With Rocky View Schools (RVS) students set to head back to classes on Sept. 2, Airdrie City View 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 Airdrie City View toured W.H. Croxford on Aug. 25 (see photos on page 21). 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.
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 another exciting new initiative at RVS is the new Community Resource Centre to be housed in W.H. Croxford.
“It’s the culmination of six years of planning,” he said.
The new centre will function on a “shared service desk” concept with agencies and organizations and will act as a means of collaboration among educational authorities, community services and post-secondary institutions serving Airdrie.
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.
George McDougall High School’s Building Futures program will be expanded to Cochrane, Hoium said.
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.
“Projects going forward for the next 10 years will see growth,” he said, adding they are proactively planning for that growth and are anticipating opening two new elementary school in Airdrie and one new kindergarten to Grade 8 school in Cochrane in 2016.
Hoium said it will be an “exciting year for the division” and added the level of community support throughout the division is “wonderful.”
“I’m really impressed with the support the community provides the schools,” he said.
School for RVS students resumes Sept. 2.
