BGRD No.18 Administrators Review the Principal Quality Practice Guidelines

During this month's Administrators' Association Meeting, Principals, Assistant Principals, and Central Office staff used the Professional Learning Community time to address the Seven Dimensions of the Principal Quality Practice Guidelines.  The administrators perused the document adding, deleting, and altering the accompanying Black Gold Quality Indicators.  "The provincial document, with Black Gold's additions, is a fabulous tool imbuing the role of the principalship; kudos to BGRD admin," said Principal Cable.

Warburg Students Honour Volunteers & Staff

Warburg School Leadership students hosted a Celebration Assembly recognizing volunteers and staff for their commitment and dedication to the students and school community.  Tucked in with the formal awards were a number of lighthearted ones: best story teller, most likely to start a conversation that never ends, and, my favourite, most likely to call your mom if you didn't do your homework.

The Leadership students did a fabulous job presenting, and students, staff, and volunteers enjoyed the fun, laughter, and recognition.

A Little Fun at Fall Planning

Black Gold's Board of Education took a few minutes during its fall planning sessions to have some fun together playing "Minute to Winit".  The activity and the laughter was a great way to begin the afternoon.

ÉCPS Choir Performs at EIA Remembrance Ceremony

Staff, students, parents, and families from École Corinthia Park School joined Edmonton International Airport staff in remembering the Canadians who selflessly defended our freedom.  The choir opened the ceremony with the singing of O'Canada and ended with In Flanders Fields.

BGRS/ATA Healthy Interactions Program

On November 7th, 90 teachers participated in the "Healthy Interactions Workshop" offered collaboratively by Black Gold Regional Division and the Alberta Teachers' Association.  The program provides participants with a toolbox of communication and problem-solving skills that will assist in handling concerns.  The feedback received was very positive and suggested the training was timely as parent/teacher interviews are occurring later this month. Thank you to everyone for participating, and thank you to both Principal Zane Chomlak and Division Principal Norm Dargis for presenting.

Student Recognition at ÉCPS

I spent 45 minutes this morning at École Corinthia Park School's assembly, and what a treat it was. Many students were recognized for demonstrating their "Cougar" values, for "filling the buckets of others", and for being caught speaking French - our students are top-notch!

Grade 3J sang a wonderful song called "May There Always be Sunshine", Mr. Deverdenne's grade 5 class, under the tutelage of Mlle. Sorensen, performed a beautiful piece on the xylophones, and Mrs. Lyall's speech about the upcoming medieval themed book fair culminated in a joust between two worthy horsemen: Mr. Maron and Mr. Cable.

Amazing Assemblies

I miss the ability to walk down the hallway and step into a classroom or the gymnasium and see students working with their teacher and each other enjoying learning, so when I get invited to visit a school and observe our wonderful students and staff in action, I accept with excitement and anticipation.

This past week I was fortunate to attend assemblies at Leduc Estates School, East Elementary School, and École Dansereau Meadows School: I wasn't disappointed!  The grade 3's "Scarecrow" song, Halloween story, and grade 4 cooking demonstration at LES, the grade 6 leadership team's YMCA dance and the students' overwhelming joy when receiving their student of the month certificate at EAST, and the grade 2's magnet song, the Jr. High "Be Proactive" skit, and the school support staff's air band at ÉDMS were all completely amazing!

Great things are happening in BGRD No.18!