Programs

Advanced Curriculum and Structured Learning Environment

The Cogito Alternative Program at Edmonton Public Schools is an advanced academic program that covers everything in the Alberta curriculum at a faster pace, allowing students to delve into more complex concepts. This program is based on whole-group, teacher-directed instruction in a structured setting and provides an enriched curriculum with a focus on phonics, spelling, grammar, and computational and problem-solving skills. Homework is an integral part of the Cogito program.

One of the advantages of the Cogito program is the more structured, distraction-free environment. Expectations for both achievement and behaviour are clearly communicated to students and parents.

Unique Characteristics of the Cogito Program

Some of the unique characteristics of the Cogito program include its enriched curriculum, sequenced knowledge content, focus on attention and concentration, early literary development through phonics instruction, strong mental and written math skills, and a classical approach to teaching. Teachers use direct, whole-group interaction, and a strong work ethic is expected from students. Parental support is also a crucial part of the program.

Second Language Studies and Liberal Arts Focus

All students have the opportunity to study either French or German to fulfill second language requirements. The Cogito program has a liberal arts focus, providing a balanced education in the humanities, sciences, and fine and practical arts, which will be of enduring value for students. Through high standards and high expectations, the Cogito program prepares students for a wide range of future academic, professional, and skilled employment opportunities.

Student Assessment and Progress Reporting

Students will be assessed on both the Alberta curriculum and Cogito outcomes. Progress report marks will be based on the student's achievement of the Alberta Program of Studies, while assessment of Cogito outcomes will be reported in the comments section of progress reports in the form of comments and/or marks. The exception to this is History, which will be reported as a separate course.

COGITO LANGUAGE ARTS PROGRAM

The Cogito program in Language Arts complements the Alberta Program of Studies and puts an emphasis on the study of classic literature, including works by Shakespeare when appropriate. Classic literature provides students with a strong foundation for understanding references in future studies and serves as excellent models for their own writing. Students also improve their writing skills through explicit instruction in English grammar and vocabulary development. Depending on availability, students may have the opportunity to attend live theatre performances.

COGITO MATH PROGRAM

The Cogito Math Program expands upon the Alberta Program of Studies to provide students with a deeper and richer understanding of the subject. It is designed to develop critical thinking skills and prepare students for real-world problem solving. Emphasis is placed on understanding foundational principles of numbers, number relationships, and accuracy in performing basic operations, which are essential for problem-solving and other sophisticated math applications. The program is further enhanced with a locally developed geometry course that includes the history of geometry, constructions, triangles, circles, trigonometry, and proofs. Students use manipulatives to deepen their understanding of math concepts.

COGITO SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM

The Cogito Social Studies program covers the Alberta Program of Studies and is taught within the context of History. To further enhance student appreciation of history, the program is enriched by the addition of separate History courses in Grade Seven, Eight, and Nine. Students have instruction in History for two blocks during a six-day rotation based on locally designed History courses. These courses include a survey of world history from pre-historic times to approximately 1500 C.E., a survey of world history from approximately 1500 C.E. to the contemporary era, and an introduction to the military history of Canada and its role in international conflicts.

COGITO SCIENCE PROGRAM

The Cogito Science program provides students with numerous opportunities to develop strong laboratory skills and connect scientific concepts to real-life situations. By covering the Alberta Program of Studies at an accelerated pace, Cogito students have more time for hands-on experiments that apply and enrich the topics studied. Projects focus on the ideas and discoveries of famous scientists, past and present, as they relate to class material. Cogito students learn to apply the steps of the Scientific Method, often designing and conducting their own investigations and refining their processes. Through this program, Cogito students cultivate strong problem-solving and reasoning skills while engaging in exciting learning experiences.

Introduction to the German Bilingual Program at Allendale School

Allendale School is proud to be the only junior high school in Edmonton that offers the German Bilingual Program. Students from the elementary German Bilingual program typically continue their studies at Allendale, but students with a strong background in German are welcome to enroll as well. The program fosters an appreciation for the culture and language of the German people, and a highlight is the annual grade eight Germany Exchange trip.

History and Goals of the Bilingual Program

The English-German Bilingual Program was established in 1978 as an experimental program in response to parent demand for their children to grow up with German as a strong second language. The program was so successful that it was extended to include junior high and senior high school.

The goals of the Bilingual Program are to achieve challenging, age-appropriate academic skills and knowledge in both English and German, to attain advanced levels of functional proficiency in both languages, and to understand and appreciate cross-cultural differences.

Program Organization and Approach to Language Instruction

The program is organized so that 50% of the curriculum is taught in German and 50% in English. Students are taught the same curriculum as their peers in the same grade level. During German instructional time, the target language (German) is the dominant language in the classroom, with very little English being used. This immersion approach helps students learn to understand, speak, read, and write German naturally and without undue stress. The classroom climate is warm and accepting, and the teacher is appreciative and supportive of the students' efforts to communicate in German. Error correction is done gently and tactfully, and students are encouraged to express themselves in German at any level of skill. The Edmonton Public School Board has developed a German Language Arts Curriculum that outlines the skills taught at each grade level.

Benefits of the Immersion Setting

In this immersive language setting, students learn by listening and participating in activities, rather than relying on translation. The teacher uses techniques such as gestures, mimes, and appropriate intonation to facilitate understanding. Audio-visual aids and concrete materials are also used. Students develop a passive vocabulary quickly and their active vocabulary expands daily. Each target language session begins with a period of passive exposure to the language before students are expected to produce language themselves. It is important to get students "thinking" in the target language.

Individual Attention for Students and Small Class Sizes

To ensure that languages are not mixed, the target language is taught in one long block of time, allowing for more natural language production. In this setting, students are able to develop their listening skills and gain cultural experiences. Parent involvement is also encouraged, including participation in events such as the German Christmas concert, German Easter celebration, and Schützenfest. The program has a low teacher-to-student ratio and small class sizes to ensure individual attention for each student.