Annie Foote School is located in the north east community of Temple. Our students speak 40 different languages in their homes and more than two thirds of them are learning English as their second (or third!) language. Our students and their families come from around the world and are from every continent except Australia and Antarctica.
The school building has many attractive learning spaces – large classrooms, a fine arts room and a large gymnasium. Each of our classrooms has a smart board in it and many of them have guided reading spaces to support literacy development. The modernized learning commons (library) is in the middle of the school with, a growing fiction and non-fiction print collection, a cozy class reading nook, and a large common space for making, group work, collaboration and great learning. Our Makerspace is becoming a special area of the school with carts to ensure that making can happen in all classes. We received a grant in January 2016 to help us in this. Of unique interest is our environmental learning centre, which though outside, is entirely enclosed within the walls of the school.
The school grounds have two playgrounds (division one and division two), lots of sidewalk games on the compound and a large beautiful green space that we share with our neighbouring school and the community centre.
The school has a small and dedicated school council and parent society that is very involved and supportive of the students. Through the funding generated by a casino, they have sponsored annual swimming lessons (subsidized), bi-annual in-line skating/ artists in residence, special shows, and multiple field trips for each class including trips to museums, the Calgary Zoo, the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, the Rocky Mountains, and Blackfoot Crossing to name only a few. Finally, they are able to support the school as we infuse technology into the curriculum and purchase other program enhancements. In the spring of 2013, we had an artist in residence and the resulting work is two beautiful exterior murals on the front corners of the school.
School Motto
"Learning for Life."
Annie Graham Foote
Annie Foote was born on a homestead at Elora, Ontario in 1855, to parents David Foote and Barbara (nee Smart). Her father, David was the first Reeve of the town of Elora and a well--‐known figure in the town until his passing in 1891.
Annie Foote became a teacher in several pioneer villages and settlements of central Ontario before coming to Calgary in 1892.
She continued her career as a teacher in Calgary at the original Central School, the South Ward (later Haultain) School and Calgary Collegiate Institute (later Central High School). She retired in 1911.
In 1913, Miss Foote was elected to the Calgary School Board – the first woman trustee elected in the city.
As she stated in one of her campaign speeches, “There are many things connected with the working of any school system where a woman’s insight and judgment are essential. Having had to do with Calgary in the making, I have consequently an abiding interest in her future and am anxious to do what I can to help her maintain the creditable position she now holds in the march of educational progress.”
Annie Foote lived up to her campaign promise and as an active trustee was instrumental in increasing staff and equipment; in providing a building and staff for a normal school; instituting student health inspections and establishing school Easter holidays. She served as Vice--‐Chairman of the Board from 1916 to 1917.
Miss Foote was an early member of the Canadian Alpine Club, having qualified by climbing a 10,000--‐foot peak in the Rockies.
She returned to her hometown in Ontario in 1929 and died there in 1945.
