Weekly Update: March 31 to April 4

Happy Sunday, Grizzly families! 

The weather for Spring Break was not necessarily conducive to being outdoors in t-shirts but the break certainly gave families a chance to spend some more time together.  I hope that you enjoyed spending time with your children.   

I trust that teachers and parents/guardians made the most of out of parent-teacher conferences just before the break.  If you still have questions, please send an email to the teacher.  Note, however, that teachers are busy people—after working through the day and supervising before school, at lunch, and after school, they are often busy coaching or in planning meetings with their teams.  Please give them 24 hours to respond to your email.  They appreciate it.   

Congratulations to our volleyball teams for an amazing season, which ended the week prior to the break.  Our athletes worked hard and improved their skills. Sportsmanship and effort were evident throughout the season.  Great job, Grizzlies! 

DEAR DAY (Drop Everything and Read) on the last day of classes before Spring Break was a success!  What a joy to stop for 15 minutes each hour to settle down with a good book!  Many students and staff took advantage of Spirit Week dress up activities as well—and DEAR Day was no exception; many staff and students wore cozy pajamas.   

CONNECTING HOME AND SCHOOL:  This week’s focus is gratitude.  I recently heard a podcast that focused on gratitude and while listening I reflected on how, when I started teaching, I had students keep a gratitude journal.  My focus was two-fold—on the one hand, I wanted my students to write more and on the other hand, I wanted them to focus on noting positive things in their lives.  My recent research showed me that our brains have evolved to problem-solve rather than to appreciate.  To override the tendency to focus on problems and to take advantage of the benefits of gratefulness, if you don’t already, consider making a point to practice gratitude daily, just like eating well every day for better health.  Share your gratitude with your family and ask your children to share their gratitude with you as well.  Note below that many of the benefits of gratitude are things that we want for our children and our students, including many topics that I have discussed in the weekly update.  

Here are some benefits to gratitude: 

  1. Gratitude opens the door to more relationships. Showing appreciation to a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek an ongoing relationship. You can take the time to thank a neighbour for their help or sending a thank you note to a colleague or friend who provided advice and support with a project.  
  2. Gratitude improves physical health. Individuals who are grateful experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than other individuals do. Furthermore, grateful people are more likely to take care of their health. How about going out for a walk in nature more often and be grateful for the beauty of sounds, smells and vegetation?  
  3. Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression. Grateful people are more likely to behave in a prosocial manner, even when others behave less kindly. They also experience more sensitivity and empathy toward other people and less inclined to seek revenge.  
  4. Grateful people sleep better. According to one study, writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep. Spend some time before bed to write about three things you are thankful for. This habit may help you sleep better and longer.  
  5. Gratitude improves self-esteem. Gratitude reduces social comparison. Instead of being resentful for people who are more successful, have a bigger house, or more money, grateful people are able to appreciate other people’s accomplishments, which is good for self-esteem.  
  6. Gratitude improves psychological health. Practicing gratitude reduces many toxic emotions, such as envy, resentment, frustration and regret. According to Robert Emmons’s (a leading gratitude researcher) studies, gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression. 
  7. Gratitude increases mental strength. Research over the years have shown that gratitude reduces stress and may play a significant role in overcoming trauma. Recognizing all that you have to be thankful for—even when facing challenging times—nurtures resilience.  

Adapted from an article retrieved on March 30, 2025, from:  https://cmha-east.on.ca/images/files/Benefits%20of%20gratitude-EN.pdf 

Did you know? 

  • NEW:  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. 
  • NEW:  Monday, April 21, 2025, is a non-instruction day and there will be no school for students. 
  • NEW:  Fun lunch is Thursday, April 24.  Log in to Healthyhunger.ca to participate. 
  • REPEAT:  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. 

WEEKLY EVENTS:  MARCH 31 TO APRIL 4  

Monday, March 31 - Classes resume after Spring Break 

  • 2:45 – 3:45 | SWAT Meeting 

Tuesday, April 1 

  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Grade 6 and 7 Badminton Tryouts 

Wednesday, April 2 

  • 12:00 – 12:35 | possible Grade 6 and 7 Badminton Tryouts (students should listen for announcements)
  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Grade 8 Badminton Tryouts 
  • 3:45 – 4:45 | Grade 9 Badminton Tryouts 

Thursday, April 3  

  • 12:00 – 12:35 | Senior Girls Volleyball Potluck Lunch 
  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Grade 9 Badminton Tryouts 
  • 3:45 – 4:45 | Grade 6 and 7 Badminton Tryouts 

Friday, April 4 – ODD B DAY 

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