as a fundraiser for The Mustard Seed. The pieces of art are currently being sold by donation, and are on display at Tigerstedt Flea (918 Centre St N). 





~ Kelsey Brown, SEEDschool Coordinator


Tuesday 24 November 2020

We are Better Together! - Campus Calgary / Open Minds' Advisory Group

Campus Calgary / Open Minds has a dedicated group of Advisors who meet monthly to help advise and support the day-to-day work of the CCOM Operations Team. They also anticipate and plan for future needs of partners at community sites, schools and education districts, and with funding partners, and have been influential in supporting during pandemic times. 

Advisors collaborating (pre-Covid photo)
The Advisory is made up of representatives from CBE and CCSD, funders (Chevron and Cenovus), community sites, The Calgary Foundation, and community members (who have various previous association with CCOM). This Advisory group supports much of the ‘behind the scenes work’ and we are continually grateful for the leadership and guidance that the Advisory Group gives to us.

The Advisory group also works with the Campus Calgary / Open Minds Executive Sponsors – Superintendent of School Improvement (CBE) and Superintendent of Instructional Services (CCSD).

Campus Calgary / Open Minds truly exemplifies the phrase ‘doing together what we can’t do alone.’



Wednesday 29 April 2020

City Hall School Continues to Meet with Mayor Nenshi

With school closures, City Hall School is having to adapt. Mayor Nenshi took time out of his busy schedule to meet with classes that are not able to make it to City Hall School this year. Students asked many questions about Covid-19, being a mayor during the pandemic, as well as many questions about how a city is run before and after the pandemic.

In the history of Calgary, there has only been two states of emergency and both happened while Mayor Nenshi was the mayor. Mayor Nenshi can’t believe that he’s been responsible for both, but he loves that he can be helping the community at a time like this. The two states of emergency were the 2013 flood and the current pandemic. Mayor Nenshi told the students that, “We couldn’t control the flood, but we can control this pandemic.”

Mayor Nenshi believes that Calgary needs to be Build Back Better. The government and citizens need to think about how to rebuild Calgary to be a better and stronger community. A strong community needs to be strong socially, economically, and physically. The City of Calgary has created a motto that Mayor Nenshi shared with students: Clean Hands, Clear Heads, and Open Hearts. Clean Hands encourages citizens to work towards stopping the physical spread of Covid-19. Clear Heads supports citizens with dealing with the grief of the current situation. Open Hearts promotes not feeling isolated and building community during social distancing through online visits and phone calls. This motto will help citizens Build Back Better.

Mayor Nenshi reminded students about his campaign of 3 things for Canada where everyone should do 3 things a year for the community. Since the pandemic, he is suggesting doing 3 things of kindness for the community.

~ Erin Retallack, City Hall School Coordinator

Friday 20 March 2020

“I wish we could have class like this every day” – Copperfield School

“I wish we could have class like this every day” – Grade 3 Student
Colleen Reilly- Grade 3 Teacher-Copperfield School




When I reflect on our week at Zoo School through Campus Calgary Open Minds, my mind and heart becomes full from the excitement, discoveries, exploration, community building, and learning that has taken place. I have always believed in learning alongside my students, but felt that this week has made me fully embrace what it means to be a learner. No amount of planning could have prepared me for our mutual excitement at seeing a snow leopard gaze into my student’s eyes, or the rush at attending a gorilla’s fourth birthday party.










All of my students had memorable moments that I know they will carry with them. What stands out to me from the time at Zoo School was one student in particular, who is quiet, a very slow worker and does not often participate during group learning times. This week allowed me to see him in a new light. He was asking questions, making connections, using his time to explore and genuinely engaged in every opportunity. This reminded me of the importance of providing many learning opportunities for our students. 




Sometimes taking them out of our place opens them up in new and exciting ways. This week has changed me and reminded me to slow down and embrace opportunities. When we look for connections between ourselves and others, we are forever changed.