Greetings, Grizzly Families!

Welcome again to the 2024-25 school year!  I hope this message finds you well as you bring your long weekend to an end.

As I shared in my last message, the start of the year means that there is much information to share with you.  Please make reading the weekly message a part of your routine—it will help you stay on top of things here at school.  I will include the word “REPEAT” on any messages that I carry over from the last week, so if you need to you can skip to new items.  I also suggest that should you need information about the school to check our website first—the weekly message is posted and bell times are accurate.  I talked with one parent whose phone shared inaccurate information about our bell times last week which caused some concerns about buses.  Sometimes a quick search isn’t enough. Go straight to our website:https://anniegale.cbe.ab.ca/

Last week we welcomed Grade 6 and 7 students on Thursday and they enjoyed a tasty back-to-school BBQ.  The weather cooperated as well and it was a great day.  On Friday all our students returned, so there were almost 600 students in the school!  Our student population is increasing so the hallways may seem more crowded than they have been.  Students will need to put all their effort into ensuring that they are on time for classes throughout the day.  That being said, we recognize that there will still be some confusion this week, and we will be mindful of that when we allow a little extra time for students to find their correct classes. 

We had some flooding over the summer from that severe storm in the first week of August.  As a result, we lost some furniture and other items, which we are working quickly to replace.  The good news is that every classroom has enough desks and chairs!  Most of the damaged equipment affected PE so they are in the process of replace items.  The gym, on the other hand, is not so easy to repair.  We lost about 25% of our gym floor due to water damage, so it is currently being replaced and refinished.  We are excited to unveil the new look at the end of the month.  We expect that the gym will be ready for use the week of September 23.  Losing access to the gym is a major concern as PE supports three to four groups of students at a time.   However, our PE team has already made arrangements for classes and we have also had to do so for our upcoming basketball season.  Note that basketball tryouts and practices will be in the Colonel J. Fred Scott gymnasium until the week of Septeber 23rd.

REPEAT:  Accurate attendance is crucial as the school year begins and it supports our ability to staff the school adequately.  If you have moved and your child will not be attending Annie Gale, please contact the school to let us know.  If your child will not be attending in the first few days, but will be a student with us, please let us know.  Please keep us updated as to the status of your child, including any absences related to illness or appointment or long absences you may plan throughout the year.

REPEAT:  Volunteering Information

Last year there were some major changes to the process for volunteering in schools.  Since the implementation of a new electronic Police Information Check (ePIC) system in June 2023, CBE volunteers have been required to cover the costs of their own Police Information Check. 

For the 2024-25 school year, the CBE, in partnership with Calgary Police Services (CPS), has implemented a solution to have the full cost of the application covered by a voucher system which is funded by Volunteer Alberta.

Upon receipt of the volunteer application form from the applicant, the school will generate an ePic letter. The CBE, through Corporate Security, will send a weekly report to CPS with a list of names and email addresses of volunteer applicants. CPS will then load a voucher code directly to the ePIC system for that name and email address.

Volunteers should wait to submit their request until they receive an email from PoliceSoluntions.ca – Calgary Police Service Record Check inviting them to apply for their Police Information Check with the Vulnerable Sector (VS) for Volunteer. This will ensure the voucher is ready to be redeemed by the volunteer.

If a volunteer submits their own payment, there is no option for a refund. Additionally, there is no refund option for volunteers who have previously submitted and paid for ePIC applications.

We hope these changes will help eliminate financial barriers for volunteers. 

Did you know?

  • NEW:  At Annie Gale School, all students change for their physical education (PE) class.  Students are asked to wear athletic clothing, usually shorts and a t-shirt, to PE class, with a set of gym shoes other than what they wear to school.  We prefer that parents/guardians purchase Annie Gale clothing for PE classes for safety reasons—this way all students look the same in the same clothing and we can easily identify anyone who does not belong.  However, it is not mandatory to purchase this clothing, so long as your child has a change of athletic clothing to wear.  Students wear one set of clothes to learn in and they exercise in another.  Your child should bring home their PE clothing at the end of each week so that they can be laundered.  Remember to set them aside for the first day of school the following week though! 
  • NEW:  Routines are important for all of us, and we would appreciate your help in creating strong routines at the beginning of the year.  These routines include ensuring that there is some sort of homework happening each day, that students come to school with a healthy lunch, a water bottle, and snacks, and that they have their PE clothing laundered and packed in their backpack at the start of each week.  Our TLC students need to ensure that they have their formal clothing ready for the start of each week and that their other uniform pieces are clean and ready to go for the rest of the week.
  • NEW:  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.
  • NEW:  Grizzly Gear (Annie Gale merchandise) is coming soon!  Watch our for more messages related to the sale of Grizzly Gear—just one way to show school spirit.  Last year a few parents purchased their own Grizzly Gear and they wore it on home game nights; it was a joy to see the pride come out in our parents and guardians as well as our students.
  • NEW:  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.
  • NEW:  In order to maintain our focus on teaching and learning, we hold students accountable to our late policy.  Each morning and after lunch, attendance is tracked.  Should your child be late three times in the morning or after lunch, in one calendar month, they will serve a 20-minute detention at lunch.  Should they be late a fourth time, they will serve a 30-minute detention and lunch and they will call home to inform you.  Should they be late a fifth time, we may ask a parent or guardian to come to the school to discuss ways to improve attendance.  Lates to individual classes will be monitored by classroom teachers, who each have a late policy.  These expectations allow us to maximize learning—the more time students are in class and the fewer interruptions means that we have more chances to be our best academically.  Annie Gale is a place of business and our business is learning!
  • NEW:  Our neighbours are watching!  Annie Gale Grizzlies are expected to behave appropriately when out in the community.  This means that they should use sidewalks and not trespass on private property.  It also means putting trash or recycling in appropriate containers.  Each week we receive calls from neighbours with questions about how our students behave and interact with them and each other.  Please remind your children to always put their best selves forward, so that our neighbours can compliment our behaviour rather than have to complain about it.  Grizzly COURAGE plays its part here—GRIZZLIES ARE COURAGE!
  • NEW:  Grizzlies from last year may remember that they had daily math homework called Knightly Numeracy.  After trialing this for a year, we have decided to adjust the daily math homework expectations to better meet the needs of our students.  This year students will be practicing their basic math facts when they are at home and if no other homework is assigned for math.  The specific math facts that should be practiced will be outlined by your child's math teacher, and may include addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts, and even perfect squares!  Your child's math teacher will also be tracking your child's improvement in learning their basic math facts in class. Thank you for being patient as we continue to modify our teaching strategies to best support your children!
  • REPEAT:  Annie Gale uses video surveillance technology.  We want you to be aware that we use this technology to maintain a safe and secure environment and to help control vandalism and criminal activity on school property.  Personal information gathered by video surveillance is collected under the authority of the Education Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) section 33(b). The users of this information are the Principal or designate (the Assistant Principal) and law enforcement personnel in the case of reported incidents that would require an investigation. Only authorized persons will review video surveillance information.  This technology is considered a complement to, and not a replacement for, CBE's strategies in supporting a welcoming, caring, safe, and respectful learning and work environment for students and staff.  Approval, installation and use of video surveillance technology will comply with Administrative Regulation 1066.
  • REPEAT:  Please label your student’s belongings with their name.  Each day we have many items added to our lost and found and a labeled item has a better chance to get back to its owner.
  • REPEAT:  In the next few days and weeks we may be making some changes to students’ timetables to balance classes and ensure that everyone is enrolled in the correct classes, so we want you and our students to be aware that this may take place. 
  • REPEAT:  Students are welcome to ride bikes and scooters to school; however, they must be locked to our bike racks.  Please ensure that your child has a good quality lock and that they know how to use it.  Each year bikes go missing because they were unlocked or locked with an insufficient lock.  Skateboards, inline skates, or shoes with wheels (Wheelies) are not permitted on school property.
  • REPEAT:  Students should be in class, ready to learn for our first bell at 8:00 a.m.  If you drop your child off, please ensure that you leave enough time to navigate the traffic and number of vehicles dropping off and picking up.  The parking lot is off limits for drop-offs and pickups.  We have a late policy which I will share with you next week.
  • UPDATED:  Last week I shared information with you about our use of the Away for the Day Policy related to personal mobile devices (PMDs).  We would prefer that students do not bring their devices to school, but should they bring them, students need to keep them turned off and in their lockers for the duration of the day.  Last year we allowed students to use their devices outside on school property.  This year we will not allow any use on school property.  I want to remind you that Grade 7 students share lockers with a partner, thereby compromising the privacy of locker contents, which is why we ask that PMDs not be brought to school.  Should you need to communicate with your child in the event of a family emergency, please contact the school office (403-777-7680) and we will support you.  We sent home our Away for the Day Policy with other paperwork in a large envelope.  Note that with the changes we are making, you will receive a call or an email from the school should your child contravene the policy.  Students have two warnings in which the phone or device will be stored in the office for the remainder of the day.  On the third contravention, parents or guardians will be asked to pick up the device and we will then ask that the device not return to school.  We thank you for your support of this policy.
  • REPEAT:  September 18 is our first council meeting.  We encourage you to get involved and learn more about the school.
  • REPEAT:  September 26 is Meet the Teacher Night.  Please mark it on your calendar so that you can be a part of the evening.

Week at a Glance:  September 2 to September 6

Monday, September 2 – NO SCHOOL – LABOUR DAY

Tuesday, September 3

Wednesday, September 4

2:45 – 4:00 pm | girls soccer tryouts

Thursday, September 5

2:45 – 4:00 pm | girls soccer tryouts

Friday, September 6 – NOON DISMISSAL (as always)

 

Sincerely,

Tammy Quiring

(proud) Principal