Good Afternoon CMAC Families
It was another great day today at CMAC! We recognized Orange Shirt Day through a number of activities, organized by Ms. Melissa, Mrs. Fehr, Mrs. Dok and the leadership kids, and all the teachers and staff here at the school. The highlight of the day was that we had two, one hour, back to back assemblies with Elder Shirley Hill! Shirley shared her knowledge of Blackfoot culture, language, and art, and taught the students about members of her family’s experiences of residential schools. Shirley demonstrated her incredible skill at Hoop Dance and Fancy Shawl Dance (she is a world champion) and even invited some of the students up to learn with her.
This weekend marks the first weekend of fall, and the weather is going to be beautiful. Students will be away from school for 4 full days, with Tuesday marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Please find opportunities to get the kids outside, delighting in the changing seasons before the winter weather starts to creep in. If you are looking for activities on Tuesday, The Confluence (Fort Calgary) is a great place to start!
Upcoming Calendar and Events
Monday September 29 – Non Instructional Day – No School for Students
Tuesday September 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – School Closed
Wednesday October 1 – Day 2 – TLC Informal Uniform
Thursday October 2 – Day 1 – TLC Informal Uniform
Friday October 3 – Day 2 Per 1, 2, 3 – TLC Casual – Terry Fox Day
Monday October 6 – Day 2 – TLC Formal
Tuesday October 7 – Day 1 – TLC Informal
Wednesday October 8 – Day 2 – TLC Informal
Thursday October 9 – Day 1 – TLC Informal
Friday October 10 – Day 2 – TLC Casual
Housekeeping
- Morning Drop Offs – If you drive your child to school, please drop them off on the far (west) side of the street and have them use the crosswalk. Do not drive into the staff parking lot, as this creates a hazard for kids getting off the bus. Also do not park on the East (school) side of the street as that interferes with bus drop off.
- TLC Uniforms: If your child is in the TLC program, please support them in following uniform requirements, including wearing black shoes.
- Cafeteria:
- The hot food cafeteria (Cougar Café) is temporarily on hold, menus, and information to come. Please do not send students with money for the school cafeteria just yet.
- We are very pleased that The Breakfast Program has returned to CMAC This program is already running, with snacks available for students every morning at nutrition break.
- Microwaves and hot water are available in the Cafeteria over the lunch period. The grade 5 & 6 students will have approximately 15 minutes in the cafeteria . This time goes quickly for the kids, keep lunches simple.
- Please, if you send your child with a meal that requires cutlery (fork, spoon), also send them with the required cutlery. We don’t not have cutlery to provide them with.
- Messy, sticky drinks - we don’t allow messy sticky drinks in the school (think slurpees, milkshakes/ice cream, open pop, ice caps, etc), or energy drinks. Please support students in bringing healthier, less messy drink choices to school.
Demographic Forms
Please complete your Demographic Verification Forms in MyCBE! This is an essential piece of startup paperwork that ensures we have the right contact information to get ahold of you in case of emergency. It is a responsibility of the school, and families, to ensure these are completed each year. The good news is that if nothing has changed for you, it is a quick process.
Park Donations
Thank you to those who were able to donate to our park replacement fund at the BBQ. In case you did not get a chance to do so, and would like to, the donation link for our school is below. Our park is slated for demolition, so we need to get into some serious fundraising now to replace it. We will be discussing the park at School Council Meetings if you would like to join us!
Rock the Google!
Often, people leave a Google review when they are upset. As such, I don’t tend to use them as a measure of broader opinions about our school. However, recently I had two parents who were new to our school express concern about what they had read in the Colonel Macleod Google Reviews. I understood where they were coming from, and have an idea.
In order to give prospective families a more complete picture of Colonel Macleod School, I would like to invite you to write a brief review that reflects your family’s experiences at Colonel Macleod School. I know we aren’t perfect, and we are always learning, but I don’t think the current reviews reflect the reality of what a great school this is, or the breadth of experiences our students and families have here.
School Council
Thank you to all who attended our most recent School Council Meeting. Thank you also for the funding that was approved for our Learning Commons, and Science, Social Students, and Band Programs! The next meeting will be the second Thursday in October. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Afternoon Pickup
Please note that we do not offer after school care. If students are staying for a team or club, under the direct supervision of a teacher, they are welcome after school. Students not in an organized activity need to have a way home promptly at the finish of the school day.
CMAC Gear Store
Want to buy some awesome Cougar gear for you kids? Browse and pay online here!
- Deadline is October 3, no exceptions!
- Put the student’s name on the order form, not the parent’s
- No refunds or exchanges
https://colonelmacleod-onlinestore2024.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Fundraising | Coins for Cancer
We are still collecting Coins for Cancer, sending leadership students around with a collection jar until October 3. The homeroom with the most collected wins Timbits and house points!
Homework Hotel
Grade 7-9 Homework Hotel has started! Wednesdays at lunch in room 4. Students can join Mrs. Maher and Mrs. T for some extra help to buckle down, lock in, and rock their classes this year.
Teams
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.
Basketball Cross country, Soccer and teams are all up and running. Please be sure to students are able to be picked up, or find their own way home, at the end of all games and practices. Coaching is a volunteer activity our teachers take on. Teaching all day, then coaching afterward already makes for a long, long day. No need to make it longer while they wait for our kiddos to get picked up.
If students wish to attend sporting events as a spectator, they need to come with a parent. This helps our coaches to keep their focus on the athletes who are competing. 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 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. Students were so excited and had a great time. As an aside, if your child has significant struggles with high sensory environments and needs a space away from events like pep rallys, please connect with Mr. Scholpp acscholpp@cbe.ab.ca or send them by the office to chat.
PURPLE- 5-1, 6-1, 7-6, 8-4, 9-3
ORANGE- 5-3, 6-3, 7-2, 7-4, 8-2, 9-1
BLUE- 6-2, 7-1, 8-3, 9-2, 9-5, LEAD
GREEN- 5-2, 6-2, 7-1, 7-5, 8-1, 9-2
Volunteers
We need your help! Our teachers are doing a great job organizing exciting field trip opportunities for your kids. Please, if you are able to volunteer, complete the new volunteer process (link below) so we can keep offering these experiences for our students. Get Involved | Volunteer
Fees
For families with low incomes, the CBE provides a fee waiver program. Please see the following link for details: Fees and 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.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone, thanks for reading to the end ;)
Stephen Becker,
Your Principal,
Colonel Macleod School