Admin Message
Oki Hello Altadore Families
Welcome to May! I hope everyone had an opportunity to spend some time outside enjoying the warm weather. May is Asian Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the diverse cultures, identities, and contributions of Asian peoples and communities in Canada. This month invites us to deepen our understanding of Asian Canadian experiences while affirming the beauty and strength of the diverse cultures, traditions, and legacies that encompass this vast and powerful identity. Asia is not a singular story — it is a vast, complex continent encompassing over 40 countries and countless cultures, languages, faiths, and traditions. Asian identity includes peoples of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Central Asian, West Asian, and Pacific Islander descent. These communities are not monolithic, and each holds distinct histories shaped by colonization, migration, resistance, and renewal. Asian Canadians have long contributed to the social, cultural, economic, and political fabric of Canada, often in the face of exclusion, erasure, and oppression. From early migrants and labourers to educators, artists, activists, and leaders, Asian Canadians continue to shape Canada in powerful ways. To learn more, click here.
May activities will keep students and staff busy. There will be Swim to Survival lessons, Stream of Dreams, and a Fun Lunch. Hats will be on for Mental Health, and students will begin lessons in the Edible Garden. Please remember to pay your swim fee on MyCBE.ca. A high five to all the volunteers who make this possible!
Wishing you a great week.
Iikiinayookaa M. Yellow Horn Karlee Zelmer
Principal Assistant Principal
mfyellowhorn@cbe.ab. kmzelmer@cbe.ab.ca
Stream of Dreams
Thank you to everyone who signed up to help with the Stream or Dreams next week. We still have volunteer spots that need to be filled. If you have a valid CBE Police Clearance, please click here and sign up where you can help.
Single-Use Items No longer Available
Please ensure you are including utensils in your child's lunch. We no longer have single-use utensils available.
School Engagement Survey
Thank you to the parents who participated in the School Engagement Survey. To review the results, click here.
Bus Driver Appreciation Day
We celebrated the bus team on Monday, May 5. We are grateful that our students arrive at school safely every day.
Hats on for Mental Health
Altadore School Mental Health Awareness is on Wednesday, May 7. This year’s theme, “Unmasking Mental Health,” invites us to imagine what it would feel like to speak openly about our struggles without fear or shame. Many young people hide their emotions behind masks to protect themselves from judgment. We encourage our students and staff to wear their favorite hats in awareness.
Spring Concert
Wednesday, May 21, 7:00 p.m.: Due to safety regulations, only two parents and/or guardians are welcome to the evening performance. We ask that all guests exit using the front door immediately after the performance. Childcare will not be provided.
Wednesday, May 21, 1:30: Due to safety regulations, only two guests are welcome to the afternoon performance. Please arrive at 1:15 and exit using the front door immediately after the performance.
Students will watch the afternoon concert on Tuesday, May 20.
Bikes and Scooters at School
We are excited to see an increase in the number of bikes and scooters being used by students! Just a few reminders:
- Bike and scooter racks are provided in the schoolyard for parking.
- Please remember that students cannot ride bikes or scooters in the schoolyard or courtyard.
Let’s keep our school grounds safe for everyone! Thank you for your cooperation.
Owls Nest Spring Clean Up (May 3)
Helping hands of all ages wanted for our second day of Spring Clean Up for the Owl’s Nest!
Cleanup will be held on May 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is an open house-style event. Please come anytime within the
window and stay for as long as you can. Lots of hands means less work! Bring family and friends to help as we get the Owls Nest ready for summer fun! Bring gardening gloves; tools will be provided. Sign up HERE if you can come out and help!
Fun Lunch (May 6)
Jelly Modern Doughnuts is May 6!
There is still space to volunteer. Sign up HERE or at
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0444AEAB29A2FD0-51537722-funlunch
School Council Meeting (May 14 at 6:30pm)
We invite all Altadore parents and guardians to join us at our Parent Council Meeting on May 14th at 6:30pm. This meeting will be held at
Altadore School. If unable to attend in person, there will be a Microsoft
Teams link sent out the day of for you to join us online!
We welcome anyone interested, and childcare will be provided for all school aged kids!
School Council Volunteer Opportunities
Altadore School Council is looking for parents to fill the following roles. Please email altadoreparentcouncil@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering or if
you would like more information about any of these positions.
Vice Chair
- Role: Supports the Chair throughout the school year as needed, and often, but not required, becomes the Chair the following year. Coordinates staff appreciation events with Administration.
- Time Commitment: ~2-4 hours/months
Casino Chair
- Role: The Casino Chair is responsible for coordinating our casino fundraiser and for maintaining the communication with Alberta Gaming, filing all required paperwork, ensuring casino license remains intact, and communicating with volunteers. Casinos are scheduled approximately every 18 months (next Casino is planned for fall 2026). The Association works with a Casino Advisor to help with the process.
- Time Commitment:
○ 2025: ~1 hour/month (maximum)
○ August-September, 2026: ~5-10 hours total
○ October until the Casino, 2026: ~5 hours/week
The Hoot Committee Chair
- Role: The Hoot Chair leads the organizing committee for our bi-annual parent social night and FUNdraiser The Hoot. The next Hoot is planned for Fall 2025.
- Time Commitment: ~10-12 hours/month September-November
Edible Garden and Owl's Nest Committee Chair
- Role: The Edible Garden and Owl's Nest Chair leads the Edible Garden and Owl's Nest Committee. The committee is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the Edible Garden and Owl's nest.
- Time Commitment: ~2-3 hours per week during March-September, then sporadically over the winter season.
Owls Nest Edible Garden Success Recording
Maximize your edible garden success in 2025. Learn when, what, and how to plant your veggies. Listen to Master Gardener Janet Melrose’s recorded talk HERE.
Bell Time Change (2025-26 School Year)
In response to Alberta Education’s School Transportation Amendment Regulation, CBE is expanding yellow school bus service and adjusting walk zones starting on
September 1, 2025. As bell times are closely linked to transportation schedules,
these changes will affect many schools, including Altadore School. The new bell times for next year will be 8:42 AM to 3:15 PM, with early dismissal on Fridays ending at 12:45 PM.
Aligning bell times across schools improves transportation efficiency, allowing each bus to run multiple routes. This helps create a reliable system, ensuring students arrive at school safely, on time, and ready to learn. For more information, click here.
Notes of Thanks
Thank you to the following individuals for their recent contributions to our school…
- Thank you to Ms. Bigalow’s grade six class for putting out the chairs for the Parent Council Spring Speaker Series.
- Thank you to everyone who attended the Spring Speaker Event and to Dr. Cheryl Macleod for providing such an informative session.
- Thank you and warm welcome back to Alex Wallace, Edible Garden Student Educator.
- Thank you to the Eco Club for their continued commitment to Altadore School. Our Eco Club is AWESOME!!
Looking for school information you can’t find here? Please contact:
Iikiinayookaa M. Yellow Horn, Principal (mfyellowhorn@cbe.ab.ca)
Karlee Zelmer, Assistant Principal (kmzelmer@cbe.ab.ca)
Julia Hikita, Altadore School Council Chair (altadoreparentcouncil@gmail.com)