Dear Mustang Families 

As we prepare for the release of Semester One report cards on Monday January 30, please ensure your MyCBE account is active.  If you are having difficulties accessing your account, please contact Ms. Ms. Shaima Ibrahaim (shibrahim@cbe.ab.ca). 

Mr. Jensen sent out a message last week for families to receive support from Nations Vision if you want your child to obtain a free-of-charge comprehensive eye exam in our school.  Here is a digital link to the form (Nations Vision Parental Consent for an Eye Exam).  Please have your child submit to their SMATH teacher this week by Thursday January 23rd. 

On Wednesday and Thursday, several Grade 8 and 9 construction students created beautiful indigenous art carvings.  The work was led by Rick Wolcott while being supported by our teacher, Mr. Parsons.  Rick Wolcott is a Salish carver who has been practicing since he was five years of age. After carving a man in a canoe with a found pocketknife, his grandfather taught him traditional tool making and how to represent Coast Salish stories in wood form. Rick has been passing on his love and knowledge of the craft since 1980.  We will be sharing the students’ work in our Learning Commons display case.  We feel so fortunate to have Mr. Wolcott deepen our understanding of indigenous ways of knowing. 

Families are welcome to join us on Tuesday for our School Council meeting in the Learning Commons.  Doors will open at 6:15 pm for a 6:30 pm start.  Ms. Billeck, Student Services Lead, will be reviewing the transfer process for our Grade 9 students.  All SJAM families are welcome to join us.  The full agenda will be sent out on Tuesday morning. 

Athletics and PE:  Mr. Jones 

We are entering the final week of our dance program.  For most classes in dance, students will be practicing Tuesday and Wednesday and performing on Thursday.  It is exciting to see the growing enthusiasm the students are expressing for social dance – we wish caregivers could come in to see the contagious excitement.  It was nice to hear from one parent this week stating how they love their children are teaching them social dance moves in Jive, 2-Step etc. Feel free to ask your child what they have been learning.   This week is the last week of lunch time dances as we head towards our 20th annual social dance celebration on Friday January 24.  Information packages were given out this past Thursday to those in attendance at lunch time.  Should your child express interest in attending and if you have your volunteer paperwork and police check clearance completed, we will be requiring some parent volunteers for our dance-a-thon.  If interested feel free to contact Mr. Jones at sdjones@cbe.ab.ca    Dance is a lifelong skill that offers fun and fitness in a non-competitive environment, while supporting a required component of the Alberta PE curriculum (pg 4).  

Volleyball teams have been selected.  Congratulations to all athletes that were fortunate enough to make their respective teams.  Please see the tryout/practice schedule for this week's volleyball plans.  Here is the league schedule.    

We encourage all athletes that did not make this year’s teams to investigate community opportunities that are available for volleyball.   

Community News  

Tuesday January 21 (5:30 – 8:30 pm): Basic Food Safety Course (Free – suitable for Ages 13 and up).  Georgina Thomson Building (772 Northmount Drive NW).  Registration required.  

Friday January 31, 2025 (3:00 – 4:00 pm): Thorncliffe/Huntington Hills Youth Council: open to all 12–18-year-olds.  Snacks provided.  Judith Umbach Library: 6617 Centre Street North.  

School Calendar  

Ongoing:    

  • Homework Hotel – Monday to Thursday (your child can stay indoors at lunchtime)!  
  • Targeted MATH support with Ms. Sterling at lunch:  Thursdays  
  • 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  
  • Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth (new Canadians) free afterschool program on Monday at SJAM.  Contact:  Sevim Kocak - SKocak@cbfy.ca   

Tuesday January 21:  In person SJAM School Council Meeting (6:30 - 8:00 pm):  agenda will be sent the day of the meeting – Ms Billeck will review high school transfers 

Wednesday January 22:  Let's Talk About Mental Health 

Thursday January 23:    

Friday January 24:  Dance-A-Thon at SJAM – please see ‘athletic news’ above or reach out to your child’s PE teacher. 

Monday January 27:    

Tuesday January 28: First day of semester two. 

Wednesday January 29: 

Thursday January 30:  Bowness Open House - High Performance Athlete Development Pathway (HPAD) is a reason for transfer.  

Friday January 31:  Non-Instruction Day - no school for students

Saturday February 1 – March 15:  High School transfers can begin – link will be updated when the CBE has updated the information for 2025-26.  2024-25 link.  

February 3 – 6:  Nations Vision Clinic at SJAM 

February 4 – 6:  CBE Student Survey 

Wednesday February 12:  Self Care / Love SJAM Leadership Initiative 

Thursday February 12 – Friday February 13:  Teachers Convention – no school for students 

Monday February 17:  Family Day in Alberta – no school for students 

Friday March 15:    

Together we make a difference!