Good evening Falconridge Families,
We were so excited to welcome Falconridge Families into the building this past week for our meet the teacher night. This year we will continue to have monthly grade team assemblies, community evenings, and parent-teacher conferences that allow us to interact with and get to know our population. We also want to keep everyone informed about what is happening at Falconridge school through our weekly messages, grade team communication and through our new Instagram page. If you haven’t gotten a chance, follow @cbefalconridge to see what our students are up to including science experiments, learning to count, working on our understanding of the value of the medicine wheel and more from this past week alone!
Please read on for important information and upcoming dates.
Staffing Updates
In the week ahead, the grade 6 team will welcome Ms. Mabel Allen into Ms. O’Brien’s class. Ms. Allen comes with a wealth of experience teaching in Hong Kong in a school that used the Alberta Curriculum as a foundation and, more recently, in Calgary at a variety of schools. Ms. O’Brien will be away on leave and, while her experience is missed, Ms. Allen is a fantastic addition to the Falconridge Community.
Healthy Start to School
Help ease your children into school routines by having an early bedtime. There is a lot of excitement and some nervousness associated with the first days of school and it is important that your children come well rested. Be sure to come to school on time every day to set your child up for success.
With the return to school and the upcoming flu season please do everything you can to keep your child safe from illness, including the latest coronavirus variant. The CBE takes the health and safety of our students and staff seriously.
In all matters of health, CBE takes direction from Alberta Education and Alberta Health Services. The following health measures can reduce the spread and lessen the impact of illness in school communities. These include:
· stay home when feeling sick;
· if possible, avoid close contact with people who are sick;
· wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
· cover your cough;
· avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands; and
· clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items at home, especially when someone in your home is sick.
Alberta Health Services has a respiratory assessment tool to provide Albertans with guidance to manage a wide range of respiratory illnesses, and provide advice on caring for symptoms at home, and when to seek additional care.
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. As a reminder, classes begin at 8:30 am Monday-Friday. Students should be in classrooms prior to this so that they are there for morning routines and to maximize learning time.
UPDATE: Soft Entry
As we strive to create a safe and supported environment, our teachers have recognized the need to both have safe hallways and regulated spaces as our students enter the building. During mornings, the entry doors for soft entry will be accessible from 8:15-8:30 am. During this time, students entering the building will be supported into their classroom by teachers and staff members where classes will begin at 8:30 am.
As all teachers are in classrooms during soft entry, we would like to advise families that the playground is closed during this time, as in previous years.
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.
We have filled 25 of the 40 shifts required through the dedication of our parent council and our communities commitment but 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!
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 front entrance door.
Terry Fox Run
On October 2, 2024, Falconridge school will be doing its annual Terry Fox Run as a school community. Students will do some prework to better understand the purpose of the Terry Fox run before that day in their classes.
Please reach out to Mr. Sullivan at desullivan@cbe.ab.ca if you have any questions. Thank you for your support!
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
We are committed to upholding the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) 94 Calls to Action specific to education. Our system continues to learn, grow, understand, and honour Indigenous ways of being, belonging, doing and knowing.
This September, we are commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) through the CBE National Truth and Reconciliation Week from Sept. 23 to 27. Falconridge school will wear orange shirts on September 26 and plan activities to learn and understand the significance of the day.
There are no classes on Sept. 30, as a day in-lieu to commemorate the National Day on Sept. 30. By observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day), we reinforce our dedication to ensuring that the stories of survivors are heard, their pain acknowledged, and their strength celebrated.
Information Package Sent Home
Last week our information packages went home. One paper form is to be filled out and sent back. Other key forms are available through the MyCBE account by selecting the Online Forms and School Registration icon on the home screen. These forms include:
- 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.
Lunch Hours
Please remember that 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
For students that go home for lunch, they are to remain off campus and return within 5 minutes of the end of their lunchtime. For Kindergarten- Grade 2, they are to return at 12:25PM while our grade 3-6 classes are to return no earlier than 1:10PM.
Important Dates
- September 26 – Orange Shirt Day
- September 23-27 – Treaty 7 Week
- September 27 – Non-instructional Day; No School
- September 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – No School
- October 1-2 – Falconridge Casino at ACE Casino
- October 14 – Thanksgiving Day; No School
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the school office.
Regards,
Falconridge Administration