King George School (Calgary, Alberta)

Infobox Education in Canada
name= King George School


imagesize= 300px
motto= Main dans la main vers l'avenir
motto_translation= Hand In Hand Toward The Future
streetaddress= 2108 -10 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta
city= Calgary
province= Alberta
postalcode= T2M 3M4
coordinates = coord|51.0709|-114.084|display=inline,title|region:CA-AB_type:edu
schoolnumber=
schoolboard= Calgary Board of Education
affiliation= None
superintendent= Dr. Brendan Croskery
trustee= George Lane
principal= Darlene Unruh
schooltype= Public
grades= K-6 (French immersion)
language= French Immersion
area= Area II
enrollment= 377
enrollment_as_of= September 2006
homepage= http://www.cbe.ab.ca/Schools/view.asp?id=40 cbe.ab.ca

King George School (KGS) is a Canadian public French immersion elementary school in Calgary, Alberta. It is operated by the Calgary Board of Education (CBE).

hared building

KGS shared the building with the Traditional Learning Centre (TLC) campus, which is an English language junior high (middle school) program, largely separate from the KGS French immersion elementary school. The TLC campus at the King George building is one of multiple campuses (sites) in the city, and together they constitute their own "school". The TLC campus at King George teaches grades 6-9 (lower and high grades are available at other TLC campuses). The school board has indicated they plan to move this particular TLC campus, leaving just the French immersion elementary program at King George, but for the 2005/2006 they share the same building.

The school offers many programs and activities, with many theme days all chosen by class representatives, who meet every month to discuss current school issues. Representatives bring up topics discussed from their homeroom class, to listen and take action the suggestions of the students. TLC offers a special character education program, which features virtues that the school encourages students to take into their daily lives by. Each month a different virtue is selected, and a special half-period is spent each day before lunch ('Character Circle') to discuss that, doing activities as well fitting with the course.

However, next year, the TLC program has been decided and finalized to move out of the King George building, and into Balmoral School - at last having its own independent building to reside in.

History

The school name was selected to honor the 1910 coronation of George V of the United Kingdom. The school was built in 1912, and was opened in 1913. As was typical of the time in Calgary, the original structure was made from sandstone.

From then until 1988 it operated as a regular English language school, for the nearby community until 1988 (teaching grades K-9 before the end point). However, as young families moved to outer lying areas in the city, enrollment tapered off, and there was progressively more bussing of students from newer communities that didn't have their own school yet.

In September 1987 the school became a dual-track English and French immersion elementary school. In 2002, continued declining enrollment, meant the school was turned into a single-track French immersion program.

French immersion

French immersion is generally for students from English language families, who wish their children to speak French fluently. The primary language of instruction in most courses is French, although English is taught as a separate course. Students are expected to be, or become, fluent in both languages. French speaking families who wish their children to have a fully French education, will often prefer instead to go to a school run by the French language school district instead (as opposed to the CBE which is English).

References

*"Art school students being forced to move" By Kerry Williamson. "Calgary Herald". Calgary, Alta.: Oct 16, 2004. pg. B.1.FRO
*"Bricks to honor school's past heroes" Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alta.: Nov 12, 1992. pg. N.1

External links

* [http://www.cbe.ab.ca/schools/view.asp?id=40 School profile at Calgary Board of Education]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~abwcobit/NewsExtract/1926Calgary/Lists/CadetKingGeorgeSchool29June1926.jpgHistorical photo] - This is a photo published in the (then) "Calgary Daily Herald" from June 29, 1926.