Dear West Spring School Families,

We hope that everyone is having a safe and enjoyable summer break!  

Our school office officially opens on Monday, August 28 and we welcome students back on Thursday, August 31.  Below we have listed information and a few reminders regarding the start of the school year.

Principal Update

Susan Westgate is unable to return as principal at this time.  We wish her well until she is able to return.  We are excited to welcome Darren Toews in the role of Acting Principal. 

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students of West Springs School, 

I am very excited to be joining WSS as the acting principal.  I would like you to know that I am passionate about teaching and learning and I thrive on opportunities to support people to be their best. 

I have been with the Calgary Board of Education for over 33 years in the role of Teacher from grades 5-9, Learning Leader at two junior highs, CBE Specialist, Assistant Principal and Principal. 

I believe relationships are the cornerstone of our work as educators and this is a key element in my day-to-day interaction with each and every person I am involved with.  I am told that WSS has a great teaching and support staff along with supportive families and awesome students.  I am looking forward to joining this dynamic learning community.

Most sincerely, 

Darren

 

Important Dates

We follow the CBE instructional calendar. The calendar sets common start and end days, non-instructional days and holidays. For our school’s additional non-instructional days, late entries, early dismissal days and events, see Our School website page: 

https://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/WestSprings/about-us/calendar/Pages/default.aspx

First Days

The school office opens August 28, 2023 at 9 am.  By the afternoon of August 30, 2023, you will receive an introductory email from your child's teacher and information related to their meeting spot on the first day of school. Our first day of classes is Thursday, August 31, 2023.  If your child will be going home for lunch, please send a note for the teacher.

Kindergarten students will attend August 31, during their assigned staggered entry times. 

Kindergarten Staggered Entry Time, Thursday August 31, 2023:

AM Kindergarten:  last name A-L 9:08-10:38 am; last name M-Z 10:46-12:16 pm

Please enter through back compound doors and dismissed through front office doors

PM Kindergarten:  last name A-L 12:32-2:02 pm; last name M-Z 2:10-3:40 pm

Please enter through front office doors and dismissed through compound doors.

Kindergarten parents are welcome to come to class for the first 20 minutes or so with their child and then invited to join admin and School Council for Tea & Cheers in the staffroom while your child stays in the classroom with teachers until it’s time to go.

 

School Hours: 

Grade 1 - 4                                             Kindergarten

Monday - Thursday                               Monday - Thursday

9:08-3:40 pm                                           Morning Kindergarten: 9:08-12:16 pm

Lunch:                                                        Afternoon Kindergarten: 12:32-3:40 pm

Grade 3 and 4 11:50-12:32;

Grade 1 and 2 12:40-1:22 pm

Friday                                                                    

9:08-12:50pm                                              

School Supplies

Student supplies are included within school fees, therefore parents do not need to purchase any materials over the summer.  Students will need a backpack, lunch kit, and indoor shoes.

Lunch Supervision

For students in Grade 1-4, lunch supervision is available.  You can register and pay online for lunch supervision with MyCBE.

Assigned Teacher

By the afternoon of August 30, 2023, you will receive an introductory email from your child's teacher and information related to their meeting spot on the first day of school.

Do You Have a MyCBE Account? Have You Added Your Child(ren) To the Account?

Parents / Legal Guardians / Independent Students who have not already done so, must create a MyCBE account and add their child(ren) to the account to:

• access your child’s program information (e.g., course assessments, daily attendance record, report card)
• view your child’s learning using Brightspace by D2L
• pay fees and request waivers
• register for transportation and lunch supervision
• book parent-teacher conferences
• submit online school forms (required for 2023-24 school year)

You will need your email address on file at the school as well as your child’s CBE ID, which can be found on the:

• SchoolEngage student profile, for families that registered their child using SchoolEngage.  Note | For a visual guide on how to find the CBE ID within SchoolEngage, refer to SchoolEngage CBE Student ID
• CBE Report Card, beside the child's name
• CBE ID card

MyCBE Account

For parents / legal guardians / independent students without a MyCBE account

1. Sign in at www.cbe.ab.ca/mycbe
2. Create the account; refer to MyCBE - Creating an Account
3. Add child(ren); refer to MyCBE - Adding Additional Students

For parents / legal guardians / independent students with a MyCBE account

1. Sign in at www.cbe.ab.ca/mycbe
2. Add child(ren); refer to MyCBE - Adding Additional Students

Subscribe to School Messages

Most school messages are sent to parents through SchoolMessenger. It’s a mass communication tool that allows schools to easily and securely send email, phone and text messages to parents / guardians, independent students in a particular grade, class, school or area. Messages are sent to the parent contacts on file at your school.

To ensure you receive important information from your child’s school and the Calgary Board of Education, subscribe to school messages.

Fees and Waivers

School fees will be charged to families starting in October. Online fee payment is the simplest and most convenient way to pay school fees. Parents can use their online account to pay fees or apply for a waiver at: www.cbe.ab.ca/mycbe.

You can find more information on the CBE school fees and waivers page.

 

Yellow School Bus Transportation

Yellow school bus routes for the 2023-24 school year are created over the summer and based on the addresses submitted before the pre-registration deadline in June. Transportation continues to accept registrations after the deadline; however, students are added to the closest existing stop with available space. Processing times could be up to six weeks at the beginning of the school year due to volume.

More information about 2023-24 transportation service levels and proposed fees are posted on the CBE website.

Your bus stop location and time will be available in your MyCBE account by mid-August.

Conditional riders can also register using MyCBE. Applications will be considered after eligible riders registrations have been processed. Should routes change or if qualified students are added to a route and the bus becomes overcrowded, conditional riders may be removed to accommodate these changes.

Learn more about transportation on the CBE website.

We hope everyone enjoys the last couple weeks of summer.  We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Thursday, August 31.