Hello WSS families,
This week brought a lot of new experiences for our students! We had Ms. Lee’s class attending City Hall School offsite all week, our first swimming week for the Grade 3s and Mrs. Dziadyk’s class, some very unseasonal and HOT weather! A sincere thank you to all the volunteers for the various activities, we cannot run these experiences without you.
Dogs on School Property
This is a reminder that CBE Administrative Regulation AR6004 - Animals in Schools restricts animals on school property. Dogs are not permitted on school grounds except where expressly approved under AR6004 (e.g., service animals or authorized educational purposes).
Additionally, the City of Calgary Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw prohibits dogs on school property, including playgrounds and fields.
Polar Bear Club
If you're interested in your child being part of the Polar Bear Club, please review and sign the PDF document and return to the school via email westsprings@cbe.ab.ca
This is a club that goes outside even when temperatures are below –20 degrees. See the attachment for more information.
WSSDA Fundraising News
Hello West Springs Families!
Our next Fun Lunch is Subway and is scheduled for January 22 (Mon/Wed Kindergarten January 21). Your order must be placed by this Saturday, January 17 via Healthy Hunger.
We are still looking for volunteers to help during our Fun Lunches, including volunteers to help with the Mon/Wed Kindergarten. The time commitment is less than one hour starting at noon on Thursday Fun Lunch and 12:30 for Mon/Wed Fun Lunch days. All volunteers must have their vulnerable sector check security clearance with our school. If you are interested in helping out, please use the link found here.
Thank you for your continued support!
Your WSSDA Team
Music Notes
Hello West Springs Families,
I hope you've been enjoying the lovely weather! This month music class is mostly focused on doing performance assessments around rhythms and singing, and some music listening assessments.
We'll be running in-class talent shows during the first week of February in Grade 2-4. This is an opportunity for the students to share a musical or artistic talent with their class in a low-risk creative environment. I may have one later in the year for Grade 1s. I will remind the kids the week before. My expectation is that they are sharing their best work, and that they have spent enough time practicing to go on stage confidently, whether they're doing a piano piece from lessons, a dance from dance classes, or a song they've worked on singing on their own or with a friend. These are generally a lot of fun for the kids, and have been a confidence booster for quite a few students.
Choir News:
We'll be resuming Grade 3/4 Choir this upcoming week on Wednesday. Ms. Lawford will be helping us again with the choir, which we're very grateful for. We're building towards performing a few songs at an evening concert in late April. More news to come in March/April about this performance. For kids who did not participate in choir in November/December, I will be sent home permission slips with interested students this week. Anyone who already participated in choir is in, but I've given them the option to stop if they prefer.
I'll be starting Grade 1/2 Choir in the next few weeks. I will be sending home permission slips with interested students next week. Please read through this before sending it; there are a few details around participation/behaviour expectations that I mention briefly in the letter, and you might want to chat with your child to see if they understand these. We'll be a group of 100+ kids, so my expectations for behaviour are high. We'll also be looking to perform a few songs in late April as part of an evening concert, details for which will be forthcoming in March/April.
Thanks, and have a great rest of your month,
Mr. Peter Vooys
Week at a Glance:
- Jan 19 - 22 Grade 2 Swimming
- Jan 21 Kindergarten Fun Lunch
- Jan 22 Fun Lunch, Spirit Day – Dress like a Teacher
- Jan 22 School Council 6:30 pm via Microsoft Teams
- Jan 26 - 27 Grade 4 Ski Lessons
- Jan 30 Professional Learning Day – No School for students
Dates of Significance:
· January 13 — Maghi
· January 14 — Orthodox New Year
· January 15 — Laylat al-Mi'raj
· January 27 — Holocaust Remembrance Day
· January 29 — National Day of Remembrance and Action against Islamophobia