November 21, 2025
It is hard to believe that it’s the last week of November already next week. Since our return, we have continued to focus on connection, care, and community. Our students are not only learning academically; they are also learning about themselves, their relationships, and how to navigate the world alongside one another. This growth takes time, guidance, and patience.
We ask families to partner with us in reminding students to take care of each other, give space when it’s needed, and approach peers with empathy and understanding. Every child is learning how to exist in a community, and these skills can only develop with support from both home and school.
Thank you for helping us create a safe, caring environment where all students can learn, grow, and thrive together.
Updated Assessment Timelines
Please note that report cards will be available online to families on February 24, 2026, this year. This is a system-wide change from the end of January to allow sufficient time for teachers to gather data on student progress.
Student Learning Conferences
School conferences provide an important opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about your child’s learning. Parents/guardians, students, and teachers are able to connect and communicate openly about areas of strength and growth. These discussions help build and sustain respectful relationships that support student success.
Student Learning Conferences will occur:
Grades 1 – 4: Thursday, November 27th 4:15 – 5:30 pm and 6:00 – 8:00 pm; Friday, November 28th 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Kindergarten – Mrs. Lynn Thursday November 27th 9:00–12:00, 1:00–3:00, 4:15 – 5:30 pm and 6:00 – 8:00 pm; Friday, November 28th 8:00 am-1:00 pm. (No School for any Kindergarten students on Thursday, November 27th).
Ms. Kinsey and Ms. Cara: Thursday only, November 27th 9:00–12:00, 1:00–3:00, 4:15 – 5:30 pm and 6:00 – 8:00 pm (No School for any Kindergarten students on Thursday, November 27th).
Phys Ed and Music Specialists
Conferences for PE and Music will operate on a drop-in basis on Thursday evening and Friday morning (Ms. Wright) and Thursday only (Mr. Vooys) during the same times as classroom teachers. We hope that this will allow us to connect with the most families possible. Please come have a conversation with Mr. Vooys and/or Ms. Wright before or after your child's classroom teacher conference.
Conference bookings will open to parents Saturday, November 22nd at 8:00 am through your MyCBE/Powerschool account and will close Thursday, November 27th at noon.
Should you need to book or adjust a booking after the closing time, please contact the office at 403-777-6244 and dial 0.
How to Book a School Conference:
1. Log-in to MyCBE / PowerSchool
If you do not have an account, follow the Create a MyCBE Account instructions (included below).
2. Click on the My School Conferences icon.
3. Choose the conference that applies to your child from the drop-down menu.
4. Choose your child’s teacher.
5. Click on the time slot that is available and convenient for you. Ensure pop-up windows are allowed.
6. In the pop-up window, you will choose your child (you have the option to enter the student's name). The name of the parent / guardian is pre-filled but can also be changed.
Create a MyCBE/PowerSchool Account
1. Go to www.cbe.ab.ca/mycbe and click on the “Create Parent Account” link.
Important: the email that you are using to create your account must be the same one you have provided to the school. If you are unsure, please contact the school office.
2. Once you have created an account, you will receive a confirmation email.
3. After your account is confirmed, you can login to the system.
After booking, your conference details will appear in your MyCBE account.
Given the recent teacher strike and its impact on assessment timelines, teachers are continuing to update and analyze student data. While they will share available evidence of learning, we ask that families keep in mind that assessment of information is always an ongoing process. The focus of conferences will be on reconnecting, understanding current progress, and planning meaningful next steps to support each student’s continued growth.
We look forward to seeing you and your child at conferences and continuing our shared work in supporting their success.
Lifetouch Photo Day
December 1st is photo retake day as well as class photos for our Monday/Wednesday Kindergarten classes as well as Mrs. Dewar in Grade 2. Students who want to have retakes done, please bring in your original photos if you have them, but not necessary. We are looking for 1 volunteer to help out. If you are available, here is the link
Lost and Found
Please have a look at the lost and found displayed during conferences. All items left after conferences will be donated
Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair will take place from December 1 to December 4. Students will be able to purchase books during their scheduled class time. The book fair will not be open this year during conferences.
Fun Lunches
Monthly fun lunches can be order through the HealthyHunger website
Music Notes
Hello West Springs Families,
I hope you've had a great week. Here are a few learning highlights from each grade.
Grade 4: Finishing up singing "In Flanders Fields", a Remembrance Day song, and finishing listening to J-Pop (Japanese Pop) band Official HigedanDISM (or just "Higedan"), discussing what makes their music good, and listening for different instruments, musical emotions, and following the story in their lyrics through english subtitles.
Grade 3: Learning about The Beach Boys, and learning about how their singing in harmony makes them a special band. Singing "Tomorrow" from Annie.
Grade 2: Learning about Beethoven, listening a bit to "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and playing it with Boomwhackers with most classes. We'll continue this in the next few weeks.
Grade 1: Learning "Tick Tock", our first song that we're learning by reading (as opposed to learning the song "by ear", which is what we usually do with more complicated songs).
Kindergarten: Learning to sing "Little Snowflake" and practicing using our singing voices through games like "Doggie, Doggie".
Conferences:
As I'm part-time at West Springs this year, during conferences I will be around and available to chat on a drop-in basis on Thursday night, November 27, but won't be at school on Friday, November 28. If you need to speak to me, but won't be there on Thursday night, feel free to email me and we can set up a time to chat.
Grade 3/4 Choir:
We've been working on learning "Gift from the Heart", a song I wrote a few years ago based on some lyrics that a student wrote, and "School is For Burgers", another original song from a few years ago. I promised some very eager students that I would send some lyrics home in the near future, so I've attached the lyrics for "Gift from the Heart". Home practice is not required, but if your child is keen, it wouldn't hurt 🙂. We will most likely work on "School is for Burgers" later, but this week's rehearsal showed that we need to focus on the one song for the time being.
Have a great weekend,
Mr. Peter Vooys
On the Horizon
- November 13 - 27 Whole School inline skating program
- November 22 – Conference manager opens for bookings 8:00 am
- November 27 – Conference manager closes for bookings 12:00 pm
- November 27 – evening school conferences
- November 27- No classes for kindergarten students
- November 28 – daytime school conferences - No classes for students
- December 1 Lifetouch re-scheduled retake date. Monday/Wednesday kindergarten students will have group photo as well
- December 1-4 Scholastic Book Fair daytime only
- Dec 10 Kinder Boston Pizza Fun Lunch
- Dec 11 Festive Sweater Spirit Day Boston Pizza Fun Lunch
- Dec 20 – Jan 4 Schools closed for Winter Break