Hello Independent Students (Adult Learners) and Parents/Guardians,
I can hardly believe we are already into mid October. I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend and the beautiful weather we have been lucky to have. I want to share a few important updates with you.
Students with Individual Program Plans (IPPs) and Student Support Plans (SSPs) – these are now ready for your review. Teachers and Advisors should be in touch with you to arrange a meeting to review these documents. It is important we incorporate student voice and guardian voice in the creation of these documents.
On October 25th we will be hosting a meet the teacher / student progress conferences. Given that most of our students are over 18, these look a little different from a typical school. However, the essence is still the same. Feel free to connect that day to meet with teachers in person or online between 9:00-2:30. This is also a good time to review IPPs, SSPs, and to have Success In Schools meetings. Please email your respective Assistant Principal to schedule a time.
There are a number of great learning opportunities available to all our sites that I’d like to share with you, along with key contacts:
Students can participate in “In Person Phys Ed” at the MNP centre on most Fridays as well as monthly field trips to various rec centres (climbing centre, mini golf, batting cages, curling, etc.). Please contact Emmett Cook: emcook@cbe.ab.ca for more information.
We have a partnership with the Esker Foundation and our students can participate in art classes both at their site and at the Esker Foundation with practicing artists within the community. Please contact Carmen Pederson: cmpedersen@cbe.ab.ca for more information.
All of our sites have a wide range of offerings in Career and Technology and Option classes including: Photography, Foods, Fashion Studies, Robotics, CommTech, Drama and Dance. Please reach out to your respective Assistant Principal to learn more about the offerings at your respective Discovering Choices location. Also, students that know an additional language and are in grade 12 or returning 12 may be eligible to complete a language challenge exam and earn 15 credits toward their diploma. The following languages courses may be challenged: Arabic, French, Cantonese, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish, Ukrainian, Filipino, Italian. Please contact Emmett Cook: emcook@cbe.ab.ca for more information.
We also have a number of opportunities for students to connect with Indigenous Elders and participate in land based learning throughout the year, including several trips to Kananaskis. Please contact Nicole Scott: niscott@cbe.ab.ca for more information.
At Discovering Choices we do a great job at including student voice in our decision making. There are a number of different student groups that meet regularly depending on each site including: GSA, Indigenous Students' Advisory Group, Youth Council, and In the Lead. Please reach out to your Assistant Principal for more information. These various groups offer leadership development for students and allow for student voice to be included in school decisions.
Historically, Discovering Choices has not had a School Council or a School Society. In a typical K-12 school, these two groups are mostly comprised of parents. However, given that, the average age of our students is 18+; independent students are also eligible to be a part of these groups.
School councils exist to advise the principal and the Board of Trustees on school matters.
School societies are a formal group incorporated under the Societies Act for the purpose of raising funds for the school. A society is a separate legal entity from the school council.
School council and school society meetings must be kept separate and distinct. Meetings of the two groups can be held on the same date as long as the meeting of one group officially comes to an end before the other meeting begins (e.g., school council meeting 7-8 p.m. and society meeting 8-9 p.m.). Meeting minutes should also be recorded separately.
If independent students and guardians are interested in coming together, I would welcome the formation of these groups. Our inaugural meeting would on Oct 29 at 7pm on TEAMS. Please register here: Registration Link
As a reminder, we have transitioned to PowerSchool this year and students and guardians can log in to see student progress and attendance. Please reach out to your teachers if you have questions about student progress.
Please check our website for up-to-date contact info for staff at all our sites: https://discoveringchoices.cbe.ab.ca/staff
Please reach out if there’s anything I can help with.
Have a great day!
Best,
Patrick Tomczyk, PhD
Principal