Weekly Update: October 12 to October 16
Greetings, Grizzly Families!
Last week we finished our last two days with guest instructors, helping our PE students learn the game of cricket. We are hoping that with this lovely fall weather, our students in PE will get as much time outdoors as they can, and our students and staff moving from CJFS will not have to face bad weather in their travels between schools.
Ask your child about the Teachers vs. Students Flag Football Game we held on Friday during Grizzly Den. The weather cooperated and it was a great way to end the week, cheering on our favourite teams. The word of the game appeared to be interception!
On Thursday after school I went out to the staff parking lot and was amazed and grateful that I did not have to speak to any parents or guardians about using it for pickup. Thanks to all of you who are staying out of our parking lot. Teachers need to come and go throughout the day, and it’s frustrating for them to have their spot taken by a parent, who says, “It’s only for a minute or two.” We appreciate you following our expectations of keeping the staff lot for staff only.
CONNECTING HOME AND SCHOOL: Dressing for Winter Weather
As the weather gets colder, helping your junior high student prepare for winter can make their school day much more comfortable. Encourage your child to dress in layers so they can adjust to changing temperatures throughout the day. A warm coat, hat, gloves, or mittens, and appropriate footwear are especially important when students are spending time outside.
It can be tempting for students to leave winter clothing at home, but even a short walk to and from school can be uncomfortable—or unsafe—when temperatures drop. Encourage your child to check the weather each morning and make responsible choices about what they need to wear.
Winter is also a great opportunity to encourage independence. Instead of choosing their clothes for them, ask, “What will you need to stay warm today?” Helping students think ahead and make these decisions themselves builds responsibility and prepares them to handle winter weather safely.
When the temperatures are below –20 Celsius or winds are extreme, at Annie Gale we open the doors to the school prior to 7:45 a.m. to limit exposure to the elements. We call these days “blue days”, and we open more classrooms and offer more indoor activities to encourage students to stay inside.
Adapted from an article retrieved on October 5, 2026, from https://chatgpt.com/c/6ac2d9a9-800c-83e8-a9d8-5975c8956292.
DID YOU KNOW?
NEW: The CBE invites all parents and guardians to join us for a live online series focused on supporting child and youth well-being. Hosted by the Recovery Alberta Community Education Service (CES) Program in collaboration with experts from the Calgary community, this year's sessions will explore a range of timely topics.
These sessions are designed to equip families with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to navigate the challenges and opportunities of raising children and teens today.
These sessions are free and provide information, resources, helplines, and services to support healthy child and youth development. Click here to learn more.
NEW: Fees are charged to cover the gap between the cost of programs and services and the funding provided by the province. The Government of Alberta's School Fees Regulation sets out the requirements and limitations related to the fees that a school board may charge. Fees for the school year are confirmed by the end of August and are posted on this page. Fees for each school year are due when assigned.
The CBE only charges fees to cover the cost of providing goods or experiences to students. For example, if a trip to the Calgary Zoo costs $20 for busing and admission, we pass along that cost directly to families. We also charge fees when the cost to deliver a service (such as transportation) exceeds the funding we receive from the province.
Our fee revenue does not go towards core instructional funding or central administration costs. By law, the CBE cannot charge fees related to instruction, such as textbooks, workbooks or printing.
If a family cannot afford fees, they may qualify for a waiver for fees. Click here for more information.
NEW: The next School Council Meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20. This meeting will be presented in a blended format, in-person and online. The link for the meeting will be sent the afternoon of the meeting date.
NEW: We are currently looking for FIVE volunteers for our Grade 9 field trip on Monday, November 2. Students will be watching the live show: A Pirate’s Life with Lisa Briggs on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 10:15 am at the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Werklund Centre, 205 – 8th Avenue SE in downtown Calgary. Students will watch the world’s wonders come to life through the power of visual and oral storytelling with archaeologist and National Geographic Explorer, Lisa Briggs. Best known for her work excavating shipwrecks and conducting scientific analysis on artifacts recovered from some of the world's most important underwater archaeological sites, Lisa shares what life was like during the Golden Age of Piracy. If you are interested and available, please ensure you have your Volunteer and Police Clearance completed and email Mrs. Dhaliwal via ruminhas@cbe.ab.ca.
If you need more information on volunteering, click here.
NEW: NO SCHOOL for students on Monday, October 12, 2026, because it is Thanksgiving.
NEW: NO SCHOOL for students on Monday, October 19, 2026, because it is a non-instruction day.
NEW: Our lost and found is full already! Black hoodies are the number one item, but we also have a variety of TLC uniform pieces, water bottles, binders, and the like. Ask your child to check lost and found for their missing items.
UPDATE: For families whose students are in the regular program, you will see a fee in PowerSchool titled “Discovery”. This one-time $25 fee is to cover costs of food and supplies for their complementary courses. Please take care of those fees as soon as possible. For TLC parents and guardians, please pay the $15 fee, which considers that students in the TLC will not have access to all the same programming that students in the regular program do.
REPEAT: Fun Lunch is scheduled for October 22, 2026.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Monday, October 12 - Thanksgiving: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Tuesday, October 13 - TLC students in formal uniforms
- 2:45 – 4:00 | Wrestling Practice
- 2:45 – 3:45 | Boys Soccer Practice
- 2:45 – 3:45 | Senior Girls Basketball Practice
- 6:30 – 8:30 | Senior Boys Basketball Games @ Prairie Sky
Wednesday, October 14
- 2:45 – 4:00 | Senior Boys Basketball Practice
- 2:45 – 3:45 | Girls Soccer Practice
- 6:00 – 8:00 | Senior Girls Basketball Games @ Peter Lougheed School
Thursday, October 15
- 2:45 – 3:45 | Boys Soccer Practice
- 2:45 – 4:00 | Wrestling Practice
- 2:45 – 3:45 | Senior Girls Basketball Practice
- 6:00 – 7:00 | Senior Boys Basketball Game @ Ted Harrison School
Friday, October 16 – ODD Day
As always, should you have questions or concerns, please call the office.
Sincerely,
Tammy Quiring
(Proud) Principal