Back to School Information Kit
2007/2008

Back to the Books - Alberta Prepares for Back to School
What's new this school year?

New Access to Language Programs for Early Learners
This fall, many of Alberta's preschoolers enrolled in a recognized Early Childhood Services (ECS) program will have access to language programming as Alberta Education extends English as a Second Language (ESL) and Francisation programs to eligible children as young as 3 1/2 years old. Seven million dollars has been provided to school jurisdictions to help build language skills for children through (ECS) programming including Kindergarten and HeadStart. This is one initiative in support of the Minister of Education's priority to explore options to provide children with access to early learning opportunities.

'Back to School' Tips for Parents
Parents and guardians looking for information to assist with preparing their kids for 'back to school' have access to a variety of online resources from 'things to consider before the first day of school' to study tips, managing homework and safe Internet use. Other valuable information for parents and students is also available, including learning resources and tips on time management and being a successful student.

Grades 5, 8, 10 Adopt New Social Studies Curriculum
Students in Alberta's Grades 5, 8 and 10 classrooms will be experiencing Alberta Education's new Social Studies curriculum this school year. The revised curriculum puts an even greater focus on citizenship and identity, and has an increased concentration on Canadian and Albertan history specifically including Aboriginal and Francophone contributions and perspectives. The new program of studies was first introduced for Kindergarten to Grade 3 in the 2005/2006 school year and by 2009 will be taught at every grade level.

Involvement in School Board Elections Makes a Difference
As Albertans prepare to head to the ballot box this fall for municipal and school board trustee elections, Alberta Education and its partners in education are reminding voters of the importance of participating in this process. They are being encouraged to ask local candidates about education issues and to vote for a school trustee on election day, or run for a nomination themselves. School boards shape our students' futures by making important decisions that affect the quality of education. More information about the upcoming election is available at the Alberta School Boards Association website.

Bullying Prevention: Focus on Bullies
Armed with statistics on the incidence of bullying and its lasting effects, and evidence that proves that bullying has a direct negative impact on learning, the Government of Alberta continues to put a strong focus on bullying prevention. The third year of its three-year province-wide bullying prevention campaign is focusing on bullies and bringing awareness to the idea that we all have been a bully at one time or another and need to look at how we can change our behaviour to set a positive example. Educational materials, resources and tips are available at the click of a mouse.

School Councils Regulation Change
The School Councils Regulation (113/2007) has been revised to provide more clarity and flexibility for establishing school councils to accommodate local circumstances. The revision more accurately reflects what happens in existing school councils and identifies opportunities for involving parents in meaningful activities that relate to school. In addition, a new section of the School Councils Regulation identifies the responsibilities of school boards in relation to school councils.

Alberta Schools are Doing Well
Provincial Accountability Pillar results for 2006/2007 demonstrate that Alberta schools, school jurisdictions and the province made great strides toward meeting their learning goals. Alberta Education gathers feedback on how our education system is performing through surveys of students, parents and teachers as well as data on student outcomes such as high school completion and dropout rates, and results of Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) and diploma exams. Alberta's innovative new way of measuring performance ensures accountability in Alberta's education system resulting in the best possible education opportunities for all students.

New Math Curriculum - Leading Math Success!
A new mathematics curriculum for Kindergarten and Grades 1, 4 and 7 is being rolled out on an optional basis starting this fall. The new curriculum is designed to further student achievement by providing a good grounding in basic mathematics. Students will receive a good grounding in basic mathematics, with an increased focus on number facts and problem solving. Changes to the K-9 Mathematics Program of Studies reflect current research in math education. Although many of the topics studied remain the same, the grade in which they appear may differ. The new Alberta Mathematics Kindergarten to Grade 9 Program of Studies will be mandatory in these grades in 2008 and taught in all grades up to 9 by 2010. A staggered curriculum implementation will ease the transition in schools and support publishers who provide resources.

New Cree Culture and Language Curriculum
In response to the rapid growth in the number of First Nations students interested in enhancing their Cree language skills, a new Cree Language and Culture Program of Studies will be introduced for Alberta junior high and high schools this fall. The new curricula were developed in collaboration with Alberta Education, First Nation Cree Elders, community members, practicing Cree language and culture teachers/instructors from various school authorities. There is a new Cree Language and Culture Three-year program for students who wish to begin studying at the high school level, a Six-year program for students starting in junior high school and a Nine-year program for students who wish to begin studying at the elementary level.

New Features for Legislature Virtual Visit
The Virtual Visit: Step inside your Alberta Legislature is now equipped with new learning tools specific to the Grade 6 Legislative Assembly of Alberta's "School-at-the-Legislature" program. These include interactive videos with Members of the Legislative Assembly. Also new is the ability for users to access the Legislature's Chamber floor, walk amongst the desks and view the Speaker's chair up close. This online, three-dimensional re-creation of the Alberta Legislature building gives users an opportunity to explore the Alberta Legislature, either on their own or via a guided tour.

Teacher Recognition - Excellence in Teaching Awards
Over 400 teachers have been recognized through the Excellence in Teaching Awards since 1989. The program, presented by Alberta Education with support from its partners in education, gives Albertans an opportunity to say thank you and acknowledge the importance of the work being done by teachers and principals in schools across the province. Nominations for the 2008 Excellence in Teaching Awards open the week of October 22, 2007.

Second Language Learning Bursaries and Scholarships
Twenty-three of Alberta's present and future Kindergarten to Grade 12 language teachers recently received a total of $85,000 in bursary and scholarship awards to attend a language credit course or a recognized language and culture immersion program. The Languages in Teacher Education Scholarships and Language Teacher Bursaries were awarded to help enhance their knowledge and fluency of second language teachers leading into this academic year.