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Nov 24
Thank you, RTA Parent Council!
by  Lewis, Brenda C on 11/24/2023 9:32 PM

​On behalf of the entire teaching staff, I want to express our deepest gratitude for the incredible spread of delicious food you provided during the parent-teacher interviews. Your generosity not only fueled our minds and bodies during a long and busy evening but also brought warmth and joy to our hearts. Such acts of kindness truly enhance the spirit of our school community and make a meaningful difference. Thank you for your thoughtful support.​

Stephen Brown


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Oct 05
Science Alternative Program Schools Embark on Land-Based Professional Learning
by  Lewis, Brenda C on 10/5/2023 1:47 PM

​On September 25th , Staff members from five Science Alternative Program schools (Riverside, Valley View, RT Alderman, Maple Ridge, and Louis Riel) and colleagues from the Core Curriculum team, came together for a day of immersive learning on the land with Elder Harley Bastien at Buffalo Rock Tipi Camp near Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. The goal of this day was to empower staff with valuable insights regarding the integration of learning from the land in connection to Indigenous ways of being, belonging, doing, and knowing into their science curriculum planning​.​ - Indigenous Education Newsletter​

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Oct 03
RTA Ravens Runners
by  Lewis, Brenda C on 10/3/2023 11:36 AM

​

  • Congratulations to the Cross Country team on a wonderful season. Thanks to all the coaches who braved the traffic and the torrential downpour on the 19th.
  • The parents and athletes appreciated the professionalism you demonstrated with organizing our team.
  • Special congratulations to RTA's senior boys contingent who won first place. Our Grade 6 boys came in 2nd and our grade 7 girls took home 3rd. This is quite an accomplishment as there were 13 schools competing and this year's RTA team didn't have as many runners as we would have liked. But the kids that came out were tenacious and committed to the battles.  - Mr. McGhan​


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Jun 16
National Indigenous Peoples Day
by  Lewis, Brenda C on 6/16/2023 7:53 PM

​National Indigenous Peoples Day is on 

Wednesday, June 21, 2023!

​Celebrated on the same date as the summer solstice, this significant day honours the diverse cultures, histories, languages, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across the country. It is an opportunity to appreciate and experience Indigenous traditions and distinct ways of being, belonging, doing, and knowing.


RTA's Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation:

  • RTA students and staff will spend time honouring the recently gifted Treaty 7, Métis Nation, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami flagg. The Treaty 7, Métis and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami flags remind us of the historic and current day relationship between Canadian settler society and Indigenous peoples in their traditional territory and, as such, should be treated respectfully. The flags also serve as a visual representation of how we acknowledge the songs and stories that have lived on this land for thousands of years, and also as a reminder of the original inhabitants of the land and the truths of the historical injustices they have faced. These injustices must be recognized and can be reconciled through kinship and reciprocity.

  • Guiding Questions:

    • How does learning about the Treaty 7, Métis and Inuit flags connect to the CBE Acknowledgement of the Land?

    • How can learning about the Treaty 7 flag contribute to greater understanding of Treaty relationships and Treaty rights?

    • What is meant by the phrase “We are all Treaty people"?

    • What responsibilities do we have to Indigenous nations, inclusive of Métis and Inuit peoples, as Treaty people living in Mohkinstsis/Calgary?

Summer Solstice: A Time of Celebration

  • June is a month of celebration for all living beings. The long rains come, encouraging growth and transformation. Green grass carpets the ground, animal mothers nurture their young, scented blossoms invite pollinating friends, and water sparkles under rays of light. Na'a (Mother Earth) is awake and Niipo (summer) is near! Soon, Na'toosi (Grandfather Sun) will reach his most northerly point in our sky, shining from above the horizon for longer than any other day of the year. We call this the summer solstice. In many Indigenous communities, the solstice indicates a time for renewal and connection – a time for ceremonies intimately related to land and spirit. Blackfoot Elder, Saa'kokoto, has shared that the summer is a season of abundance and a time for harvesting. He reminds us to harvest life itself - the things we experience make us who we are. When the sun rises on the morning of the solstice, let us look to the East and feel gratitude for all the gifts that summer will bring and look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead. – Indigenous Community Newsletter, Summer 2023

 

 


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Dec 08
Share the Warmth
by  Lewis, Brenda C on 12/8/2022 11:30 AM

💙Share The Warmth💙

❄️By: Gracie G. and Layla S.601❄️

2022

Share the warmth is an organization created by the grade 6’s, this organization is for kids K-12 that don't have enough winter clothing to keep them properly warm and comfortable. To help this problem around the world, we ask students to kindly donate their used clean winter clothes to help kids in need. We appreciate anything, so if you have any of your old winter clothes that don't fit, or any new winter clothing that you don't need, please if possible donate to this fundraiser so we can help the kids in the world who are cold, and need winter clothing. 

This fundraiser starts: Monday November 28, 2022. We accept all winter clothing like:

                -Snow pants   -Winter jackets   - Gloves/mitts   -Touques  - Winter boots   -Scarves    

-any other winter necessities that you can donate

🔹☃️Until: Friday December 16, 2022.☃️🔹

To Donate these winter clothes there are Bins at the front office. They are sorted into 4-5 categories and you can put any winter clothes into those bins. After the donation is done on December 16th, the teachers will collect all the items and deliver them to the corporation that sends them to the kids.Thank you for your time and we look forward ❄️to sharing the warmth.❄️​


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Oct 14
RTA STEM Challenge #1
by  Lewis, Brenda C on 10/14/2022 12:10 PM

       RTA Students and Staff embarked on the first school wide STEM Challenge of the year.  

  •        Students were divided in 5 different teams within their Homeroom Class: Green, Blue, Purple, Gold and Grey Team. 
  •        Each team is competing for points which will go towards the RTA Science Olympics in the spring. 
  •        Students will also have an opportunity to work as a larger team, joining different grades throughout the year.​

RTA STEM Challenge #1

RTA School Wide Stem Challenge SOCT 

The SOCT – The Single Object Collision Test 

  • RTA's first STEM challenge has been created in spirit of NASA’s recent DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) planetary defence mission - where NASA crashed a 610 kg (the weight of a car) spacecraft into the asteroid Dimorphos at a distance of 10 600 000 km from earth. 
  • The DART Spacecraft was launched on the 24 November 2021 and crashed into Dimorphos close to a year later September 26, 2022, the space craft was hurled into the Dimorphos as an asteroid impact planetary saving device.

The Challenge:

  • Your team has been tasked with creating a 3 Popsicle stick gizmo that will be projected to an “asteroid” (ball) that will be in the centre of your room. 
  • You will need to Brainstorm with your crew and plan before you are given materials to build your gizmo and projectile device. 
  • Grades 5-6 need to hit the “asteroid” 
  • Grades 7-9 need to stick to the “asteroid” 

Materials: • Asteroid 1 per class Per group grades 5-9 • 8 popsicle sticks 3 must be made into the “projectile” • 1 m of tape • 8 popsicle sticks in total • 2 elastics Per group grades 7 - 9 • Small piece of Velcro 7- 9 

Each team will have 2 attempts at success (NASA had only one and they had to wait a year to see if their single shot worked​.

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Jun 19
National Indigenous Peoples' Day
by  Lewis, Brenda C on 6/19/2022 9:20 AM

​National Indigenous Peoples' Day:

National Indigenous Peoples' Day is honoured annually on June 21st, marking the beginning of summer solstice. In Indigenous communities, summer solstice signifies a time of renewal and ceremonies which are connected to the seasons, land and spirituality. National Indigenous Peoples Day is for all Canadians to recognize the diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Canada. It is a day for communities to come together and acknowledge Indigenous peoples contributions, both historical and contemporary. It is important to honour the traditional territory on which we live and the original peoples of this land.

While we acknowledge the significance of this day, teachers will be thoughtful to include rich learning opportunities that live through the disciplines, and connect to ongoing, long-term work to honour and learn from Indigenous knowledge systems, languages and histories.

As part of our ongoing work, several RTA teachers will be also be working with an Indigenous Education Leader at Carburn Park over the next couple of weeks, continuing to grow and to connect our sacred space to rich and meaningful learning.

Community Resources for RTA families:

While this learning is embedded each and every day at RTA, in all subjects and disciplines, teachers, staff and students will be mindful to take some extra time to celebrate and to share stories.

Grade 5 & 6

  • Students will visit Carburn Park in these last couple of weeks, revisiting their sacred spot and sharing stories.

Grade 7

  • Grade 7 students will visit Carburn Park in the PM
  • Students will eat lunch and then identify 5-6 local plants that Indigenous people used and learned about in class.
Grade 8
  • Indigenous Summer Solstice Virtual Presentation 
  • Science – Grade 8 students will be exploring the Indigenous Perspective on Science (Two-eyed seeing and what is indigenous place). We will also be exploring various Indigenous perspectives on the Northern Lights. 
  • Humanities – Grade 8 students will learn the importance of the summer solstice to Indigenous communities and do some writing inspired by summer-themed art and music.

Grade 9

​Physical Education

  • ​All PE classes will be participating in two traditional Indigenous Games.  
  • The background and history of the games will be shared prior to playing Lacrosse and Sticks.
  • Lacrosse Legend

We are so happy to be able to share this very important work,

Brenda Lewis 


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Feb 15
February 23, 2022 is Pink Shirt Day at RTA
by  Lewis, Brenda C on 2/15/2022 3:22 PM

​Wednesday, February 23, 2022 is Pink Shirt Day

Two Nova Scotia high school students inspired Pink Shirt Day by organizing their fellow students to wear pink in support of a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt. Bullying can happen to anyone, anywhere.

Pink Shirt Day is a time to encourage Albertans to stand up to bullying when they see it in schools, communities, workplaces, at home and online.

Show you care by checking in with one another. Learn #WhereToTurn if you or someone you know is experiencing bullying:

RTA Pink Shirt Day Plan:

Grade 5 & 6

Teachers will use the following tools in our classes along with discussions, skits, and materials (sock and apple, crumpled up paper:

Grade 7

  • On Feb. 14th, 15th and 16th, Gr. 7 students are invited to bring their own shirt for tie dye learning at lunchtime 
  • Students are making wear-pink reminder posters for our school hallways
  • On Feb. 23rd, a committee of interested students will circle the grade seven hallway offering face painting and pink ribbons 

Grade 8

  • Teachers will spend some time discussing the origin of Pink Shirt Day – watch the video about what Pink Shirt day is all about and the purpose of the day
  • Read the poem “To this day"
  • Students will participate a couple of activities from the attached document
  • Reviewing the difference between rude, mean, and bullying 

Grade 9

  • Teachers are focusing to be how to act with integrity. 
  • Teacher will be relating integrity to Indigenous injustices and the importance of being informed on difficult topics.
  • Students will create 1 Google slide to represent a Canadian Black person's contributions to society - we will share a couple of the slides daily to focus on how history is written and how that may lead to misrepresentations of people.
  • Starting next week, students look at the "Heart" & "Spirit" part of Indigenous Medicine Wheel 
    • We plan to relate this to integrity and kindness
    • We are going to look at CBE's Student Code of Conduct, specifically, Student Responsibilities for Promoting Positive Behaviours
    • We are going to select items from this calendar to focus on daily until the month of February. 
  • We also are going to ask for student input on what they can do to recognize Pink Shirt Day.

 


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Nov 22
RTA November SDP Planning
by  Lewis, Brenda C on 11/22/2021 2:31 PM

     After reviewing the diagnostic assessments and locally designed screens gathered in September and October, RTA staff met on Friday, November 12, 2021, to design lessons which incorporate high impact strategies connected to the School Development Goals: Literacy, Numeracy and Wellness.

The RAVENS Learning Agenda:

Wellness SDP Goal:

  • Students' critical reflection about belonging will increase.
    • ​Micro Goal: Students will learn how they can help everyone belong.


TASK 1: Report Card RESULTS Stem Unpacking

In our SDP, we are using the Report Card Stem, Results 3: Citizenship | Exercises democratic rights and responsibilities within the learning community as a measure of student wellness.  

Purpose: we need to create a common grade team indicator scale for the Report Card Stem

Learning Leader, Mr. Lee shared examples of how he embeds the Results into classroom task design, including conversations and writing reflections.

In grade teams, teachers created  a rubric, providing grade team criteria for the following indicators: 

  • EX: Exemplary Strengths 
  • EV: Evident Strengths 
  • EM: Emerging Strengths 
  • SR: Network of Supports Required 


CBE Reporting and Assessment Document – Results 3: Citizenship | Exercises democratic rights and responsibilities within the learning community 

  • Contributes to events of common concern 
  • Advocates for self, others, and the common good 
  • Takes responsibility and action to help the group work smoothly 
  • Adheres to community expectations and personal convictions in conducting and representing learning 

Teachers will shared the common rubric with students.

​TASK 2: Science Fair Planning

Purpose: In grade teams, teachers created a Science Fair Checklist for students and families to help them organize and chuck the learning tasks, requirements and deadlines.

TASK 3: Literacy and Numeracy PLC (Professional Learning Communities)

Literacy Goal 2021-22 |Students' achievement in managing and evaluating information and ideas will increase.

  • Micro Goal #1: Students will be able to paraphrase and summarize key ideas, concepts and information.
  • Micro Goal #2: Students will develop and build their vocabulary.
     

Mathematics Goal 2021-22 new | Student achievement in understanding and expressing patterns and relations will increase.

  • Micro Goal: Students will be able to express and solve problems using equations

​Purpose: To review students' assessment data aligned with our SDP and to plan the next steps.

Teachers divided into the Numeracy or Literacy Teams.

STEP 1: Document data observations and data needs.  

  • What are some strategies that we can use for our students at risk? 
  • Where they at risk last year? 
  • Does the data match what I see in the classroom? 
  • Did the format of the data gathering (ie. Test environment) affect the results?  
  • Do I need to gather more data in a different way? 
  • Do we need to look at last year's data? 


STEP 2: Identify the next step. We need to design/focus/etc. 

STEP 3: What is the action plan? 

STEP 4: What is the homework?

Yours in learning,

Brenda Lewis

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Oct 14
RTA September SDP Planning
by  Lewis, Brenda C on 10/14/2021 10:26 AM

As a principal, non-instructional days can be a bit nerve-wracking, as I am responsible for leading professional development. It is a job that I take very seriously. At RTA, we want to be the best educators that we can be for your students. 

Much of our Professional Development connects directly to our School Development Goals (SDP): literacy, numeracy and wellness. It is an opportunity to meet in teams, to learn, to review resources, to collaborate, to invite keynote speakers, to watch resources, and to learn from one another. As a Science School, we also spend some of this valuable professional learning time to develop our computer literacy skills (learning how to incorporate technologies such as Lego Mindstorms, Python Coding, Arduinos, etc., into our task design), as well as improving our understanding of Science Inquiry. 

As we continue our SDP journey this year, focusing on improving student literacy (managing information), improving student numeracy (NEW GOAL: patterns), and increasing student wellness (sense of belonging), teachers met on Friday, October 8th, to develop common assessment criteria for the RTA benchmark checklists. 

October 8, 2021 | ​Teacher Professional Development Agenda: 

Long-term Goal: 

Teachers: At the end of October, teachers will complete student checklist for Literacy (managing information), Numeracy (patterns), and Wellness. 

Students: At the end of October, students to complete a checklist for wellness. 

​Teachers will identify if a student is: 

  • on target (green)
  • at risk (yellow) 
  • needs support (red) 

Students will identify if they are:

  • on target (green)
  • at risk (yellow) 
  • needs support (red) 

Wellness Work

  1. The Work - in teams - Grade 5-7 and Grade 8-9 - teachers will design a wellness rubric, determining common criteria for each category. What does a green, yellow and red mean?
  2. The Plan - in teams, teachers will determine how they will introduce the wellness goal? How will you support students in their self-assessment of wellness?
  3. The Action - at the end of October (Oct. 25- Oct. 28), teachers will complete a checklist for students; and students will self-assess themselves.
  4. Data Analysis - on November 5, teachers will review and reflect upon the data, determining the next steps. 

Literacy/Numeracy Work

  1. The Work – in teams – Grade 5-6 Literacy/Numeracy, Grade 7-9 Literacy/Numeracy - teachers will review and tweak the literacy/numeracy rubrics, aligning them with the outcomes in the Programs of Study. Teachers will decide upon common criteria for each category. What does a green, yellow and red mean?
  2. The Plan - in teams, teachers will determine how they will introduce the literacy/numeracy goals.
  3. The Action - at the end of October (Oct. 25- Oct. 28), teachers will complete a checklist for students.
  4. Data Analysis - on November 5, teachers will review and reflect upon the data, determining the next steps. 

Thank you for sharing in this learning adventure,

Brenda Lewis

 


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