Good Afternoon CMAC Families
For those who are new to our community, the WAAG (Week at a Glance) is my regular communication to families. It typically goes out on Friday afternoons, and provides important information about the coming weeks.
It has been so great seeing all of your children as they have returned to school for the coming year. We have all settled back into those welcome rhythms and routines that the school year brings: teachers are teaching, students are learning, and your homes are likely a little quieter during the day than they were 5 week ago.
As we enter these final weeks of summer, I invite you all to get outside with your families to enjoy the sun while it is here. The smoke seems to be clearing and we have a lovely weekend of weather ahead.
Upcoming Calendar and Events
Monday September 8 – Day 2 – TLC Formal Uniform - Picture Day!
Tuesday September 9 – Day 1 – TLC Informal Uniform
Wednesday September 10 – Day 2 – TLC Informal Uniform
Thursday September 11 – Day 1 – TLC Informal Uniform
Friday September 12 – Day 2 – TLC Casual
Monday September 15 – Day 2 – TLC Formal Uniform
Tuesday September 16 – Day 1 – TLC Informal Uniform
Wednesday September 17 – Day 2 – TLC Informal Uniform
Thursday September 18 – Day 1 – TLC Informal Uniform – Hold the Date – Welcome Back BBQ
Friday September 19 – Day 1 – 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. An excellent alternate, low traffic, dropoff spot is the rec centre parking lot across the field. Just enter on 13th avenue and drive to our field and you can avoid the busyness at the front of the school.
- TLC Uniforms: If your child is in the TLC program, please support them in following uniform requirements, including wearing black shoes. TLC is a program of choice, and following uniform expectations is a part of that choice. If you are unable to replace uniform pieces for retail price, there are a lot of items available of Facebook Marketplace now. If you still require support, please don’t hesitate to contact the office.
- 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/icecream, open pop, ice caps, etc), or energy drinks. Please support students in bringing healthier, less messy drink choices to school
Picture Day!
Monday September 8 will be picture day! Make sure your kids dress their best (TLC – Formal Uniform, everybody else – class it up!). Classes will be called down by homeroom throughout the day.
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
Beginning of Year Assessments
In the coming weeks, we will assess students skills in reading, writing and mathematics. The purpose of these tests is to gain an understanding of where students’ skills are now, so we can support their continued growth. Please know these marks will not go on report cards and students do not need to study or prepare. This is just us, gathering information, so we can help each of our students learn.
Library Books
If your child is new to CMAC and has library books from another school, please return them to Mrs. Slater in our learning commons as soon as possible. She will see that they are returned to their home locations and your student’s lending account is cleared of overdue items.
We should be able to begin lending books at the end of next week. If a student has a book that is more than 3 weeks overdue, we will deactivate their CBE account and they will lose access to technology while at school. We will support them in accessing it if there in an unavoidable need for particular class periods. Please support your children in keeping track of and returning their library books on time so we can maintain the excellent collection Mrs. Slater has built for the school.
Sports 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.
Cross country has started, all students in grades 6-9 are welcome. Our first meet of the year will be this coming Thursday September 11. More to come in morning announcements, contact Mrs. Kokura for more information.
Soccer tryouts will be held next week for students in Grades 7-9 – boys on Monday, girls on Tuesday, from 2:40-4:15. Students meet in the field, ready to play. Parents, please ensure students have a way home promptly at 4:15.
Basketball tryouts will begin for boys Tuesday September 9 - Junior Boys at 2:30-3:45 - Senior Boys at 3:45-5:00. Girls basketball tryouts will begin Wednesday September 10 at the same times. Students must sign up for a spot to tryout on the sheets posted outside the gym office, across from the Grade 7-9 washrooms.
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.
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.