School Preview

1. School Preview

2. Welcome to Richmond School

4. Richmond Child Care Association Children are grouped according to grade groups and have structured social interaction with their peers.

5. On PD days, they offer supervision and fun filled activities.

6. Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Works in partnership with the school to enrich programming for students. The budget is transparent to cover five categories. • Event Enhancements • Life-skills Extensions • Long-term School-wide use • Classroom Enhancements • Field Trips

7. Alberta Mandated Program of Studies Alberta Education is responsible for determining what students are expected to learn from Kindergarten to Grade 12. For more information go to http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/

8. Calgary Board of Education Ends • Mega End Each student, in keeping with his or her individual abilities and gifts, will complete high school with a foundation of learning to function effectively in life, work and continued learning. • Academic Success Each student will possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for academic success and be effectively prepared for life, work and further learning. • Citizenship Each student will be a responsible citizen by being an informed and involved member in his or her local, national and global communities. • Personal Development Each student will acquire the skills, attitudes and knowledge to achieve personal highest potential. • Character Each student will possess the character to do what is right, act morally with wisdom, and balance individual concerns with the rights and needs of others.

10. Mathematics The aim of the mathematics program is to prepare students to: • use mathematics confidently to solve problems • communicate and reason mathematically • appreciate and value mathematics • commit themselves to lifelong learning • become mathematically literate adults, using mathematics to contribute to society

11. Students are expected to learn how to: • communicate mathematically • connect mathematical ideas to everyday experiences in all subject areas • practise estimation and use mental mathematics • relate and apply new mathematical knowledge to problem solving • reason and justify thinking • use appropriate technologies as a tool to solve problems • use visualization to assist in solving problems, processing information and making connections

12. Language Arts/Literacy At Richmond School, students and teachers work together as a diverse and caring community of learners. A daily dedicated Literacy Block and strong cross-curricular connections offer students K-6 common language as they strive for and achieve confidence as effective global learners and citizens.

13. Guided Reading Guided reading is the bridge between shared reading and independent reading. It allows teachers to help students make the transition from teacher modelling to student independence. In guided reading, the teacher scaffolds the learning of a small group of students as they apply strategies previously taught during read-alouds and shared reading to an unfamiliar, but carefully selected, text. This text is within the students' instructional range and provides reasonable challenges for learning. The teacher supports the students as they talk, read, and think their way through a text using effective reading strategies.

14. Literature Circles • Students work in groups and read novels together. • Each person in the group has a specific role to follow for each chapter. • Roles include Discussion Director, Word Wizard, Connector, and Literary Luminary. • The group discusses the text in relation to their assigned roles.

16. Desire To Learn (D2L) Desire2Learn Incorporated (D2L) is a provider of enterprise eLearning solutions and develops online Learning Management Systems (LMS). The CBE and Richmond School incorporate this platform into learning beyond the classroom walls. D2L is a wonderful way for parents and extended family to review class work, homework activities, view upcoming projects and be involved in class discussions.

17. SMART Technologies is a combination of hardware and software combined to actively engage and demonstrate teaching and learning in multiple ways.

18. SMART boards • SMART Boards are interactive allowing images to be manipulated and saved. • Document Camera images, enable magnification and saving of images digitally.

20. Comic Life™ Comic Life software allows early grades to create their own storyboards. Digital pictures are taken and the class then creates the speech bubbles to tell the story. Students really enjoy being in the story pictures and incorporating literacy and storytelling into any subject area of their learning.

21. The Robots are coming!

22. Robotics is an innovative way to teach Math, Science and Engineering/Building curriculum in a fun and exciting way. • Students are engaged in cooperative groups organizing Lego materials, following written and pictorial directions, building a Robot structure and designing tracks on the computer for their Robot to follow. • Students have been known to get together and write stories using their robots as characters and explain their actions. Very creative!

23. Alberta Initiative School Improvement (AISI) With AISI Learning Leaders and teaching staff, our focus for Professional Development has been on improving achievement using Digital Learning Environments (DLE).

24. Digital Learning Environments (DLE) Digital Learning tools could include use of computers, SMART Boards, i-Pods, video cameras, document cameras, voice recognition software, (Dragon Naturally Speaking) and scanners to positively contribute to students’ level of engagement. Staff Development, Professional Learning and Learning Leader support has been provided to implement ‘personalization strategies’ as areas of focus for all learners. Expanded working knowledge of DLE increases learning and effectiveness. Rubric creation and development directs learning and assessment. Implementation of ePortfolios has assisted with planning and documenting student and teacher learning.

25. Curriculum Based Enrichment • Guest Speakers • Open Minds Week Long Residencies • Fine Art Residencies – Music, Art, Drama • School Wide Celebrations • One World Drumming • Math and Science Workshops for students • Field Trips

26. Full Day Field Trips EPCOR Centre • Grade 2/3 enjoyed a full day field trip to the EPCOR Centre. • Immersed in the cultures of India and the Inuit using various art forms. • Entire day a rewarding and enriching experience. • Thank you to our business partner First Calgary and PAC for funding this enrichment opportunity outside of the school building.

27. School Partners in Education First Calgary Financial ING Direct

28. Health Club Students at Richmond School have the chance to participate in the Health Club throughout the school year. With the support of the school’s designated Registered Nurse, students learn about good health and the importance of physical activity in their lives. They complete a variety of projects and activities (at an age-appropriate level) that educate and motivate them to keep fit and healthy, including yoga with a professional instructor, how to pack a healthy lunch, and the creation of a pasta skeleton.

31. Patrols • School Patrols provide leadership and allow for safe crossings of 26 Avenue. • This service is available prior to and after school. • Our Patrol team often scores very high on their evaluations. Well done team!

32. Physical Education Richmond School offers daily physical education. Physical warm up is a necessary portion of the class, followed by skill development for both cooperative and competitive games.

33. Basket Ball Students in Grade 5 and 6 enjoyed the opportunity to learn and play with members of Mount Royal College’s women's basketball team. They practise their skills with cooperative drills, and play well as a team. Students really enjoy playing basket ball in the compound when they can.

34. Inline Skating In Line skating has been an annual week long activity in our school gym. Students are instructed how to be safe and extend their skating skills playing cooperative game. An evening event is planned to allow children to share the skills that they have learned with their parents. Excellent Physical activity and lots of fun!

35. Swimming Going swimming as a school to the Glenmore Aquatic Center is approached as a Life Skills approach. Usually swimming is booked for a 5 day period allowing basic fundamentals of water safety and individual skill development to be pursued.

36. Remembrance Day Assembly Remembrance Day for the 2/3’s was extra special this year. They prepared for the school’s assembly. They produced and performed a play based on Anne Frank’s life. Everyone had a part in the play, built the sets and gathered the props and costumes. The song WE SALUTE OUR HEROS was sang prior to the minute of silence. (Our Kindergarten educational assistant signed the words as we sang.) Our school custodian appeared in his military uniform we were in awe as he spoke, to realize we had a real live veteran amongst us each and every school day. At the end of our assembly each student in Richmond placed the picture of one of our 152 fallen Afghanistan soldiers on a cross up on the Wall of Fame that had been erected in the gymnasium. Many adults were also in attendance for this assembly. As a school we enjoyed learning about our soldiers and their work. As students we respect and appreciate better this special day.

37. Welcome back to School Welcome Back to School Event allows students, parents and teachers to informally get together and celebrate the beginning of a new school year. The Parent Advisory Council provides juice, muffins and coffee. Thanks to PAC!

38. Community Potluck The community potluck is an annual event. Parents enjoy getting together to know one another and then the Parent Advisory Council has their Annual General Meeting.

39. Storybook Character Celebration Students and teachers at Richmond School kicked off this annual October celebration with a festive parade in the gym. Everyone was dressed as their favourite storybook character and carried a book that best represented that character. Celebrations continued in the classroom with related crafts and activities.

40. Christmas Holiday Lunch Provided by PAC The true sense of community and belonging occurs when the school is provided with a Christmas Holiday Lunch.

41. One World Drumming One World Drumming Residency is a special week long residency. Every year the skill level and appreciation by the students increases. Richmond School has a set of drums which are used by classes to build upon literacy and numeracy skills.

43. Subs n’ Seeds To celebrate Earth Day, Richmond School PAC and volunteers assist and provide students with a sub lunch and special activities to demonstrate care and appreciation for our mother earth. Planting of seeds, seeding of garden flower beds appreciate the care and beatification.

44. Teddy bear picnic Nothing can remove the January Blues better than a Teddy Bear Picnic on your beach blanket in the gym. Parent volunteers and special school Partners with Richmond School, enjoy being part of this noon hour and reading a favourite picture storybook to a group of students. Special Lunch is sometimes included with this event.

45. Grade six celebration Grade Six Students have a celebration assembly on the last day of school. During this Farewell Assembly a power point is shared where highlights of the school year are presented and celebrated.

46. School Tour Pleased that you were able to attend.