Professional Learning | Now What? | February 3rd 4:30-7:00 (Doors Open at 4:00)

We are pleased to be offering our next Professional Learning Opportunity for 2015/2016 participating teachers.  As a reminder to this year's teachers:

Workshop Information

Now what?

Keeping the CC/OM journey alive throughout the year…

Date: Wednesday, February 3

Time: 4:30-7:00 (doors open at 4:00)

Place: North Haven School – 4922 North Haven Drive NW Light dinner will be provided.

Open to all teachers participating in Campus Calgary/Open Minds

2015-16 school year.

Part A:  Come hear from your colleagues as they share their journey with CC/OM. How have they kept the inquiry alive? How do journals support the inquiry?  The big idea has to live everywhere…how does this happen?  Different grades and sites will be represented in this sharing session.

Part B:  All participants are asked to bring an artifact/piece of student work that demonstrates where you are in the journey. Things to consider include:

How have you honoured student voice?

How is the inquiry coming alive?

Where are connections being made and growing?

Space is limited. Please RSVP by February 1st to secure your space.

RSVP http://goo.gl/forms/blBMJtg3t4

Community and Collaboration

Ms. Barrie’s class of grade 5/6 students from Captain John Palliser explored the inquiry of Community and Collaboration during their week at Healthy Living School at Vivo for HealthierGenerations.  Throughout the week, students spoke to many experts about what is in a community and how do partners collaborate to create a healthy community.

These students created metaphors of Community and Collaboration to demonstrate their learning.  On Thursday afternoon they held a showcase in the lobby of Vivo to show their magnificent pieces of art and to describe their metaphors.

Students sharing their community metaphor to Vivo's CEO, Sue Scott

Students unveil their video metaphor to Jennifer Gray

How is community like a layered cake?  Munch on that . . . 

Blog Contributed by Leigh Delong, site coordinator for Healthy Living School

Alumni Reflection | My Open Minds Experience

My first experience with Open Minds was 12 years ago as a Grade Five student with Zoo School. We had begun studying animal habitats and were told that for one week we would be at the zoo studying any animal we wanted. I was keen to study the tigers so the tiger enclosure became my classroom for a week. We were given journals to document our experiences and would reconvene in the Tom Baines classroom to learn about other animals from the zoo staff. At the end of the experience, we went behind the scenes with the elephants and had the opportunity to participate in their bathing session. As a result, we actually got to wash and feed them! This experience is still the most memorable of my school career along with one of my favourites from my childhood.

Taking what we learned from Zoo School our task was to then create our own original animals and design an appropriate enclosure for them. I distinctly remember how excited I was when I did this project and the effort I put into it. The impact this experience had on my learning was something I cannot forget. I remember being excited, engaged, inspired, and I felt like an true expert. 

The lasting impact of Open Minds was unlike anything I have ever experienced. My mother volunteered for trip and we still talk about how fun it was for not only the kids but for the parents too. Now as I embark on a career as an elementary teacher, having experienced this program as a student firsthand, I understand the kind of impact it can make for my future students. The immersive quality of this program makes it utterly unique and a program I hope to use with my students one day. The school I am currently doing my field experience in will be partaking in the Science School program at TELUS Spark in May. I am excited to experience the program again however this time through the lens of a pre-service teacher!

Open Minds truly opened up my mind to many opportunities and allows students to experience learning that is palpable and meaningful.

Marina Drvodelic

Age: 22

Current University of Calgary Werklund School of Education Student (Graduating June 2016)

We welcome contributions from our many alumni!  Within our 23 years, have you participated in a Campus Calgary/Open Minds experience?  If you are interested in sharing your memory or story of impact, let us know!

The Community is Calling... CC/OM in 2016/17

Are you ready to apply for the 2016-17 school year??

Important Dates:

Information Meeting for teachers new to Campus Calgary/Open Minds will be Thursday, January 28, 2016 at TELUS Spark.  Doors open at 4:00 – program from 4:30-7:00. Please RSVP using the Google form: http://goo.gl/forms/gprMK6fZaj  by January 26th. This is meeting will provide information into CC/OM and the application process. Meet ALL of our site coordinators and hear about the potentials each site has to offer.

Campus Calgary/Open Minds 101 will be at Teachers Convention Friday, February 12th at 9:00-10:15 hosted in the City Hall School Classroom on the main floor of the Municipal Building.  

Proposal Writing Workshop will be at Teachers Convention Friday, February 12th at 11:00-12:15 hosted in the City Hall School Classroom on the main floor of the Municipal Building. Please see the teachers convention website for more details.

For the most current updates on applications, in-services and updates please check the website  

Applications for the 2016-17 year are due April 11, 2016

For further information please contact us 

Happy Holidays!

From all of the CC/OM TEAM to you:

We wish you the merriest of holidays and well deserved break.

See you in 2016!

Connecting Through Music to Share Some Holiday Cheer!

Miss Walter's grade 5/6 class from Captain John Palliser School came to 2School to further their inquiry of Collaboration within our community.  Throughout the week they explored public art, the Field of Flame, and a variety of public parks and spaces ALL to gather evidence of community collaboration.

An opportunity arose for students to collaborate through music with the staff at the CBE during the Board of Trustees and Chief Superintendent’s annual Christmas gathering on Wednesday, December 9.  Ms. Sarah Walters and her grade 5/6 students sang tunes which delighted staff.  Under the guidance of their music teacher Ms. Neufeld, students learned traditional songs with new "Canadian" lyrics.  A favourite story teller is Troy Towsin who wrote "The Original All-Canadian 12 Days of Christmas" called "A Moose in a Maple Tree".  Students joined adults as they sang their part. There were many smiling faces as we all sang this new, updated version of the 12 Days of Christmas - Canadian style!  

2School at Calgary Catholic School District and CUPS

How does an idea come alive?  A Grade 6 class at St Pius School attending 2School discovered this for themselves when they decided to dig deeper into the “big idea” of Citizenship.

Exploring the concept of Active Citizenship in their classroom, and led by their teacher Melissa Ross, the students invited their Chief Superintendent to their classroom.  Gary Strother shared how Calgary Catholic School District’s Faith Theme of Do Justice, Love Kindness and Walk Humbly with God gained momentum and inspired a multitude of projects over a three year period.  The Grade 6 class asked many questions that day, and in the following days during their custom-designed Campus Calgary/Open Minds week. Immersed in the idea of Citizenship as it connects to CCSD’s Faith Theme, their time at Central Office was valuable as they also interviewed school district personnel and their trustee.

The 2School Site provided opportunities for teachers, parents and students to uncover curriculum through the unique lens of public education and the role it plays in our democratic society. The historical classroom served as a base for students as they explored and gathered evidence of citizenship in this dynamic downtown community.

Phrases such as ‘By Your Actions’ and ‘Less of Me, More of You’ took on meaning during a day at CUPS, the Calgary Urban ProjectSociety. Students had the opportunity to wrap Christmas gifts for those in need and to learn more about the organization and the role it plays in the heart of Calgary. 

St Pius students are challenged and empowered by their Chief Superintendent to take this unique experience, their own understandings and to lend their ideas and voices towards CCSD’s next Faith Theme!   

Submitted by Ita Kistorma

Consultant, Campus Calgary/Open Minds

Calgary Catholic School District