Home Based School
March 2026
A Message from Principal Holbrow
I find it so easy to get swept up in the Olympics. It’s intriguing to me that at the start of February, I had little interest in the Milan Cortina Games, yet now that they’ve concluded, I find myself missing them. Sports I rarely watch during the four-year interval—like luge relay, long-distance speed skating, and snowboard cross—suddenly became "must-watch" television, alongside my usual favourites like hockey and curling.
The Olympics always raises the question of how we measure success. Is the "top" country the one with the most total medals, or the one with the most gold? What about the fourth-place finishes that don’t count toward the final tally? Or the competitors who achieved personal bests but received no public recognition?
Success is relative. It is different for every athlete, just as it is for every student in our school. Even among our highest achievers, the criteria for success varies. A few years ago, depending on which metrics we used to calculate Grade 12 averages, three different students were recognized as having the "highest" average.
Furthermore, the students with the highest grades aren't always the most inspiring. Often, the real triumphs belong to the student who completed all of their courses to graduate, the one who fought hard for a 65% in Math 30-2, or the student who met every deadline despite facing a personal "uphill" year.
In these Olympics, one gold medalist stood out to me: Lucas Pinheiro Braathen. By winning gold for Brazil, he became the only South American to medal this year—and, in fact, the first South American in history to ever win a Winter Olympic medal. I hope Brazil feels immense pride in him, and that he serves as an inspiration for athletes across South America to dream of the podium.
Unfortunately, it often takes a long time for students to stop comparing themselves to their peers. It takes time to realize that the only criteria that truly matter are the ones they set for themselves—the ones that open the doors they want to walk through.
At Outreach, I truly value that we meet with students individually to hear their goals and define what success looks like for them. To all our students: we are proud of you. We will happily put you on the podium for doing your best and for reaching the goals that you have determined will make you a success.
Mr. Holbrow
Principal
Put This On Your Calendar...
2025-2026 School Year
March 8 Daylight Savings Time
March 9 PD Day - No School for students
March 17 St. Patrick's Day
March 17 Cooking Connections - Jr. High Event
March 19 Event Day! Pysanka Decorating
March 27 Last Day before Spring Break
Spring Break March 28 - April 5
If you were selected to participate in the government survey (mostly parents of students in grades 4, 7 and 10, but others may have received the notice as well), please take the time to fill it out.
We use the information provided in the survey to work on improving our school. We would like to have as much information as possible.
Deadline: March 6
Thursday, March 19 from 1:30 - 3:00
Discover the ancient Ukrainian tradition of Pysanky—the art of "writing" on eggs! More than just a craft, these eggs are symbols of new life and legendary family traditions passed down through generations.
Students will need to bring a container (yogurt container, small tupperware etc) to carefully transport their egg home.
Link: https://forms.gle/YbrnWm7FPpv7U39v5
This event is open to Gr 1-9 ONLY.
Kickstand
Kickstand Connect is a virtual walk-in clinic for Albertans aged 11-25 (but they said their age range is soft; kids will not be denied if they are older or younger than that). Their services are provided by Alberta-certified providers, and there is NO COST associated with them.
There is NO limit to how many times a kid can access the walk-in services; they will be directed to further support if their needs are more intensive. This program has a TON of connections to other mental health support programs in the province.
Mission Statement
Black Gold is a leading school division in creating innovative programming to inspire and create success for students. Black Gold Home-Based School is committed to providing flexible learning options so every student can achieve. Home-Based education choices work in cooperation with students, parents and Black Gold Schools to ensure quality program planning and transition. Home-Based School provides opportunities for Parent-Directed or Teacher-Directed programs and is respectful of parent choice and collaboration. We believe to achieve their full potential, children must be the center of all decisions related to learning and provide course work online or in print in a variety of environments. Home-Based education allows for a personalized learning opportunity for students who require flexibility.