Weekly Update: June 8 to June 12
Happy Sunday, Grizzly Families!
June brings many exciting events to our school! Last Thursday we held our Orientation Night for parents and guardians of incoming Grade 6 and 7 students. Two days prior to that, those students came for a tour of the school. They will also have a personal chat with me in a few weeks, when I will visit them at their elementary schools and answer their questions. Our goal is to have students and parents/guardians feeling ready for the new school year.
I am certain that many of you had conversations with your child about the “Glam Up Your Teacher” event that took place last week. We have several teachers who showed Grizzly Courage and had make-up applied to their faces by some eager students, with some hair styling as well, all in support of fundraising for the Grade 9 celebration. If you haven’t yet, ask your child about it. We had everything from glamour to horror film represented.
Unfortunately, our track and field athletes could not compete in this year’s track meet—the deluge of rain cancelled the competition for obvious reasons. We hope to be able to compete next year!
CONNECTING HOME AND SCHOOL: Helping Your Child Avoid the “Summer Slide”
As the school year ends, many students look forward to a well-earned break. While summer is an important time to relax and recharge, it can also lead to what educators call the “summer slide”—a loss of academic skills, especially in reading and math. For junior high students, this period is particularly important, as they are building the foundation for high school success.
The good news? With a few simple strategies, parents can help their children stay sharp while still enjoying summer.
Why Summer Learning Matters
Research consistently shows that students can lose several months of academic progress over the summer, especially in math and reading comprehension. Over time, this learning loss can widen achievement gaps and make the transition back to school more challenging.
Junior high students are also developing study habits, independence, and critical thinking skills—areas that benefit from consistent practice.
Practical Ways to Keep Minds Active
1. Make Reading a Daily Habit
Encourage your child to read for 20–30 minutes each day. Let them choose books, magazines, or articles that interest them—fiction, sports, graphic novels, or even online content. Choice increases motivation.
Tip: Visit the local library or join a summer reading program to keep things engaging.
2. Keep Math in Everyday Life
Math skills can fade quickly without practice. Incorporate math into daily activities:
- Budgeting for a shopping trip
- Measuring ingredients while cooking
- Tracking sports statistics
- Planning travel distances and times
These real-life applications make math meaningful and less like “homework.”
3. Encourage Curiosity and Exploration
Summer is a great time for hands-on learning. Encourage activities like:
- Science experiments at home
- Visiting museums, zoos, or cultural sites
- Exploring nature through hikes or outdoor adventures
- Building projects or learning a new skill
These experiences strengthen problem-solving and critical thinking.
4. Set a Flexible Routine
Children don’t need a strict school schedule, but a loose structure helps maintain balance. Consider setting aside a short “learning time” each day—perhaps in the morning—before free time begins.
A consistent routine helps prevent long gaps with no academic engagement.
5. Use Technology Wisely
Educational apps, online tutorials, and audiobooks can be great tools when used thoughtfully. Look for programs that support reading, writing, and math skills rather than purely passive screen time.
Keep It Positive
The goal is not to recreate school at home, but to keep learning light, enjoyable, and consistent. Encourage your child’s interests, celebrate effort, and focus on growth rather than perfection.
Final Thought
A balanced summer—one that includes both relaxation and learning—can make a big difference in your child’s confidence and readiness for the next school year. With small, consistent efforts, you can help prevent the summer slide and set your child up for success in the fall.
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DID YOU KNOW?
NEW: Our school’s upcoming modernization will result in some changes for next year’s programming. All students will have a mandatory complementary course rotation with their homeroom, with each course lasting approximately two months. All TLC students will have French as a Second Language course daily in one semester only; the other semester will be for their complementary courses.
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: 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: 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.
WEEKLY EVENTS – JUNE 8 TO JUNE 12
Monday, June 8 (TLC students should be in formal uniforms. No golf shirts.)
- 8:00 – 2:35 | PE locker cleanout
Tuesday, June 9
- 8:00 – 12:00 | Grade 9 ELA Part B PAT (afternoon attendance is expected)
Wednesday, June 10
- 8:00 – 9:30 | 6.2 Science Visitor
- 10:00 – 11:30 | 6.1 Science Visitor
- 10:00 – 2:35 | Band Coding Consultant Visit
Thursday, June 11
- 9:00 – 2:35 | Band Coding Consultant Visit
- 3:00 – 5:30 | Annie Gale Golf Game (McCall Lake Course)
Friday, June 12 – YELLOW DAY
- 8:00 – 12:00 | Science 6 PAT (afternoon attendance is expected)
- 11:00 – 12:00 | Den Defence Winner Celebration
Sincerely,
Tammy Quiring
(Proud) Principal