Welcome Back 

It was a great start to the 2024-25 school year. The sun was shining and there were smiles everywhere. It was so nice seeing all the familiar and new faces with students meeting their teachers and friends. 

We will again have a flexible entry in the morning but this year it will begin at 7:55 am not 7:50 am. We believe that many of our students will benefit from some additional time outside to play and run around before coming in doors to start their learning. There will be a bell at 7:57 am to signify that students should start heading inside. With the flexible entry, community students in Grades 1 to 6 will be able to enter the school through their designated entry doors and head to their classroom to prepare for the day.  Students in Kindergarten are to wait outside until Ms. Gunn greets them at 7:57 am (morning class and Fridays) or 11:45 am (afternoon class) outside. This is to ensure that our new friends make it safely into their classroom. Students in the EES program begin school at 8:10 am and are met at the bus or by the gate entrance.

Please do not have your children arrive before 7:50 am as there is no supervision before this. Please help us by having your children arrive by 7:57 am so that we can begin learning right at 8:00 am. Students who arrive after 8:00 am will need to enter through the main school doors and say hi to Ms. Hugi or Mrs. Robins in the office. 

Also, we are asking adults to please drop your children off and then move back away from the doors. It is challenging to have families crowding the doors when we are trying to get students into the school safely and quickly. Thank you for your help and understanding. 

Please click here for the University School Calendar

Please click here for the Kindergarten Friday Calendar

So that you are aware, we will do our best to have weekly messages (like this one) out to families by Saturday morning. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding for those days, like this one, when the message comes out later. As my children get older they are involved in more activities (soccer, climbing, hockey, dance, and gymnastics) and so my evenings are busier plus my family decided to billet a hockey player for this school year.

Student Safety 

Drop off and pick up is often a busy time with increased congestion. We would like to thank families for parking in the appropriate spaces and being mindful of keeping the Bus zone area free as well as not parking in the parking lot as those are designated for staff. We encourage families to have conversations with their child(ren)  to use the crosswalk when crossing the street as it provides a well-marked spot for students and their families to cross.  Please help us by also modelling this behaviour when you are dropping off or picking up your child. 

The bus zone has changed as we now have three school buses but the signs have not yet been updated by the City of Calgary to reflect this.  The bus zone is shown in blue below, a drop off zone in yellow, and a large area of concern in red. We see many families parking on the west side of the road and jay-walking to get to the gate entrance instead of using crosswalks. Our bus drivers have already shared that it has been a challenge to drive around the corner (in red) because of the way people are parking. This is making it very dangerous and I am concerned someone will get hurt. 

If you drive your child(ren) to school please be aware of where you are parking so that you do not block community driveways. We also encourage you to park away from the school and spend one or two minutes walking our child or simply dropping them off and having them walk. Thank you for your attention to this. 

We understand that sometimes students need to leave early for appointments. We ask that you clearly communicate this to your child’s teacher and also to the office as this will help us have your child ready to go on time. All students leaving early will be leaving from the office so that we can make sure they are being picked up by an approved adult. 

University School is careful to protect confidential student information. As such we are only able to speak to legal guardians regarding each student. If your child is part of a blended family or another family dynamic we require permission to speak to the other non-guardian parent. This is also true for students who attend before and after school care or may have a nanny or other family member who supports your child. 

This permission is provided through the Obtain and Release of Student Information Forms. Please contact the school if you would like to fill out these forms so that University School can also communicate with those you identify.
 

Welcome Package  

Each year, schools have a variety of forms that parents / legal guardians are required to complete or review and update, some of which are paper and others online. In CBE, the forms in an online format (SchoolEngage) are: 

• Demographic Verification - 2024-25 – This form includes your child’s personal information as well as parent / legal guardian contact information. 
• Citizenship Information Update - 2024-25 – This form becomes available if you change your child’s citizenship information on the Demographic Verification form. 
• Annual Authorizations - 2024-25 – This form provides consent for school and district use of personal information. 
• Annual Volunteer Registration - 2024-25 - This form replaces the paper copy of the Annual Volunteer form.

SchoolEngage is one of the applications found in your MyCBE account. This is the same account you use to pay fees, view academic information, book school conferences, register for busing, etc. 

If you do not have a MyCBE account, on the MyCBE page click on Create a MyCBE Account. For online help refer to MyCBE - Creating an Account (includes instructions and a video). 

All paper forms that need to be filled out and returned are printed on coloured paper and those with only information are printed on white paper. These forms will be sent home early next week. 

Please fill out the forms completely and return all forms, even those that might not be applicable, by Monday, September 9. This allows us to ensure that you have read and filled out all of the documents provided. 

We are also encouraging all families to register to receive commercial electronic messages so that you receive all messages from your child’s teacher, University School, and the Calgary Board of Education. To register please visit this site: http://calgary.schoolmessenger.com/cbe_subscribe. 

Safe and Caring Schools 

The Calgary Board of Education strives to ensure that all our schools are safe and caring places for all students and staff. As a public school, we welcome and celebrate students from diverse backgrounds, perspectives and beliefs.  

At University School, we have honoured and recognized our unique community with acknowledgements such as Orange Shirt Day, Black History Month, Take Me Outside Day, and Winter Solstice. 

August 26 to September 1 is Pride Week, a time to recognize the pursuit of equality and rights for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. The CBE reaffirms our commitment to creating safe and caring learning and work environments for 2SLGBTQ+ students and staff. 

We acknowledge that each family and community has a unique experience with different recognitions and celebrations, and any commemorative activities in our schools may be perceived differently. However, classroom-based activities and lessons that promote diversity and inclusion are not subject to exemptions under the Education Act. 

We work hard to make University School an inclusive, respectful, safe and caring place to learn for all students. Thank you for helping us do this. 

Pack In Pack Out Lunches 

University School continues to be committed to a litter free lunch. Litter free lunches at school are the best form of recycling and composting.  On average, a school-age child with a disposable lunch generates approximately 30 kg of waste per school year. That means that if your child has 25 students in their class, they are producing 737 kg of waste each year. Just imagine what a whole school produces! 

We ask that whatever comes in your child's lunch bag goes home in their lunch bag, including uneaten food, empty containers, and food wrappers. In this way, we will create far less garbage at school, and you will have a much better idea of what your child is finishing or not finishing for lunch. 

Allergy Awareness 

University School has several students with allergies to various types of food.  The severest of these is an anaphylactic reaction with the most common being peanuts. Although we are not a peanut-free school, we would like to ask for your cooperation by not sending any peanuts (shelled or unshelled) or peanut products in your children’s lunch. 

Classrooms that have students with serious allergies will have a sign posted on the exterior of the classroom to inform them of those allergies. This will also be communicated to families by the classroom teacher. 

We ask that you remind your children to eat only their own food and to not share items from their lunch so that we can keep everyone safe. 

Snacks and Lunches for Students 

As a continuation of the last few years, University School would like to provide snacks to students that may have forgotten or for families that need a little bit of help.  

If your family is able to help, we would be grateful for donations of healthier food items such as fresh fruit (apples, bananas, oranges), packs of goldfish crackers, granola bars, apple sauce packets, fruit bars, etc. All items need to be single-serve and pre-packed. Items can be brought to the main doors of the school or your child can bring them down to the office. Thank you so much for your help! 

Also, University School is part of the Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids (BB4CK) program which provides prepared healthy lunches to Calgary Schools for students who are in need. Through this program, we will be able to provide daily lunches to some of our students. If you feel as though your family would benefit from this program, please contact Ms. Bonanno (ljbonanno@cbe.ab.ca). 

Keep Your Items Safe, Reduce Lost and Found, & Raise Money 

For all of your personalized label needs for things like water bottles, jackets, lunch kits, shoes, and even additional fun items like buttons or decals, make use of our school's exclusive fundraiser for Oliver's Labels. You know that you are in the right place for supporting the University School Parent Association when your screen says this: 

If you are unsure you can click on the shopping cart icon and you will see “You were referred by the University School Parent Association.” 

This is an ongoing fundraiser; order at any time of the year and feel free to share the link with friends and family! 

If your Child is Absent 

It is important for the school to keep accurate attendance to ensure all students are safe and accounted for. To help us with this we ask that you please call the school’s attendance line if your child will be absent for any reason (ie. illness, holiday, appointment). To call dial 403-777-6240 and enter “1” when prompted. Please remember to include your child(ren)’s first and last name, their teacher’s name, and also the reason they are absent. 

LEGO for UES Maker Space

University School is looking for LEGO to add to our Learning Commons and Maker Space! This will allow students another tool to create and build with as a way of demonstrating their learning. 

If you have any spare LEGO or LEGO that you no longer want, University School would be happy to have it. All donations can be brought down to the office. Thank you for your help!

Student Personal Mobile Devices

As you may have already heard, CBE is implementing restrictions on Personal Mobile Device & Social Media Use in Schools effective Aug. 29. This policy will comply with the Ministerial Order provided by the Government of Alberta this past June based on survey feedback provided by families.

CBE cares about the mental health and well-being of students. Restricting access to personal mobile devices and social media is expected to improve student achievement and learning outcomes. CBE strongly recommends students simply leave their devices at home, because in most cases, personal mobile devices are not needed to support student learning. University School is encouraging students to not bring these devices to school as students have access to school technology as well as the school phone.

For students in kindergarten to Grade 9, CBE will use ‘Away for the Day’ guidelines similar to what many schools have been using in recent years. Personal mobile devices brought to school including cell phones, tablets, gaming devices, laptops, smart watches, Bluetooth speakers/headphones or any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate with or access the internet must be powered off or set in silent mode and stored out of sight in student lockers, backpacks or other designated area for the duration of the school day. 

If a student is found to be using a personal mobile device during school time (including recess and lunch) without permission from school staff, University School will work with the student to ensure the rules are understood. We rely on good communication and other existing processes to ensure students know what is expected. When necessary, schools will use a Progressive Student Discipline approach in working with students.

These new rules will apply to all students, with exceptions for students using devices for health and medical needs, to support specialized learning needs and for educational purposes.

For students who require access to a personal mobile device for health and medical needs, it is advised that parents complete and submit a Student Health Plan as soon as possible or contact the school. For students who require access to a personal mobile device to support an identified educational need, families should contact the school to discuss this being included as an accommodation or support in the student’s individual program plan (IPP). For English as an Additional Language Learners (EAL) who require access to a personal mobile device, a new Personal Mobile Device Exception form will be approved by School Administration in conversation with parents/guardians. 

Also, aligned with the Ministerial Order, the CBE will restrict student access to all known social media platforms on the CBE network.

This policy will be in place for the first day of school. However, it is set to be reviewed in December, 2024. At that time, any feedback from schools will be considered before the Administrative Regulation 6008 is finalized as of Jan. 1, 2025.

Thank you for helping us to make this transition successful. For further resources, please view additional information on the CBE website. 

This Week 

Monday, September 2

• No School - Labour Day 

Tuesday, September 3

• AM Kindergarten for students with last name M-Z attend 
• PM Kindergarten for students with last name M-Z attend 

Wednesday, September 4

• All AM and PM Kindergarten students attend 

Thursday, September 5

• Welcome Back Assembly 

Friday, September 6

• AM Kindergarten classes attend (8:00 to 12:05) - No PM Kindergarten 

Month Ahead 

Sept 13 – Flex Time - Buddies 

Sept 20 – Flex Time - Mixed Grade Groups

Sept 23 - School Photos - Lifetouch 

Sept 23 - Sept 26 - Orange Shirt Week

Sept 26 - School Open House Evening

Sept 27 - No School - Non-Instruction Day  

Sept 30 - No School - Truth and Reconciliation Day and Orange Shirt Day   

Oct 4 - Terry Fox Run and Assembly  

Oct 14 - Thanksgiving Day - No School  

Dates of Significance

Sept 7 - Ukrainian Canadian Heritage Day

Sept 8 - International Literacy Day

Sept 11 - Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year)

Sept 13 - 22 - Welcome Week

Sept 16 - 18 - Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)

Sept 16 - 23 - Sukkot

Sept 17 - Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhongqiu Jie), Mooncake or Moon Festival

Sept 20 - National Trades Day

Sept 22 - Treaty 7 Day

Sept 22 - Fall Equinox 

Sept 22 - 28 - Gender Equality Week

Sept 30 - National Day of Truth & Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day

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