Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year.
I hope this letter finds you and your family in good health and high spirits. As we stand on the threshold of a new academic year, it is with great pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to all of you to the 2023-2024 school year at Almadina.
Our dedicated team of educators and board members have been working tirelessly over the summer to prepare for an exciting and enriching year ahead. We are committed to providing your children with a safe, nurturing and intellectually stimulating environment where they can thrive academically and personally.
Our focus this year will be on the six steering committees:
1- Curriculum Enhancement: We are excited to introduce new curriculum enhancements to provide students with a well-rounded and engaging learning experience. Our teachers have been diligently working on creating innovative lesson plans that cater to various learning styles and encourage critical thinking.
2- Wellness: We will continue to use common strategies, language, and programming between the virtues and the support from our mental health partners and school counsellors to increase aid to all stakeholders, students, teachers and families.
3- English as an Additional Language: Develop an ELL practice guide to align pedagogical practices while infusing interdisciplinary instruction into everyday classroom
activities. Promote and provide professional learning using the guide among teachers, school mentors/mentees, and educational partners.
4- Technology: Evaluate Almadina’s current technology plan against Alberta Education’s Technology Framework to identify the resources required to intentionally support the infusion of technology as a communication and learning tool. Plan for ways to develop staff capacity with these tools. Enable students to be creators of technology and demonstrate leadership throughout the school.
5- Inclusion: Formalize Almadina’s inclusive education approach by defining the tenets, research-based practices, tools, and professional learning required to build a shared understanding of an inclusive education system where ALL students can access and fully participate in academic, social, and behavioural learning alongside their similar-aged peers.
6- Assessment: Develop a Communication of Student Learning procedure focused on amplifying the voice of ELL students in their learning journey while aligning assessment and communication practices among all teachers and providing professional learning on the course among staff, students, and parents.
We encourage you to stay connected with us through our school’s website, social media channels and regular communications. Our lines of communication are always open, and we value your feedback and suggestions.
As we embark on this new journey, let us remember that education is a collaborative effort involving students, parents’ teachers and the community. Working together can create an inspiring and supportive environment for our students to thrive and achieve their full potential.
Once again, welcome to the 2023-2024 school year at Almadina. We look forward to an enriching and successful school year.
Regards
Jamal ElRafih
Superintendent of Schools
Almadina Language Charter Academy.