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Your Independent Local Newspaper Established in 1918 VOLUME 103: ISSUE 31
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021
BUSY B CONTINUES ITS FOCUS ON HELPING COMMUNITY.
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WELCOME BASKET KEEPS BUSY IN MARCH.
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BRSD to introduce pilot pieces of the new K-6 curriculum in fall
MOUSH JOHN Editor
Alberta has updated its draft kindergarten to Grade 6 curriculum this past Monday, March 29. Speaking to this development, Battle River School Division (BRSD) Superintendent Rita Marler and Asst. Superintendent Shan Jorgenson-Adam stated that they are pleased with the literacy and numeracy focus. On preliminary overview, Marler said, “We will continue to develop our understanding of the new curriculum as we unpack it; we are excited to provide opportunities for teachers to pilot pieces of the new curriculum in September.” The new curriculum is intended to bring a renewed focus to literacy, numeracy, citizenship, and practical skills, giving students a strong base of essential knowledge
for future learning. “The new curriculum delivers on our commitment to Albertans to refocus learning on essential knowledge and skills in order to give our children the best possible chance at success,” said Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education. “Parents and teachers have waited a long time for this, and I’m pleased to say that we’ve delivered. Another promise made, promise kept.” The revised and strengthened K-6 curriculum – the result of more than a year of consultations with parents, teachers, and subject matter experts – is based on proven research and is designed to improve student outcomes across all subjects, following several years of declining and stagnant student performance. In the new curriculum, parents and teachers will see four key learning
What’s Inside Loose Ends: Birth Month Flowers – Pick One PAGE 5
Students of CW Sears on the first day of school in the new academic year 20202021. FILE PHOTO themes that spans all grades – literacy, numeracy, citizenship, and practical skills. Literacy will be taught using phonics and other proven best practices, and students will be taught to master reading, writing, speaking, and listening in order to build a strong foundation for learning. For numeracy students
will be learning to think fluently about numbers and equations, and will gain essential knowledge for everyday tasks and a foundation for more complex learning in the future. In citizenship, students will draw from from history, geography, economics, civics, and other studies, developing an appreciation of how
Canadians have built one of the most generous, prosperous, and diverse societies in the world. And practical skills will include household budgeting, digital literacy, business planning, healthy relationships and the importance of consent, with students learning a new set of essential Continued on Page 9
Tofield RCMP responds to stolen trailer complaint in Holden PAGE 5
Editorial: You’re vaccinated. Can you hug your loved ones now? PAGE 6
The Tofield Mercury will be closed on Friday, April 2 to Monday, April 5. We will reopen Tuesday, April 6. The paper will be available on Wednesday, April 7.