GRANTING PERMISSION TO TRY WITH CYCLING

Written by Tracey Coutts, Ever Active Schools Watching young cyclists discover the freedom and thrill that comes with learning how to confidently navigate new neighbourhood and community routes is the equivalent of reading about C. S. Lewis’ Lucy moving deeper into the wardrobe, brushing past fur coats that transform to fir tree branches, on her…

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THINK OUTSIDE THE (CLASSROOM) BOX

Written by Tracey Coutts, Ever Active Schools Welcome sweet Spring, “when the world is mudluscious…(and) puddle-wonderful” (In Just-, E.E.  Cummings) and beckons us outdoors to partake in its miracles. Yes, teachers, we know that many of you have been slipping on those rubber boots and taking your classes outdoors to Explore Your 2.4s and your…

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CELEBRATIONS MATTER: HALLOWEEN 2020

Written by Tracey Coutts, Ever Active Schools THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WHO COULD HAVE PREDICTED THE DIFFICULTY OF THE DECISIONS TO COME AROUD HALLOWEEN 2020? A Halloween night, with a full moon, falling on a Saturday for the first time in five years, should be a spooky season lover’s dream. And yet, here we are,…

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TRAIL TALES: STORIES THAT MOVE YOU

A laminated, corrugated plastic board with an image on it that says "Trail Tales". This is the introductory page to inform passersby of the purpose of the Trail Tales project.

Written by Tracey Coutts and Scott Bailey Looking for a versatile, cost-effective way to increase physical activity and improve literacy in your school community?  Well, have we got a tale for you. Trail Tales was launched in Parkland School Division 70 as a means to promote physical activity and literacy, while enhancing the active travel…

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DR. JOHN SPENCE ON THE 2020 PARTICIPACTION REPORT CARD

For the past 14 years, ParticipACTION has released report cards that grade Canadians on their physical activity behaviours. The report cards bring together data from a variety of sources to give evidence-based grades on a number of different indicators. Dr. John Spence is a Professor and Vice Dean at the University of Alberta within the…

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WALKING YOUR WAY TO A MINDFUL STATE

walking/standing in leaves

Written by Chesa Peter, School Health Facilitator, Ever Active Schools. Originally published in Healthy Schools Alberta Magazine Special Edition: Active Transportation IN RECENT YEARS, THE NUMBER OF STUDIES ON MINDFULNESS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF EDUCATION HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. Many studies have demonstrated strong correlations between mindfulness practice and cognitive outcomes such as improved attention and…

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COPPERFIELD SCHOOL – WALKING SCHOOL BUS LAUNCH

  Written by: Tracey Coutts, Active School Travel Coordinator, Ever Active Schools SHAPE’S WALKING SCHOOL BUS MASCOT HAS FOUND A NEW HOME IN CALGARY’S COPPERFIELD SCHOOL! On Monday, April 9, 2018, over 50 students, families, school administrators, staff, and other important guests gathered for the launch of the school’s Walking School Bus initiative. This initiative…

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KEEPING STUDENTS ACTIVE ALL WINTER LONG

Written by: Stephanie Shantz, Media Coordinator, Ever Active Schools From cold snaps and snowstorms to sunny days and perfect, snowman-making snow, living through an Alberta winter means being prepared for almost anything. And when winter weather sets in, children tend to spend more time inside: recesses get cancelled, playgrounds become deserted and the urge to…

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ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL IN THE COLDER MONTHS

Written by Tracey Coutts, Active School Travel Coordinator, Ever Active Schools For me, winter walks always bring to mind Ezra Jack Keats’ beautiful story, The Snowy Day, about a young boy, Peter, who explores his neighbourhood after the first snowfall of the season. Idyllic, peaceful, magical. O.K., LET ME RE-THINK THAT. Winter walking in Alberta…

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