Vol.13 PRIVATE / INDEPENDENT · CHARTER · FAITH-BASED · SPECIAL NEEDS · LANGUAGE-BASED · OUT OF AREA How Will Today’s Technologies Shape the Classrooms of Tomorrow? Explore the endless possibilities of merging the education sector with the tech industry. 5 Health Risks Associated Technology Edition With Smartphones Overuse Is Your Student Avoiding Warning, these may surprise you! the Classes That Will But never fear, we also have solutions for cellphone management. Prepare for the Jobs of the Future? Vol. 13 $4.95 Learn about the job opportunities of the future and the skills your child should have to secure employment. 1 Annual Guide to Schools (AGTS) 2018 cover 1.0-FINAL.indd 1 2018-02-02 4:37 PM Consistently Ranked A Top School In Alberta MOUTH GUARDS AREN’T JUST FOR HOCKEY Custom-fitted mouth guards reduce your risk of broken teeth and other serious injuries. Talk to your dentist or certified dental specialist. Jr. Kindergarten to Gr. 12 403-240-7924 dentalhealthalberta.ca Book A Personal Tour clearwateracademy.com CREATING EXCEPTIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES An education provider for children with all kinds of needs. • Junior kindergarten and kindergarten programs • Elementary education for students with special needs • Specialized services for preschool-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorders • Integrated services for children with neuromotor disorders • Services for children and youth living with issues related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Book a tour today. www.renfreweducation.org 403.291.5038 A Leader in Learning Disabilities Since 1979 www.foothillsacademy.org 403.270.9400 Full Time School Program * Grades 3 - 12 * Small class sizes * Teachers with specialized knowledge of Learning Disabilities * Individualized accommodations and supports to provide success * Wide variety of extracurricular activities 4 Guide to Schools 2018 16 100% Contents AVERAGE UNIVERSITY CLASS SIZE ACCEPTANCE 10 A Note From the Publisher 09 The Cutting Edge Tech in the Classroom 10 Technology of Today Will Shape Smartphone Health Risks 12 the Classroom of Tomorrow Balancing Screen Time 14 Tomorrow’s Jobs 16 CONNECTIONS FIND YOUR PATH. Junior Kindergaten 20 FOR LIFE. Balancing Taking Notes 22 Screen Time is a Job Technology and Obesity 26 IT STARTS HERE. Visit strathconatweedsmuir.com for the 220 Whole Family 16 Well Rounded Citizens 30 ACRE CAMPUS Private/Independent Schools 32 Charter Schools 40 22 Faith-Based Schools 44 Special Needs Schools 52 What’s More Beneficial: Hand Writing Notes or Language-Based Schools 56 Typing Notes? LEARN NATURALLY. Out of Area Schools 62 INSPIRING POSSIBILITIES Guide to Schools 2018 7 Introducing The 13th Edition of the Annual Guide To Schools A Note from the Editor in Chief Welcome to Volume 13 of Guide to major curiosities that are on the In the spirit of technology, Schools Magazine, we hope that minds of most parents, educators, you can also download a EDITORIAL you find this edition to be insightful, and students. copy of this magazine at PUBLISHER inspiring, and informative. This guidetoschools.ca and Jonathan Molina edition explores the advances in Our goal in writing this edition is to keep up to date with our technology and the impact that spark conversation on the subject latest articles by following EDITOR IN CHIEF they will have on your child’s of technology and help families us on Facebook @ Brooke Anderson development. We hope to shed make informed decisions about guidetoschools.ca. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS light on key issues, celebrate how technology will be used in their Benson Clegghorn, Brooke Anderson, Bonnie Blasetti-Clendon, Brittany Ayotte, Jaye Harry, Kate Young revolutions, and make predictions own homes. Every family dynamic Warm regards, for the rapidly approaching future. is different and each household is Brooke Anderson The Guide to Schools magazine unique, however a constant among ART & DESIGN was founded to empower parents us all is growing technology. We ART DIRECTION/DESIGN and students with high quality need to learn how to harness its Eddie Garraway information, making a difference in power without abusing it. the way we look at education. WEBSITE MANAGER In addition to our editorial content, Eddie Garraway The transformative effect of Guide to Schools Magazine is technology is all around us. Even best known for our unbiased MARKETING in the last 10 years we’ve seen comparison of schools so that New Wave incredible developments from your family can make educated a world where laptops were the decisions about which institution most common form of mobile fits the needs of your children. It’s ADVERTISING computing, yet now we see almost within these pages that we break SALES EXECUTIVES every adult (and most teenagers) down the questions you have and Denice Hansen with a powerful mini computer in provide some answers. Jhalmar Molina their pocket. Sandy McRae I speak on behalf of the Guide to Technology is evolving at an Schools staff when I say that it ADVERTISING INQUIRIES unprecedented rate. Younger has been a pleasure to produce Guide to Schools generations are already exposed the 2018 edition of Guide to (403) 457-0919 x 222 to digital technologies on a daily Schools, and we all hope that [email protected] basis while virtual and augmented you enjoy the read. We believe www.guidetoschools.ca/advertise realities that might seem far off in the power of knowledge to are just as their name suggests - inspire and build confidence CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION reality. As technology continues in our future generations. to permeate our lives, it’s time to Disticor Inc. draw attention to the fact that it will The Globe & Mail also have a profound impact on our education systems. PUBLISHED BY NEW WAVE Technology is also transforming FOUNDING PARTNER the workplace and creating Tara Molina new job opportunities that are FOUNDING PARTNER incredibly high in demand which Jonathan Molina we will explore later in this edition. By embracing new innovations, we CORPORATE OFFICE can harness these changes and Unit C, 722 11th Ave SW give our youth the tools needed to Calgary, AB T2R 0E4 succeed in the workforce. t. 403.457.0919 [email protected] f. 403.457.0920 www.new-wavemedia.com This magazine looks at the impact New Wave, Guide to Schools, its officers, directors, employees or agents make no recommendations as to the purchase or sale of any product, service, or other item. All views expressed in all articles are of technology on children’s those of the authors and not necessarily those of New Wave Strategic Marketing. All letters and their contents sent to the Guide to Schools become sole property of New Wave Strategic Marketing and development from many different may be used and published in any manner whatsoever without limit and without obligation and without liability to the author thereof. perspectives such as how © 2018 Guide to Schools, a New Wave publication. All rights reserved. education is evolving, the impact Publications Mail Agreement No. 40831043 of technology on our children’s Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: health, making informed decisions New Wave Unit C, 722 11th Ave SW Calgary, AB T2R 0E4 about screen time, and preparing students for exciting new (and necessary) career paths. These listed topics are inspired by the 8 Guide to Schools 2018 Guide to Schools 2018 9 The Cutting Edge As technology advances it is inevitable Technology of Today that it will shape the Will Shape the classroom of the future. There are endless possibilities to merge Classroom of both the education sector and the tech industry, but what does Tomorrow that look like? Written by Andrew Brown Social Media Will Increase Collaboration Virtual Reality Brings Education to Life Social Media has been heavily demonized as a distraction in Imagine a classroom where students can just strap on a virtual the classroom or a potential source of bullying, but there are reality headset and become immersed in a different time or many positive aspects of online networking. Social media different place. The options of where to go would be endless. has given students the ability to coordinate their collaborative Field trips could take the shape of ancient Rome, or students Technology is growing, and soon a younger generation of projects more effectively with group chat and easy file shar- could even visit another country in modern day. Imagine being teachers who grew up with the Age of the Internet (yes, mil- ing among peers. Facebook groups and apps such as Slack immersed in another time, another culture, or even a different lennials), will take the reins. What will happen once the digital allow people to work together and share resources. Many of province is an exciting thought, and we’re not that far off. Virtual world completely infiltrates the classrooms? What might the these platforms even allow for teacher or parent moderation. reality video games are becoming increasingly mainstream. nipulate objects, and stream videos from the internet. Emerging education of future generations look like? With online group communications already available today, the Right now virtual reality video games allows you to explore the software also allows teachers to connect with their students future only stands to offer students even more ways to work bottom of an ocean or make music with digital instruments. As computer devices and beam them content. In the coming together through online mediums and most importantly, more 3D Printing Presents New Possibilities this technology becomes more affordable, it will be natural fit years, this experience will only become more seamless. The oversight from their guardians. for the classroom. Being immersed in an experience gives it life, screeching sound of fingernails being run down the chalkboard 3D printing allows creativity to run wild by allowing students thus making it more memorable. Education becomes reality. will be a distant memory.