Regular communication from the CFIS Boards will be posted here. For more information on the structure of the CFIS Boards, how to join and current directors, please see our Governance section.

2008/09

April 2, 2009 --- The Calgary French & International School (CFIS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Richard Slevinsky as Headmaster of the School. A recognized champion of French immersion in Alberta, Dr. Slevinsky is a seasoned, passionate educator with over 30 years of experience in Alberta’s school system, including a decade working for the Alberta government in various capacities leading the advancement of French language education.
For additional information, please refer to the Letter from the CFIS Board and Dr. Slevinsky's Full Bio »

February 17, 2009 --- Headmaster Recruitment Update --- The Headmaster Selection Committee has been actively working since October. We placed advertisements in two key newspaper publications - The Globe & Mail and La Presse - and on a number of education websites. Our search firm, Hamilton Hall Soles Ray & Berndtson, identified an impressive list of potential candidates from across the country that the Committee reviewed during several meetings in the fall. The Committee selected a short list of candidates early in January and recently conducted interviews with each of these candidates. We are in the process of scheduling additional interviews to select a final candidate and expect to make our final recommendation to the CFIS Society Board in March 2009.

January 27, 2009 --- The Headmaster Selection Committee is now working actively on the recruitment of a new CFIS Headmaster. Check here for information on the committee ».

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 --- Mark your calendars for the Annual General Meeting of the CALGARY FRENCH & INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SOCIETY, the CALGARY INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE FOUNDATION, and the CALGARY FRENCH & INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ADVANCEMENT SOCIETY. This event will be held at the school at 7:00 pm.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - The Calgary French & International School Society (Board) will hold its regular meeting at 7:00 pm at the school. Members in good standing of the Calgary French & International School Society may attend these board meetings with observer status. Should you wish to attend, please
contact the Board Secretary at societyboard@cfis.com to register your intention to attend at least 8 days before the meeting; no later than October 7, 2008.

Join us OCTOBER 1, 2008 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm for a CFIS Open House Event. Your CFIS Society Board of Directors invites you to meet the members of the Board and Dr. Slevinsky at our pre-AGM Wine & Cheese. This event is open to all CFIS parents, members, teachers and support staff. Please mark your calendar and join us!

September 8, 2008 - Welcome back!

     Now that the year has started and our children are happily engaged in their new classes we wanted to update you on the plans for the continued growth and development of CFIS.

    First, Dr. Richard Slevinsky, our interim Principal, has quickly settled in and has shown a great deal of competence at managing the daily operations of our School. He is enthusiastically involved in helping us through this time of transition and we have been impressed by the judgment and insight he has demonstrated in such a short period of time. Dr. Slevinsky will be with us as we look for the Headmaster who will lead the CFIS into its next stage of development. We hope you all take the opportunity in the next few months to spend a moment getting to know him better.

     The Board has a full agenda coming into the fall AGM which is scheduled for Tuesday, November 25. T o help us organize ourselves better we have hired a new board secretary, Alka Chandiramani. Alka will be responsible for providing administrative services to all three boards.

     We are beginning our agenda this fall by meeting as a board with the teachers on Wednesday, September 10 where we will address their concerns and answer questions related to the leadership change. We have a very strong group of teachers and have been impressed by their professionalism and commitment to students as the school goes through change.

     The Society Board will be busy over the next few months approving the school budget, working with the Foundation Board as they implement the Marcel Trembley Learning Resource Centre, revising and updating the by-laws for approval at the AGM, and recruiting a new Headmaster.

     As mentioned in our previous letter, the CFIS Society Board will be proposing the amalgamation of the Principal, President and CEO roles into one Headmaster position. We have engaged the services of an established, international recruitment firm to assist in the recruitment of a Headmaster to lead the school in its next phase of growth. For more information on the recruitment firm we have chosen you can review their website at www.rayberndtson.ca.

     A Selection Committee Chair will be appointed from the CFIS Society Board at our September 17, 2008 board meeting. Under the direction of the chair, the committee will be responsible for conducting the search, reviewing candidates, and recommending to the CFIS Society Board a prospective Headmaster. The Selection Committee Chair will be seeking representatives from the parent community and the CFIS staff to join the recruitment committee in the upcoming months.

     To help you better understand the role of the Board you will find attached a brief summary of the Boards mandate, role and responsibilities. A complete copy of the CFIS Society Board Governance Policies is available in the school office for your review. In the future you will also find these documents available to the members on the CFIS website along with board updates, meeting schedules and special addresses. We will continue to provide a link on the website for you to direct your questions or concerns to the Board ( societyboard@cfis.com).

We are confident and excited about the future of the School. We encourage everyone in our school community to ask questions, provide input, and get involved.

Sincerely,

Kristan Strate                                      John McVicar
CFIS Society Board Chair                   CFIS Society Board Vice-Chair