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Re: Which School Grade in Calgary
Originally Posted by Steve_P
(Post 7749299)
You know instead of getting all wound up over this issue why don't just wait until you get here and take things as they come.
Not wound up at all - just not used to accepting dogma. I'm already in Calgary. What makes you think there will be negatives and some sort of imbalance? Was just agreeing with the previous posting suggesting looking at other avenues for "brain tuning" The implication of that posting was that G2 school would provide for socialising and coasting and possibly a deficit of thinking. In my view thats not an ideal balance. At the moment you have no clue as to how the education system works here but you're making an awful lot of negative assumptions. Clearly I have no first hand experience of the education system in Calgary, however it's probably incorrect to say I have "no clue" either. I've not actually made any assumptions - as I said on a previous posting I have an open mind. |
Re: Which School Grade in Calgary
I should be clear.....Frankly I doubt that your daughter will in fact be 'coasting'....I think that YOU think that....I think - as you have said yourself, that you have no idea of schooling here.....If YOU have those concerns then my suggestion was to find something else to keep her busy....
Everyone who has an issue with cut off dates thinks there are reasons for flexibility. As someone else said she can always jump a grade if you go back to the UK....People are just generally more laid back here in the early yrs at least. Look at it this way - in the Uk she would be perfectly able to abandon her education at age 16 (NOT that I am suggesting she would) Here, at the very least she will be at school until 18...I think what those of us who know the system are trying to suggest is that you just chill out a bit about it all. The Calgary Board of Education is actually extremly good and they ultimately will do what they think is right for your daughter.....We tend to trust our teachers here...... I do hope it all turns out ok anyway... Lisa |
Re: Which School Grade in Calgary
Originally Posted by leepee
(Post 7749890)
I should be clear.....Frankly I doubt that your daughter will in fact be 'coasting'....I think that YOU think that....I think - as you have said yourself, that you have no idea of schooling here.....If YOU have those concerns then my suggestion was to find something else to keep her busy....
I didn't make the coasting suggestion. That may or may not happen, I don't no for sure, all I've said is that it is a reasonable concern to have. I didn't say I had no idea of the sytem but rather I had no first hand experience of it. Everyone who has an issue with cut off dates thinks there are reasons for flexibility. As someone else said she can always jump a grade if you go back to the UK.... Going forward a grade in the future is no more satisfactory than going back a grade now. Thats two wrongs make a right logic. People are just generally more laid back here in the early yrs at least. Look at it this way - in the Uk she would be perfectly able to abandon her education at age 16 (NOT that I am suggesting she would) Here, at the very least she will be at school until 18... From what I know, not having first hand experience, education is compulsory to the age of 18 in only two provinces in Canada. In the other provinces, including Alberta, it is age 16. In any event having education compulsory to age 16 only isn't of itself a great indicator of the quality of education in a state education system. France and Germany have 16 as a minimum leaving age also and both have well regarded education systems. In practice in most countries the vast majority stay on to 18 anyway. I think what those of us who know the system are trying to suggest is that you just chill out a bit about it all. The Calgary Board of Education is actually extremly good and they ultimately will do what they think is right for your daughter..... I'm sure you're genuinely impressed with the system like some others who have posted in this thread. Some have adopted a rather proselytizing tone which is unfortunate. I'm pretty relaxed and pragmatic about it. I won't be using the "caps lock" here or anywhere else. We tend to trust our teachers here...... Of course teachers should be trusted. However, in a progressive system there should also be the opportunity for dialogue and accountability. I do hope it all turns out ok anyway... I'm sure it will one way or the other. Thanks for taking the trouble to contribute. Lisa a |
Re: Which School Grade in Calgary
If a child leaves school before completing High School in North America he or she is generally regarded as being a 'drop out'. I didn't mean to imply any legal requirements.....There is a social stigma here that does not seem to exist in the UK to anything like the same extent. For what it is worth I spent four yrs living in France and 3 years living in Germany. In Germany the children are 'streamed' at an early age into schools based on their ability. By far the vast majority of kids finish school and either go to Uni or into an apprenticeship....They don't just leave as seems more acceptable in the UK......
I don't really think talking about Dogma is very helpful or positive. Also you said you have an open mind but seem unhappy about accepting the possibility that the school board will disagree with you....This will not make it backward or 'non progressive'. It will simply mean that it has come to a different conclusion to yours. Maybe it will agree with you - no-one has said that exceptions are not made just that they are few. Those people with experience of changing their kids over have tried to make clear that it all worked out just fine as I am sure it will with your daughter whatever the outcome..... Anyway.....I really hope that it all works out - I don't think you said if you are here long term or short term.....? If it is just short term the CBE may well be flexible as they will take on board that she will need to fit back into her age group in the UK....If it is longterm then don't you think it would just be better for her to be within her own peer group?? Good luck - won't be contributing again as am packing for BC!!! L |
Re: Which School Grade in Calgary
jimf,
I know where you're coming from. We arrived in Calgary around this time last year, my kids had spent most of there lives overseas but had spent the last year (before coming to Calgary) in the UK, in the Scottish education system. My daughter completed Scottish primary 1 and my so p3 before coming to Calgary. Having done my research I realized my kids would go into Grades 1 and 3. I already felt my kids had effectively repeated a year by moving from the international system to the Scottish system and was not too happy with the prospect of them doing the same year again. Our move to Calgary is also temporary. CBE advised me that it would be up to the school to decide which grade to put them in. I spoke with the school administrators before the school year started and was told that they would be put in Grades 1 and 3 and that any move would be considered after an initial observations and assessments. The school principle called me after week one and we agreed that my daughter, who only missed the cut for grade 2 by a few weeks, should be moved up to grade 2 but my son, who is in the younger half of the year should remain in grade 3. After one year I know we made the best decisions for both of them. My son my have coped academically in G4 but would probably not have faired well socially. I don't feel he's been coasting, some basics in numeracy and literacy have been reinforced (no bad thing) and everything he's done in arts, science, social studies has been new. I certainly don't think in broad academic terms he would be 'behind' his old classmates from Scotland. My daughter is also doing well but I would say that although she just missed the cut off date for G2, she is the youngest by quite a margin. There is quite a culture here for holding kids back a year, particularly if they are Januray / February babies therefore quite a few are over a year older than her. So, from my experience, I would say talk to the school and take their advice and relax. This time last year I was really getting myself wound up about school grades but it all worked out fine in the end. Good Luck MrsDV |
Re: Which School Grade in Calgary
Originally Posted by leepee
(Post 7751689)
If a child leaves school before completing High School in North America he or she is generally regarded as being a 'drop out'. I didn't mean to imply any legal requirements.....There is a social stigma here that does not seem to exist in the UK to anything like the same extent. For what it is worth I spent four yrs living in France and 3 years living in Germany. In Germany the children are 'streamed' at an early age into schools based on their ability. By far the vast majority of kids finish school and either go to Uni or into an apprenticeship....They don't just leave as seems more acceptable in the UK......
Of course it would be better if fewer children left formal education at 16 in the UK. The fact that some do doesn't make it any more socially acceptable in the UK than anywhere else. Certainly I've never come across any social approval of leaving school at 16 in the UK. At the moment in the UK if 16/17 year olds are employed the must be provided with training. ie an apprenticeship. There was a proposal 1 or 2 years ago to bring in compulsory school/apprenticeship to the age of 17 by 2013 and 18 by 2015. As far as I know this is being implemented. I don't really think talking about Dogma is very helpful or positive. Also you said you have an open mind but seem unhappy about accepting the possibility that the school board will disagree with you....This will not make it backward or 'non progressive'. It will simply mean that it has come to a different conclusion to yours. Maybe it will agree with you - no-one has said that exceptions are not made just that they are few. Those people with experience of changing their kids over have tried to make clear that it all worked out just fine as I am sure it will with your daughter whatever the outcome..... If there is genuine dialogue and consideration of individual circumstances with a measured conclusion for which there is accountabilty then that is fine. If, as has been suggested by some, its a case of the cut-off is March 1st thats it then, I wouldnt consider that to be progressive. Anyway.....I really hope that it all works out - I don't think you said if you are here long term or short term.....? If it is just short term the CBE may well be flexible as they will take on board that she will need to fit back into her age group in the UK....If it is longterm then don't you think it would just be better for her to be within her own peer group?? I quite agree if it's a long term move it wouldn't be an issue to go to G2. However, as I've mentioned a couple of times previously, it is probably only a 2 or 3 year stay in which case the move back to the UK reasonably has to be a consideration for the childs best long term interests and welfare, including emotional well being. Good luck - won't be contributing again as am packing for BC!!! L |
Re: Which School Grade in Calgary
I have taught in both the British and Alberta systems.
The numbers are not equivocal. Year 1 and Grade 1 are not the same. Some children in Year 2 would be the age of Grade 1 in Alberta. I say some because of cut off dates. The two curriculums and pedagogy are different so can't be compared. Meghan |
Re: Which School Grade in Calgary
Originally Posted by MrsDV
(Post 7752005)
jimf,
I know where you're coming from. We arrived in Calgary around this time last year, my kids had spent most of there lives overseas but had spent the last year (before coming to Calgary) in the UK, in the Scottish education system. My daughter completed Scottish primary 1 and my so p3 before coming to Calgary. Having done my research I realized my kids would go into Grades 1 and 3. I already felt my kids had effectively repeated a year by moving from the international system to the Scottish system and was not too happy with the prospect of them doing the same year again. Our move to Calgary is also temporary. CBE advised me that it would be up to the school to decide which grade to put them in. I spoke with the school administrators before the school year started and was told that they would be put in Grades 1 and 3 and that any move would be considered after an initial observations and assessments. The school principle called me after week one and we agreed that my daughter, who only missed the cut for grade 2 by a few weeks, should be moved up to grade 2 but my son, who is in the younger half of the year should remain in grade 3. After one year I know we made the best decisions for both of them. My son my have coped academically in G4 but would probably not have faired well socially. I don't feel he's been coasting, some basics in numeracy and literacy have been reinforced (no bad thing) and everything he's done in arts, science, social studies has been new. I certainly don't think in broad academic terms he would be 'behind' his old classmates from Scotland. My daughter is also doing well but I would say that although she just missed the cut off date for G2, she is the youngest by quite a margin. There is quite a culture here for holding kids back a year, particularly if they are Januray / February babies therefore quite a few are over a year older than her. So, from my experience, I would say talk to the school and take their advice and relax. This time last year I was really getting myself wound up about school grades but it all worked out fine in the end. Good Luck MrsDV |
Re: Which School Grade in Calgary
Maybe if you don't get what you want you could consider one of the alternative programmes as it may suit you more?
Maybe Traditional Learning, or one of the Charter Schools? They aren't really my cup of tea (with maybe the exception of the Science School) but I have met people who use these schools who are very pleased with them. You may not get a place but you may be lucky and get one as you are not wanting entry grades and people must leave these schools and move elsewhere. I echo Mrs DV in that there is a culture of 'holding back' so your daughter won't be the oldest if she goes into her correct age grade. If she is put in her correct age group she will get some individualised learning, reading etc is all done on an individual basis and they should be more than happy to give reading that is above her peers. Hope it all works out well! Gryph |
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