Good Afternoon CMAC Families
Spring is in the air! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and there are a lot of exciting things happening at CMAC. In the past few weeks, we have had our grade 6’s go to, and return from, outdoor school. We have also had a lucky few grade 9’s visit the west coast sailing, hiking, kayaking, and working as the crew on a 50’ sailing ketch.
They came back dirty, tired, happy, and a little older and a little wiser for their experiences. CCASA’s Birch Grove program visited our grade 9’s to foster foundations for increased safety, respect and care within our student body. Student vote is happening this week in Social Studies classes, and students are practicing an important democratic exercise that will be mirrored by the adults in their lives this coming Monday. Badminton season is underway and our students are training and playing hard. We are also very excited for our upcoming Celebration of Learning the evening of May 15.
This is also the time of year when we are planning for the fall, and the coming school year. Please, if you know your child/children will not be attending CMAC next year, email Mrs. Karen in the office at kaondrus@cbe.ab.ca and tell her your child’s name, grade, and where they will be attending school next year. If you have already done this, thank you, no need to do it again. If you have not, we really appreciate the heads up as it helps us plan.
Upcoming Calendar and Events
Monday April 28 – Day 1 – TLC Formal
Tuesday April 29 – Day 2 – TLC Informal
Wednesday April 30 – Day 3 – TLC Informal
Thursday May 1 – Day 4 – TLC Informal
Friday May 2 – Day 4 Even – TLC Casual - Theme Day – Culture Day
Monday May 5– Day 1 – TLC Formal
Tuesday May 6 – Day 2 – TLC Informal
Wednesday May 7 – Day 3 – TLC Informal
Thursday May 8 – Day 4 – TLC Casual – Grade 5-6 Track and Field Afternoon!
Friday May 9 – Day 1 Odd – TLC Casual - Grade 7-9 Track and Field Morning!
School Council
We are looking forward to another School Council meeting on Tuesday, online on teams (link is below). Please know all are welcome, we really appreciate hearing from our parents, and for the support you provide our school. We do still have a few positions that need to be filled:
- Casino Coordinator – Urgent Need – without someone to fill this role we risk losing our ability to raise over $70000 every 1-2 years! Please help!!!
- Social Media Coordinator – Filled! Thank you!!!
- Co-chair
- Help with Fun Lunches next year – starts September, but help learning and preparing is available now
- NEW – We will need to form a “Park Committee” to plan a new play structure/area for our kids. This is a multi-year process, so we need a big team to carry the work forward.
You do not need any experience we have an awesome team that will help you learn. If you can help, please contact me at srbecker@cbe.ab.ca or join us at our next online meeting, the link is below. Our next online meeting in Tuesday May, login information will be provided closer to then
CMAC Bottle Fundraiser
Are you doing some spring cleaning?? Well, Colonel Macleod School is still collecting bottles at two bottle depot locations.
- Sage Hill Bottle Depot, located at 70 Sage Hill Plaza NW,
- Happy Can Bottle Depot, located at 700 33st NE, Unit 12
Both will be collecting bottles for Colonel Macleod School. The collected bottles will go towards building a new playground. If you would like to donate your bottles to Colonel Macleod School at either bottle depot, all you have to do is ask for the bottles to put on the Colonel Macleod School account when dropping off. They will give you a receipt showing how much you donated.
Thank you for your support and please reach out if you have any questions.
Social Media and Technology Tips for Parents & Guardians
One of my incredible teachers bought me a book that explores the severe impacts of reliance on screens on our children: “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haight. The video below begins to explore some key themes, but if you want to learn more the book looks excellent and is worth reading. As I start reading, I will be happy to connect with any parents who want to discuss what they learned!
https://jonathanhaidt.com/social-media/
Sports Teams
Please review expectations for spectators at all sporting events.
- All students/youth in attendance at games must be accompanied by a supervising adult who can bring them home if they are unable to follow the rules. Children must not be left unsupervised while in the school.
- If students do not have an adult to supervise them, they will be directed to leave.
- Please do not take photos or videos of players if other youth may be in the frame. I understand the desire to capture and share your child’s experience, but it violates the privacy of the other players.
- If you attend games at other schools, you may be directed to keep your phone in your bag at all times, and not to enter/exit the building once you have arrived. If needed, we will implement these rules here too.
- All attendees should be positive and supportive: disrespectful behaviour to players, coaches, referees or other spectators will be addressed by admin.
- Failure to follow rules and support a positive experience for may result in your being directed to leave, and possibly being barred from attending future events
We have an incredible community of students and parents, and I don’t expect any of this to be an issue. Clear expectations help set us all up for success, and keep our focus where it belongs: on our incredible student athletes. Thank you in advance for another incredible year of CMAC athletics!
In further athletics news:
Please have a look in your MyCBE account and pay any unpaid fees.
If students want to try out for a team, they MUST first return their Annual Authorization for Athletic Tryout form Included in my email).
If your child is playing on a sports team, or volunteering, please pick them up right at the end of their games and practices. Our teachers generously volunteer their time, and like the kids, are tired by the end of the day. If students cannot be picked up or find their way home on time, they will not be allowed to participate.
To participate in games and practices, students must be present for the duration of the school day, as per Calgary Middle Level Schools Amateur Athletics rules. They must also represent themselves as positive members of the school community, as per the standards set by our school for students in leadership roles.
Homework Hotel
Wednesdays at lunch, students in grades 7-9 can stay get extra help from teachers, or complete their homework in Room 4. Students in Grade 6 can attend Homework Hotel at lunch on Day 3 each week.
House Teams
Building from last year, homerooms have been split up into house teams. A huge thank you to Mrs. Fehr and Mrs. Dokimenko for the work they have put into this.
PURPLE- 5-1, 6-3, 7-6, 8-2, 8-4, 9-3
ORANGE- 5-3, 7-2, 7-3, 8-1, 8-6, 9-4
BLUE- 6-1, 7-4, 8-5, 9-1, 9-5, LEAD
GREEN- 5-2, 6-2, 7-1, 7-5, 8-3, 9-2
Volunteers
We need your help! Our teachers are doing a great job organizing exciting field trip opportunities for your kids. With the new volunteer clearance process, we are running short on volunteers. Please, if you are able to volunteer, complete the new volunteer process (link below) so we can keep offering these experiences for our students. Come Volunteer with Us
There is a new voucher process in place to pay for police security checks for volunteers, please connect with Karen Ondrus in the office to learn more.
Fees
Please pay your fees! A little bit from each family really adds up, and we need that money to support your child’s education. Log in to MyCBE now and pay any outstanding fees. While you are there, please complete your student demographic form for the year. This is what allows us to quickly contact you in case of an emergency!
For families with low incomes, the CBE provides a fee waiver program. Please see the following link for details: Fee Waivers
If there is a field trip or other learning opportunity with a fee, and this fee will prevent your child from participating, please connect with the principal. No child should miss a learning opportunity offered to their class due to financial reasons.
Healthy Hunger
Note: All orders, changes or cancellations must be completed no later than 5 days prior to the lunch date. Don’t miss those deadlines!
May 8 - Mary Browns (order deadline May 3)
May 22 - Subway (order deadline May 17)
June 5 - Panago (order deadline May 31)