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Important Dates for School Jurisdictions • November 14, 2014 – Applications deadline for grant funding of Family and Community Safety Program • November 30, 2014 – Posting of Three-Year Education Plans and Annual Education Results Reports

Curriculum Provincial Dual Credit Strategy Completes Final Intake The Provincial Dual Credit Strategy, which was launched May 2013, is making great inroads across Alberta. On May 7, 2014, the Government of Alberta announced 26 successful dual credit partnerships that received funding between June and November 2013. These successful partnerships support dual credit opportunities for high school students across the province in the planned areas of: agriculture; athletic development; business and entrepreneurship; health care; health sciences; information technology; natural resources and environmental science; oil and gas; tourism and hospitality; and trades (e.g., automotive, carpentry, cosmetology, electrical, and welding). The final intake of dual credit applications was completed in April 2014 and additional applications are anticipated to receive funding in November 2014. More information about the Provincial Dual Credit Strategy is available online education.alberta.ca/department/ipr/dualcredit.aspx. Also, visit Alberta Education’s Career and Technology Studies webpage at education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/cts/program-of-studies.aspx. Questions about dual credit opportunities can be directed to Lana Rissling, Team Leader of Careers, Dual Credit and Off-Campus, at lana.rissling@gov.ab.ca or 780-422-4124. Dial 310-0000 first for toll-free access in Alberta. Career and Technology Studies Program Continues to Expand Career and Technology Studies (CTS) is a provincially authorized program of studies designed for Alberta's secondary school students. The structure of CTS enables schools to design unique programs that meet the needs of students and take advantage of community resources. As part of Alberta Education’s Provincial Dual Credit Strategy, 13 new apprenticeship occupational areas have been created during the past year:

• Auto Body Technician (ABA) • Agriculture Equipment Technician (AEA) • Baker (BKA) • Communication Technician (CTA) • Electrician (ETA) • Heavy Equipment Technician (HEA)

NOVEMBER 2014 FIELD SERVICES

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• Instrument Technician (ISA) • Insulator (INA) • Landscape Gardener (LGA) • Millwright (MWA) • Painter and Decorator (PDA) • Parts Technician (PTA) • Plumber (PLA)

Automotive Service Technician (ASA), Cook (CKA) and Welder (WDA) apprenticeship occupational areas were revised. Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) posted a new course outline. Existing apprenticeship occupational areas are updated to ensure that outcomes taught to high school students are aligned with the new AIT course outline. All CTS apprenticeship courses must be delivered by an individual holding a journeyperson certificate. Information on CTS is available at education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/cts.aspx. Information about all apprenticeship occupational areas is available online in a single location for easier access by teachers and administrators at education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/cts/program-of-studies/apprenticeship.aspx. More information on Provincial Dual Credit is available at www.albertadualcredit.ca. Non-Apprenticeship Occupational Areas The new Health Care Aide (HCA) occupational area is now available at education.alberta.ca/media/9029192/hca.pdf. The new courses and their course summaries and pathways mapping documents are available at education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/cts/program-of-studies/hrh.aspx The Recreation Leadership (REC) occupational area has also been revised and consists of nine new and 10 revised courses. The new courses fill identified gaps and will phase out the Sports Performance 35 locally developed course. To ensure that this occupational area better aligns with post-secondary entrance and industry standards, these revisions were done in collaboration with more than 40 teachers, 11 school authorities, four post-secondary institutions and eight business industry representatives from across the province. The 10 revised course numbers, names and revised component(s) are: REC1020: Injury Management 1 – parameter was updated REC2020: Injury Management 2 – parameter was updated REC2070: Functional Independence Training Program Leader – name, description and

parameter were updated REC3010: Human Movement – outcomes were updated REC3020: Injury Management 3 – description and parameter were updated REC3060: Ever Active Kids Leadership – description and parameter were updated REC3080: Resistance Training Leadership – prerequisite was updated REC3090: Aquatic Fitness Training Leadership – prerequisite was updated REC3100: Fitness Leadership for the Older Adult – prerequisite was updated REC3110: Group Exercise Leadership – prerequisite was updated The Recreation Leadership (REC) can be viewed online at education.alberta.ca/media/9177165/rec.pdf. For further information, please contact the Team Leaders: English Bill Lomax at bill.lomax@gov.ab.ca or 780-415-8191

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French Danielle Amerongen at danielle.amerongen@gov.ab.ca or 780-422-2068 Dial 310-0000 first for toll-free access in Alberta. Career and Technology Foundations Now Online The draft Career and Technology Foundations/Fondement en carrières et technolgies (CTF/FCT) Program of Studies is now available on Alberta Education’s website. CTF/FCT provides a program of study and implementation supports that will help teachers to connect students with opportunities to learn about, explore and gain experience with the occupational areas and career possibilities. CTF/FCT supports hands-on, real world learning that allows students to explore their interests and passions. The community of CTF/FCT learners is expanding as Alberta Education continues to refine and validate draft provincial curriculum. The ministry is moving forward in its work with current partners, as well as many new partners who have expressed interest in learning about and working with the CTF/FCT curriculum. In the 2014/2015 school year, the draft Career and Technology Foundations Program of Studies for grades 5 to 9 will be available province-wide for scaling up. Provincial implementation of this optional, digitally based program will follow in the 2015/2016 school year. For information on CTF/FCT, visit education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/ctf.aspx. For further information, please contact the Team Leaders: English David McCann at david.mccann@gov.ab.ca or 780-427-8597 French Danielle Amerongen at danielle.amerongen@gov.ab.ca or 780-422-2068 Dial 310-0000 first for toll-free access in Alberta.

Teaching and Leadership Nominate Outstanding Teachers with an Excellence in Teaching Award

The awards provide Albertans with an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many contributions teachers and principals make to student learning–bringing the vision of Inspiring Education to life. Since 1989, more than 10,000 nominations have been submitted and more than 500 educators have received Excellence in Teacher Awards.

Nominations for the 2015 Excellence in Teaching Awards are open until February 6, 2015. For more information, visit Alberta Education's website at http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/excellence.aspx, email edc.excellenceinteaching@gov.ab.ca or call 1-866-590-1660 (toll-free). Leadership Strategies for Implementing the Learning and Technology Policy Framework School Technology Branch is initiating a new community of practice that will investigate effective leadership strategies for implementing and tracking the outcomes and actions identified in the Learning and Technology Policy Framework (Learning and Technology Policy Framework). All public, separate, charter or Francophone school authorities interested in having a team participate in this two-year, research-grounded community of practice opportunity are invited to apply.

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Teams could include a district senior leader, district educational technology leader, district information technology leader, and school principals. Teams will be expected to attend at least four face-to-face community of practice meetings over the course of the two-year project. Each participating school authority will receive funding to support the costs of participation (including travel and associated expenses), research activities (e.g., data gathering) and local professional development/research initiatives. For further information, please contact Ralph Luedtke, Education Advisor, School Technology Branch, at Ralph.Luedtke@gov.ab.ca or at 780-427-6961. Dial 310-0000 first for toll-free access in Alberta. 2015 Language Teacher Bursary Deadline Upcoming Certificated teachers of languages other than English who are interested in a summer 2015 program abroad in a language immersion/language teaching methodology are encouraged to apply for a bursary through the Language Teacher Bursary Program. The application deadline for the 2015 Language Teacher Bursary is February 10, 2015. Only individuals who have not received these bursaries within the last five years are eligible to apply for the bursary. For more information and application forms go to alis.alberta.ca/et/fo/pay/scholarships/info.html?EK=874. Language Bursary for Teaching First Nations, Métis and Inuit Languages Submissions for the Language Bursary Program for Teaching First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) Languages are being accepted. Elders, teachers or instructors of FNMI languages in grades 1–12 who plan to take a credit course during summer 2015 at a Canadian university focusing on language, culture and/or pedagogical development (e.g., the Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute), may apply for a bursary through the Language Bursary Program for Teaching FNMI Languages. While the provincial deadline for applications is February 10, 2015, local deadlines may be earlier. For more information and application forms, visit alis.alberta.ca/et/fo/pay/scholarships/info.html?EK=2961. Applicants requiring further information may contact Alberta Scholarship Programs at 780-427-8640. Dial 310-0000 first for toll-free access in Alberta.

Operational Information Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis Canada is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to helping those at risk for anaphylaxis and those who care for them. The organization is committed to creating a safer world for people with potentially life-threatening allergies through education, advocacy, and research. The organization's approach to reducing the risk of anaphylactic reactions in children and adults is focused on self-management, community engagement, understanding, and respect. For more information, please visit www.anaphylaxis.ca. In September, Anaphylaxis Canada launched Anaphylaxis in Schools: What Educators Need to Know, in English and in French, to support students who are at risk of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis in Schools is the first in a series of three bilingual courses, developed in collaboration with Leap Learning Technologies Inc. and the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The course, which can be accessed at www.allergyaware.ca, (in French at www.connaitrelesallergies.ca) focuses on the prevention, recognition and

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management of anaphylaxis in the school setting. Links to the new website and course are listed on the LearnAlberta website. For more information, contact the Anaphylaxis Canada office at info@anaphylaxis.ca or 1-866-785-5660. Student Engagement and Speak Out Student engagement is about reaching out to students and encouraging them to work with all education partners to transform the system. The Minister’s Student Advisory Council explores ways to improve education in Alberta, and its members act as ambassadors of Speak Out within their schools and communities. Staff from the Alberta Mentoring Partnership met with the Speak Out’s 2014/2015 Minister’s Student Advisory Council. Alberta Mentoring Partnership asked council members to identify issues in their schools that could be positively impacted by a mentoring program, as well as the skills, tools and resources students and the school community might need. A toolkit was developed in partnership with Alberta Mentoring Partnership and the Society for Safe and Caring Schools, and Communities. The toolkit is an interactive, online resource that supports teachers, counselors and student leaders in planning, designing and running teen mentoring programs at their school. Speak Out is working with school authorities to explore how the provincial initiative can support and integrate with local programming. The Jurisdiction Student Engagement Team is a new component of the Speak Out initiative. The purpose is to seek opportunities to gather and respond to student voice at the local level. Alberta Education is collaborating with the College of Alberta School Superintendents and school authorities to form local student engagement teams. For additional information about Minister’s Student Advisory Council or Speak Out, please visit the Speak Out website or contact the Speak Out Team at speakout@gov.ab.ca. Automated External Defibrillator Training Make your school a life-saving community. Free Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and AED training is available from the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Approximately 40,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur in Canada each year. Performing CPR and using an AED can double the chances of survival. As part of an initiative to place AEDs where Alberta youth gather, play and learn, the Heart and Stroke Foundation will install a life-saving AED and will train up to 100 Grade 10 students in each school at no cost to your school authority. To learn more about this initiative, visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation website at: www.heartandstroke.ab.ca/AEDcommunity. To participate in this program, the school principal and/or school health and safety staff should contact Katherine Nilson, Alberta AED Program, Heart and Stroke Foundation, at 780-229-7015, or knilson@hsf.ab.ca.

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Implementation of Capital Projects On October 8, 2014, the Government of Alberta announced the approval of planning funds for 55 new schools and 20 modernization projects to address school infrastructure needs across the province. Jurisdictions should not proceed with any significant planning efforts, such as the engagement of consultants until the jurisdiction receives formal notification. In October 2014, Education/Infrastructure held an initial meeting/teleconference with all jurisdictions that have been approved planning funds for a capital project. Discussions included project scope, procurement method, and jurisdiction roles and responsibilities. Formal approval letters will be sent out with additional project details. In preparation for discussions with Education and Infrastructure, jurisdictions are requested to: • Ensure that the project site is available, serviced and ready for the new school; • Ensure that the scope is clearly defined, including clarifying the program area needs of the school such as

CTS labs, learning commons, gymnasium and ancillary spaces. This may include a value management/value scoping exercise.

• Identify potential partners to include in the school (examples can include partner space for expanded gymnasium; wrap around services; expanded library/learning commons, etc.)

We look forward to working together with school jurisdictions on the creation of these much-needed new and modernized learning environments for Alberta students. For further information, please contact Dale Box, Director, Strategic Planning, at Dale.Box@gov.ab.ca or at 780-415-5854. Dial 310-0000 first for toll free access in Alberta.