Falconridge Newsletter | August 30, 2024
Welcome to the new school year! The first two school days are behind us and the energy in the building is incredible! Each week we will send key information home in a newsletter so that families can stay informed about what is coming up and what has been happening. Please remember that this coming Monday falls on a holiday long weekend and, as such, the school will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2024.
First School Council Meeting – September 4, 2024 at 6:30pm
The first school council and parent society meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 6:30pm. This meeting will be held IN PERSON at Falconridge School. We encourage all parents to attend and be part of important decision making that impacts all students.
IMPORTANT: Falconridge School Casino on October 1-2
Falconridge School is volunteering at Ace Casino Airport (40 Aero Cres NE) on Tuesday, October 1 and Wednesday, October 2. To make this casino possible, we need many volunteers from our school! You do not need to have a police clearance to volunteer at the casino.
There are many shifts available for sign-up on the sign-up genius link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D44A5AB2CA7FA7-50788292-fundraising/171082312
If you would like more information about the volunteer roles at the casino, please see the document attached. There are experienced casino advisors at each shift to help volunteers learn the roles.
You do not need volunteer clearance and training is provided at the beginning of your shift. No experience necessary! That means all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc are eligible to volunteer. This is the school's biggest fundraiser, and your help will make it a success!
Picture Day is Coming September 11, 2024
Lifetouch will be coming to Falconridge School to take photos of all students on September 10, 2024. Information on ordering school pictures will be sent to families in the weeks after photos and will include an online platform for ease of ordering.
Snacks in School
Each day, teachers are embedding times into the day to have snacks, recesses and breaks. In addition to a well-balanced lunch, nutritional snacks should be sent with students as they play a significant role in child’s day. Over the past decades, the number of calories that children consumed from snacks have increased significantly per day which has resulted in greater energy levels and stamina for learning. Sending the following with students is important for success in school:
o A water bottle
o A healthy snack
o A well-balanced lunch
Breakfast Program
Falconridge School is pleased to offer a breakfast program for students who do not have access to breakfast at home. This program is generously funded by donations and non-government organizations. Our goal is to ensure that every child starts their day with a healthy breakfast, setting them up for success throughout the day.
Students are invited to join us for breakfast between 8:00AM to 8:15AM, before school begins. Please enter through the regular entrance door.
Firedrills and Emergency procedures
This coming Wednesday, September 4, we will have our first fire drill of the school year. We use these drills as learning opportunities to speak with students about emergency procedures and safety while also practicing what to do in an emergency. For students sensitive to these situations, our staff works hard to prepare and support them before, during, and after each drill.
Families in the Building
As we have transitioned into the school year, it has been fantastic to see the support of our families to transition students into the school. As the school year proceeds, we want to request that families walking children to school handoff their children at the door. When students enter the building, staff will be in classrooms and hallways to help with morning routines. With our high enrollment numbers creating busy hallways and in order to ensure we have a safe and secure building where teachers are interacting with students, parent and teacher meetings and conversations can occur at scheduled times.
Information Package Coming Home
Please keep an eye out for important information and forms that will be coming home in your child’s backpack. One of the forms needs to be returned while others are completed online.
School Forms Online
We would like to remind families that SOME school forms have transitioned online to your MYCBE account
The following forms can be found in your MYCBE account – scroll to the tab that says “online forms and school registration” in the menu field
- Student Demographic Forms
- Authorization Forms – Consents for CBE and Media
Please access your MYCBE account to complete these important forms before September 15, 2023.
For help in accessing your MYCBE account see our support page.
For new families to the CBE:
New families to the CBE and Falconridge School will need to create a MYCBE Account.
Follow the following instructions to retrieve your student CBE ID number in your SchoolEngage account.
You will need your email address on file at the school, as well as the student’s CBE ID. This can be found on the SchoolEngage student profile for families that registered their child using SchoolEngage.
For a visual guide on how to find the CBE ID within SchoolEngage, refer to SchoolEngage CBE Student ID
See our support page for instructions on signing up for a MyCBE account or accessing an existing account.
Your MyCBE account is used as long as your child remains at CBE from kindergarten to Grade 12, so please register with an email that will be active during this period.
If you require financial assistance, please apply online through Powerschool. Field trips or extracurricular athletic fees will be added to your account throughout the year.
School Routines
Common expectations and predictable routines are an important part of a Welcoming, Caring, Respectful and Safe learning environment. We appreciate your support in helping your children contribute to a positive space for all children to learn. While we follow all CBE Administrative Regulations, and the Education Act, the following rules represent some key areas that, through clear communication and consistent administration, we feel help make Falconridge an excellent place to learn. We will continue to learn and grow as a school community and communicate any changes in expectations clearly to family members.
Student Attendance
Regular attendance in an important factor in success in school. Frequent lateness and absence results in missed learning opportunities, and disrupts the rhythms of the classroom. If your child will be late or absent, please call the school attendance line. Late students come to the office to check in, so we can keep accurate attendance. We know that a number of barriers can result in lateness and absence. If your child misses school often, we will reach out to see how we can support you and child to help them attend school more regularly.
Student Cell Phone Policy – AWAY FOR THE DAY
As a result of an Alberta Government policy, Students are not allowed, at any point, to have a cell phone in a classroom or learning environment. This includes in pockets or bags. Cell phones, if brought to school, are to remain in student bags during class time. If, at any point, Falconridge staff become aware that a student has a cell phone or personal mobile device in a classroom, the student will be directed to turn off the phone and put it away. If it happens again, progressive discipline will occur as appropriate. If you have an urgent need to contact your child during class time, please call the office and we can page them to take your call on the student phone in the office.
Passenger Zone Reminder
The front roadway of our school is a passenger zone. Please observe the signs and remain with your vehicle as it is not a parking zone. Please also stay clear of the zone marked as an accessible parking zone (blue signs).
Lunch Hours
Our lunch hours have changed slightly with us still having two lunch times:
- Students in Kindergarten to Grade 2 have lunch from 11:50AM to 12:30PM
- Students in Grade 3 to Grade 6 have lunch from 12:35PM to 1:15PM
Important Dates
- September 2 – Labour Day; No School
- September 4 – Parent Council Meeting @6:30 in the Learning Commons
- September 10 – School Photos
- September 12 – Meet the Teacher Evening
- September 26 – Orange Shirt Day
- September 27 – Non-instructional Day; No School
- September 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – No School
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the school office.
Regards,
Falconridge Administration