A grade 6 teacher in the Fort McMurray Public School Division (FMPSD) has decided to participate in the Alberta government’s pilot program as part of their new science curriculum.

Alberta school authorities were given the option to pilot three updated draft kindergarten to Grade 6 (K-6) subjects in September; Science, French First Language and Literature, and French Immersion Language Arts and Literature.

Annalee Nutter, Superintendent at FMPSD commented in May that teachers in the division were surveyed for possible interest in the program.

Scott Barr, Director of Education for the FMPSD says that the teacher, and the division will be given support via professional development and funds for resources, as well as they will be exempt from the Provincial Achievement Test for the upcoming school year.

Barr says the motivation is to engage with the new curricular content in a way that allows for them to give feedback on it as well as begin their own personal learning about the new items.

“All teachers in K-6 will be getting additional support and resources for the new K-6 curriculum implementations. The Division has been working with these teachers for the last few months to ensure there are supports in place for areas that are newer to them. Time has already been devoted to learning about some of the new resources and how they correspond to the new curriculum in those areas,” said Barr.

According to Barr, all signs point to this school year as a return to being more normal with events, volunteers, and community participation in the FMPSD.

“We are all looking forward to this and welcoming the students back to a more ‘normal’ school year.”