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Jeff Stokoe, the Red Deer Advocate
Alison Harmon, Connor McCallister, Aidan Schafer and Cole Webber took on the world—and won.
This past April, the four students from Eastview Middle School, in Red Deer, entered the 2013 School of the Future Design Competition, sponsored by the Council of Educational Facility Planners International. Approximately 700 teams from around the world took part in regional competitions held over the course of several months. Harmon, McCallister, Schafer and Webber were one of only three teams to earn an all-expenses-paid trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the finals. Teams from Ohio and the United Kingdom were in the running, too, but it was team Red Deer that wowed the panel of 16 judges and won top honours.
The students conducted comprehensive first- and second-hand research to design a 21st-century school featuring elements such as solar energy and public access to green roof and gardens to make the school a learning tool for the community. Also a part of their presentation was a proposal for an educational delivery system that incorporated a Finland-inspired portfolio system and individual learning programs.
Throughout the competition, the students were guided by two mentors: architect Craig Webber and teacher Kelly Aleman. Aleman was amazed, but not surprised, by the first-place finish from his former social studies students. “They sound like they’re doctoral students,” said Aleman. “I’m really proud that they came to their own conclusions, but what speaks most, for me, is that these students, any students, given the opportunity and time to pursue what’s of interest to them—their passions—do amazing things. These are amazing kids and this speaks to how dedicated they were to this project and their learning.”
Premier points out students’ unlimited potential
That just might be what Premier Alison Redford was doing here. At the invitation of the award-winning Red Deer students, the premier, along with Minister of Education Jeff Johnson, Minister of Infrastructure Wayne Drysdale and Red Deer MLAs Cal Dallas and Mary Anne Jablonski, went to Eastview Middle School for a presentation of their award-winning School of the Future project.
