Welcome to the 2025-2026 School Year!
Happy Wednesday, Grizzly families!
I hope you had a safe and restful summer and were able to connect with your friends and families.
Welcome to another school year to our returning families and welcome to Annie Gale to our new families. This will be the first of many weekly messages you will receive from me, the Principal, throughout the year. Each message will have some common elements. Each week I will share a brief update on events in the school and offer parenting information in a section called “Connecting Home and School”. This section will give you some things to consider at home, topics to discuss, or strategies to try with your child. The weekly message also contains a “Did You Know?” section with points relevant to our school as well as a calendar for the week ahead. If there is one way for you to stay connected to the school, it’s to read this message. I also encourage you to talk to your child about what you read in the weekly update.
We have a few staffing updates to share. We welcome Ms. Nassereddine (Grade 6 Lunch Supervisor), Ms. Cardinal, Ms. Mackie (filling in for Mrs. Elnazali), Mr. La (filling in for Ms. Wong), Mr. McKenzie (filling in for Mr. Cochrane), and we also welcome back Mr. Erickson (filling in for Mrs. Easton). Today was the first official day that teachers were back in the building, and over the next two days we will be meeting, planning, and getting ready for our students’ arrivals.
By the end of the day on Friday, you can expect to receive an email from your child’s homeroom teacher with a welcome message. In the meantime, note that we are still processing new registrations, so we know that some families may not receive our first few messages. Remember that our website often has information that will support you—it is your first place to look if you need support.
Information about the upcoming athletics seasons (soccer, cross country, and basketball) will be out in the next few weeks. Students must listen to morning announcements for information about tryouts. At the time of this message, the tryout schedule has not been confirmed.
CONNECTING HOME AND SCHOOL:
By junior high school, most parents and guardians are experts when it comes to their children returning to school. However, I thought that it might be helpful to provide a list of some items as you all prepare for the upcoming days.
- Establish a back-to-school routine early (Gradually adjust sleep schedules and practice the morning routine)
- Organize school supplies and materials (Label everything and complete a backpack check to ensure all items are included)
- Plan routines and schedules (Finalize bus or transit plans and map out arrival and dismissal transitions)
- Help students navigate social adjustments (Talk through what to expect and reinforce social skills)
- Support emotional readiness (Normalize nerves and set check-in routines to talk with your child about how things are going)
- Stay connected with teachers and school staff (Read emails and check the school website; watch for open houses and orientation events and plan to attend; ask about support services, should your child need them)
- Emphasize healthy habits (Focus on balanced lunches and hydration and add movement to daily events; plan for time away from screens)
DID YOU KNOW?
NEW: The first day of school for Grade 6 and 7 students at Annie Gale is Tuesday, September 2, 2025. On that day students will be treated to a BBQ lunch! Grade 8 and 9 students will start on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
NEW: Last spring, Annie Gale had some flooding in the gym. Our gym is repaired and refinished and it looks great! We are excited to start using it right away.
NEW: If you plan on having your child away for a family trip in the upcoming school year, especially in September, you MUST connect with the school to inform us of your intentions. This is IMPERATIVE as funding for your child rests on them being present in September, and for TLC students, their attendance on the first week of school confirms their spot in the program.
NEW: To make our four Friday schedules easier for students and families to remember, we have labeled each Friday schedule with a colour (Red, Orange, Yellow, and Green). Parents and guardians need to know that we share this information in the “Weekly Events” section at the end of the weekly update. Students will be completing blank forms of their Friday schedules to post in their lockers so they can be prepared for the Friday schedule each week.
NEW: Thanks to our School Council, we will be hosting Paul Davis for a parent event on Wednesday, September 17, at 6:00 p.m. Paul will be speaking about Internet safety, and we are told that his presentation will change your view on social media and help you better protect your children. Students in Grades 7-9 will see him speak on during the day and Grade 6 students will see a recorded message from him. Please mark this date on your calendars and plan to attend.
NEW: Our first School Council meeting is Thursday, September 17, at 6:00 p.m. Consider joining this group of parents and guardians supporting their children by being involved in decision making and the first to hear about the “why” related to decisions made at the school.
NEW: Meet the Teacher Night is Thursday, September 25, from 6:00 - 7:30. We look forward to meeting our new families on that night.
WEEKLY EVENTS: SEPTEMBER 2 TO SEPTEMBER 5
Monday, September 1 – Labour Day – NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, September 2 – Grade 6 and 7 students ONLY (TLC students in formal uniforms)
- 8:00 – 2:35 | Homeroom and welcome back activities; Full day with BBQ lunch served (beef and vegetarian burgers will be served)
Wednesday, September 3 – First Day for Grade 8 and 9 students (Grade 8 and 9 TLC students in formal uniforms)
- 8:00 – 2:35 | Homeroom and welcome back activities; mini timetable in afternoon; all students attend school
Thursday, September 4
- 8:00 – 2:35 | students follow regular Thursday schedule from their timetables
Friday, September 5 – RED Even A Day
- 8:00 – 12:00 | Early dismissal (buses depart at 12:10)
Sincerely,
Tammy Quiring
(proud) Principal