Dear Altadore Families,
Here is your weekly update. This is the last week to order yearbooks and there is an invitation to our Parent Appreciation Tea.
There are lots of things going this week such as Hats Off to Mental Health and Walk, Roll, and Ride to School.
Please read for all of the details.
Kelly and Karlee
Weekly Updates
Sunday, May 5, 2024 is Cinco de Mayo as well as Orthodox Easter, and we would like to send our best wishes to anyone that celebrates. May is also Asian Heritage Month.
We wanted to send a friendly reminder that it is important that students are dressed to go outside each day. This includes during gentle rain (or sleet like we encountered last week). We only keep students inside when there is driving rain or thunderstorms. When it is raining, sleeting or snowing students will go outside. Being prepared with the proper gear means that your child will be comfortable, dry and happy. Fresh air and outside time are important for our health and well-being.
Since this week is Mental Health Week, we are promoting wellness by wearing a hat on Wednesday May 8 and walking, biking or rolling to school on Friday May 9. May 5 was the National Day for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) or Red Dress Day. We wanted to acknowledge this day and raise awareness of this ongoing national tragedy.
Our Grade 5 and 6 classes had some very rich discussions about the meaning of this day and the impact of so many going missing on the families and communities who live with the impact and injustice of losing so many loved ones.
There are many services available if you or someone you know is experiencing signs of distress for whatever reason. Don’t hesitate to reach out the services available:
- The Summit Mental Health Centre offers walk in counselling for children and youth 7 days per week
- Access Mental Health- Calgary Zone 403-943-1500
- Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868
- Distress Centre Calgary: 403-266-4357
- Mental Health Helpline 1-877-303-2642
- Hope for Wellness Help Line (Indigenous centered): 1-855-242-3310
- Crisis Services Canada: (Canada-wide) 9-8-8
Kelly Christopher
Principal
Karlee Zelmer
Assistant Principal
Cell Phones and Smartwatches
We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about our technology policy. We have a number of our older students who bring cell phones or wear smartwatches to school. We realize how these can act as a safety item as students walk to and from school. Cell phones should not be used once students arrive at school. These should remain in backpacks until students are off school property.
Students who have their devices out during the day are often distracted from their learning as they play games, take photos, text or call others. We expect students to put phones away and to only use smartwatches for telling time. We are fortunate that technology that is needed for learning purposes is readily available without students needing to use their devices.
If you need to contact your child during the school day please call the school and we will be happy to connect you, and we are happy to facilitate calls if your child wants to contact you. If students have their phones out during the day, or are using smartwatches inappropriately we will keep them in a safe place until the end of the day and we will let parents know. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Fun Lunch
Our final Fun Lunch of the year is coming up on May 15! Place your order for Jelly Modern Doughnut by Friday, May 10. Want to volunteer to hand out lunches on May 15? Sign up. A valid police check is needed.
Parent Appreciation Tea
We are thrilled to be able to invite you all to our Parent Appreciation Tea as it is our chance to say thank you for everything you do to make our school a special place for learning. Altadore is well known as having a thriving and inclusive school culture - and we see all of you as being a part of that. This is more than a recognition of those who formally volunteer. It is a celebration of the work that all of you do including things such as:
- Coming to school council
- Volunteering for field trips
- Attending the Hoot or one of our picnics
- Helping your child with reading at home
- Getting your child to school on they days they want to stay in bed
- Coming to conferences
- Working with teachers to determine next steps for your child
- Talking with your child about what happens at school each day
- Advocating for your child if something is not going the way you think it should
We think you should all see yourselves in this, and we encourage you all to come out to the tea! Hope to see you there! If you are able to attend, please RSVP to cabrownwolfe@cbe.ab.ca by May 8!
School Council Meeting
Join us Wednesday, May 8, at 6:30PM in person at the school, or virtually for our School Council Meeting! Bring your kids and they can play with their friends in a nearby classroom under the supervision of some babysitters, while we sit back, enjoy a snack, and talk about all the cool things happening around Altadore school. Meet some other parents, and get in touch with the amazing Altadore School community!
This week we will chat about upcoming events, get information from the grade 2 team around using loose parts to increase engagement, and updates on the School Cool project. Don’t forget to check out the meeting minutes from our last meeting.
Volunteers
Thank you to all of the individuals who have stepped up to volunteer on council next year, but we are still looking to fill three key roles!
If you have been thinking of reaching out, NOW is the time to do it! Send us an email:altadoreparentcouncil@gmail.com
We need a Treasurer, a Vice Chair, and a Communications volunteer. If you or anyone you know is toying with the idea of contributing, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our current Chair, Julia, by emailing her, or check out the parent handbook where the rolls are explained in more detail. Altadore Garden Plants for Sale (May 16) Come get your seedlings! The school is bringing in a small family-run plant nursery, local to Calgary, to sell vegetable and flower seedlings just in front of the Altadore Garden on May 16 from 3:00pm - 7:00pm. This is a fun way to bring the community together, meet other gardeners in the neighbourhood, and get a kick start to your gardening while supporting a local small business! Garden Committee - Need Volunteers If you want to get involved, and get to know a great group of people who work to make some of the most amazing spaces for our kids to explore and learn at Altadore. No experience necessary! We are always looking for a helping hand, but specifically we are currently looking for a Co-Chair, a Membership and Communications Coordinator, and a Communications Lead!
Community Beds First Come First Serve! We currently have 4 garden beds up for grabs this season (3, 8x4 beds, and 1 4x4 bed)! They are on a first come, first serve basis, so make sure you grab yours before they’re gone! For those new to the Altadore Garden, we always set aside a portion of the beds for
Altadore Families who would like to manage their own small garden and grow fruits, vegetables, or flowers right at the school. It's a great way to get to know other people in the community, and to build a strong connection between your family and Altadore! We have many families that return every year, and each year a few beds come up and are available for new families to join!
Yearbooks
Atladore Yearbooks (2023-2024) are on sale! The cost is $15 and you will need to use the ID code 14522224. When you order please ensure you include your child’s name and their grade. Orders are due Friday, May 10! We do not anticipate having any extras available for purchase in June.
Grade 4 - 6 Replacement Field Trip Update
Unfortunately, due to extreme cold weather, our grade 4-6 field trip to WinSport had to be cancelled at the last minute. We understand the disappointment this may have caused - as we felt the same. We have been diligently working to provide alternative experiences for our students.
Complicating our search was the fact that many venues are booked well ahead of time and booking busses in the spring usually needs to happen by November. In the end, we decided to organize in-school experiences instead. We were fortunate to have Randy Turning-Robe Junior visit our school to share Indigenous teachings with all students. Randy and Dianne Bird-Fuentes from Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society, led activities for our Grades 4-6 students including crafting their own drumsticks and participating in Indigenous drumming with them.
We are immensely grateful to have Randy as part of our Altadore School Family, and we appreciate the invaluable cultural experience he provided.
Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that we were also able to secure Evergreen Theatre to perform “Snow White and the Seven Regions” on June 11. This fun-filled environmental musical adventure will retell this traditional fairy tale and educate students on current social and environmental issues in Canada.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we strive to offer enriching experiences for our students.
Altadore Gear
Calling all parents! Are you busy running to and from soccer, dance, swimming, playdates, groceries, and all of the things keeping you busy this Spring? Do it in style in this amazing adult hoodie for $40 ($35 for youth sizes) and show your love for Altadore!
Check out the site! (Please note that this is not a fundraiser, but a fun way for everyone to feel a part of the Altadore community. The school does not profit from the purchase of these items.)
Notes of Thanks
Thank you to the following individuals for their recent contributions to our school… Thank you to ALL of the volunteers who showed up yesterday to clean up the gardens and get them ready for a wonderful garden season! We couldn’t do it without you!
All the amazing volunteers who went to TELUS Spark with Grade 3 and those who helped with the Grade 2 clay for kids residency this week!
Questions?
Looking for school information you can’t find here?
Please Contact
Kelly Christopher, Principal (kdchristophe@cbe.ab.ca)
Karlee Zelmer, Assistant Principal (kmzelmer@cbe.ab.ca)
Julia Hikita, Altadore School Council Chair (altadoreparentcouncil@gmail.com)