While our Edge School Skill Academy North’s (ESSAN) own website is under construction, we are pleased to provide you with this mini-site dedicated to all things ESSAN!

 

We hope this Q & A format provides you with everything you need to know and the steps to register your active son or daughter in this exciting program.

For your convenience, we have provided the following relevant documents in downloadable format:

1. Expression of Interest

2. Admissions Application

3. Edge School need-based Scholarship Program Information.

 

1. What is the ESSAN? How and when did it begin? Is it a separate organization from Edge School?

 

·        ESSAN is a joint effort of Edge School (Calgary) and the Grande Prairie Public School District.

·        Beginning September 2010, ESSAN will be providing specific sport skill academies as part of the education programming at Alexander Forbes School in Grande Prairie.

 

2. Who is the ESSAN Director? What is his background?

 

·        The ESSAN Director is Brett Stephenson.

·        Brett has an extensive sport background including elite level hockey playing and coaching.

·        Playing experience – Red Deer College 1990-1993.

·        Coaching experience – Head Coach & GM Bonnyville AJHL; GP Midget AAA.

 

3. What skill academies will be offered by ESSAN for the 2010-2011 school year?

 

·        Hockey, Dance and Soccer, numbers pending

·        Grades 4 – 9

·        We are currently gauging the interest at the Senior High grades and determining if we can offer academies at that level.

 

 

4. What kind of student-athletes is ESSAN looking for?

 

·        ESSAN is looking for student-athletes who are passionate about their sport and who are average to above-average in school and in their sport and are of good character.

 

5. What is the curriculum of these skill academies?

 

·        The curriculum will be that developed over the past 11 years at Edge School.

·        These programs are designed to help children develop self-confidence and leadership as well as an effective skill set in both life (transferable skills) and in their sport. In otherwords, the Edgeway!

·        Leadership skills such as goal-setting, effective communication, humility, dignity, proper attitude and inner strength. Transferable skills – such as time management, self-advocacy, empathy and a deeper understanding of themselves and their community.

·        Emphasis is on individual skill development – the fundamentals of those sports.

·        Hockey – such as skating, puck handling, shooting, passing, checking.

·        Soccer – such as ball control and handling, shooting, passing, marking.

·        Dance – such as specific dance genres, balance and strength.

·        Strength and conditioning training, nutrition, sports medicine.

 

6. What are the differences between these skill academies and those programs provided by Edge School in Calgary?

 

·        The programs in both Grande Prairie and Calgary are based on the same guiding principles:

 

o       Student-athletes passionate about their sport.

o       Enabling student-athletes to use that passion to succeed in sports, school and character-building.

o       We emphasize individual skill development in the classroom, on the playing fields and in life.

 

·        For now, ESSAN student-athletes will be integrated as part of Alexander Forbes School. This means they will be in regular Alexander Forbes classrooms.

 

·        The plan is to develop a “school-within-a-school” model once the number of students permits. This would mean ESSAN is its own school within Alexander Forbes School but with its own classrooms and a staff delivering both the required Alberta Education and the Edge specific curriculum.

 

·        Edge School in Calgary has a complete teaching, coaching and administrative staff to deliver its full programming.

 

7. What is the cost of these skill academies?

 

·        $3,700 fee for each skill academy.

·        This fee covers all expected costs of the academy (coaching, classroom time, ice costs, intra-day transportation between the sports venues and the school).

·        Additional costs would include any out-of-town academy-related trips, etc.

 

8. When and how will these skill academy sessions be scheduled?

 

·        They will be scheduled during school hours and will be an integral part of the school day.

·        We anticipate on-ice, on-field or in dance studio sessions would be about 4 – 6 hours weekly depending on how the sessions are scheduled. Leadership and transferrable skills will be about 1 - 2 hours weekly.

·        Exact schedules will be prepared and forwarded to families once sufficient numbers of students have enrolled – probably near the end of the school year or during the summer.

 

9. Will there be a need-based scholarship program available for ESSAN students?

 

·        Yes, and it will similar to the Edge School Calgary need-based scholarship program.

·        Families complete and submit a detailed application directly to ESSAN’s independent third party advisor, Apple Financial. Apple Financial advises ESSAN and a final determination is then made by ESSAN’s Scholarship Committee.

·        For the 2010-11 school year, ESSAN families may be able to access up to a maximum of $2,700 in financial assistance. However, this depends on the actual financial need of the particular family and the amount of funding ESSAN has available at that time. Please note that all families are responsible for the payment of at least $1,000.

 

·        Please click here to download an Apple Financial application and for further questions and answers regarding the financial assistance process.

 

10. Where is ESSAN located; where are its offices?

 

·        Alexander Forbes School – 7240 Polar Drive, Grande Prairie T8V 5A6

·        Edge School’s address is 33055 Township Road 250 Calgary T3Z 1L4

 

 11. Where can I obtain information on the various skill academies offered?

 

·        Edge School Student Support Team   403-246-6432 ex 120

·        Alexander Forbes School’s offices     780-532-1365 ex 2324

·        www.edgeschool.com

 

 

 

 

How does the Admissions process work?

 

This is an easy 6-step process: