Weekly Update: September 28 to October 2
Greetings, Grizzly Families!
We had another busy week at Annie Gale! Students in PE had guest instructors focusing on cricket, we completed yet another successful fire drill, and perhaps the most significant was our Meet the Teacher Night on Thursday. We had over 300 guests in our building and by all accounts, everyone enjoyed the relaxed tone of the night. Positive stories and gratitude were evident everywhere! Teachers were thrilled at the number of families that came out and excited that such positive interactions started their relationships this year with you. Thanks to all who were able to come out!
CONNECTING HOME AND SCHOOL: How can we work together to support students who experience or participate in negative behaviours?
I was pleased to speak to a few parents about bullying on Meet the Teacher Night, and we were able to refer to last week’s weekly update as we talked. Those conversations, like many I have had with parents over the years, often start with the parent explaining that they tell their child to ignore the unwanted negative behaviour of another. I agree that this is where most of us start; however, if the unwanted negative behaviour continues, ignoring is not enough. In fact, it can exacerbate the problem because the person committing the negative act often feels empowered because they haven’t been told to stop. Additionally, over time, the frustration of the person doing the ignoring can build, which sometimes leads to their own outburst, creating a negative interaction with the perpetrator.
People experiencing unwanted negative behaviours need help—sometimes just some coaching to empower them to take control of the situation and bring it to a close. However, if the unwanted negative behaviour continues even after new strategies have been used, then more must be done. That typically involves reporting the situation to an adult—a teacher, administrator, or parent/guardian, if it hasn’t already been done. Parents and guardians, just like teachers and administrators, have an important role to play. I encourage families to role play scenarios between a fictional perpetrator and their child so that their child has practiced using words and strategies to minimize the conflict and leave the situation. In my own family, we practiced scenarios often and when the need to use them came, my children successfully thwarted unwanted comments from others.
Nevertheless, I cannot stress enough about the need to report. If the behaviour continues, even after adult intervention, reporting again is necessary. Our best advice: report, report, report. School staff cannot help if they do not know the negative behaviour is continuing. In fact, if students do not re-report after our intervention, we believe that the situation is resolved. Let me reiterate: report, report, report. Give the school the information we need to respond.
As promised last week, here is some more information about bullying:
What is bullying?
Bullying is defined as the repeated, persistent, hostile or demeaning behaviour by an individual or group in the school community where the behaviour is intended to cause harm, fear or distress to one or more other individuals. This may include psychological harm (feelings or self-esteem) or harm to an individual’s body or reputation.
Bullying involves a real or perceived power imbalance based on factors such as size, strength, social power, economic status, religious beliefs, ethnic/cultural origin, race, family circumstances, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability or the receipt of special education.
An individual engaged in bullying is not in compliance with the Education Act if they spread hate or discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, family status or disability.
Bullying can take different forms:
▪ Physical – pushing, grabbing, hitting, slapping, punching, kicking, spitting, choking, making obscene gestures, hazing, stealing or damaging property
▪ Verbal – name-calling, threatening remarks, hurtful teasing and taunting racist/sexist/homophobic comments, telling jokes that shame or humiliate someone, harassing using derogatory language
▪ Social/Relational – gossiping or spreading rumours, isolating someone from friends or peers, ganging up, excluding from a group based on appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, culture, race, religious beliefs, disability
▪ Cyber/Digital – intentional defamatory, demeaning, harassing, threatening or intimidating communication directed toward another individual, including but not limited to electronic devices and any other media or means capable of transmitting communication (e.g., email, text/instant messaging, social networks, online polls) Also includes taking embarrassing pictures of someone and sharing them online or using someone else’s account to send hurtful content while pretending to be them.
The Canadian Criminal Code has made some forms of cyberbullying illegal. The police may lay charges if:
▪ Intimate images are sent without permission
▪ Hate speech is used (racial and/or homophobic slurs) to cause fear and distress
▪ Threats of harm and violence are repeatedly made against an individual
What is not considered bullying?
If behaviour is not based on a power imbalance, is not repeated and ongoing, is not hostile or demeaning, and/or is not intended to cause harm, fear or distress, then it is not considered bullying.
More information on this topic will be here next week.
DID YOU KNOW?
NEW: 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 do NOT pay this fee yet as the fee must be adjusted for TLC students who will not have the entire year of complementary courses. When we make the adjustment for TLC students, we will inform you in a future weekly update. Thanks for taking care of your fees!
REPEAT: Please ensure that student possessions, including PE clothing, TLC uniform pieces, water bottles, and lunch kits, are labeled with student names.
REPEAT: Wednesday, September 30, 2026, is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The school will be closed.
MODERNIZATION UPDATE
At this time, there is no new information to report.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Monday, September 28 - TLC students in formal uniforms
- 2:45 – 3:45 | Girls Soccer Practice
- 2:45 – 4:00 | Senior Boys Basketball Practice
- 4:30 – 5:30 | Boys Soccer Game vs. Terry Fox School @ Terry Fox School
Tuesday, September 29 – Orange Shirt Day
- 2:45 – 3:45 | Boys Soccer Practice
- 2:45 – 3:45 | Senior Girls Basketball Practice
Wednesday, September 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – SCHOOL CLOSED
Thursday, October 1
- 2:45 – 3:45 | Boys Soccer Practice
- 2:45 – 3:45 | Senior Girls Basketball Practice
- 4:30 – 5:30 | Girls Soccer Game vs. Clarence Sansom School @ Clarence Sansom School
- 6:30 – 7:30 | Senior Boys Basketball Game vs. Terry Fox School @ Ted Harrison School
Friday, October 2 – ODD Day
As always, should you have questions or concerns, please call the office.
Sincerely,
Tammy Quiring
(Proud) Principal