Connaught School has a special place in the heart of Grace – Engagement and Service Committee programs help supply the school with food for lunches, snacks and the pantry – a place kids who don’t have enough food can stock up. The school partners with some 25 plus community partners to help ensure kids have what they need to learn.
Meeting Basic Needs
Being ready to learn means having “basic needs – food, winter clothes like boots and socks – met,” says Connaught School Principal Nicole Bezugley. “You’re not available to learn when you’re worried about food.” To help students feel at home, the school fosters a sense of belonging and “the families are tight.” This means people “feel comfortable offering help, asking for help, and accepting help,” Nicole says.
Showing Learning
Kids at Connaught come from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, a reflection of the Beltline neighbourhood. The 420 or so students speak approximately 45 first languages at home. Different learning styles, English ability, and community support mean the kids can show personalized learning in multiple ways. This includes making books on iPads, scratch technology (a visual computer coding language), writing songs, movies, poems and more. “This helps kids show what they’ve learned and share who they are,” Nicole says.
Welcoming the Connaught Community
Grace invites the Connaught community to Grace community events. You may have met some people from the school if you attended Trunk N Treat, the Family Christmas Party or the Pancake Party.
Interested in helping Engagement and Service in their Connaught programs?
Email office@gracecalgary.org.
Interested in volunteering with Connaught directly?
Contact Principal Nicole Bezugley directly by calling the school at 403-777-8560. “We’re open to making new ideas work,” she says.
