St. Marguerite Catholic School

Program of Studies

Alberta Learning has developed two types of courses that make up the curriculum for all studies.  These are Core Courses (i.e. Language Arts, Social Studies, Physical Education, Health and Personal Life Skills, and Math) and Complementary Courses (i.e., Practical Arts, Second Languages, Fine/Performing Arts, Career & Technology Studies (CTS), and others).  Students and parents may find more information about individual courses or overall course organization through Alberta Learning or the school.  

Core Courses

St. Marguerite School provides students with a strong foundation in all core subject areas.  We particularly emphasize the need for each student to build a respect for and understanding of the knowledge and skills to which they are exposed during his/her school years.  Emphasis is also placed on the development of values and self-discipline as each student progresses through their education.  The core courses are a vehicle used to accomplish the Goals of Education and Schooling as set out by Alberta Learning.

ICT Curriculum from Alberta Education

In June 2000, the new Program of Studies was implemented for the Information and Communication Technology Curriculum in the Province of Alberta.  As part of a "Best Practices" project in the province, Evergreen Catholic Separate Regional Division #2 was contracted by Alberta Learning to create a sample scope and sequence for the technology outcomes.  Under the direction and teacher mentorship of our school's Technology Integration Coordinator, Marion Rex, Evergreen acted as Project Director in developing a sample scope and sequence as well as lesson plans for technology integration in Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies at every grade level from K-12.  The entire project can be found at the Evergreen Catholic Schools website, www.ecsrd.ca/technology or at Alberta Learning, ednet.edc.gov.ab.ca/ict

Wireless Mobile Lab Project with Alberta Education

Today's students need to become better prepared to live as competent, contributing citizens in a changing society and to become lifelong learners able to succeed in the world of tomorrow. Students need sufficient access to dependable technologies that support meaningful learning activities in every grade and subject area so that technology is used as a tool.  

In 2005, St. Marguerite was awarded a project from Alberta Education to explore emerging technologies.  Our project entitled:  Using a Wireless Mobile Computer Lab to support the Teaching and Learning Process.Through this project, we installed a wireless mobile computing lab of 30 student machines and one teacher station with a projector to support teachers working in professional learning communities to integrate technology meaningfully into the curriculum. We investigated the following:

a)      wireless LAN infrastructure through the implementation of “access points” to provide mobility and access for students and staff with mobile devices

b)      implementation of wireless infrastructure and related supports to enhance the teaching and learning process within an older school

c)      WLANs and related security management strategies to address network privacy and protection

d)      recommendations for the effective choice of a wireless mobile computer lab

e)      teachers working in professional learning communities to integrate technology meaningfully into the curriculum, learning technology skills that will enable them to infuse technology into the curriculum

f)       posting of lesson plans and exemplars of student work to share with other teachers across the jurisdiction and the province

HP Laptop with extended battery sits slanted making it easier for students to reach when sitting in classroom desks.  The extended battery allows the laptop to be used several classes in a row without being recharged.

Datamation Mobile Lab Carts - St. Marguerite now has two carts with 15 laptops on each cart available for classroom use.

These examplars are a work-in-progress show how technology can be integrated into the curriculum. Most have been made into .pdf documents--please use Acrobat Reader to open them.  Thanks to Alberta Education for helping to make this project possible.

Complementary Courses

This series of courses is intended to complement the educational processes established in the core courses.  These courses make up approximately twenty-five percent of the teaching time.  The goals and objectives of these courses are the same as core courses, and can vary according to the particular needs of individual school divisions.   There are a number of Complementary Courses that play a significant role in our school and in our program.

Band Program

St. Marguerite School has an excellent band program that provides both theory and instrumental instruction.  Each year, the group of students enrolled in band work hard to develop their musical talents.  They display these talents at concerts and festivals, and are given the opportunity to share music and experiences with other bands.