Dear Mustang Families 

Our Band trip participants arrived safely back to the school on Friday afternoon.  Gratitude is extended to Ms. Armstrong, Mr. Hoblak, Ms. Isackson, Mr. Le and our many parent volunteers:  Tracy Mackie, Tammi Ronald, Ami Wieler, M’Cherie Purnell, Samantha Neshine, Ayla Yang and Tadd McGuffin.   The memories created for 114 Mustang musicians are lifelong, while the expertise of our performers continues to grow.

One parent volunteer shared with Ms. Armstrong:  I was so happy to see them, for THREE DAYS not on phones or electronics, just being kids!!! Your band sounds great!!! What a difference from Christmas.  Thank you for all your hard work and for all you do for each of them.  You truly care about every one of them and it shows!!  Our parent volunteers are vital to the band trip’s success, while saving our family’s financial resources through reduced substitute teacher costs.

We would also like to thank Athena W. (9-6) for offering Math Jeopardy games during lunch last week. Your child can request math tutoring support from Athena and her team at lunch in the Learning Commons by accessing the Microsoft Form found in the SJAM Connections D2L shell.  If your child cannot find the form, they can seek support from their SMATH teacher or come to the Main Office. 

Athletics:  Mr. Jones 

Badminton teams continue to practice as previously scheduled.  Please note that the gym is open at lunch for badminton on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for the grade 7s, 8s and 9s respectively.  This open gym is available for any student that wishes to attend and NOT just members of the badminton team. 

The planning of our track and field tryout schedule is underway.  It will be released when completed.   

We kindly request that all volleyball athletes that have not handed in their jerseys to please do so ASAP.   

Leadership:  Ms. Hudson and Ms. Ralph  

Our last full school dance of the year, with a ‘Stampede’ theme, is on Thursday May 8 from 5:00 – 7:30.  Tickets will be on sale May 5-7 at lunch and after school for $4.  Yahoo! 

We are starting to collect donations for the Prep Society in the foyer this week! If we can raise $300 as a school, 12 teachers will have a bucket of ice water dumped on them at the Pep Rally on May 14! If every student donated $1, we would easily reach our goal! Video explaining the Prep Society: https://prepsociety.ca/about-2/. 

Community News 

Kindred's Rapid Access Counselling Program:  Kindred was originally founded in 1957 on the belief that all Calgarians, regardless of where they come from, where they pray, who they love or how much money they have, deserve access to high quality, affordable counselling. 

Sunday May 4 (10 am – 3:00 pm): Huntington Hills Repair Exchange Event.  Thornhill Aquatic and Rec Center (6715 Center Street NW).  Bring your broken or damaged household items and volunteer fixers will do their best to repair for free!  Volunteer to be a fixer too.  If interested in volunteering, please email chaniece.favell@calgary.ca or christina.buchan@calgary.ca  

Friday May 16 (5:30 – 7:00 pm): CPAWS Nature Walk.  Beginning and ending in the Winter Club Parking lot.  Join CPAWS to get to know the beautiful, biodiverse, and already blooming wildflowers of your Calgary backyard!  The 1.2 km uneven loose-rock trail is a steep climb requiring a moderate level of fitness and sturdy, closed-toe footwear.  Strollers are not recommended, and pets are best left at home.  To register, please contact Chaniece.Favell@calgary.ca.    

School Calendar   

Ongoing:   

  • Homework Hotel – Monday to Thursday (your child can stay indoors at lunchtime)!   
  • Targeted MATH support with Ms. Sterling at lunch:  Thursdays   
  • Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth (new Canadians) free afterschool program on Monday at SJAM.  Contact:  Sevim Kocak - SKocak@cbfy.ca 
  • YMCA Prairie Chickens for Indigenous students:  October 8 to June 6:  every Tuesday and Thursday afterschool at SJAM – contact is Jimmy (YMCA) and Ms. Bethany. Free.   
  • City of Calgary – Calgary Afterschool at Thornhill Aquatic and Rec Center: Contact is Kirsten Pilger: kpilger@calgary.ca; Tuesday and Thursday afterschool (5:00 – 6:00 pm); September 17 – June 12.  Free.    
  • Chinese Academy:  every Saturday at SJAM     

Monday April 28:  Canada’s Federal Election – SJAM is NOT a polling station 

Thursday May 1 (6:00 pm - 7:30 pm):  Parent Meeting in the Main Gym – Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa Trip 

Monday May 5 – Wednesday May 7: Dance tickets on sale.  Note: we do not sell tickets on the day of the dance because attendance is tracked.  Students are expected to attend all classes in a timely manner, to be eligible to attend dances.  Excused absences (medical or dentist appointments) are permitted on May 8 – parents are asked to make sure they call the school to excuse their children. 

Wednesday May 7:   

  • Hats on For Mental Health 
  • Band Performances at Elementary Schools (full day field trip) 
  • Grade 8 Outdoor Ed Field Trip (no band students in this Outdoor Ed class) 

Thursday May 8 (5:00 – 7:30 pm):  Stampede Dance  

Monday May 12:  

  • Track and Field Starts 
  • Grade 7 Badminton Tournament 

Tuesday May 13 – Grade 9 Badminton Tournament 

Wednesday May 14th: Pep Rally – Ice bucket challenge! 

Thursday May 15th  

  • Grade 8 Badminton Tournament 
  • Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa Trip departs YYC 

Together we make a difference!