Click here to read the entire post and to see her stunning photography.
Preparation for Camp Sweet = Increased Chance of a Safe and Fun Experience
Parent Guest Blogger Denise Kitagawa
Click here to read the entire post and to see her stunning photography.
One of the many amazing things about the Calgary Science School is the fact that students go on two overnight Outdoor Education trips each school year. One trip is to Camp Sweet (about 90 minutes outside of Calgary), where the students sleep in tents and spend a few days camping and exploring the woods and fields – including some free time splashing in the river if it’s warm enough. The other trip is grade dependent. This year, five out of six grades (500 students) are going to Camp Sweet between mid-August and the end of September (the grade 9 fall trip was to the Bamfield Marine Station on Vancouver Island).
Click here to read the entire post and to see her stunning photography.
Student Blogs "The Bamfield Diaries"
As a way to create an audience for their work, recently the grade 9 classes have begun blogging. As part of this process, students were asked to recount an experience they had during their week long adventure at Bamfield Marine Centre on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Here are some samples of their work along with their blog address.
Students love when people visit their blog (we are keeping a class tally for the blogs with the most posts). Please visit their site and feel free to leave a comment.
Grade 8 Writing Activity- Show Don't Tell
Jaime Groeller
"It was a crisp morning, but this fall is beautiful! I wish I was a poet or a photographer in order to capture it myself."
We were outside, silent for 15 minutes, in 8.3 despite the coolness. I had them choose a spot to start, then had them move to a second spot, all in silence.
Seriously awesome conversation between two students once we came inside:
Student 1: "How about, like, that the wind "digs its fingers" into you?"
Student 2: "Hmmm, not really. That's not quite it."
"It was a crisp morning, but this fall is beautiful! I wish I was a poet or a photographer in order to capture it myself."
We were outside, silent for 15 minutes, in 8.3 despite the coolness. I had them choose a spot to start, then had them move to a second spot, all in silence.
Seriously awesome conversation between two students once we came inside:
Student 1: "How about, like, that the wind "digs its fingers" into you?"
Student 2: "Hmmm, not really. That's not quite it."
Math & Science Inquiry Projects
CSS Math & Science Inquiry Projects Database
Our Math and Science Team has created a Google Doc to house a database of inquiry projects that they will use throughout the year. The goal of this database is to provide a place where teachers within the school and ultimately, teachers from outside the school, can see how we foster inquiry within our own classrooms.
If you would like to learn more about one of the projects or have a question please add a comment below.
Click here to visit the Project Database:
CSS Math and Science Inquiry Project Database
If you would like to learn more about one of the projects or have a question please add a comment below.
Click here to visit the Project Database:
CSS Math and Science Inquiry Project Database
Students Teaching the Student Teachers
On September 11, 2012 eight of our grade 8 students walked to Mount Royal University to assist with an Google Apps orientation for new Education students. We were contacted by Dr. Norm Vaughn, who sits on the Calgary Science School board, to come and help his students in using the different applications that our students as so familiar with. Our students not only worked with individual university students, but took to the lectern to share some of their examples from class.Calgary Science School Parent, Student and Staff Interviews
Calgary Science School Parent, Student and Staff Interviews Executive Summary
Garry McKinnon-June 25, 2012
The annual superintendent interviews of parents, students and staff members were conducted over several weeks in the Spring of 2012 as a component of the ongoing school evaluation process. On March 8 and 9 during student-led conferences, 48 parents were interviewed. In May and June, grade 4 to 9 students as class groups (approximately 600) were interviewed. As well, teaching and support staff members (36 participants) were interviewed. The feedback generated through the two questions (without any prompting) "What causes you to believe that the Calgary Science School is a very good school and what suggestions for improvement would you like to offer?",
Garry McKinnon-June 25, 2012
The annual superintendent interviews of parents, students and staff members were conducted over several weeks in the Spring of 2012 as a component of the ongoing school evaluation process. On March 8 and 9 during student-led conferences, 48 parents were interviewed. In May and June, grade 4 to 9 students as class groups (approximately 600) were interviewed. As well, teaching and support staff members (36 participants) were interviewed. The feedback generated through the two questions (without any prompting) "What causes you to believe that the Calgary Science School is a very good school and what suggestions for improvement would you like to offer?", 
