Welcome to Cecil Swanson School!
Our school serves elementary age children in the Rundle community. There are over 400 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 arranged in straight grades that attend our school. Sixty-six percent of our students have English as their second (or third or fourth) language and 21% are identified as having special learning needs. We have two SKILL classes for students with moderate to severe cognitive challenges. Children are encouraged to be physically active and many participate in organized sports.
At Cecil Swanson, "kids are number one." Our students are our purpose for being, and all decisions are made with this belief in mind. Curriculum is adapted to meet student needs and all teachers work in teams.
We have high expectations for our students. We believe parents and staff must work together to ensure students develop a feeling of self-worth, a sense of responsibility for their actions, and an ability to discipline themselves.
School Philosophy & Purpose
Our purpose at Cecil Swanson School is to provide our students with challenging and meaningful quality learning opportunities for personal growth. These opportunities will help to develop the academic, social, emotional, creative, and physical potential of each child to the fullest. We will strive to accomplish this with the full involvement and commitment of our school community in a positive atmosphere of active learning.
School Vision Statement
Our vision encompasses a community of learners wherein we endeavour to provide our students with a learning environment that is safe, secure, stimulating and accepting. We encourage risk-taking, creativity, dialogue and sharing, inquiry, critical thinking and self-reflection. Students are encouraged to take ownership and responsibility for their academics and their behavior. An active partnership between school, home, and our community is vital to our success.
Our School's Name
The school was named after the venerable Archdeacon Cecil Swanson.
Born in London, England in 1889, Cecil Swanson attended Wycliffe College, Toronto, where he was ordained in 1912. He served in the Yukon, on Vancouver Island at Metchosin, and at Christ Church, Vancouver, before being appointed Rector at St. Augustine's in Lethbridge. While living in Lethbridge, Cecil Swanson also served as a School Trustee. In 1929, Cecil Swanson became Archdeacon of Lethbridge.
In 1932, he moved to St. Stephen's Church in Calgary. Appointed Dean and Rector of Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver in 1944, Archdeacon Swanson served there until becoming the Rector of St. Paul's Church in Toronto in 1953. In 1960, Cecil Swanson retired and moved to Calgary. Archdeacon Swanson has been recognized for his untiring service by honorary doctorate degrees from several colleges, including the University of Calgary. In 1978, Cecil Swanson was made a member of the Order of Canada.
Our School's Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation
We are committed to acknowledging and supporting the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 94 Calls to Action specific to education. Our school, along with all CBE schools, made a Truth and Reconciliation Commitment to Action, on June 21, we renewed our commitment.
View Our Truth and Reconciliation Commitment | 2025-2026
School Development Plan
Each year, our school prepares a development plan with input from teachers, school staff, students and parents. We review many sources of data, including report cards, provincial achievement test results and school surveys. Based on this information, we create our plan identifying targeted areas for growth. Our school development plan is not meant to represent all of the work that takes place in our school, but rather it focuses on specific areas for improvement.
View Our School Development Plan | 2024-2025
School Improvement Results Report
Our school also prepares a results plan, which looks at our previous school year. It shows our students’ achievement and progress in meeting the goals and outcomes as set out by the CBE and Alberta Education, outlines some of the highlights of our school development plan and gives an overview of our school. You can look on the CBE website for system-wide results.