Fast Facts About Chinook's Edge School Division
- Chinook’s Edge has approximately 11,000 students, and stretches from the area surrounding Red Deer in the North to Carstairs in the South. Its western edge takes in Sundre and Sylvan Lake and in the east, the division extends to Delburne and Elnora. Chinook’s Edge is the largest entirely rural school division in Alberta.
- Chinook’s Edge School Division has 38 schools, of which there are many that cross more than a few grade levels. For example, there are six K-12 schools. This means Chinook’s Edge has a lot of experience in safely grouping younger students with older students. This is done through ‘soft barriers’ such as the design of the school, the way schedules are arranged, and behavioural expectations, to ensure that interactions between age groups are appropriate and safe.
- Chinook’s
Edge has recent experience in forming successful partnerships to build
facilities.
- In Sylvan Lake, Chinook’s Edge and the Red Deer Catholic Regional Division built a joint school facility.
- In Sundre, River Valley School is currently undergoing a $9.8 million modernization. In addition to some exciting new construction, the school has entered into partnerships with the Sundre community that will allow for a community library, gymnasium, and classroom spaces converted into a playschool /daycare, and other youth facilities.
- In Innisfail, Chinook’s Edge has accommodated the Red Deer Catholic Regional Division in a wing of a Chinook’s Edge Schools, and is currently working on a modernization to adapt the remaining portion of its school.
- Chinook’s Edge was recently recognized as one of the top four Alberta school boards for improvement in student learning. The study recognized that the division’s emphasis on development for staff, and its focus on using research and data to drive decisions are having an impact on student achievement. In addition, Alberta has been singled out as one of the top jurisdictions in the world for academic results. When you consider Chinook’s Edge is one of the top in Alberta, it means students in Chinook’s Edge are receiving an education that is second to none.
- Every school in Chinook’s Edge has a character education program in place. That means each school has a plan to ensure common values such as empathy, kindness, respect, self-control, conscience, etc. are taught and practiced on a daily basis.
- Chinook’s Edge has been recognized provincially for its “Health and Wellness” program. Each school has a written plan on what it is doing to ensure students not only have regular opportunity for physical activity, but also to address other lifestyle issues such as nutrition, emotional well-being, substance abuse, bully-proofing, etc.
