Weekly Update: November 2 to November 6

Greetings, Grizzly Families!  

Congratulations to both of our soccer teams who came home champions this week!  We are proud of our Grizzlies and our fans, who continued to support the teams.  Last week was spirit week as well, and we had many students and staff participate throughout the week wearing a variety of spirit clothing, which culminated in costumes and orange and black on Friday.  Homerooms collected spirit points as well.  

At Annie Gale, we strongly believe that parents and guardians are important members of the team that supports our students.  We know how much effort it takes to get adolescents out of the house on time for the start of the day, so we thank you for helping and encouraging our students to be here on time.  Unfortunately, this week was noteworthy for the number of students arriving late for school.  From Monday to Thursday, we averaged 50 lates throughout each of those days.  This number is significant, and it most certainly affects learning for everyone, not just those coming late.  Think about how many classes are interrupted when 50 students are late in a single day!  At the school level, we have processes and procedures to create the conditions for student success, including consequences like detentions for more than two lates.  We allow for two "freebie" lates in a month, because we understand that unforeseen events happen.  If this is a concern for your child, ask them what time they need to leave home to be on time for school, and work backward from there for wake-up times.  See below in the "Did You Know?" section for the details of our late policy; next week we will provide some helpful hints in the "Connecting Home and School" section of the weekly update to encourage on-time attendance.  

On Monday and Tuesday, students in 6.1 and 6.2 participated in a session about staying safe with bullying and negative interactions with Ms. Jones and Ms. Quiring leading the session.  The teachers role-played three different scenarios, including "Nice Kid", "Mean Kid", and "Wise Child".  Students were told to discuss their learning with families, work with their families to do an Internet search for responses to bullies' comments, practice different scenarios at home, and report concerning situations to their teachers.  If your child is in one of those homerooms, be sure to ask them about it.  Our goal is to adapt this presentation and present it to all Grade 7 students. 

The temperatures this week were below zero, and we had many students underdressed.  This is concerning, especially for students in 6.1, 6.2, 7.5, and 7.6, as they must transition to and from Annie Gale and CJFS each day.  Please ensure that your child has the appropriate clothing for the cold and sometimes unpredictable fall and winter weather.   

CONNECTING HOME AND SCHOOL: What should I do if I find something inappropriate on my child’s phone?   

This week's entry is for when the situation of finding inappropriate content is more serious than what was shared last week. 

If you discover evidence of bullying, threats, sexual exploitation, requests for intimate images, or contact from an adult who is behaving inappropriately, prioritize your child's safety. 

  • Reassure your child that they can tell you what happened without being blamed for someone else's behaviour. 
  • Do not forward or circulate harmful content. If intimate images of a minor are involved, do not download or copy them; seek guidance from police or an appropriate child-protection service about reporting and preserving evidence safely. 
  • Block or report the account when appropriate, and seek help from the school, a qualified professional, or police if there is a credible threat, exploitation, or immediate danger. 

A helpful reminder for parents 

Connection before correction. Your child needs to know that you take their safety seriously, even when you do not approve of their choices. 

A useful way to end the conversation is to ask, “What do you think you could do if something like this happens again, and how can I help you?” This question encourages responsibility, problem-solving, and independence while reminding your child that they do not have to navigate difficult online situations alone. 

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been sharing information on the topic of digital safety for teens.  Click on Media Smarts and/or A Discussion Guide for Parents and Caregivers to learn more.   

Retrieved on October 19, 2026, from:  https://chatgpt.com/c/6ad67fa0-0ffc-83e8-b290-56eb2fabb59f   

DID YOU KNOW?    

NEW: Grade 8 students will be attending a field trip to the Calgary Zoo on Tuesday, November 24 or Thursday, November 26. Forms must be signed and returned before Tuesday, November 17. The fee on PowerSchool must also be paid before that date. If you are having difficulty paying the fee online, please call the main office and our admin secretaries will be happy to assist you! We are also looking for 6 parent volunteers to help with supervision during the field trip. If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to your child's science teacher. 

NEW: Our late policy encourages students to be on time for school in the morning and after lunch.  Students who have 3 lates in a month will be assigned a 20-minute lunchtime detention.  Students who have 4 lates in a month will be assigned a 30-minute lunchtime detention and will call home to alert parents/guardians.  Students who have 5 or more lates in a month will serve another 30-minute lunchtime detention, and parents/guardians will be contacted for a meeting to discuss the concern.   

NEW: Soccer team jerseys must be returned to coaches this week—to encourage their return, the potluck parties for the teams will take place once all jerseys are returned. 

REPEAT: Fun Lunch is scheduled for Wednesday, November 25, 2026.  

REPEAT: Our next school council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 24, at 6:30 p.m. For those who cannot attend in person, a link will be sent the afternoon of the meeting date.  

Week At-a-Glance

Monday, November 2 – TLC students in formal uniforms  

  • 9:15 – 12:00 | Grade 9 Field Trip @ Jack Singer Hall 
  • 2:45 – 4:00 | Senior Boys Basketball Practice 

Tuesday, November 3  

  • 2:45 – 4:00 | Wrestling Practice  
  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Senior Girls Basketball Practice  
  • 5:30 – 6:30 | Senior Boys Basketball Game vs. Crossing Park at Peter Lougheed School 
  • 7:30 – 8:30 | Senior Boys Basketball Game vs. Peter Lougheed at Peter Lougheed School 

Wednesday, November 4  

  • 2:45 – 4:00 | Senior Boys Basketball Practice  
  • 6:00 – 8:00 | Senior Girls Basketball Games @ Peter Lougheed School 

Thursday, November 5  

  • 2:45 – 3:45 | Senior Girls Basketball Practice  
  • 4:15 – 9:00 | Girls Wrestling Tournament @ Mountain Park School 

 Friday, November 6 – EVEN Day 

  •  2:30 – 9:00 | Boys Wrestling Tournament @ Mountain Park School 

As always, should you have questions or concerns, please call the office.    

Sincerely,  

Tammy Quiring  

(Proud) Principal