Volume 5, Issue 1
GIRLS' TALK Calgary
Girls’ School
October 2007
Voices of Our Girls
SURVIVOR’S PARADE
On September 11th, representatives from each of the twenty-five classes from the Lakeview and Bel Aire
campuses had the opportunity to participate in the Survivors Parade at Bankers Hall. This parade kicks off
the 16th annual CIBC Run for the Cure, which takes place September 30th at Southcentre Mall.
The Calgary Girls’ School has worked closely with the organizers of the parade for the past four years by
handing out pink ribbons and collecting donations to help raise awareness for breast cancer. Each year we
have the pleasure of hearing positive feedback regarding the girls’ professionalism and manners. It is an
honor to be affiliated with a great cause and know that the girls’ work helps others become aware of this
disease. The highlight of the day is watching the survivors parade down the escalator and listening to their
stories and the affects breast cancer has had on them and their families.
On September 28th, the Calgary Girls’ School will hold their 4th annual Run for the Cure to help support
breast cancer. Our 3Km run/walk will begin at 1:15 and go until 3:00. We will run/walk through the
Lakeview community and end back at CGS. As always your support in volunteering would be appreciated
and family and friends are welcome to join us.
Mr. Remenda
Continued on page 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 Voices of Our Girls
4 Message from CGS Staff
6 Achievement Test Results
7-9 School Notices
10 Message from the Board, School Council
11 Staff Email List, School Location Map
12 Monthly Calendar
View this newsletter in full colour online at
www.calgarygirlsschool.com under What’s New
October 2007 Girls’ Talk 1
When You Just Imagine
When a person who learns that cancer has affected them
first finds out, they freeze. Like glass touched by the first
snowfall of winter. Just imagine your doctor bluntly telling you
that you have cancer. Right as fast as that, life can turn to death.
Now imagine being a witness. Your loved one telling you
the news and you freeze up. Do you support the person? To live
without hope and support is the biggest struggle around. When
one is left alone to wallow in their sorrow only one question runs
over and over through their head, “will I be here tomorrow?” For
a friend to stand by you and always by your side counts as one
more treatment closer to the cure. But face the truth. Would you
rather climb a mountain with one million people or climb it by
yourself?
Now that you’ve imagined the scare of being told,
imagine surviving. The greatest triumph of all. Becoming free of
a burden you’ve carried for a long time. Worries fly away with
wings, right out of your mind. But now what do you do with your
life? Live it like you used to and wait for tomorrow? Life goes
on, but do you change the way you live it? One thing you know
for sure is you sure aren’t going to waste it. Life is like a
chocolate, deformed and sometimes melted. Are you really not
going to eat it? Life’s like your chocolate, will you eat it and
savor it? It’s your choice, your life. Are you going to waste it, or
taste it?
Kylie B.
October 2007 Girls’ Talk 2
I Have a Gift
I am fortunate enough to be alive today, but I struggle
without a doubt
I have a gift
Live each day like it is my last and to know that what I
have right now could be gone in an instant
I have a gift
When in pain I think of my memories of my childhood,
but I still know
I have a gift
I fight to stay alive for myself and for the ones who care
deeply for me
I have a gift
When will they find a cure to get me away from this
grieving pain, I fear greatly that I might not be cured
I have a gift
How could I thank the caring people and my family
enough for funding research to try and keep me well
I have a gift
Rylee F.
October 2007 Girls’ Talk 3
MESSAGE FROM CGS STAFF
The following article was forwarded to the school by Andrew Kryzan, a parent at CGS. It is a copy of
an article published in the “Globe and Mail” on Monday September 3, 2007, written by Gwyn Morgan.
It is simply entitled “Back to School”. The message contained within this writing is one that we are
fascinated by and committed to: girls becoming competent, motivated and excellent mathematicians
and scientists. For the first three years of our existence, CGS focussed its attention through the Alberta
Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) on the teaching and learning of mathematics. Now into our
second round of AISI funding, we are interested in the development of scientific capacity and passion in
our girls. It is our great hope that one day, the world will experience the leadership of CGS “old girls”
as they move forward to assume their rightful place as math and science leaders for their century.
Please take a moment to read Mr. Morgan’s treatise…it may be your daughter who benefits!
BACK TO SCHOOL
by
GWYN MORGAN
September 3, 2007
It's back-to-school weekend. Parents across our very fortunate country are readying their kids for another step in
the educational journey that will ultimately determine their future. Collectively, the course choices made by this
crop of students will also determine the future of our country.
Unfortunately for both the individual student and the future economic success of our country, too few are
choosing a robust suite of math and science courses. For students, this means a myriad of challenging and
fulfilling careers are already being closed off by choices made in the very first year of high school. For our
country, it means falling behind in the technological edge that is key to maintaining our privileged living
standards. When research and applied science leadership moves from Canada to China or India, the good jobs
follow. While all scientific professions are important to Canada's future, the most often quoted measure of
technical competitiveness is new engineering graduates. By this measure, Asian countries are beating the West
hands down, and quality is generally very high.
Canadian business leaders are understandably calling for more focus on productivity, a term that some wrongly
interpret as a call for working harder and longer. I think a better term is working smarter. And it has to start with
workers capable of delivering what is needed to succeed, personally and for the Canadian economy.
As someone who chose to study engineering in university and built a career in the technology-intensive energy
industry, I know the potential of an engineering degree. Technical projects are interesting and challenging, and
technical success often leads to leadership opportunities. A significant portion of chief executive officers are
engineers; partly the result of the disciplined, logical thinking necessary to work in the applied sciences.
In my new role as non-executive board chairman of Montreal-based SNC-Lavalin, Canada's largest engineering
firm, I see a broad array of fascinating projects being done all around the globe. Canadian engineers are truly
world class, but not enough new graduates are entering the profession to make up for those who are retiring.
The sciences offer a plethora of great careers in virtually every field. So, why is it that, at a time when technology
pervades every aspect of modern life, so many kids go through the school system and their entire lives as
scientific illiterates?
That's not true, you say - "My kid is a technology whiz ... you should see what she can do on the computer or
PlayStation."
Well, race car drivers are pretty darned good at using another technically complex product, but they couldn't
design one. It's not about knowing how to use technical products, it's about knowing how to create them. It's also
about the satisfaction of going through life with at least a basic understanding of the technologies you use every
. day. If technical careers are so fulfilling and financially rewarding, then why aren't more high-school kids choosing
the math and science courses needed for technical professions such as engineering?
October 2007 Girls’ Talk 4
Perhaps the biggest reason is poor science teaching. The world around us is fascinating. Science offers the chance
to look behind and under the surface at what makes the natural world the wonder that it is, and how applied science
combines ancient and modern knowledge to create the man-made wonders we use every day. Science teachers
need both knowledge and personal fascination if they hope to turn out students who see the advantage of enrolling in
the more challenging math and science courses. Speaking of math and science courses, while there's been a big
increase in women entering postsecondary science and engineering faculties, they are still underrepresented. It's
taken a long time to overcome the totally erroneous mindset that boys are better at math and science. Basic and
applied science offers wonderful career opportunities for women.
A related impediment is poor career counselling. For example, most school career counsellors are woefully
uninformed on what engineers and scientists actually do and the amazing variety of career opportunities. Students
tend to gravitate toward careers that they see and hear a lot about. That's why law and medicine are so popular.
Television hits such as Law & Order and ER actually have a career choice impact. Perhaps what we need is a
suspense drama featuring engineers dealing with a collapsing dam, stress cracking in a jumbo jet wing, a medical
equipment crisis or a plot to destroy the Internet.
There is no doubt that science has had by far the largest impact on advancing the human condition. Science has
developed cures or prevention of many diseases, provided safe drinking water, allowed amazing levels of global
transportation, created the electronic communication revolution and facilitated exploration of space. It has also
developed consumer products of all kinds, including the equipment needed to keep our beer and ice cream cold on a
steamy summer afternoon. Now, that is important!
Science and technology is Canada's future and, hopefully, the future of increasing numbers of young Canadians.
ACHIEVEMENT TEST RESULTS
We recently received the results of the 2006 Provincial Achievement Tests, written in June by girls in Grades 6 and 9.
These tests provide a benchmark from which Alberta Education is able to make generalizations about how well the
mandated curricula are being addressed across the province. The test results are not intended to be used for student
placement or promotion, teacher evaluation nor comparing schools. Alberta Education appreciates that many important
aspects of learning cannot be measured by one single paper and pencil test, and that these test results re best set within a
much larger context. It is, however, gratifying to us to see the strong results achieved by CGS girls.
If you have questions regarding these results, or any aspect of your daughter’s education at the Calgary Girls' School,
please do not hesitate to be in touch with her teacher or with any member of the administrative team. Individual results
will be available at the school the first week in October and will be sent to at that time
.
NEWSLETTER ONLINE
If you are reading this month’s edition of the newsletter on a sheet of paper, why not take a moment and
check out this same edition online, at the school website http://www.calgarygirlsschool.com . You’ll be able
to view all the photos and art work in living colour, with much better reproduction than the school
photocopier can provide. Help us reduce the financial cost to the school and the environmental cost to our
forests by choosing the online version instead.
If you would like to switch to the online version of the newsletter, simply send a note to the school office with
your child’s name and teacher and your email address. Each month you will be notified by email when the
latest version of the newsletter has been posted to the school website.
October 2007 Girls’ Talk 5
October 2007 Girls’ Talk 6
SAFETY AND SECURITY AT CGS
The safety of all students and staff of the Calgary Girls’ School is of great importance. To that end, we have been
working to establish appropriate safety measures for the various situations that may occur and affect our staff and
students.
Fire drills are a long-standing expectation of everyone who congregates in a setting such as school. We are required
to have a minimum of six fire drills each school year. Our students and staff treat each drill as though is was the real
thing and we are very proud of their performance during those drills. Teachers keep class lists with them during all
drills and attendance is always taken. Parents or other visitors are expected to evacuate the building when the fire
alarm is sounded.
It is a reflection of the changes in our society that we must add variations to our safety drills. Accordingly, we would
like to practice a drill known as a “lockdown” on Tuesday October 23. The teachers will be instructing students
regarding their role during a drill of this kind. The procedures we will follow include closing and locking all doors,
both inside and outside, and keeping staff and students in rooms while the office contacts 911 with details. The role
of everyone in the building is to remain quiet and calm until they are notified of “all clear”. No one is allowed to
enter or leave the building during a lockdown procedure.
Later in the year, we will also be practicing a silent evacuation. A silent evacuation operates exactly the same as a
fire drill without the alarm going off. For your information, the emergency evacuation sites for our school are North
Glenmore Park Community Centre (Lakeview Campus) and First Assembly Church (Bel-Aire Campus). While
practicing our silent evacuation we will not actually walk over to the evacuation site, but will move towards the out
perimeter of the school’s grounds and will ensure we account for all students.
As we continue to refine our school safety procedures, other safety precautions we now have in place include:
• Locking All Doors- except the front door after school has started
• Walkie-Talkies- have been purchased for communication when girls are out in the school field, at North
Glenmore Park, on field trips, etc.
• A Fan Out Procedure- has been established to ensure clear and swift communication with parents in the
event of an emergency.
• Visitors- are expected to register at the office and to wear school identification when in the school.
• Volunteers-must complete a police check and wear school identification at all times.
• Substitute teachers- are provided with emergency information upon entering the school and wear school
identification.
Teachers are trained in first aid and have thoroughly reviewed emergency plans with the children. We appreciate
your support in these very important matters.
TRANSPORTATION
The bus route schedules have now been revised to better accommodate traffic volume
and congestion. Many adjustments have been made to the times and routes of the
original schedules. To check and see if your child’s bus is on time on any school day,
you can call Cardinal directly at 531-3900 ext.5 for an up to date recording of bus
delays.
Thank you for your continued consideration and support in these matters.
October 2007 Girls’ Talk 7
EXTENDED ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL
Throughout the year parents approach the school with information which informs us that their daughter will be absent
from school for an extended period of time due to family travel/holidays. Often times this information is combined
with a request that teachers provide a package of work for the student.
As a staff, we have thoughtfully discussed and debated how best to respond to such requests. Our experience has been
mixed in terms of girls actually completing the assigned work or completing the work to their personal best. We find
difficulty in providing work that is authentic, as the nature of inquiry-based learning is that, although topics of study
can be relayed to parents, particular assignments, investigations and discussions cannot be planned-for in advance, as
they are somewhat context-driven.
The decision of the staff, therefore, is that your daughter’s teacher will provide you with the curriculum topics that will
be missed, and the Alberta Education Website that you, as parents, can check to learn about the specific learner
expectations and outcomes that are associated with the topics. The school will expect that upon her return, your
daughter will advocate for her own learning by seeking out the teacher and by looking to classmates for support in what
was missed. Girls will be expected to ask “What have I missed/what can I do to catch up?” Teachers have agreed that
they would be willing to work with girls in this way.
It must, of course, be recognized that such absences may well affect a student’s grades.
Please email Ms. Gray should you have questions.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Dear parents,
The goal of the Physical Education program at the Calgary Girls' School is to educate girls to develop a positive attitude
and live an active healthy lifestyle. The Physical Education program is based on four general outcomes: Activity, Health
Benefits, Cooperation and Do It Daily…For Life. These general outcomes will be achieved through a variety of activities
related to dance, games, types of gymnastics, individual activities and activities in an alternate environment.
It is important for health, personal hygiene and safety reasons, that your daughter be properly dressed for Physical
Education classes. Calgary Girls’ School T-shirt and shorts are part of the Phys Ed dress code. Proper footwear provides
traction in the gymnasium and outside. It is strongly recommended that the girls have both shorts and sweatpants as we
have scheduled some activities outside during the winter months.
The following is a list of activities that we will be covering from now until December:
Grade 6/7: Cooperative games, aerobic dance, football, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, lacrosse, power walking, netball,
floor hockey and fitness
Grade 8: Cooperative Games, aerobic dance, volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee, fitness, netball, snowshoeing and floor hockey.
Grade 9: Cooperative games, football, volleyball, power walking, ultimate Frisbee, netball, floor hockey, and fitness.
Thank you for attention and understanding. If you have questions about the phys ed program, please do not hesitate to
contact me at rick.remenda@calgarygirlsschool.com
Mr. Remenda
Tear-Off Sheet (please print this form if you receive your newsletter online)
Please complete and return this section of the newsletter.
STUDENT NAME: _______________________________________________________________
GRADE/ROOM: ____________________
PARENT SIGNATURE: _____________________________________________________
All returned slips will be put in a draw for a book donation to the library.
October 2007 Girls’ Talk 8
SCHOOL VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
The response to our request for parent volunteers at the Calgary Girls’ School has been very positive. Almost 300
parents have already offered to volunteer in one or more areas within our school. Thank you parents!
For any parents who have not yet completed the forms and would like to do so, please contact the office at the Bel Aire
campus or at the Lakeview campus to obtain the necessary forms. My apologies to anyone who may have been missed
during the original distribution of the Volunteer Forms. Please remember you must complete a new Volunteer form,
including the Police Security Clearance Disclaimer, each year your daughter attends the Calgary Girls’ School
If you wish to volunteer in the classroom or on field trips with the Calgary Girls’ School you must
complete a Police Security Search and Disclosure Form before helping in the school.
• These forms need only be completed once during your daughter’s tenure at the school.
• Copies of Police Security Clearances, completed at other schools or organizations may also be
provided to the office in which case a new Police Security Clearance is not required.
Please contact the school office to obtain the necessary information to obtain this clearance.
If you have any questions (such as “Have I completed the forms already?” or “Do I have a Police Clearance on file with
the school?”) please call me (contact information given below).
PARENT VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Kathryn Evans Contact number: 246-8082 (H)
PARENT VOLUNTEER SIGN-IN PROCEDURE:
When volunteering at the school, please proceed first to the office to sign-in in the Volunteer Binder. Then pick up a
nametag from the office (available from an office staff member). Please write your name on the nametag using a wet-
erase marker (provided). Please wear this nametag at all times when volunteering in the school. Please return the
nametag to the office before leaving the school.
It is important nametags be worn for security and identification purposes. It helps staff, students and other parents to
identify the parents who work so tirelessly on behalf of our school and our students.
CLASSROOM PARENT VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS
Some parents have already indicated a willingness to be the Classroom Parent Volunteer Coordinator (or “Class
Parent”) when they completed their original Parent Volunteer Forms. Many teachers still need these Coordinators
however. During Parent/Teacher Interviews, posters will be put up at each school asking for volunteers for these
positions. Please consider helping your child’s teacher in this way.
Your responsibilities would include scheduling parent volunteers to help in class, according to the teacher’s
requirements, and occasionally organizing parents for other activities, as needed by the Calgary Girls’ School (such as
finding volunteers to man our booth at the Mom and Tots Fair). It’s not a job with a huge time commitment but it is
very important!
Again, thanks to everyone who has already completed their Volunteer Forms and welcome back to another great year at
the Calgary Girls’ School!!
October 2007 Girls’ Talk 9
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to welcome all new and returning students and parents of the Calgary
Girls’ School.
This year, the Board has decided to take a more active role in terms of government relations. To that end, several
members of our Board recently attended a session put on by Global Public Affairs for The Association of Alberta
Public Charter Schools called “Alberta Government Relations 101” which they found to be helpful. We have secured
a meeting with our new MLA, Craig Cheffins, to meet with Ches, Judy and the Board and are hopeful that the Minister
of Education, Ron Liepert, will agree to a meeting and possibly a tour of our school.
Julie Kearns, our Co-chair since December 2006, has elected to step down from this position as a result of increased
time commitments in her role at the University. Julie has been a valued member of the Board for several years, having
single-handedly drafted virtually all of our Board policies. The Board would like to thank Julie for her tremendous
contributions to both the Board and the school. Jody Johnson, formerly the Board Secretary, has been elected Co-
chair along with Richard Weber.
At the September meeting of the Board, we elected to hold meetings on a different night. The Board will now meet on
the second Wednesday of every month, with the exception of November when they will meet on the second Tuesday.
Meetings are held at 6:00pm in the Lakeview library and parents are always welcome to come. Please call Jan at the
school if you wish to attend.
The Board would also like to invite parents to review the updated Board web pages on our website at
www.calgarygirlsschool.com/default.asp?id=26. We invite feedback on the web pages, as our goal is to be as
informative as possible.
CGS SCHOOL COUNCIL
Thanks to everyone for coming out to our first ever morning council meeting. I guess to say that it was a success
would be mild. We had our staff room filled to capacity with Mom’s who were interested to know what was going
on. I hope this will continue for the remainder of the year. It’s great to be in the company of many new ideas.
As many of you know, this will be the last year for Melissa Downey, Deb McGinn and myself. We were hopeful that
we could get new parents involved with Council, so that the transition would not be draped in turmoil. Well, we have
filled all of the positions on the Council and the names will be posted on the website soon. Thank you to everyone
that stood up to volunteer. I’m certain that this year will be filled with great conversation, great ideas, and great
accomplishments. We are part of a fabulous group of parents and staff and an even more incredible group of young
ladies.
Our next council meeting will be at 9am on Tuesday Oct 16, at the Lakeview Staff Room. I hope that most of you
will be able to join us again. We will, in the mean time, have met at Lakeview on Tuesday Sept 25 at 1:00p.m. to
discuss details of Women’s Eve. Any of you that wish to help, please join us.
The Council minutes will be posted each month on our website. Please feel free to read them at your convenience.
The coupon book campaign is going well, and just a reminder to get out there and sell as many books as you can.
You have until the end of October. Last year we made over $30,000.00 selling these books and now our girls’ have
laptop computers in the classroom because of their efforts. I will be in the school each week on a Friday – 10am at
the Bel Aire campus and 1pm at Lakeview to process orders. In a week where there is no school on a Friday, I will
then process orders same time on a Thursday. Please come and help if time allows you to.
October 2007 Girls’ Talk 10
We are starting to look for volunteers for the upcoming casino. The casino is December 17 and 18 and we will need
volunteers to fill one shift over the two day event. The shifts are: 10:30 am – 7 pm, and 6:30 pm - 3am. It’s a great
way to get to know others parents and an even greater way to help raise money for our girls. Last year the casino
raised over $62,000.00!!!! We have been able to give our girls many tools for learning that they would not have
otherwise. There is still a good sum of money that will be spent this year under the advisement of Judy and Ches.
Thank you again for the great show of enthusiasm at our first meeting. I hope you all bring it back next month and we
can get down to the business of business.
Carol McCarthy
amazingevents@shaw.ca
607-9513
CGS Staff Email List
Rachel Aikman rachel.aikman@calgarygirlsschool.com Jan Jordan jan.jordan@calgarygirlsschool.com
Heather Andrews heather.andrews@calgarygirlsschool.com Quan Le quan.le@calgarygirlsschool.com
Jean Arscott jean.arscott@calgarygirlsschool.com Hannah McKnight hannah.mcknight@calgarygirlsschool.com
Ann Ard ann.ard@calgarygirlsschool.com Sandra McNeil sandra.mcneil@calgarygirlsschool.com
Melissa Bartlett melissa.bartlett@calgarygirlsschool.com Jocelyn Monteith jocelyn.monteith@calgarygirlsschool.com
David Bennett david.bennett@calgarygirlsschool.com Sheena Moodie sheena.moodie@calgarygirlsschool.com
Ches Cowley ches.cowley@calgarygirlsschool.com Allison Nichol allison.nichol@calgarygirlsschool.com
Nancy Else nancy.else@calgarygirlsschool.com Shannon Nichols shannon.nichols@calgarygirlsschool.com
Kelly Eskerod kelly.eskerod@calgarygirlsschool.com Jamie Nybo jamie.nybo@calgarygirlsschool.com
Susan Farrell susan.farrell@calgarygirlsschool.com Marla Oddie marla.oddie@calgarygirlsschool.com
Tanice Fischer tanice.fischer@calgarygirlsschool.com Brianne O'Sullivan brianne.osullivan@calgarygirlsschool.com
Oliver Fisher oliver.fisher@calgarygirlsschool.com Caroline Parker caroline.parker@calgarygirlsschool.com
Myrtle Friedley myrtle.friedley@calgarygirlsschool.com Anoushka Prockiw anoushka.prockiw@calgarygirlsschool.com
Anna Gibbard anna.gibbard@calgarygirlsschool.com Rick Remenda rick.remenda@calgarygirlsschool.com
Diane Gibson diane.gibson@calgarygirlsschool.com Megan Shaw megan.shaw@calgarygirlsschool.com
Judy Gray judy.gray@calgarygirlsschool.com Kari Sirup kari.sirup@calgarygirlsschool.com
Laurie Heather laurie.heather@calgarygirlsschool.com Brad Strohschein brad.strohschein@calgarygirlsschool.com
Trina Holland trina.holland@calgarygirlsschool.com Tricia Vincent tricia.vincent@calgarygirlsschool.com
Michael Jarry-Shore michael.jarry-shore@calgarygirlsschool.com Holly Wheatley holly.wheatley@calgarygirlsschool.com
Bel Aire Campus
(Grades 4,5)
1011 Beverley Blvd. S.W.
Calgary AB T2V 2C4
Phone 253-3785
Fax 253-0430
Lakeview Campus
(Grades 6,7,8,9)
6304 Larkspur Way S.W.
Calgary AB T3E 5P7
Phone 220-0745
Fax 217-1371
October 2007 Girls’ Talk 11
October 2007 Girls’ Talk 12