Weekly Update: June 1 to June 5
Happy Sunday, Grizzly Families!
It’s hard to believe that we are now in the final month of school! We have a busy month ahead, so please ensure that you and your child(ren) are discussing items from the weekly update and that your child(ren) are ready for the fun events, PAT exams, and scheduled necessities that June brings.
Congratulations to Ms. Bumstead and our Grade 7 and 8 band students, who had their last band concert of the school year! It was a great night and yet again, we had a lot of audience members touting the growth of our students.
Last week marked the end of our two-month long Den Defense activity, which also introduced a new “house” system to Annie Gale. A former student asked me about it, and I explained that we hope to have some more house activities and events in the years to come, with some fun and friendly competition. I will announce the winning house next week.
We had about a dozen teachers sport some new non-permanent tattoos last week, in a fun lunchtime fundraiser for our Grade 9 Farewell. This week some teachers will be sporting make-up at a Glam Up event with the same Grade 9 cause.
CONNECTING HOME AND SCHOOL: Celebrating Growth, Not Just Grades
At the end of a school year, like the end of a semester, we see many students start to focus on what they see as the final result—marks. However, as teachers, like parents, we know that students have so much more to consider besides grades. This week’s article will give you some things to consider when talking to your child about the school year, including the growth mindset that has been discussed throughout the year. Though grades have significance, they are not the be all and end all. They are but a step in the journey of education.
Grades do not tell the whole story of a child’s growth. During the junior high years, students are also developing resilience, responsibility, independence, and confidence—skills that are just as important as academic achievement.
Parents can help by focusing conversations on effort, improvement, and learning rather than only final grades. Questions such as, “What are you proud of this term?” or “What was something challenging you worked through?” encourage students to reflect on personal growth.
Celebrating progress can motivate students who may feel discouraged if they are struggling academically. Recognizing habits like staying organized, asking for help, studying consistently, or showing perseverance helps children understand that success is built over time.
It is also important to remind students that mistakes are part of learning. When parents respond calmly to setbacks and focus on what can be learned, children are more likely to develop resilience and a healthy attitude toward challenges.
Every child grows at a different pace. By valuing effort, improvement, and character alongside academic performance, parents can help their child build confidence and a lifelong love of learning.
Edited from an article retrieved on May 25, 2026, from: https://chatgpt.com/c/6a0b82e2-0fa4-83e8-becb-c80e9a4a4dba
DID YOU KNOW?
NEW: We are hosting a used book sale in the foyer at lunch on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as during Orientation Night. Any funds we raise will go towards our Grade 9 Farewell. Hardcovers are $1 each and softcovers are 50¢ each. Most of the books we are selling are in great shape! Exact change only. This is a great way to have some inexpensive reading material for students over the summer.
NEW: During the last two weeks of June, we participate in a clothing/donation drive for TLC students. If your child has TLC uniform pieces to donate (crested shirts, cardigans, vests, and/or ties) we will happy take them to help out families in the fall. This means that TLC students are not required to wear their uniforms during the last two weeks, should they donate unused uniform pieces.
REPEAT: My Transit Ride
In August, the CBE, CCSD and Calgary Transit will offer a transit bus orientation program called "My Transit Ride" for middle and high school students transitioning to Calgary Transit.
The program is about an hour long and consists of a 20-minute presentation by Calgary Transit, followed by an orientation of a transit bus. Staff from CBE Transportation, CCSD Transportation and Calgary Transit will be available for information and/or questions.
Sessions are free, but families are encouraged to register to attend. Registration will open on Monday, May 25.
We are excited to offer this safety training and transit orientation to increase student comfort levels and ability to ride Calgary Transit safely and efficiently.
More information and resources can be found on the CBE webpage, Calgary Transit Orientations.
REPEAT: Students new to our school (soon to be Grade 6 TLC and Grade 7 in the regular program) will be touring our school on Tuesday, June 2, and they are welcome to come with parents and guardians on Thursday, June 4, at 6:30 p.m. for our evening tours. The evening event is not a drop in, but a scheduled session, so if you are coming, please be ready for a 6:30 start. We will be doing draws for students who complete a tour passport in the evening so plan on attending with your child if they will be new to the school in September.
REPEAT: It is Provincial Achievement Test (PAT) time for Grade 6 and Grade 9 students. Please check the calendar shared in the weekly update for accurate information about tests. Security of these exams is important, so we will be following appropriate protocols set up by Alberta Education. Though students are not permitted to have their phones on their person during a regular school day (phones should stay home or be stored in lockers), phones and Smart Watches are significant breaches of exam expectations. Please remind your child to adhere to exam protocols. And another important note is that students who write exams in the morning are expected to attend in the afternoon.
REPEAT: Our June School Council Meeting on Wednesday, June 24, at 6:00 p.m., is the Annual General Meeting (AGM) when new members of the council will be voted in. If you know parents/guardians at our feeder schools who will have students in Annie Gale next year, please let them know. We shared messages with the parents/guardians in our feeder schools, but a personal invitation is always helpful. If you have never participated in School Council, consider now a time to get connected and join. Council is a meaningful way for you to positively affect your child’s educational experience and will allow you to learn more about the school and have a voice in decision making. Our meetings average about 60-90 minutes every month. This all-important AGM will be held in-person because of the voting that will be taking place. You are welcome to attend virtually, but you will not be able to vote unless you are physically present.
WEEKLY EVENTS – JUNE 1 TO JUNE 5
Monday, June 1 (TLC students should be in formal uniforms. No golf shirts.)
Tuesday, June 2
- 7:45 – 4:00 | Track and Field Meet
- 10:00 – 11:15 | Grade 5/6 Tours
- 1:00 – 2:15 | Grade 5/6 Tours
Wednesday, June 3
- 7:45 – 8:00 | Teacher “Glow Up” (students apply make-up to teachers)
- 8:00 – 2:35 | PE Locker Cleanout
Thursday, June 4
- 8:00 – 12:00 | Grade 6 ELA Part B PAT
- 3:00 – 5:30 | Annie Gale Golf Game (McCall Lake Course)
- 6:30 – 8:00 | Annie Gale Parent Evening for Incoming Grade 6/7 Students (not a drop in)
Friday, June 5 – ORANGE DAY
Sincerely,
Tammy Quiring
(Proud) Principal