Good Afternoon CMAC Families,
What a beautiful week! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and its beginning to feel a lot like summer. Classes are spending more and more time outside, learning on and from the class, so be sure to check in with the weather forecast, and make sure your children are coming to school equipped to be outside: appropriate clothing, water, supportive footwear, etc.
On that note, it is too hot for cardigans. While we will continue with TLC uniforms until it heats up again, students who have a TLC crested shirt can leave their cardigans at home for the remainder of the year (if they want to).
Speaking of TLC, I have to say I was so impressed with our Band performances last night. This was the last time that all TLC students in grades 7-9 will work together to develop their ability to play together, and I have to say it feels like we are losing something special. This also provides new opportunities: as we welcome our community students into band, and more students are there by choice, we will be able to build a vibrant band program that, while different, has the potential to be just as powerful. This creates possibilities for innovation, new field trips, possibly even travel! If your child has had a change of heart and would like to take band next year, send them by the office and we will help them sort it out.
Upcoming Calendar and Events
Monday June 2 – Day 4 – TLC Formal (no sweaters required)
Tuesday June 3 – Day 1 – TLC Informal
Wednesday June 4 – Day 2 – TLC Informal
Thursday June 5 – Day 3 – TLC Informal
Friday June 6 – Day 2 Even – TLC Casual – Theme – Dress like a Student/Teacher
Monday June 9 – Day 4 – TLC Formal (no sweaters required)
Tuesday June 10 – Day 1 – TLC Informal
Wednesday June 11 – Day 2 – TLC Informal
Thursday June 12 – Day 3 – TLC Informal
Friday June 13 – Day 3 Odd – TLC Casual – Theme – Stampede Day – Math PAT Part A – Grade 6 and 9
School Council
Our School Council AGM is fast approaching. We will look forward to connecting with you on Tuesday June 10 at 6:30 PM. The link is below. We have had some amazing parents step up to fill in some of our important roles, but we still need your help!
- Co-chair
- Help with Fun Lunches next year – starts September, but help learning and preparing is available now.
- 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.
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Meeting ID: 282 497 414 001 1
Passcode: wP9Tc9Ps
Reconciliation Courtyard Project
Our reconciliation garden project is ongoing. If you would like to donate a plant, the following plants are what we are looking to prioritize. They are all available at "Spruce it up" off of Macleod Trail.
Note: any of the columbine flowers are a great addition as long as it's: red, blue, yellow or white.
Songbird Blue Bird Columbine
Music Yellow Columbine
Winky Red and White Columbine
Alpine Columbine
Alpine Strawberry
Library Year End
Colonel Macleod School Library
What’s happening this spring?
During the month of May, the library will operate normally. Books that students check out are due after two weeks, as usual.
In June, Mrs. Slater is conducting an inventory. This is a task that must be completed in all school libraries regularly, and all books need to be on the shelves in order for inventory counting to be accurate .
To allow Mrs. Slater the time and space needed to conduct an inventory, ALL BOOKS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, JUNE 6. Any books not returned to the library by Friday, June 13 will be considered lost, and they will be billed to students’ PowerSchool accounts.
Please make sure your student returns all library materials by June 6. Students should also be prepared to bring a book to school for silent reading in class, as books will not be loaned out of the Colonel Macleod library after June 5. This can be a book from home, or the Public Library
Free and inexpensive books can be found at neighbourhood Little Free Libraries, thrift stores and second-hand bookstores such as Books Between Friends (NE Calgary) and Fair’s Fair (Inglewood). Another great source for inexpensive books is Calgary's Big Book Sale, which takes place at the Calgary Curling Club from May 9-19.
Thank you for your support with these end-of-year procedures and expectations. It helps us keep the library collection vibrant and relevant for our students.
Next Year
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 needto do it again. If you have not, we really appreciate the heads up as it helps us plan.
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 Axious 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
With the changing of the seasons, more classes will be engaging in learning outside. Please send students prepared: supportive shoes for physical activity, water bottles, hats and sunscreen can all go a long way toward making time spent learning outside an enjoyable experience for all.
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.
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 so we can keep offering these experiences for our students.
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: CBE | 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!
June 5 - Panago (order deadline May 31)