Students and staff from Foundations for the Future Charter Academy (FFCA), South High School campus, a public charter school which was damaged in a fire, will use classrooms, computer labs and other facilities in Mount Royal University's Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous Learning as well as campus recreation spaces to finish their school year.
"We are pleased we can work with Foundations for the Future Charter Academy during this difficult time," said Mount Royal President and Vice-Chancellor Tim Rahilly. "Calgary is our community and we know the value of in-person learning. We are able to adapt to meet the short-term needs of FFCA, while minimizing interruption to our Continuing Education and spring session classes. We are doing what we can so that these students can complete their programs and be able to write final and diploma exams in the coming weeks."
Students and teachers of FFCA's south high school campus shifted to online learning after the fire that crews responded to during the early morning hours of May 9.
Foundations for the Future will rent 15 classrooms, two computer labs and two boardrooms in MRU's Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous Learning. Approximately 500 students along with 30 teachers, administrators and staff will be on campus from May 15 to June 24.
"This space will allow our students to continue their complete program of learning, including all core and elective courses and be able to write final and diploma exams in a few weeks," said FFCA Principal Educator Josh Symonds. "We are incredibly thankful to be partnering with MRU in this challenging situation. They have worked many hours in a very short time to reorganize their own programs to accommodate our needs. FFCA has always been fortunate to have a great team of administrators, staff, and parents; this reminds us of the larger community of which we are a part."
This is not the first time MRU has responded to community needs. During the Calgary flood of 2013, MRU assisted the Calgary Emergency Response Agency with its response in providing aid for evacuees, and provided office and meeting space to Bow Valley College when its downtown campus was flooded. In 2016, a number of families who were evacuated from the Fort McMurray fires stayed in MRU residences.
