educationmatters.ca educationmatters.ca inspiring hearts & minds 2011 community report educationmatters educationmatters our vision, mission & mandate Calgary’s trust for public education Our aim is to inspire the hearts and minds of our students today, preparing them to make long-lasting and positive changes in the future. vision Our vision is a society that promotes and values excellence in public education. n We believe that a strong public education system is the cornerstone of a healthy, vibrant society. n We believe that the best public education happens when the community participates in its development. mission Our mission is to promote and facilitate public engagement with public education, to enhance and enrich the education offered to all students – enabling them to fully realize their potential and become valued and contributing citizens, locally and globally. “All I can really say is THANK YOU! I really, really mandate appreciate what you’ve n enhance public education by providing grants to innovative programs that help students realize their done for me, and I’ll be potential and become productive global citizens. sure to do the very best n mobilize resources for innovative programs by offering donors a wide range of funds that demonstrate the I can with what you’ve commitment of Calgarians to innovation and excellence in public education. given me.” n inspire passion for public education in Calgary by fostering a two-way dialogue about the role of public education in our society. - recipient of the ENMAX Trades Scholarship, studying Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Technology Program at SAIT 2 | EducationMatters together we achieve more messages When I graduated from Ernest Manning High School, I never imagined that many years later my education experience would inspire me to become the volunteer chair of Calgary’s Public Education Trust. Early in 2011, I accepted the challenge of leading EducationMatters into the next decade of growth and change. It was an easy decision for me since I believe public education is the foundation for building great communities across Canada and beyond. Calgary’s diversity is its strength, and our ability to live together peacefully, leading productive and fulfilling lives, is thanks in part to our educational opportunities that welcome students from every culture and walk of life regardless of circumstance. Over the past year, I have met countless people who, like me, are alumni of Canada’s world class public education system. Collectively, the Calgary community has so much to gain by supporting public education students to become lifelong learners and the future advocates for public education. I am inspired by the support and encouragement EducationMatters continues to receive from the Calgary Board of Education. Thank you for enabling us to work with you to ensure all children and youth succeed at school. The Board of Governors’ Dr. Gene Edworthy volunteer efforts surpassed all expectations this year and I am grateful for your commitment of time and talent to ensuring Board Chair that the future looks bright for CBE students. Thanks to the extraordinary support from a diverse group of donors, this year we exceeded our goals. Your community spirit and generosity inspire us to achieve more. In 2011, the mantra of the EducationMatters staff team and board was “together we achieve more” as we worked toward doubling our granting capacity, building new scholarships and increasing support for CBE students. Early in 2011, we were fortunate to move with the CBE to new headquarters that still inspire us every day. By mid-year, it was clear that this would be a record year for leadership and transformational donations in support of innovative personalized learning for CBE students. Since inception, we have exceeded our goals by passing the $7 million fundraising milestone and tripling our granting capacity, thanks to the incredible generosity of donors. It is a privilege to serve CBE students and play a leading role in engaging the community in supporting student success. As I reflect on the many accomplishments of EducationMatters in 2011, of highest importance was supporting the CBE in achieving their ultimate goal – to help our children and youth develop and pursue their passions, while making the successful transition to adulthood by becoming lifelong learners contributing to the world. Barbara Burggraf Executive Director 2011 Community Report | 3 highlights prepare to be inspired In we raised over in contributions 2011 & pledges to support n literacy $1.3 M n life skills & transitions n leadership n healthy learning n financial & basic needs Since we have granted over created more than in program grants that connect philanthropic 2003 and scholarships objectives of Calgarians EducationMatters is $4 M 100 to a common purpose – experiencing steady success for students & built a their preparation for growth and has achieved funds lifelong learning endowment portfolio great success in just of gifts from the eight years, thanks to a $2 M community visionary community of supporters, CBE Board of Trustees and employees. we surpassed in total fundraising and tripled our granting capacity, thanks to $7 M incredible generosity of donors EducationMatters students has supported & their over 200,000 families 4 | EducationMatters Chris Akkerman inspiring through literacy School Two weeks before the grant application was due, the dedicated teachers at Chris Akkerman School were huddled around “I love reading fiction knee-high tables working into the night to complete the school’s grant submission. books. I like to write every day. I’m so happy to buy The hard work paid off when the Heather and N. Murray Edwards Literacy Fund at EducationMatters provided the school with new books!” an amount astonishing to the teachers - $25,000. “I thought maybe we would get a couple of thousand. When I heard it was $25,000 I almost started bawling,” said teacher, Darlene Rosin. - Vivian, Grade 1 Joan Murtagh, Assistant Principal, said the school used the money to purchase 3,000 new books and supplies to mark the book levels. The excitement was contagious when the announcement was made to the school community as everyone visualized the benefits so many new books – fiction, non-fiction, poetry and letters – would provide. “The students are passionate about their books,” said Darlene Rosin and she proved that when she leafed through the students’ responses to what books they liked best – all of them! Some of the school’s “favourite” books had become “too well loved” to keep in circulation. The teachers repurposed the worn materials by using the images to inspire fantastic writing. Replacement books are needed and treasured. It was clear that the teachers and the students were ecstatic about their new resources. For many students at Chris Akkerman School, English is their second language and the books help them better understand western culture as well as provide an opportunity to hear and see well-written language. The grant provides families the ability to read and learn together. “Thank you. You are kind to give us money. You are “My name is Tolu. I am in grade 2. Thank you for the $25,000 to buy books. helping us to learn to read. I promise to be very responsible for the books we buy. I promise not to We are thankful. I will take draw in the books. I also promise that I will not rip the books. I will make the good care of them.” books I take home be useful to other people. My classmates will be very - Harmeet, Grade 1 happy to see the books. I know the 3,000 books we are going to buy are going to be good books.” - Tolu, Grade 2 2011 Community Report | 5 discovering choices youth council inspiring through leadership From the excited faces and camaraderie at the St. Patty’s Fun Day, it’s hard to imagine that three years ago such an event wouldn’t have happened at Discovering Choices School. Youth Central began the Youth Council at Discovering Choices in 2009. A grant from EducationMatters in 2011 has allowed the council to continue to grow and the difference it has made is amazing. “That would never ever happen [before],” commented Shawna as two students embraced in a victory hug after competing in the last activity of the afternoon. To Shawna, the whole atmosphere of the school has changed, especially the relationship between students and teachers, “We can all sit in the same room and have fun.” Outreach programs at the CBE, like Discovering Choices, help students overcome obstacles in completing their high school diploma. The school offers curriculum courses and work experience opportunities and even with the flexible pace, some students still have difficulties attending and completing school. Shawna has participated in the Discovering Choices Youth Council since its beginning and says that it is her reason to come to school. “I hated walking into this school. Period,” said Shawna, but things have changed for her and the “Your time and other members. Shawna’s journey with the Youth Council began when a teacher first approached Shawna’s friend. commitment to Her friend was hesitant, but with Shawna’s encouragement, both girls joined. Smiling at the memory, she added that providing such aid has Council involvement helped her friend successfully complete her high school education that year. Shawna herself has helped me greatly and benefited from the Council, which has helped her with public speaking and building her confidence. is an important part Youth Central is an organization focused on giving youth a voice, providing opportunities to volunteer and develop to my success. Without leadership skills. Sylvia Galica began the leadership council at three of the Discovering Choices locations. “It brings your donation, many students together,” noted Sylvia, adding that many friendships are formed because of the council.