Good Afternoon CMAC Families,

What a great last week before the holidays. As we wind down these final weeks of 2024, I am reminded in so many ways what a wonderful community we have here at Colonel Macleod School. From the learning environment that was maintained throughout the week, to the pockets of fun and joy that arose, and the generosity of our students and families who gave so freely to our second annual Holiday Hampers, there is a lot for us all to be proud of. With the weather warming up, and some time for your children to slow down, rest, play and recover, I hope you are able to join them for some holiday cheer. We will look forward to welcoming them back in the new year, and continuing to work alongside you to support them in their education.

From all of us at Colonel Macleod School, Happy Holidays!

Upcoming Calendar and Events

  • December 21-January 5 – Winter Break. Happy Holidays!
  • Monday January 6 – Day 4 – TLC Formal
  • Tuesday January 7 – Day 1 – TLC Informal
  • Wednesday January 8 – Day 2 – TLC Informal
  • Thursday January 9 – Day 3 – TLC Informal
  • Friday January 10 – Day 3 Even – TLC Casual
  • Monday January 13 – Day 4 – TLC Formal
  • Tuesday January 14 – Day 1 – TLC Informal
  • Wednesday January 15 – Day 2 – TLC Informal
  • Thursday January 16 – Day 3 – TLC Informal
  • Friday January 17 – Day 4 Odd – TLC Casual

Housekeeping

  • Yearbooks – Links are on teacher D2L Sites. If we don’t sell enough the yearbook will be cancelled. If your child wants a yearbook, purchase NOW!
  • Morning Drop Offs – If you drive your child to school, please drop them off and pick them up on the far (west) side of the street. Do not drive into the staff parking lot or park on the East (school) side of the street.
  • TLC Uniforms: If your child is in the TLC program, please support them in following uniform requirements, including wearing black shoes.

Social Media Tips for Parents & Guardians

As we head into the holidays, we know many of our kiddos will feel the draw of increased screen time. I am sharing this information to hopefully support you in helping them to maintain balance while they are away from the regular routines of school. The information below has been accessed from reliable sources and provides some good advice for parents, advice I follow with my own children.

Understand the Developmental Impact

Teens are at a stage where they’re forming their identities, making social media particularly influential. It can amplify insecurities by exposing them to unrealistic ideals or harmful trends. Encourage open discussions about how online content affects their self-esteem and teach them to critically evaluate what they see. For younger teens or pre-teens, delaying social media exposure can help build resilience and good habits before introducing these platforms.

From: Study International & Atrium Health

Balance Privacy and Oversight

While respecting a teen’s privacy is important, parents should maintain regular conversations about online activity. Questions like "How do you feel after using this app?" or "What do you find challenging about social media?" can open dialogue. Establishing clear expectations about device use, safety, and consequences for misuse can foster trust and mutual understanding.

From: Scope

Teach Intentional Usage

Help teens use social media mindfully by encouraging them to set boundaries—like limiting notifications, curating their feeds to focus on positive content, and taking breaks when needed. Research suggests that reducing screen time can lead to improved mental health and body image.

From: Atrium Health & Scope

Model Healthy Behaviors

Parents' online habits significantly influence their teens. Setting family-wide guidelines for tech-free times (like during meals or before bed) and reducing your own scrolling can make a big difference.

From: Atrium Health

Engage in Policy Awareness

Social media platforms are starting to incorporate safeguards like stricter privacy settings and age-appropriate content moderation. Staying informed about these changes and advocating for responsible design can empower families to use these tools effectively

From: Scope

Address Loneliness and Connection

Social media has potential benefits, like creating connections for teens who may feel isolated. Encourage teens to use these platforms to build positive networks and find communities that affirm their interests and identities, and to seek support immediately if something doesn’t feel right. Strangers are rarely a good idea when seeking connection.

From: Scope

Thanks parents. We are still learning so much about best practice for supporting our kids in the digital age. I appreciate all of your efforts to support them in navigating this ever-changing landscape.

Kilts in -20 C

For Winter TLC dress, students who wear kilts have a choice of wearing navy dress pants, navy tights, knee socks or socks. If students wish to wear something else, like snow pants or jogging pants, they need to be prepared to change when they get to school, as these are not uniform items and will not be allowed in class.

Book Fair

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for a very successful Scholastic Book Fair. Your support of this sale has resulted in the immediate addition of over $350 worth of books to our library collection, and there will be more to come!

Library Books

It’s time to clean up the library records. Overdue books have been billed to student accounts. This is how we clear everything out and give all of our students a fresh start in 2025. You can check the status of your student’s library account anytime using the E-Library Quick Link on the Colonel Macleod School website. If students find missing books over the break, they can be returned to Mrs. Slater in the library and fees will be waived.

If you are planning to travel, please have your student check with Mrs. Slater about taking CMAC library books abroad. Please make sure your student does this before you leave. If you would rather not be responsible for CMAC library books while you’re away, Value Village, Goodwill, Books Between Friends and Little Free Libraries are great options for low- or no-cost books to travel with.

Sports Teams

Basketball has officially wrapped up for the year. Congratulations to our Junior Boys for taking first in their division! Senior Girls made it to the final, and our Senior Boys and Junior Girls had a great season. Our players, win or lose, always make me proud. They show up with dignity, demonstrate great sportsmanship, and work so hard start to finish each game.

Wrestling season is well underway, and Volleyball tryout start up right after break. Tryouts will follow the schedule below:

  • Mon (Jan 6)/Wed (Jan 8)
  • Boys - 2:30-3:45
  • Girls - 3:45-4:45
  • Tues (Jan 7)/Thur (Jan 9)
  • Girls - 2:30-3:45
  • Boys - 3:45-4:45

Players at early practice times must be picked up by 4:00!! Players at late practice must be picked up by 5:00!!

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 atheletes. Thank you in advance for another incredible year of CMAC athletics!

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 My CBE 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

Tuesday and Wednesdays after school, students in grades 7-9 can stay from 2:30-4:00 to get extra help from teachers, or complete their homework. Students in Grade 6 can attend Homework Hotel at lunch on Day 3 each week. Please, if your child is staying after school, ensure they have a ride home, ready to go by 4:00 pm.

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. Ask they what they have learned about their teachers through our teacher trivia! And check with your child to see who won our recent Halloween Door Decorating Competition!

  • 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. https://www.cbe.ab.ca/get-involved/volunteer/Pages/volunteer.aspx

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: https://cbe.ab.ca/registration/fees-andwaivers/Pages/Waivers.aspx

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!

  • January 23 - Papa Johns (order deadline - January 18)
  • February 6 - Opa (order deadline - February 1)
  • February 20 - Waffles & Chix (order deadline - February 15)
  • March 13 - Rocky Shawarma (order deadline March 8)
  • April 10 - Coco Brooks (order deadline April 5)
  • April 24 - Mucho Burrito (order deadline April 19)
  • May 8 - Mary Browns (order deadline May 3)
  • May 22 - Subway (order deadline May 17)
  • June 5 - Panago (order deadline May 31)