Weekly Update from April 14 to April 18

Happy Sunday, Grizzly families! 

This week’s message is brief but I hope you find something in it that supports you and your child.  Our next update will arrive in your inboxes next a week from tomorrow.  I hope that you enjoy spending some extra time with your family over the upcoming long weekend--there is no school for students on Friday or the following Monday. School will resume on April 22.

CONNECTING HOME AND SCHOOL:  This week’s topic is Growth Mindset.  I will focus on this topic over the next few weeks. 

“It’s been said that when our kids have a growth mindset they view their failures as learning curves, obstacles in their path as opportunities, and they consider themselves a creative work in progress.  But tell that to a frustrated teenage boy who’s sitting at the kitchen table after school trying to comprehend his math homework and none of it seems to make sense or to a teenage girl who practiced for months to make the high school lacrosse team only to get the disappointing news that she wasn’t selected.  To a teenager who’s struggling in virtually any area of their life, it can be difficult to view life’s challenges, setbacks and failures as opportunities to learn or stepping stones to grow. 

So how do we instill and nurture a “can-do” attitude in our teens? How do we encourage them to climb mountains they never thought possible, be brave even in the toughest of storms, bounce back with mental toughness, and ride the tumultuous waves of life with resilience and buoyancy?  It all begins with a growth mindset… 

What is a Growth Mindset? 

The concept of growth mindset was developed by psychologist, Stanford professor and author of the bestselling book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol Dweck, who became interested in students’ attitudes about failure.  Dweck and her colleagues noticed that some students rebounded while other students seemed devastated by even the smallest setback.  What they found is that people typically adopt two types of mindsets: “fixed” and “growth.”  

“In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence, skills, abilities or talents, are simply fixed traits. They believe that talent alone creates success. Whereas, people with a more persistent growth mindset believe that they can substantially change their intelligence, skills, abilities, and talents with effort.”  Dweck goes on to say that people with fixed mindsets are notorious for saying things like, “I can’t.” “I’ll never be good enough” and “I failed, so there’s no use in trying again.” 

In our teen’s life, it might sound something like, “I’ll never learn Algebra, it’s just too hard,” “I would have passed that test if I was smarter,” or “No matter how hard I try, I’ll never make the team – I’m just not good enough.” 

But according to Dweck, they can learn, they can get smarter and they can get better and more adept at practically anything they set their mind to because nothing is fixed unless our kids allow themselves to believe that – not their abilities or talents, not their skills or intelligence. Their potential rests completely and fully in their hands.” 

Retrieved on April 13, 2025, from: Teach Your Teen to Have a Growth Mindset: Why it Matters and Powerful Strategies that Work - Raising Teens Today 

Did you know?   

REPEAT:  April’s School Council Meeting is Wednesday, April 16, at 6 p.m.   This meeting will be held in person and online.  Please watch your email on Wednesday afternoon for the link. Look at the end of this message for more information from School Council. 

REPEAT:  Monday, April 21, 2025, is a non-instruction day and there will be no school for students. 

REPEAT:  Fun lunch is Thursday, April 24.  Log in to Healthyhunger.ca to participate. 

WEEKLY EVENTS:  APRIL 14 TO APRIL 18 

Monday, April 14  

  • 12:00 – 12:30 | Grade 6 Badminton Practice 
  • 2:45 – 3:45 | SWAT Meeting 
  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Grade 9 Badminton Practice 

Tuesday, April 15  

8:00 – 4:00 | Grade 7 Field Trip to Royal Tyrell Museum 

  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Grade 6 Badminton Practice 
  • 3:45 – 4:45 | Grade 8 Badminton Practice 

Wednesday, April 16 

  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Grade 8 Badminton Practice 
  • 3:45 – 4:45 | Grade 7 Badminton Practice 
  • 6:00 – 7:30 | School Council (blended format:  in-person and virtual) 

Thursday, April 17 

  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Grade 9 Badminton Practice 
  • 3:45 – 4:45 | Grade 7 Badminton Practice 

Friday, April 18 – GOOD FRIDAY – NO SCHOOL 

Monday, April 21 – Non-Instruction Day – NO SCHOOL 

Sincerely, 

Tammy Quiring 

(proud) Principal 

A MESSAGE FROM SCHOOL COUNCIL 

Hello Annie Gale Parents, 

It’s almost time when the school year is ending, and we will be having elections for the executive positions on our school council and fundraising society PESA (PARENTS ENCOURAGING SUCCESS ASSOCIATION) at our AGM (Annual General Meeting) in June. All positions are available to be filled for the 2025-2026 school year. The description of all the roles is provided below, so if this is something that interests you, please send us an email at anniegalepesa@gmail.com or ruminakhan80@yahoo.ca or come join us at our next meeting. Please send us your request before May 21, 2025, so we can plan accordingly for multiple candidates interested in the same position.  

Chair: It is expected that the school council chairperson will be a parent of a student attending the school. The chair should be someone who can work collaboratively and understands how to organize both programs and people. The chair should actively encourage others to be engaged in meaningful ways. They will chair all meetings of the school council and coordinate with the principal to establish meeting agendas. The chair will also be the official spokesperson of the school council, ensuring regular communication with the whole school community and making sure that the operating procedures are current and followed. They must prepare an annual report that summarizes the school council’s activities for the previous school year, including a financial statement relating to money, if any, handled by the school council.  

Vice-Chair:  On some school councils, the role of chair is shared, either through the creation of co-chairing positions or through the chair’s dependence on the vice-chair to undertake part of the work. Typically, the vice-chair's duties are, in the event of resignation, incapacity or leave of absence of the chair, to fulfill the chair’s responsibilities, and in the absence of the chair, supervise the affairs and preside at meetings of the school council.  

Secretary:  The school council secretary typically acts as a recorder at each meeting and ensures that the minutes are prepared to accurately reflect the directions and decisions agreed to at the meeting.  

Treasurer:  If the school council is handling money, through fundraising activities or donations, the treasurer keeps accurate records of all financial transactions and ensures that records are available upon request of the school board or school community. 

Thank you, 

Rumina Cruz  

Chair (School Council/ PESA) 

Annie Gale School