Welcome To Alexander Ferguson School

1
Welcome To Alexander Ferguson School

• where were
• Making a World of Difference!

2
The Building

• We turned 50 years old on October 24, 2006. With
  this special year, the following renovations and
  additions were done to continue making this great
  school a school of choice
• The roof replacement was completed
• Ceilings painted where necessary
• Three sets of windows in the administration area
  were replaced
• Grade 5/6 coat hooks were raised and the area
  painted
• The front ramp walkway was repaired and painted
• School was rekeyed
• New office curtains were purchased
• New fire, alarm and electrical systems were
  installed and tested
• The curtain dividing our library from room 6 was
  installed (3500.00)
• Whiteboards in four rooms were installed as well
  as in the staffroom retrofitting this area as an
  efficient and pleasant part time classroom
• Installation of the 50th Anniversary Mosaic
  mural, commemorative tiles and
• hanging Gully Day Natural art piece was
  completed
• Picture frames for student artwork were purchased
  for the library
• Two grants of a total of 75 000 were received to
  begin installing the Naturalization Area
  (www.raingarden.ca) . This included removal of
  the blue bucketball nets.
• Two classrooms were painted (Rm. 7 and 8)
• A portable green house was purchased for Rm.8

3
The People Adults

• We were at capacity for 2006 -07 due to positive
  marketing and reputation outstanding staff,
  program and community. This has allowed us to
  have Dan Dornan, our new assistant principal.
• LTTA has been a great success with a true team of
  Fine Artists backing us up.
• We have a half time Resource Teacher and an 8/10
  Class Size Initiative teacher.
• Teachers have participated in over 5000 in
  workshops/ courses/visitations
• Additional workshops by Karen Shaw ESL
  consultant, Student Services, GLAR team and
  Elementary Language Arts consultant, Julie Bain
• We have mentored a full cadre of student teachers
  again this year (9) and 4 Mount Royal S. T.
• We have run an extremely successful Before and
  After School Care program and a lunchroom
  servicing 160 students
• We have hosted two International Bureau
  visitations 8 teachers from England and 2 from
  Japan. Both groups honored us with extremely
  positive comments
• We have hosted numerous Kindergarten workshops
  and small group visitations
• Our kindergarten teacher, Lana Kostiuk, was
  featured in 7 national newspapers
• Our mural artist, Doug Driedeger, has displayed
  his work during the Ferguson Festival a
  Celebration of Visual Learning, and is again
  coming to teach our students on Activity Day
• We continue to have more volunteers generously
  donate their time to the school
• Enough parents returned the Gr. 4 Accountability
  Pillar Survey so their responses could be
  analyzed
• All support staff are returning and there was
  increased support
• staff time this year
• Full time help again from Cheryl Beatty, literacy
  support

4
People The Students

• Our population has increased from 169 in 2004 to
  225 (capacity)
• Students have participated in numerous acts of
  Generosity such as the Give Meaning Program,
  Childrens Cottage (Mitten Tree) Food Bank
• Foster parents, Alberta Cancer Foundation,
  YWCA Sheriff King Home and the Naturalization
  project.
• School Patrols won First Place trophy in their
  Division.
• Scholastic Book Fairs annual Kids Are Authors
  competition recognized our Gr. 1 /2 entry A
  Northern Alphabet are one of 9 finalists out of
  202 entries across Canada.
• Excellent participation in continuing Division I
  Leadership Core and high participation in
  Division II Leadership Core, particularly in the
  Phys Ed Monitors.
• Alberta Learnings Accountability Pillar Survey
  of 2007 shows students increased feelings of
  safety and engagement. Overall
• continued improvement and Ratings of
  Excellence
• were received from students, parents and
  teachers.

5
Student Activities

• Over 2 / 3 the younger students are in Division I
  Leadership Core
• Intramurals, Games Club, Drumming Club, Choir,
  Computer tutors, West African Dance, Games Club
• Presenting musical composers on the PA system
• Halloween dress up and dance
• Division II Leadership Core including Special
  Projects, Office Helpers and Phys Ed Helpers
• Dress Your Best Day and Winter Dance
• Grade 5/6 Painting Club
• Childrens Festival Flag Contribution
• Two Writers Clubs
• Dress as a Famous Person Day and Dance
• Crazy Hair Day
• Activity Day
• Farewell Assembly
• Talent show

6
The Programs

• Music instead of the bells at school
• Two Book Fairs
• Monthly sharing assemblies
• Pizza lunches
• Half Pints Presentation on Bully Proofing
• 50th Anniversary Celebration including Dress in
  your Decade, the Mosaic Mural, the Commemorative
  Tiles, Canadian Folk Songs and planting Alberta
  Wood Lilies
• School Evacuation and Emergency Phone Fan out
  practice
• 3 day Outdoor School at Rocky Mountain YMCA
• Alien In-Line Skating
• Every student has had one or two field trips this
  year. In addition, several guest speakers and
  presenters have visited our classrooms.
• Decembers Light and the Sharing of Song
• Honens Scholarship provided Gr. 6 with a chance
  to compose music with a professional from U of C
• 3 Day Circle of Courage Student Radio Broadcast
  on 106.1FM
• Author Dan Bar-el presented to both Divisions
• Presentations by Canadian Space Agency Astronaut
  Dr. Robert Thursk
• Swim Program
• 6 String Nation Presentation
• Ferguson Festival a Celebration of Visual
  Learning
• Naturalization Project installation

7
The Resources

• A new copier has been purchased.
• New staffroom flooring was purchased.
• New shelving for the library has been purchased
  and will be installed as part of a successful 10
  000 Grant to Energize the library. Wall to
  wall murals will be painted by professional
  artists, and we will have a solar panel operating
  a moveable device. Our grant enables us to have
  students and/or interact with Energy Sources
  and experts, in order to work with musicians to
  develop a CD on Albertas Energy
  sources/resources.
• New Grade 3 /4 Social studies materials
  purchased.
• New Gr. 5 /6 Literacy Collection purchased.
• JUMP Math purchased again for Gr. 3-6, due to
  positive feedback.
• Printing Without Tears program purchased for
  Gr. 1 2.
• 2500 of new books were placed in our library.
• We have significantly upgraded our Music program
  to include new computer programs, new percussion
  instruments, a karaoke machine and CDs, and two
  synthesizers. We began using our Wireless
  Internet service.
• Phys Ed equipment has been updated and maintained
  by the Division II Leadership Core.
• Two carts of wireless mobile computers have been
  used effectively and daily in the classrooms.
  The laptops were significantly increased in
  number. We purchased a new Server as well and
  then we were reimbursed because of the grant for
  technology that we received.
• Volunteer and staff name tags were created
• 8 palm pilots and mini-keyboards were received
  from Area 4 for teacher use

8
Media Coverage

• October City TV Coverage of 50th anniversary,
  focus on dress from a decade, music from
  different eras.
• November Calgary Journal Applied School Hits
  Milestone Coverage of 50th anniversary,
• LTTA, Innovative Teaching
• Coverage of the November fire on City TV which
  emphasized students orderly behavior during the
  fire and evacuation.
• December Calgary Herald, Regina, Winnipeg (7
  National newspapers) Articles focus on Alexander
  Ferguson Teacher Lana Kostiuk and her Reggio
  centered Kindergarten program.
• February CTV Coverage of student interviews
  with Calgary Stampeders
• City TV Coverage of Circle of Courage Radio
  Broadcast
• Shaw Cable
• Global TV
• Calgary Herald
• Calgary Sun Coverage of student interviews with
  Astronaut Dr. Thursk

9
Thank you!!!

• Thank you to everyone! You are what makes a world
  of difference! We cant do it without our
  TEAM
• T Together
• E Everyone
• A Achieves
• M More!
• Heres to our ongoing Naturalization Area
  installation and our new library Transformation.