Weekly Update: March 17 to March 21

Happy Sunday, Grizzly families! 

I would like to thank our families for staying connected by reading the weekly update.  Sometimes it can seem that we are so disconnected because families are rarely in the school.  Nevertheless, I am reminded that you are out there reading our updates, encouraging your students to do their best, and talking to your child about what is happening at school.  I know many of you read the weekly update because in the rare moments when we’ve had an error in our message, our office staff receives questions and calls from families.  I also know this because parents tell me that they check in regularly.  Last week I had two parents ask specific questions about the “Connecting Home and School” section of the update.  It’s satisfying to know that the efforts that go into producing this weekly message support our families.  Thank you for reading! 

DEAR DAY is coming on Thursday!  We are working hard to make reading visible at Annie Gale and we had such a successful DEAR Day last semester that we are doing it again.  DEAR Day (Drop Everything and Read Day) is marked by reading opportunities embedded in each class throughout the day.  To make it more fun, we’ve paired it with Spirit Week and are encouraging students to wear their pajamas to school (school appropriate, of course) to get cozy in their good book.  Why not try your own DEAR Day at home?  I encourage you, as a family, to Drop Everything and Read (together)! 

CONNECTING HOME AND SCHOOL:  Over the past few weeks, we have been tracking “Caring Acts” by students and staff with the goal of noticing all that is positive at Annie Gale.  To further this message and to connect to last week’s message about youth anxiety, during Grizzly Den on Friday our students had a chance to learn about stress and their reactions to it.  We watched several videos and engaged in conversation about “flipping your lid” (having an intense reaction leading to an inability to think something through).  We also focused on the Zones of Regulation and then learned about strategies called 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, bi-lateral brain doodling, and a butterfly hug.  Ask your child about these things and see if you can work with them to try a few strategies yourself.  We all feel anxiety and intense emotions at times—that's part of being human.  By talking about our feelings and actively using and practicing strategies we can find what works for us.   

Here are some of the links so you can watch at home and truly “connect home and school”: 

Did you know? 

  • NEW:  This week is Spirit Week at Annie Gale! This means that students and staff are encouraged to wear different clothing to reinforce school spirit.  Please read the weekly events section below for specifics. 
  • NEW:  Annie Gale School is not responsible for transportation on Calgary Transit buses.  If you have a complaint, concern, or a compliment about the transit service, please contact Calgary Transit directly, not the school. 
  • REPEAT:  Calgary Transit riders must provide proof of payment for those above 12 years of age. This means that they must pay a daily fare per ride or purchase a monthly bus pass and show the driver each time they board a bus.  There is a $250 fee for non-payment. 
  • NEW:  Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, March 20, and Friday, March 21, will by phone or virtual, NOT in-person.  Please sign up as soon as possible.  If you booked a phone conference, please be ready to receive a call from “unknown caller”  and if you booked a virtual appointment, be logged in and ready to go five minutes before your online interview.  School staff will not be available at the school to provide support during the interviews.  If you have concerns, please email the teacher directly.  Please do NOT come to the school—these conferences are NOT in-person.  Teachers are looking forward to connecting with you. 
  • REPEAT:  Thanks to all who shared their opinions in our recent survey about the school development plan and budget.  The premature results indicate that most families are happy with our choices.  Stay tuned for more information when I share the specifics of the results. 
  • UPDATE:  The next Fun Lunch is Tuesday, March 18. 
  • UPDATE:  March’s School Council Meeting is Wednesday, March 19, at 6 p.m.   This meeting will NOT be held in person but will be online.  Please watch your email on Wednesday afternoon for the link. Look at the end of this message for more information from School Council. 
  • NEW:  SPRING BREAK is coming!  Do not send students to school from March 24 to March 28. 

WEEKLY EVENTS:  MARCH 17 TO MARCH 21 

Monday, March 17 - Wear Green for St. Patrick’s Day 

  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Junior and Senior Girls Combined Volleyball Practice 
  • 2:40 – 3:20 | SWAT Meeting 

Tuesday, March 18 - FUN LUNCH and TWIN DAY 

  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Senior Boys Volleyball Practice 
  • 5:45 – 7:00 | Senior Girls Semi-finals Game vs. Peter Lougheed @ Annie Gale School* 
  • 7:00 – 8:15 | Junior Girls Semi-finals Game vs. Crossing Park @ Ted Harrison School* 

Wednesday, March 19 – HOMEROOM COLOURS DAY 

  • *If Jr. and Sr. Girls win Tuesday they will play in the finals on Wednesday* 
  • 4:30 – 5:45 | Junior Girls Finals @ Nelson Mandela High School 
  • 6:00 – 7:30 | School Council – virtual (link will be sent out that afternoon) 
  • 7:00 – 8:15 | Senior Girls Finals @ Nelson Mandela High School 
  • 8:15 – 9:30 | Senior Boys Finals vs. Clarence Sansom @ Nelson Mandela High School 

Thursday, March 20 – PAJAMA DAY  

  • 8:00 – 2:35 | Drop Everything and Read Day 
  • 8:00 – 2:35 | LOCKER CLEAN OUT DAY (last day before Spring Break) 
  • 4:00 – 8:00 | Parent-Teacher Conferences (virtual or by phone) 

Friday, March 21 – NON-INSTRUCTION DAY – NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS 

  • 8:00 – 1:00 | Parent-Teacher Conferences (virtual or by phone) 

Monday, March 24, to Friday, March 28, is SPRING BREAK 

Monday, March 31 – Classes Resume 

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