Hello, Rideau! 

Where has October gone? Of course, nearly a week of October remains...as tomorrow’s Elementary (Kindergarten to Grade 6) Parent Society Halloween Family Dance draws nearer and as an opportunity for costumes for interested Rams staff and students in the upcoming week, on Tuesday, October 31. As we continue share weekly messaging relating to both days (tonight and Tuesday during our school day), as safety reminders: no face coverings, no weapons, no weapon replicas, costumes allowing for safe/free movement, etc. 

October has been learning filled. ...Within our building. Within our school yard and surrounding community, as opportunities for outdoor learning arrive. ...at Camp Chestermere for our school’s musicians. ... across to Montréal and Québec City (for many of our French as a Second Language learners).  

As staff gathered for collaborative and intentional school development planning on October 20, it has been inspiring to learn about incredible, meaningful learning-tasks across subject-disciplines and grade-levels. November, too, is looking to be action packed as our upcoming edition of our weekly update approaches. Students are already delving into meaningful learning surrounding history and acts of Remembrance.

We continue to thank each of you for your proactive efforts, ensuring safety, especially with snowy/icy road conditions and limited visibility, within commutes to and from school (and beyond). Each of your efforts in continuing to give yourselves the time and space to ensure safety for our school’s young people and for one another. 

Mr. T. Robertson

On Behalf of Parent Society | Family Dance

Please join us for the Elementary (Kindergarten to Grade 6) Family Halloween Dance, Thursday October 26, 5:30 to 7:30 in the Gym.

All information in the attached poster and ways to get involved in the sign-up link below:

• https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4DA4A72AA4FF2-44501569-halloween

Photo Retakes – November 2

Photo retakes are scheduled for Thursday, November 2

Students absent for the September photo date will automatically be included on the photo retake list.  To request a photo retake, please email Ms Cochrane with Subject Line: Photo Retake. 

Upcoming | Remembrance Day Ceremony & Veterans’ Food Bank Drive

Help Rideau Park School combat hunger by sending non-perishable food items with your child as a donation to the Veterans Food Bank this November. Collections of non-perishable food items will begin on Wednesday November 1 and continue up until the day of our Remembrance Day Ceremony, Wednesday November 8.

Rideau Park School families are welcome to attend the Remembrance Ceremony on Wednesday November 8. Parent and guest seating will begin at 10am.

We thank you for your support. - Ms. K. Lewis

On Behalf of Parent Society | Fundraiser Thank You and Updates

Rideau Park School’s Parent Society wishes to thank everyone who could attend and/or contribute to last week’s Parent Social and Fundraiser on the evening of Wednesday, October 11.

Organizers have a thank you and update shared  (with a grades K-6 wish list and a grades 7-9 wish list referenced within here).

School Fundraiser | Poinsettias and Winter Greenery

We are once again teaming up with Growing Smiles for this fundraiser.  For this fundraiser, the following items can be ordered:

• Red and White Poinsettias (6.5", Premium Plants)
• Holiday Wreaths
• Indoor Tropical Planters
• Hanging Greenery Boughs
• Outdoor Greenery Arrangements

Orders will be accepted through to November 15. Orders can be picked up at the school on November 30, 1:00 - 5:00 pm Orders can be placed at this website:  rideauparkschool.growingsmilesfundraising.com 100% of the profits from this fundraiser will be used to fund student programs at Rideau Park School.  Thank you for your continued support of our school!

Math Contest | Beaver Computing Challenge, November 7

The Beaver Computing Challenge is a problem-solving contest with a focus on computational and logical thinking. Questions are inspired by topics in computer science but only require comfort with concepts found in mathematics curriculum common to all provinces.

When - Tuesday November 7 at 3:35 - 4:30pm. Where - Room 11 Who – Registered Grades 5 through 9 students, an email was sent to parents of registered students on Tuesday October 17th. Email Ms. Watson if you have any questions (kaawatson@cbe.ab.ca)

Parent Volunteer Opportunity | Fun Lunch Thursdays

Fun Lunch – we require some assistance with sorting the Fun Lunch orders from the Healthy Hunger vendors every second Thursday.  Time commitment would be 30 – 45 minutes starting at 11:05 AM.  We ask for assistance in sorting the individual orders and ensuring they get to the students. Please note that all lunches are marked with the child’s name and classroom, and all classes are grouped together when they are delivered to the school front doors by the restaurant at 11:20 AM on the date of the order.

If you can help with one or some of these Thursdays, please use this link, on behalf of Parent Society, for sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E49AFA72DA7F49-funlunch

Within the month of October, there are enough volunteers signed up to assist with Fun Lunch.  For the November 2 Fun Lunch and the December Fun Lunches, additional volunteers are required.

Thank you for your support.

Parent Volunteer Opportunity | Scholastic Book Fair Fundraiser

Mark your calendars! The Scholastic Book Fair Fundraiser is coming to Rideau Nov. 20 to Nov. 24!

You’ll find us in the Learning Commons:

Monday Nov. 20 to Wednesday Nov. 22, (9 am to 4 pm) Thursday Nov. 23 (9 am to 8 pm) Friday Nov. 24 (9 am to 3 pm)

We’ll be open over lunch too!

All purchases earn Scholastic Dollars that can be redeemed for books and educational resources for our school. The countdown is on! See you at the Fair! 

SignUpGenius for parent volunteers coming soon! 

Upcoming | Child and Youth Well-Being: A Webinar Series for Parents and Guardians 

The Calgary Board of Education invites all parents and guardians to join us in an online series focusing on child and youth well-being. These sessions will be hosted in partnership with experts from Alberta Health Services and will explore topics such as vaping, brain development, mental health, and sexual health.

Click here to learn more:

Child and Youth Well-Being:   A Webinar Series for Parents and Guardians

CBE educators believe that parents and guardians can inspire their kids to make healthy lifestyle choices and increase protective factors – in order to do so, they need the right tools and information.

Well-being is a precondition for learning. As our understanding of student well-being continues to evolve, it is important for those that support children and youth to stay up to date on the same information so everyone can support student success.

The intention of the series is to advance student well-being by raising family and caregiver’s understanding of a variety of health-related topics.

First session in this series is on November 16: Understanding Vaping

Thank you for your time and consideration to join us.

Save the Date | Information Evenings at Western Canada High School for Parents / Guardians

Western Canada High School is hosting two information evenings for current Grade 9 students and their families.

• Monday, November 27 – Information Evening for International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
  • For prospective IB students for the 2023 – 24 school year
  • More information is available at this LINK

For those students who will be attending the regular program at Western Canada:

• Tuesday, January 30 – Information Evening, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Safety Protocol | Guests to our School

Rideau Park School, like each Calgary Board of Education school, is closed campus.  All guests must sign-in immediately upon entry into the school building.

In the mornings, or throughout the day, students are dropped off outside of the main entrance.

Reminder | Attendance

Parents are requested to inform their child's Homeroom teacher as a primary contact about attendance decisions (i.e., reporting absences) in kindergarten and grades 1 to 5, and the Learning Leader as primary contact in grades 5-9.  Learning Leaders are teaching staff with administrative designations.

The more specific you are as parents/guardians with teachers/learning leaders, the more specific the attendance code applied will be.

Kindergarten to Grade 5:

Teachers' contact information is also available, here.

Please also include as a carbon copy (CC) within attendance e-mails learning leaders (listed below) for each grade-divisional-level division, too:

• Emily Dockrill (K- Grade 2)
• Katrina Watson (Grades 3-6)

Grades 6-9 (primary contacts, below):

• Katrina Watson (Grades 3-6)
• Shawnalee Redwood (Grade 7)
• Jackie Cochrane, Assistant Principal (Grade 8)
• David Yackulic (Grade 9)

Our student information system, MyCBE provides parents, guardians and students with access to detailed attendance information. For help creating an account or signing in, please visit Technical Support for Students & Parents.

Upcoming | Mark your Calendars the Scholastic Book Fair Fundraiser is coming to Rideau Nov 20-24

You’ll find us in the Learning Commons:

Monday Nov. 20 to Wednesday Nov. 22, (9 am to 4 pm) Thursday Nov. 23 (9 am to 8 pm) Friday Nov. 24 (9 am to 3 pm)

We’ll be open over lunch too!

All purchases earn Scholastic Dollars that can be redeemed for books and educational resources for our school. The countdown is on! See you at the Fair!

Reminder | Volunteer Clearance

Don’t miss out on an amazing field trip because you haven’t updated your Police Clearance.

Please make sure that your Volunteer Clearance is up to date: https://www.cbe.ab.ca/get-involved/volunteer/Pages/volunteer.aspx 

If you have any questions, you can contact the office at RideauPark@cbe.ab.ca

Reminder | Important Safety Notice for Parents/Guardians (pick-up and drop-off)

Please be advised that due to increasing safety concerns of neighborhood residents and our student community, policing of city bylaws relating to parking and traffic restrictions will be more strictly enforced in the coming months. Unfortunately, there is no car-accessible front door drop-off or parking availability directly at our school entrance.

Be aware that Rideau Road Back Alley access (off 30th Ave SW) is NOT permitted for student drop-off. Alley access is for residents and Rideau staff ONLY. Please respect our neighbours.

If you drive your children to school, we URGE you to consider the following:

• ’Kiss & Go’ Drop-off zone with ONE-WAY TRAFFIC FLOW. See Map: Rideau Road, left turn to 30th Ave
• Street parking is available on 30th Ave S.W. (south side only please)
• Minimize idle time. The small public parking lot on the south end of the soccer field is reserved for families with small children and students with injuries.
• Please walk whenever possible - the pedestrian bridge from Elbow Dr SW provides another foot access entry route
• Consider dropping off older children within reasonable and safe walking distance and remind them of street safety.

Thank you for your cooperation. See map on Parking & Drop-off.

Looking Ahead

Dates of Significance

Looking Ahead – Upcoming Calendar of Events  

Oct 26	Thurs	Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch – Edo Japan
Oct 26	Thurs	Family Halloween Dance – 5:30 – 7:30pm **costumes permitted within evening event; safety reminders: no face coverings, no weapons, no weapon replicas, allowing for safe/free movement, etc.
Oct 26	Thurs	Homework Hotel, Grade 7:  3:45 – 4:15 pm
Oct 31	Tue	Costumes permitted for K-9 students and staff within instructional day; safety reminders: no face coverings, no weapons, no weapon replicas, allowing for safe/free movement, etc.
Nov 1	Wed	Veterans’ Food Drive begins
Nov 2	Thurs	Photo Retakes
Nov 2	Thurs	Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch – Mucho Burrito
Nov 2	Thurs	Homework Hotel, Grade 7:  3:45 – 4:15 pm
Nov 7	Tue	Beaver Computing Challenge (Math Contest), 3:35 – 4:15, Rm 11
Nov 8	Wed	Remembrance Day Ceremony (Assembly) - AM Veterans’ Food Drive – last day
Nov 9	Thurs	Non-Instructional Day: System Professional Learning (no school for students)
Nov 9 - 14		Fall Break
Nov 15	Wed	Poinsettias & Winter Greenery Fundraiser Last Day Rideauparkschool.growingsmilesfundraising.com
Nov 16	Thurs	Homework Hotel, Grade 7:  3:45 – 4:15 pm
Nov 17	Fri	Parent Teacher Conferences (virtual) – Jr High only – 1:20-3:30pm
Nov 20-24		Scholastic Book Fair Fundraiser
Nov 23	Thurs	Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch – Spolumbo’s
Nov 23	Thurs	Parent Teacher Conferences (in person) – 4:20 – 8:00 pm
Nov 24	Fri	Parent Teacher Conferences – 9:00 am – 3:30 pm Non-instructional Day (no school for students)
Nov 30	Thurs	Homework Hotel, Grade 7:  3:45 – 4:15 pm
Nov 30	Thurs	Information Evening for International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Western Canada High School, 6:30 – 8:00 pm (LINK)
Nov 30	Thurs	Order Pick-up Day for Poinsettias & Winter Greenery Orders 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Dec 1	Fri	Grade 9:  Economics for Success – in-school program
Dec 4	Mon	Grade 9:  Military Museum
Dec 7	Thurs	Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch – Famoso
Dec 7	Thurs	Homework Hotel, Grade 7:  3:45 – 4:15 pm
Dec 7	Thurs	Winter Showcase (concert)
Dec 8	Fri	Non-Instructional Day (no school for students)