School Motto
Be Kind. Be Brave. Be Strong.
Our Logo
Catherine Nichols Gunn School officially announced a new logo for the school on Thursday, June 21, 2018. After consultation and brainstorming with students, staff, parents and guardians, the buffalo from our school mural “Children of the Buffalo” was chosen. This logo for Catherine Nichols Gunn School was created with permission from a Blackfoot artist, Ryan Willert, who designed the buffalo during a residency at the school.
When people see the buffalo they think of strength and bravery. It is an important and symbolic image for both Indigenous culture and Catherine Nichols Gunn School. The buffalo represents our commitment to facing challenges head on, both in school and throughout our lives. The buffalo is the only animal that does not run away from the storm but instead runs directly into the wind, rain and snow embracing its challenges, searching for the sun on the other side.
Who Was Catherine Nichols Gunn?
The school is named after Catherine Nichols Gunn, who spent her 30 year professional career serving as a Public Health Nurse with Calgary Health Department. She was born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, and after graduating as a nurse in Seattle, she moved to Calgary. Miss Gunn served as a member of the nursing staff of a hospital in France during the latter part of the First World War then joined the Calgary Health Department in 1922. She did most of her work with the children and their families in the north central area of Calgary. She retired in 1952.
Principal's Message
The staff at Catherine Nichols Gunn School extends a warm welcome to you as partners in your child's education. Children bring their unique gifts and talents to school. By working together as staff members, parents, guardians, community agencies and businesses, we are able to create a variety of learning opportunities for our students. These opportunities support student achievements and their ongoing success in school. We look forward to working together on behalf of your child and all students at Catherine Nichols Gunn School. If you have any questions about school procedures or expectations, please call the school.
Our Staff's Belief Statements
About Staff Members
Staff members are positive role models and supportive facilitators of student learning. We believe our responsibility as staff members is to take ownership of our own learning and professional development and to implement thoughtful and effective practices through team planning, collaboration, co-teaching, flexible student grouping and active participation in Professional Learning Communities.
About Student Role
Children become responsible for their own learning by being active, independent and reflective problem-solvers who are confident in using a number of strategies essential for success throughout their lives.
Children demonstrate responsibility for their own behaviour by being positive, respectful, and contributing members of the school community. Students take an active role in displaying behaviours that exemplify our motto, “Be Kind. Be Brave. Be Strong.” These actions are recognized by students receiving a WIF (What’s it For?) award when staff notice acts of kindness, bravery, and strength.
Our Vision for Teaching and Learning
We are a strong learning community at Catherine Nichols Gunn School and promote a student-centered atmosphere. Through implementation of thoughtful and effective teaching practices, our students learn and are successful. We believe students do well if they can and celebrate their unique learning styles, their areas of strength and areas of need. Each student has equitable access to resources in interactive classrooms where their individual learning needs are met.
For Our Students
Students at Catherine Nichols Gunn School develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to be self-motivated, active, independent, risk-taking, reflective problem solvers and lifelong learners. They take pride and ownership for their own learning and their role in our school and community.
For Our Staff Members
Our staff members support and mentor each other. We seek opportunities to celebrate and value the unique talents, contributions and individuality of each staff member. We continue to work together in a collaborative environment where we share beliefs about teaching and learning and where everyone has opportunities to lead. We are committed to professional development on an ongoing basis so that we may learn about and implement effective practices.
For Our Partners (Parents, Guardians, Community)
Parents, guardians and staff at Catherine Nichols Gunn support student’s learning by understanding the importance of partnership between home and school that create a safe and caring community and that prepares students to be successful now and in the future. Many community members support, promote and run programs at the school.
