Alberta schools recognized for academic performance and improvement at annual Weston Awards for excellence
Release Date: November 14, 2008
CALGARY, AB—Eighty-three schools from across Alberta were recognized as being among the best in the province at the annual Garfield Weston Awards for Excellence in Education dinner in Calgary Thursday.
Awards were presented in four categories, each reflecting different aspects of academic success. Improvement in Academics – Elementary and Improvement in Academics – High School recognize the schools that have experienced the fastest, most consistently improved overall academic rating over the past five years. Determination in Academic Achievement – Elementary and Determination in Academic Achievement – High School recognize elementary and high school teams of administrators, teachers, and support staff who ensure that their students succeed, regardless of the considerable obstacles that they might face.
The awards are based on an analysis of Alberta Education’s student results data for each school included in the Fraser Institute’s annual Report Card on Alberta’s Elementary Schools and Report Card on Alberta’s High Schools. Out of 288 high schools and 714 elementary schools in Alberta, only the top performers in each category were invited to participate in the awards.
“The teachers, support staff, and administrators from these schools are continually finding new ways to help their students achieve more in school,” said Peter Cowley, director of school performance studies at the Fraser Institute.
“We identify these successful school teams and publicly celebrate their accomplishments because they deserve congratulations for a job very well done and so that other school teams will be encouraged to follow their example.”
Saint Mary of the Lake School of Slave Lake won the award for Improvement in Academics – Elementary and a $3,000 prize. Two Edmonton schools, Saint Catherine Elementary School and Saint Pius X Elementary School, were named runners-up. Both schools received a $1,000 prize.
Millwoods Christian School of Edmonton won the award for Improvement in Academics – High School and a $3,000 prize. Runners-up were Glendon School of Glendon and Christ the King Junior/Senior High School of Leduc. Both schools received a $1,000 prize.
In the Determination in Academic Achievement – Elementary category, Mayfield School of Edmonton was named the winner and awarded a $3,000 prize. Runners-up were Immanuel Christian Elementary School of Lethbridge and A.B. Daley Community School of Nanton. Both schools received a $1,000 prize.
For the second year in a row, Vauxhall Junior and Senior High School won the award for Determination in Academic Achievement – High School and a $3,000 prize. The school also received recognition as a School of Distinction in the Improvement in Academics – High School category. Daysland School of Daysland and Senator Gershaw School of Bow Island were named runners-up in the Determination in Academic Achievement – High School category. Both schools received a $1,000 prize.
“It is an enormous accomplishment for a school team to be recognized as a Weston Awards winner, runner-up, or as a school of distinction. Regardless of where they finish, the school teams being honoured by the Weston Awards are among the very best in the entire province,” Cowley said.
Click here for a complete list of award-winning schools.
Media contact(s): Lisa-Diane Fortier
lisa-diane.fortier@fraserinstitute.org
(778) 554-2349
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