Weekly Update: October 26 to October 30

Posted on 2026-10-26 02:00:29.324 +0000 UTC

Weekly Update: October 26 to October 30

Greetings, Grizzly Families!

I have been able to see several athletic events this year and each time I see a team play, especially if I see them over several games, I note the growth shown by the team and individual players. It is also a joy to talk to our parent (and grandparent) fans who come out week after week to see the teams. They also report the pride in their child and the team. Our Cross Country Team had many new athletes this year and so many of them did very well. Basketball is in full swing and the teams are enjoying their games. Wrestling is up and running as well. Both of our soccer teams made it to the finals! Some of our soccer parents even had a chanting contest with our opposing fans, all in fun of course. I want to take this moment to thank all of our parents who support athletics at Annie Gale. We know that not everyone can make it to the games, and not everyone can drive to and from the events, but those that do support more than their own child—they support the school. Thank you!

This week I received an email from a concerned parent who watched her child cross the street to get to school in the morning. She reported a near miss of a car almost hitting her child. This information is frustrating to hear because it stems from what I often see from careless drivers on Whiteridge Way in front of our school. In Calgary, we do not have specified school zones, though we do have playground zones with speed limits of 30 km/h. Annie Gale is in a playground zone which means that U-turns are illegal and fines are doubled. Please follow the rules of the road and drop off/pick up your child in a safe location, preferably on the same side of the school.

This week our Grade 6 and 9 students had a guest artist join them in their social studies classes to do a workshop on political cartoons. This hands-on class ties directly to the Programs of Studies for these students. Thanks for our School Council for sponsoring this event. If your child is in Grade 6 or 9, be sure to ask them about it.

We had a weather event on Friday morning, and it appeared that many families were not ready for it. Though many students were wearing appropriate clothing, we had some who were not. This is a reminder that students should be dressed for the weather—and a reminder that weather in the morning may not be the same weather in the afternoon. We chose to send teachers over the CJFS for our TLC 6 and TLC 7 classes this Friday, so that students could hunker down in their warm classes. In the future, for extreme weather events, we plan on doing the same. This, however, is for weather events such as blizzards, major wind storms, or extremely low temperatures. Beyond those reasons, students must be prepared to walk between buildings with appropriate clothing. Thanks for your understanding and for helping our students be prepared for school. If you drive your child on snowy or cold days, please ensure that you plan with extra time to deal with bad road conditions and more congestion in traffic. Leaving earlier than usual helps everyone stay calm and will help more students arrive safely and on time.

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

Finding something inappropriate on your child’s phone can be upsetting. Whether it is an unsuitable image, an unkind message, concerning online content, or an interaction with a stranger, how you respond can make a big difference in whether your child feels safe coming to you in the future.

The goal is not simply to punish your child, but to help them understand the situation, make safer choices, and learn from the experience.

1. Stay calm before responding.

Your first reaction matters. Avoid yelling, shaming, or making threats to take the phone away immediately. A calm response helps your child feel safe enough to explain what happened.

2. Ask questions before making assumptions.

What you find may not tell the whole story. Your child may have searched for it, received it unexpectedly, felt pressured to participate, or been targeted by someone else.

Try asking:

“Can you help me understand what I’m seeing?”
“How did this end up on your phone?”
“How did you feel when you saw it?”
“Did anyone pressure you or make you uncomfortable?”

3. Focus on safety, not just consequences.

Talk about why the content or behaviour is concerning. Discuss privacy, respectful communication, digital footprints, and the importance of thinking before sharing or responding online. Help your child understand what they can do differently next time.

4. Set reasonable boundaries and consequences.

Depending on the situation, you may need to adjust privacy settings, restrict an app, review phone privileges, or establish clearer expectations. Explain the reason for any consequence and make it proportionate to what happened. Whenever possible, involve your child in developing a plan for safer phone use.

5. Keep the door open for future conversations.

Let your child know that making a mistake or encountering something inappropriate does not mean they cannot come to you for help. Regular, low-pressure conversations about online experiences are more effective than discussing phone safety only when something goes wrong.