Greetings, Grizzly Families!

Good news!  Our gym floor is finished and ready for use starting tomorrow.  We are excited about the new look we’ve given it and we are hopeful that it will be in use for many years to come.  We have been able to add the word “COURAGE” to the floor to reflect the work that students did last year in creating our COURAGE Model—Grizzlies have COURAGE and we are COURAGE!

School fees for Physical Education (gym strip) are now active in your home accounts so we ask that you log in and take care of those fees online.  We thank you for your patience while we waited for the CBE to upload those fees into the system.  We also are able to share a link to a clothing site for Grizzly Gear.  There is a difference between Grizzly Gear and the PE clothing though, that we want you to be aware of.  We consider Grizzly Gear to be spirit wear and though it is branded with our logo, it is not PE gym strip.  If you choose to purchase gym strip, that is through the CBE, whereas the Grizzly Gear is a separate vendor.  Here’s the link to the page for Grizzly Gear, should you choose to purchase some for your child or yourself:  https://anniegaleschoolspiritwear2024.itemorder.com/shop/home/.  The deadline to order spirit wear is October 14, 2024.  Note that although Grizzly Gear includes headwear, this should only be worn in the school on hat days as our dress code does not allow for hats or hoods to be worn in the building.

At Annie Gale, safety is paramount and we are all part of the team that keeps our students safe.  I thank those of you who do everything possible to keep students safe, especially when it comes to drop-off and pick up of students before and after school.  Unfortunately, every year I have to share this message to the few who make unsafe driving decisions.  I noted two drivers on Friday who got caught up in each other’s U-turn and it caused quite a commotion and was also unsafe and illegal.  U-turns in school zones are illegal and fines are doubled because it is a school zone.  Please plan your route to avoid the need for the U-turn.  Bus zones are also not for drop-off or pickup and neither is our well-marked parking lot.  Several days last week I had to make room for staff members whose spots were taken by parents.  Annie Gale has several staff members who come and go throughout the day and need access to their parking spot at all times.  Thanks for making it easier for us to come and go for work.

Did you know?

  • NEW:  Our school teams for Cross Country, Soccer, and Basketball have been formed and all of those athletes need signed forms from parents or guardians and fees paid in order to participate.  Please help your athlete by taking care of signatures and fees.
  • NEW:  “Toonies for Terry” are being collected to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation.  Please drop them off to the Phys. Ed office.  The Terry Fox Run will be taking place on Thursday. 
  • NEW:  Last week we held our first fire drill and students and staff did very well in responding quickly and following expectations.  We will have two more drills before the end of the calendar year and three more in the new year.  We remind everyone that these drills are not always about a potential fire, but about evacuating the building quickly and efficiently.  These drills are also a practice to re-enter the building quickly and efficiently.  The drill is not officially over until all students are in their classes—until that time, the entire process takes place in silence.  If you approach the school and hear a consistent bell, please stay away until the event needing the bell is over.
  • NEW:  Each day our office fields dozens of calls about individual students and their whereabouts at the end of the day, usually because the student is participating in extra-curricular activities.  We ask that you use the calendar provided to you at the end of this weekly message to plan ahead with your children so that communication happens at home. 
  • NEW:  Many of our students do not know their important phone numbers—please take some time to have your children practice repeating the numbers so that in case of emergency, they can contact you quickly.
  • NEW:  Congratulations to our Cross Country runners, some of whom competed for the first time last Wednesday when we hosted a large Cross Country Meet.  We hosted over 600 athletes and with their coaches and family members, we had over 1,000 people in attendance.  The weather did not cooperate, but everyone I talked to was excited about the event.
  • NEW:  Last Wednesday we had grade level assemblies.  During these assemblies we reviewed expectations for the year, outlined activities beyond the regular day, and allowed students to meet some of our new staff.  Ask your child what they remember about their assembly.  I must tell you that our new staff members are impressed by our student body and the overall school culture, which I shared with our students.  Go Grizzlies!
  • REPEAT:  Our office does not keep extra supplies (such as cutlery or condiments) and we are sad to tell students that we don’t have spoons or forks to provide them.  Help your child pack their lunch and ensure that they have all that they need in order to enjoy it, including cutlery.
  • REPEAT:  Silent reading at home is considered homework and offers so many benefits!  By reading 20 minutes per day, the reader is exposed to 1.8 million words per year.  Reading can relieve stress by 68% in a lot less than 20 minutes.  Taking 20 minutes to ready per day can boost mental health.  Reading slows down mental decline in lates stages of life.  Reading 20 minutes before bed can alleviate insomnia.  Become a more empathetic person through 20 minutes of reading a day!
  • REPEAT:  We do our best to keep extra fees as low as possible when it comes to CTF courses, PE clothing, and field trips.  Please login to your account to pay school fees as soon as possible.  If you have questions about fees, contact the school office.  Note that waivers do not cover all expenses—again, if you have questions, please call us.
  • REPEAT:  Our Grade 7, 8, and 9 students are considered junior high students, and this means that they have the ability to leave campus at lunch.  The decision to leave the school property at lunch is for families to make.  Grade 6 students will be supervised during lunch and must remain on campus.  We prefer that students stay at school, or at least, on school property, where they have adults who can support them if needed.  This is one reason why we offer so many activities at lunch, such as clubs and athletics.  We also have open hallways at lunch so that students can walk around or find a bench to sit down and visit or eat.  Our lunchroom and library/learning commons are open to students should they wish a more formal setting to eat.
  • REPEAT:  September 18 is our first council meeting.  We encourage you to get involved and learn more about the school.  This week’s meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. and will be a blended format (in-person and virtual).  We will send the link in the late afternoon for those who want to participate virtually.
  • REPEAT:  September 26 is Meet the Teacher Night.  Please mark it on your calendar so that you can participate.

Week at a Glance:  September 16 to September 20

Monday, September 16

2:45 – 3:45 pm | Boys Soccer Tryouts

2:45 – 3:45 pm | Girls Soccer Practice

3:45 – 4:45 pm | Jr. Boys Basketball Practice

Tuesday, September 17

2:45 – 3:45 pm | Jr. Girls Basketball Practice

2:45 – 3:45 pm | Boys Soccer Practice

3:45 – 4:45 pm | Sr. Girls Basketball Practice

3:45 – 6:30 pm | Cross Country Meet @ West Confederation Park

Wednesday, September 18 

2:45 – 3:45 pm | Girls Soccer Practice

4:30 – 5:30 pm | Boys Soccer Game @ Annie Gale (vs. Crossing Park)

6:00 – 7:30 pm | School Council (blended format—link to be sent in late afternoon)

Thursday, September 19 – PICTURE DAY

8:00 – 2:35 pm | Terry Fox Run (in individual PE classes)

8:00 – 2:35 pm | School Picture Day (TLC students need to be wearing their uniform)

2:45 – 3:45 pm | Cross Country Practice

2:45 – 3:45 pm | Boys Soccer Practice

2:45 – 3:45 pm | Sr. Girls Basketball Practice

3:45 – 4:45 pm | Junior Girls Basketball Practice

4:30 – 5:30 pm | Girls Soccer Game @ Annie Gale (vs. Crossing Park)

Friday, September 20 – ODD B DAY

 

Sincerely,

Tammy Quiring

(proud) Principal