Weekly Update: February 9 to February 13

Happy Sunday, Grizzly Families! 

What a joy it was to walk through the halls with a “share a joke” sign this week.  Students shared all kinds of jokes and brain teasers.  Have a laugh with your child and see if they remember any that were shared over the PA.  Be sure to ask your child about Grizzly Den as well—this week students completed activities related to digital safety.  I happened to sit in one Grizzly Den class and noted that many students had personal stories to share about how they or their family members have had negative experiences online or via text.  To add to this sentiment, I can also share that I have learned about several students who recently have engaged with strangers online.  Parents, the sad truth is that many of our students have more skills and knowledge about how to use their phones or computers and tablets than we do as adults, which gives them opportunities to hide their inappropriate or unsafe behaviour.  Please stay involved with your child’s online experiences and be aware of all their accounts and activities. 

CONNECTING HOME AND SCHOOL:  Bullying and Conflict with Peers 

A few weeks ago, I shared that we had a hearty dialogue about bullying at our last school council.  One point that came out of that meeting was a reminder to our staff to circle back to students to whom we have provided support, to see how things are going after we intervened.  I took that reminder back to our staff the next time we met.  In fact, in a recent incident, looping back helped us to identify a situation that remained ongoing.  We were able to support the situation and empower the students who reported their concern, thereby demonstrating that re-reporting made a difference and put a stop to the concern.  One witness had an "aha" moment in my office when she realized that re-reporting was quite effective--and that she had originally chosen to ignore the problem, which was allowing it to continue.  Look for some more information next week about different strategies for students to use, including some commentary about the effectiveness of ignoring a problem.  At our last council, we also discussed the significance of the team supporting our students—home and school working together.  Read the chart below to better understand the language we use when we work with students, as we find that the word “bullying” is sometimes misused.  Look for more on this topic for the next few weeks. 

Continuum of Behaviours 


Conflict 

Rude 

Mean / Aggressive 

Bullying 

Intention 

No intention to cause harm, both sides want to have their needs met and work things out to solve the problem. 

Varies, may indicate attempt to communicate needs, achieve goals. 

Cause harm, fear or distress.  May also be used to communicate feelings/needs. 

Cause harm, fear, or distress.  Gain power/control over the target.  Gain prestige or popularity. 

Frequency 

Occasional to ongoing, depending upon the relationship. 

Occasional to ongoing.  Does not follow a pattern. 

Occasional to ongoing.  Does not follow a pattern. 

Repeated and ongoing.  

Description 

A disagreement that both parties can work together to solve.  Interactions can be positive or negative. 

Impulsive behaviour, apparent selfishness, thoughtlessness or poor manners. 

Impulsive behaviour, angry or aggressive outbursts.  Directed at certain individuals(s).   

Planned, deliberate actions.  Targeting specific individual(s).  May be verbal, physical, social/relational, cyber/digital. 

DID YOU KNOW? 

NEW:  Though Annie Gale is a public school, it is not open to the public.  Our campus is closed to visitors throughout the day.  Anyone coming to the school MUST check in at the office.  Furthermore, we always try our best to support parents and guardians who come to the school needing support; however, the admin team has an increased workload because of our upcoming modernization, which limits our availability.  As a result, we are often not able to provide support in the moment, especially if parents/guardians want to speak with an administrator.  Because of this, we can no longer allow drop-in appointments.  Please call the school to make an appointment so that we can set aside time to talk with you.  If it is an emergency, let the office staff know so that we can respond accordingly.  Thanks for your understanding.

NEW:  February 27 is a non-instruction day.  There will be no school for students on that day. 

NEW:  Golf shirts for TLC students are not considered appropriate for formal uniform days.  The expectation is that all students wear a white, button-down, collared shirt.

REPEAT:  For those who have students who use Calgary Transit to get to and from school, we have been asked to ensure that parents are directed to Contact Calgary Transit at  403‑262‑1000 for any questions or concerns. This ensures each inquiry is logged and managed by the correct team.  

REPEAT:  EducationMatters has partnered with Castle Rock Research to offer high-quality study materials at a significant discount for CBE students until February 11. These supplementary resources are a great way to support learning and build confidence throughout the semester.  Simply place your order through our school link on the sales page:  https://castlerockresearch.com/cbe-site-sale 

REPEAT:  Grade 9 Transitions Mini Round Dance 

Mark your calendars! On April 30, 2026, the CBE Indigenous Education Team invites Grade 9 Indigenous students, their families, and their school staff to be celebrated at the third annual CBE Grade 9 Transitions Mini Round Dance. This will be an evening to honour self-identified Indigenous students who are transitioning from Grade 9 to high school. Hosted at Ernest Manning High School, this event will include a bagged lunch feast, Indigenous artisans, special dances, an honour song, and a giveaway. All CBE students, families, and staff are invited to attend.   

Link: See the poster for more information.   

REPEAT:  Our next School Council meeting will be on Tuesday, February 24, at 6:30 p.m.  

REPEAT:  This is a reminder that CBE Administrative Regulation AR6004 - Animals in Schools restricts animals on school property. Dogs are not permitted on school grounds except where expressly approved under AR6004 (e.g., service animals or authorized educational purposes). 

Additionally, the City of Calgary Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw prohibits dogs on school property, including playgrounds and fields. 

UPDATE:  Ask your child about what word they focused on each Word Wednesday.  On Wednesdays we choose a new word and discuss how it changes in the context of our subjects.  Last week’s word was valid.   

REPEAT:  The next Fun Lunch is this Wednesday, February 25. 

WEEKLY EVENTS – FEBRUARY  9 TO FEBRUARY 13 

Monday, February 9 - (TLC Students in formal uniforms)  

  • 8:00 – 2:30 | Calgary Zoo Field Trip (7-2 and 7-5)  
  • 12:00 | Candy Gram Sales in foyer 
  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Senior Boys Volleyball Practice 
  • 3:45 – 4:45 | Junior Boys Volleyball Practice 

Tuesday, February 10  

  • 12:00 | Candy Gram Sales in foyer 
  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Senior and Junior Girls Combined Volleyball Practice 
  • 4:15 – 5:15 | Junior Boys Volleyball Game vs. Prairie Sky @ Annie Gale 
  • 5:15 – 6:15 | Senior Boys Volleyball Game vs. Prairie Sky @ Annie Gale 

Wednesday, February 11 - Candy Gram Distribution  

  • 12:45 – 1:45 | Lester B. Pearson IB Presentation @ Annie Gale 
  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Junior Boys Volleyball Practice 
  • 3:45 – 4:45 | Senior Boys Volleyball Practice 
  • 4:15 – 5:15 | Senior Girls Volleyball Game vs. Prairie Sky @ Prairie Sky 
  • 5:15 – 6:30 | Junior Girls Volleyball Game vs. Prairie Sky @ Prairie Sky 

Thursday, February 12 – NO SCHOOL (TEACHERS’ CONVENTION) 

Friday, February 13 – NO SCHOOL (TEACHERS’ CONVENTION) 

Monday, February 16 – FAMILY DAY – NO SCHOOL 

Sincerely, 

Tammy Quiring 

(Proud) Principal