Our School

Welcome to Douglas Harkness School

Our goal is to create a learning community that provides personalized learning experiences for our students. We believe that parents are partners in the education of their children and that it is only through working together that we will provide the best opportunities for our students. At Douglas Harkness, we believe that diversity is our superpower. We welcome all of our students to school this year and look forward to another year of growing and learning together!

~ Douglas Harkness School Staff

School Mission

Our mission at Douglas Harkness School is to foster a school culture that honors diversity and encourages students to become lifelong learners and contributing members of society.

School Motto

#HarknessHasHeart

Our School's Three Pillars

In meeting the needs of each individual student, school expectations emphasize socially responsible behaviours that include respect for the rights and well‐being of others, our community, and our selves. Discussions with children will center on three pillars.

  1. Take Care of Yourself 
  2. Take Care of Others 
  3. Take care of Our Place, Our School and Our Land

Who Was Douglas Harkness?

Douglas Harkness School was named after Douglas Scott Harkness who was born in Toronto on March 29, 1903 and moved to Calgary in 1929. He graduated from the University of Alberta, then farmed and taught school in the vicinity of Red Deer. Mr Harkness taught at Crescent Heights High School until 1939. He had distinguished military career and in 1943 was awarded the George medal for "courage, gallantry and devotion to a duty of a high order."

In 1945, Mr. Harkness was elected to the House of Commons for the constituency of Calgary East. He continued his public service in the Departments of Northern Affairs, National Resources and Agriculture until his retirement in 1963. Mr. Harkness lived in Calgary until his death in 1999.

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​​​Our School's Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

We are committed to acknowledging and supporting the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 94 Calls to Action specific to education. Our school, along with all CBE schools, made a TRC Commitment to Action. On June 21, we renewed our commitment, which can be found under Resources.​​

Acknowledging the Land

We would like to acknowledge the traditional territories and oral practices of the Blackfoot Nations, which includes the Siksika, the Piikani and the Kainai. We also acknowledge the Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda First Nations, the Métis Nation, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.​​

​​​School Development Plan

​Each year, our school prepares a development plan with input from teachers, school staff, students and parents. We review many sources of data, including report cards, provincial achievement test results and school surveys. Based on this information, we create our plan identifying targeted areas for growth. Our school development plan is not meant to represent all of the work that takes place in our school, but rather it focuses on specific areas for improvement.​​​

​​​​School Improvement Results Report

Our school also prepares a results plan, which looks at our previous school year. It shows our students’ achievement and progress in meeting the goals and outcomes as set out by the CBE and Alberta Education, outlines some of the highlights of our school development plan and gives an overview of our school. You can look on the CBE website for system-wide results​.
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