Update to Overflow School Designation for Grade 7-9 Regular Program Students Residing in Skyview Ranch

Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,

Dr. Gordon Higgins School has reached its capacity and will be unable to accommodate any additional Skyview Ranch students overflowed from Prairie Sky School. Ernest Morrow School will now serve as a second overflow school for Grade 7 to Grade 9 Prairie Sky School students to accommodate ongoing enrolment growth in the Skyview Ranch community for the 2023-24 school year and beyond.

Effective immediately, all new Grade 7 to 9 Skyview Ranch registrations for Prairie Sky School that cannot be accommodated at Prairie Sky School or the first overflow, Dr. Gordon Higgins School, including new registrations in SchoolEngage, will be overflowed to Ernest Morrow School.  

• Ernest Morrow School is in the community of Forest Lawn at 1212 47 St SE Calgary, AB T2A 1R3, phone 403-777-7800.

All Grade 7 to Grade 9 students who live in the Skyview Ranch community and attend one of the overflow schools, Dr. Gordon Higgins School, or Ernest Morrow School, will be placed on a call-back list and offered a place at their designated school of Prairie Sky School if space becomes available.

No changes for current students attending Prairie Sky School

Skyview Ranch students who are currently attending Prairie Sky School will remain at the school until they transition to high school, provided they do not move out of the school boundary.

Changes for next school year for Skyview Ranch students overflowed to Dr. Gordon Higgins School

• For the 2024-25 school year, Ernest Morrow School will serve as the only overflow school for Grade 7 to Grade 9 Skyview Ranch students.
• Overflowed students from the Skyview Ranch community may transfer to Ernest Morrow School or remain at Dr. Gordon Higgins School until they transition to high school.
  
• Transportation services from the Skyview Ranch community to Dr. Gordon Higgins School will be provided for one school year following the end of the overflow to Dr. Gordon Higgins School. Overflow to Dr. Gordon Higgins School will not be in place after June 2025. This means that after June 27, 2025, there will be no transportation service from Skyview Ranch to Dr. Gordon Higgins School. 

Why is this change happening?

In a notice dated May 30, 2023, we informed families residing in the Skyview Ranch community that all new Grade 7 to Grade 9 students who cannot be accommodated at Prairie Sky School will be designated to Dr. Gordon Higgins School.

There have been continuous registrations for Dr. Gordon Higgins School from new students living in the Skyview Ranch community at a rate higher than what is normally seen at the schools. Growing enrolment has caused Dr. Gordon Higgins School to reach its capacity, and a second overflow must be put in place to ensure the learning environment is not adversely impacted at Dr. Gordon Higgins School.

How do I register for the 2023-24 school year?

New Skyview Ranch students not currently enrolled in a CBE School in Grades 7 to 9 must register for Prairie Sky School. Any new registrations received for the 2023-24 school year will be added to the call-back list based on priority designation and the date and time of their registration.

How does a call-back list work?

If space becomes available in Prairie Sky School during the school year, that space will be offered to students on the call-back list who are currently attending either Dr. Gordon Higgins School or Ernest Morrow School. Their overflow school will notify them if a space becomes available.

Students remain on the call-back list while they attend the designated overflow school. Students will be removed from the call-back list if they move out of the Skyview Ranch community or transfer from their designated overflow school.

We will make every effort to keep siblings together at a single school. If this is a concern for your family, please contact your designated overflow school to discuss arrangements.

How do I register for the 2024-25 school year?

New Skyview Ranch students not currently enrolled in a CBE school in Grades 7 to 9 must register for Prairie Sky School. Students who cannot be accommodated at Prairie Sky School will be overflowed to Ernest Morrow. For more information on how to register, please visit our website.

Is transportation available for students attending the designated overflow schools?

Students are eligible for transportation to their designated school or overflow school if they live beyond the walk zone. Overflowed students will receive transportation to and from Dr. Gordon Higgins School until the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Transportation will continue and be available for overflowed students from Skyview Ranch attending Ernest Morrow School. Please note that transportation fees apply to overflow situations.

In the CBE and across the city, we are experiencing a school bus driver shortage that may impact the mode of service provided. Please be assured that we are doing everything possible and working with our partners to restore reliability to transportation services.  Visit Busing & Transportation for more information, or to register for transportation, visit MyCBE.

What if I have questions?

If you still have questions or require additional information, please contact the Area 4 office at Area4@cbe.ab.ca or 403-777-6233 (extension 0) or the Area 3 office at Area3@cbe.ab.ca or 403-777-6820 (extension 0).