Good Afternoon CMAC Families,
What a magical finish to the week! Our teachers, staff and students did an amazing job preparing the school for our grade 9 farewell last night and it was amazing! The theme was “under the sea” and the transformation was truly something to behold. Seeing out families coming together, dressed for the occasion, makes me so happy.
I am always a little sad to see our grade 9’s walk the stage: there is a finality to it, and a recognition that soon they will be leaving our little community. Without a doubt, we will miss them. We are also always excited to welcome our new students, and for our current grade 8’s to step into the space left by our transitioning leaders and become leaders themselves.
With just one short week left to go, everyone here is working hard to balance joy with routine, and celebration with stability. We appreciate your efforts to help keep our students engaged as learners throughout the year, and in these final days. We also look forward to continued learning and growth with our grade 5-8 students in the coming year.
Upcoming Calendar and Events
Monday June 23 – Day 4 – Grade 9’s to Prince’s Island Park
Tuesday June 24 – Day 1 – Grade 9’s to Calaway Park
Wednesday June 25 – Day 2 – Cougar Cup – All Grades
Thursday June 26 – Last day of school, Friday Schedule –11:55 dismissal time
Friday June 27 – Non Instructional Day – Appeals (AM) – Have a wonderful summer!
Yellow School Bus
For all families that send their child on the yellow school bus, it is essential that bus registration is completed now! Late registrations may not be able to take the bus in the first days, or even weeks, of school. Also, bus routes are planned based upon addresses that are registered on time. Late registration could result in a further distance between your house and your designated bus stop.
Summer Fun
Kids do best when they get out and get moving… even when they tell us they would much rather sit and stare at a screen. Please strongly encourage your children to get outside this summer. As the kids say, they need to “touch grass.” The City of Calgary offers a lot of great, free, programs and activities in the summer. If your kids are saying “there’s nothing to do” and you are looking for ideas, this is a great place to start
https://www.calgary.ca/parks-rec-programs/free-activities.html
School Council
I want to thank our incredible parent volunteers who have contributed so much to our school this year. The time you have put in, both through school council, and other opportunities like field trips is so very much appreciated. I look forward to continuing to work with you all next year. For the coming year, we do still need some help on our school council. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you are willing to support our school in these ways.
- 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.
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/
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 need to do it again. If you have not, we really appreciate the heads up as it helps us plan.
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 atheletes. 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.
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. 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: 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!
Healthy Hunger is done for the year, and will continue in the 2025-26 school year. Thank you to the school council volunteers who make this possible!