““TraTransfnsformormatiatioonsns””

An Educational Project An Educational Project Involving Alberta’s Energy Involving Alberta’s Energy

Sources and Alexander Sources and Alexander Ferguson SchoolFerguson School

““TraTransfnsformormatiationsons”” Alexander Ferguson School, located at 1704-26 Alexander Ferguson School, located at 1704-26

St. SW Calgary, Alberta, is a proud Calgary Board St. SW Calgary, Alberta, is a proud Calgary Board of Education School located in Area 4 and serving of Education School located in Area 4 and serving elementary-aged students in the communities of elementary-aged students in the communities of Shaganappi, Glengarry, Killarney and other Shaganappi, Glengarry, Killarney and other surrounding areas.surrounding areas.

AFS received two grants – one from British AFS received two grants – one from British Petroleum and one from Enmax to carry out this Petroleum and one from Enmax to carry out this exciting work. Check our website at exciting work. Check our website at www.cbe.ab.ca/b101 for more information.www.cbe.ab.ca/b101 for more information.

““TransTransfoformrmationsations” is a ” is a project designed toproject designed to

deepen Alexander Ferguson School’s students’ deepen Alexander Ferguson School’s students’ understanding of energy and energy use in Alberta;understanding of energy and energy use in Alberta;

transform our school library into a place of wonder and transform our school library into a place of wonder and inspiration; inspiration;

have each grade will visit with an expert from Alberta’s have each grade will visit with an expert from Alberta’s energy sector to discover the variety of energy sources energy sector to discover the variety of energy sources used and produced in our province, and used and produced in our province, and

facilitate students working with writers/composers from facilitate students working with writers/composers from our artist roster as well as local song writers and our artist roster as well as local song writers and musicians, to compile a country and western CD based musicians, to compile a country and western CD based on the information gained from their research.on the information gained from their research.

“Transformations” Alexander Ferguson School will put this

deeper knowledge into action as we power lighting, fans and a perpetual motion machine using installed solar panels. We will include visual displays in the library showing how much energy is being generated by these alternative energy sources. Our library will also reflect a focus of the Alberta prairies, centered around the sun. Surrounding walls will reflect visuals of all our provinces’ energy sources.

““TraTransfnsformormatiationonss””

Energy ContentEnergy Content Each class will visit the site of Each class will visit the site of

one Alberta energy source by one Alberta energy source by Chartered bus. In addition, Chartered bus. In addition, experts from less accessible experts from less accessible resources, (Nuclear, hydrogen, resources, (Nuclear, hydrogen, geothermal) will be invited to geothermal) will be invited to speak to grades where speak to grades where appropriate. appropriate.

Exploration of energy is a Exploration of energy is a component of science curriculum component of science curriculum in all grades. We will involve all in all grades. We will involve all classrooms in the school with classrooms in the school with each grade grouping focusing on each grade grouping focusing on a particular source of energy.a particular source of energy.

““TraTransfnsformormatiatioonsns””

The outcome of our study will The outcome of our study will visually represent new visually represent new understanding of these various understanding of these various energy sources through our energy sources through our Library Renewal Project a well Library Renewal Project a well as our compilation of as our compilation of ‘Country/Western’ songs ‘Country/Western’ songs available in CD form. We feel available in CD form. We feel that this traditional form of that this traditional form of music suits its prairie music suits its prairie inspirations and best reflects inspirations and best reflects our province’s historical our province’s historical connections with energy connections with energy resources.resources.

Alexander Ferguson School’s Theme for Alexander Ferguson School’s Theme for 2007-08 is “Exploring Our Natural 2007-08 is “Exploring Our Natural World”. This “Transformations” Project World”. This “Transformations” Project will help us focus on elements of the will help us focus on elements of the curriculum:curriculum:

Increased awareness of our earth’s resources is fundamental if our Increased awareness of our earth’s resources is fundamental if our children are to become active and thoughtful consumers in the future. children are to become active and thoughtful consumers in the future. At the elementary level, we are able to stimulate interest through At the elementary level, we are able to stimulate interest through inquiry and by making connections to our world. By having students inquiry and by making connections to our world. By having students visit sights within their province and talk with experts, our school will visit sights within their province and talk with experts, our school will incorporate smart energy practice into daily routines. Students will incorporate smart energy practice into daily routines. Students will make connections to the water coming out of the fountains. make connections to the water coming out of the fountains.

They will understand why their teacher asks the last person in line to They will understand why their teacher asks the last person in line to turn off the room lights. Having researched, written and produced turn off the room lights. Having researched, written and produced music about energy, students will share their understanding with music about energy, students will share their understanding with others and retain the knowledge they have gained. Each time they others and retain the knowledge they have gained. Each time they walk into the school library and behold the panoramic view of Alberta’s walk into the school library and behold the panoramic view of Alberta’s landscape they have captured through art, they will reflect on the landscape they have captured through art, they will reflect on the experiences that helped to shape their environment and their experiences that helped to shape their environment and their understanding of the world.understanding of the world.

““TraTransfnsformormatiationsons””Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement Several members of our parent community are on board through an Several members of our parent community are on board through an

advisory capacity and our ongoing work with artists will ensure that the advisory capacity and our ongoing work with artists will ensure that the collaboration of teachers, community and students carries our message collaboration of teachers, community and students carries our message to a wider audience. Our dedicated group of stake-holders have an to a wider audience. Our dedicated group of stake-holders have an excellent track record of bringing innovative projects to fruition, over and excellent track record of bringing innovative projects to fruition, over and above initial expectations. Currently, we are in the final stages of a two above initial expectations. Currently, we are in the final stages of a two year Naturalization project. A piece of land is being reclaimed by nature, year Naturalization project. A piece of land is being reclaimed by nature, encouraging students to become stewards of their environment and encouraging students to become stewards of their environment and appreciate the beauty in their world. A detailed look at this project can be appreciate the beauty in their world. A detailed look at this project can be found on our school webpage link or by visiting found on our school webpage link or by visiting www.raingarden.cawww.raingarden.ca

Our Library Transformation team has already connected with community Our Library Transformation team has already connected with community members in the energy realm and sought out schools which have already members in the energy realm and sought out schools which have already incorporated innovative ideas to enhance the efficiency of their incorporated innovative ideas to enhance the efficiency of their buildings. Visited sights include Cochrane High and Alternative High buildings. Visited sights include Cochrane High and Alternative High School. We are also networking with members of the Alberta Energies School. We are also networking with members of the Alberta Energies and Utilities Board as well as the Calgary Board of Education Energy and Utilities Board as well as the Calgary Board of Education Energy Team.Team.

Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement Doug Driediger is a well known national artist whose work adorns the Doug Driediger is a well known national artist whose work adorns the

entire south facing wall of our playground. He will consult with Mauritz entire south facing wall of our playground. He will consult with Mauritz Flinkfelt, parent and local artist. They have committed their time to Flinkfelt, parent and local artist. They have committed their time to helping us design and implement this new mural with a group of older helping us design and implement this new mural with a group of older students.students.

We have solicited advice from parent architects to ensure that our vision We have solicited advice from parent architects to ensure that our vision can realistically transform our existing library space so that it is can realistically transform our existing library space so that it is esthetically as well as ergonomically practical.esthetically as well as ergonomically practical.

Students will benefit from a calm, peaceful space which connects with Students will benefit from a calm, peaceful space which connects with the landscape of our province, complete with oil wells, hydro dam , the landscape of our province, complete with oil wells, hydro dam , windmills, coal shafts and natural gas plants. As the focal point of our windmills, coal shafts and natural gas plants. As the focal point of our panoramic mural, a large sun will be painted on the ceiling in the middle panoramic mural, a large sun will be painted on the ceiling in the middle of our library. The cost of any physical changes in our library will be of our library. The cost of any physical changes in our library will be covered through Parent Council contributions, fundraising and central covered through Parent Council contributions, fundraising and central budget allocations.budget allocations.

Involving Students in the “Transformations” Project

Student Leadership The Division One and Two Leadership Cores have worked with

teachers and community groups over the last two years in various capacities. Following our overarching school philosophy, ‘Making a World of Difference,’ students have taken on many initiatives to serve the needs of their immediate and global communities. These take the form of fundraising to buy goats and educational supplies for African communities through Foster Parent’s Plan to working with homeless Calgarians at the Mustard Seed and Inn From the Cold Organizations. These students act as spokes persons for their classrooms and will ensure that activities related to this initiative are infused with student input at all levels.

For this project, students will be involved in designing and implementing the initial energy audit of our school in June 2007.

Evaluating our “Transformations” ProjectProject Evaluation

Students at Alexander Ferguson will demonstrate a thorough understanding of how energy affects them and their environment as they apply learned concepts through the arts. Through the use of a pre and post survey, students will demonstrate their newly gained knowledge about energy use and being environmentally conscious. They will become “Energy Ambassadors” in the community, being leaders who transform the use of energy in their realms. They will apply their learning to all subject areas and it is expected that their written work will become richer and more reflective as they make connections to energy in their world.

Students will be encouraged to transfer this information beyond the school and into their homes. Families will make more informed choices about energy consumption and act on their heightened awareness of our culture’s dependence on energy resources. We will create pictorial, photo and written documentation to share with parents and the community at our Celebration of Learning in May, 2008.

At the culmination of the project, each student and teacher will take a pledge to act on a piece of information they have gained from the experience to use our energy more wisely.

How will this project benefit future students at this school and ensure continued maintenance and support within the school and community?

Our school was facing closure four years ago and we are now Our school was facing closure four years ago and we are now operating at capacity. This transformation has occurred despite a operating at capacity. This transformation has occurred despite a downward trend in school age children in this community. Part of downward trend in school age children in this community. Part of the reason for this turnaround, is thanks to innovative projects at the reason for this turnaround, is thanks to innovative projects at our school, such as Learning Through the Arts, which is drawing our school, such as Learning Through the Arts, which is drawing students to our school from private and charter schools and from students to our school from private and charter schools and from many communities. Our new energy focus and conservation many communities. Our new energy focus and conservation initiatives through this project will help to build our school initiatives through this project will help to build our school reputation as an excellent, innovative school, which will in turn help reputation as an excellent, innovative school, which will in turn help to keep our school open and vibrant – a “cutting edge” school!to keep our school open and vibrant – a “cutting edge” school!

Future students at the school will also benefit from the new Future students at the school will also benefit from the new Naturalization Area, the 360 degree Alberta Mural and a legacy of Naturalization Area, the 360 degree Alberta Mural and a legacy of books and teaching resources about the importance of energy books and teaching resources about the importance of energy conservation. In addition this project will help to create a conservation. In addition this project will help to create a environmentally conscious culture within the school, which will environmentally conscious culture within the school, which will provide students with a solid foundation for active global provide students with a solid foundation for active global citizenship. Our School motto is "We Can Make A Difference". This citizenship. Our School motto is "We Can Make A Difference". This project will help to make that motto a reality. project will help to make that motto a reality.

““TraTransfnsformormatiatioonsns””

What Has Happened So Far (November, 2007):What Has Happened So Far (November, 2007):

Students have taken trips to venues such as the City Students have taken trips to venues such as the City Dump, Science Center, our natural Gully area near the Dump, Science Center, our natural Gully area near the school and Silver Creek Ranch. Students have been school and Silver Creek Ranch. Students have been educated by a myriad of experts from such places as educated by a myriad of experts from such places as the University of Calgary and from our artist roster in the University of Calgary and from our artist roster in Learning Through the Arts Learning Through the Arts (see LTTA).(see LTTA).

Our Our library library has undergone renovations. These include has undergone renovations. These include new shelving, space redesign and the beginnings of new shelving, space redesign and the beginnings of our mural.our mural.

Beginning PhotosBeginning Photos

The library was The library was originally a dull originally a dull lifeless grey. Using lifeless grey. Using the ideas developed the ideas developed by the Impressionist by the Impressionist painters, we decided painters, we decided to “paint with fire” by to “paint with fire” by putting the mural putting the mural background color background color into “authority red”. into “authority red”.

October’s Work: Setting the Tone October’s Work: Setting the Tone and “Energizing Our Library”and “Energizing Our Library”

13 13 volunteersvolunteers

7 hours per 7 hours per volunteervolunteer

equalsequals Amazing Amazing results!results!

Our Fantastic Volunteers!Our Fantastic Volunteers!

November’s work: tracing the November’s work: tracing the outlines and beginning the muraloutlines and beginning the mural

November’s work: tracing the November’s work: tracing the outlines and beginning the muraloutlines and beginning the mural