Students choice

Strathcona
Tweedsmuir School

Your education at sts is built on

Choice from your first day to the last bell

Your education at STS is built on choice from your first day to your last. We believe students flourish emotionally, physically, and intellectually when they have agency over their learning and their lives.

Choice starts small and grows with you. Early on, you explore widely and try new things. As you progress through the school, your choices become more intentional. You learn what energizes you, what challenges you, and where you want to push yourself further.

Student “choice” won’t get you out of math class or an important test-but it will help you discover passions you didn’t know you had, develop skills you’ll use forever, and figure out who you want to become. Our job is to offer meaningful possibilities and help you find balance within them.

Co-Curricular

ENCORE

ENCORE brings co-curricular exploration into your regular school day. Every six weeks, programming rotates to give you fresh experiences in science, art, performance, public speaking, and more. You’ll typically receive one of your three choices for activities.

You join mixed-grade groups (K-2, 3-4, 5-6) for weekly sessions, meeting new classmates and teachers in a fun, low- pressure setting. Older elementary students can select leadership roles like yearbook, house spirit committees, student tour ambassadors, or community service activities.

SPARK

SPARK gives you space to explore. At regular points throughout the year, you step away from your usual timetable for short, intensive sessions in design, entrepreneurship, outdoor skills, wellness, social impact, arts, or technology. You choose your SPARK sessions and work closely with teachers and peers who share your interests.

These experiences let you explore topics beyond the regular curriculum, work in different groupings, take healthy risks in a low-pressure environment, and notice emerging interests you can carry with you into the future. They help you see how your skills and curiosities can connect to real problems, creative projects, and future pathways.

Co-Curricular
Programs

Middle school and senior school students also participate in year-long co-curricular activities that span athletics, fine arts, speech and debate, leadership, and clubs.

  • Athletics includes volleyball, basketball, soccer, rugby, field hockey,
    cross-country, track and field, golf, badminton, and curling.
  • Fine Arts offers jazz bands, choirs, musicals, plays, and art clubs.
  • Speech and Debate develops your voice through speech tournaments,
    Model UN, and parliamentary debate.
  • Leadership opportunities include student council, house council,
    prefects, peer tutoring, Round Square, and Duke of Edinburgh.
  • Clubs cover robotics, chess, yearbook, case club, math club, climbing,
    and language conversation groups.

Every intentional “yes”

brings you closer to discovering

what you care about.

That's where passion lives

—and where purpose begins.

How do students manage all of this?

Looking at this list, you’re probably wondering how students manage it all. They don’t!

They choose deliberately, understanding the difference between major commitments (6-12 hours per week) and minor ones, and factoring in everything else on their plate. Students stay in continuous conversation with faculty, advisors, and parents about what’s realistic, what’s energizing, and what’s actually sustainable.

There’s always someone listening. The goal is saying yes to the right things, not all the things.

Stories of Choice

What do you get when you combine bright minds and the freedom to explore?
Great stories of students finding their paths at STS. 

2025 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient – Mr. Jeffrey Kahane ’89

It is our pleasure to announce that Jeffrey (Jeff) Kahane ’89 has been chosen as the recipient of the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS) 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award – the highest honour bestowed by STS upon its alumni.This award was established in 2003 to recognize eminent alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to our school. Each year, STS showcases a former student who has stimulated new ideas or developments, shown exceptional dedication, creativity, or leadership, and who has truly represented the spirit of STS – Nil nisi optimum.

Building Tomorrow through Genuine Sharing

Welcoming a First Nations Elder and Knowledge Keeper to our campus is a cornerstone of our commitment to reconciliation. It is creating profound opportunities for our students and teachers to learn, grow, and connect. This special relationship is a beautiful example of how Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS) is actively working towards a more equitable and inclusive society.Students in every grade, K-12, in a multitude of subjects and activities, had the opportunity to spend time with and learn from Saa'kokoto throughout the 2022-2023 school year. After a wonderful inaugural year, we look forward to continuing this beautiful partnership long into the future.

Inspiring Alumni | Ben Mercer ’95

Even though Ben Mercer ’95 is responsible for a walking path used by tens of thousands of Calgarians every single day, he admits that he didn’t see his own journey leading to a career in landscaping and construction.“I was a bit of a late bloomer and hadn’t figured out what I wanted from life by the time I graduated from STS. In high school, I worked for a landscape company, and then I went to the University of Calgary and studied philosophy for law.”

Explore Next

Explore Next

Uncover the adventures our students embark on every single day.