With Rocky View Schools (RVS) students set to head back to classes on Sept. 2, Rocky View Weekly had a conversation with RVS Superintendent of Schools Don Hoium to discuss what’s new at RVS for the 2014/15 school year.
“We do have three new schools opening: C.W. Perry in Airdrie, W.H. Croxford in Airdrie and East Lake School in Chestermere,” Hoium said. “It’s quite an exciting time when a division opens three schools in one year. All the schools are designed to have flexible learning spaces, allowing teachers to fold out into a larger learning area or break into smaller areas.”
The Rocky View Weekly toured W.H. Croxford in Airdrie on Aug. 25.
The flexible learning spaces with sliding glass “idea walls” (where staff and students can write on the wall like they would a whiteboard) were found throughout the school. The frosted glass walls allow teachers to create different spaces, making it possible for classrooms to join together into one large space or separate into smaller learning areas.
Hoium said the division will also be working with the government to have the new kindergarten to Grade 8 school in Cochrane’s Sunset Ridge - announced in 2013 - completed by September 2016 as originally expected.
On June 18 the Province announced it will abandon the public-private partnership funding model (P3), which the school had been approved for. This change in funding was expected to delay the school’s opening by one year.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan describes a P3 as a public-private partnership in which the government continues to own the infrastructure assets, while the private sector plays a larger role in their design, construction, operation and maintenance.
“We will be expecting to open that school as announced,” Hoium said.
According to Hoium, it’s not only the physical learning spaces that are changing.
“All of our high schools are implementing high school redesigns,” Hoium said. “All (the high schools) will allow students flexible learning blocks where students can work on projects or seek additional assistance (from teachers).”
Hoium said the centre will allow the community access to a variety of human service groups and will provide better service to families.
Hoium said the division is also expanding their dual credit offerings, which allow students to work towards high school credits and post-secondary credits at the same time.
He said, Springbank Community High School has a new Natural Resource Management and Environmental Science program with Mount Royal University and a business administration program with SAIT. The Building Futures program at George McDougall in Airdrie is expanding to Cochrane.
He said 2014/15 will also see the division develop a new four year plan, which will outline the goals and strategies the division will work towards. The plan will likely go to the Board of Trustees for approval in late fall or early winter, according to Hoium.
The division continues to grow and Hoium said RVS is planning for that growth.
“I’m really impressed with the support the community provides the schools,” he said.
