Dear Mustang Families 

This past Friday, we enjoyed a visit from the CBE Chief Superintendent, Mrs. Joanne Pitman.  She was led through the school by Mattias (9-5) and Bernadette (77), as well as the admin team.  We are so very proud of teachers for creating learning tasks that are engaging, while students could explain the ‘why’ behind the learning.  Ms. Pitman is aware of the improvements staff are making in the learning environment for your children as well through our School Development Plan.  At our February School Council meeting, we will be sharing Assurance Survey (page 9) results in detail.  We will continue to focus on intentional practice, developing effective collaborative grade learning teams, and use evidence to support a responsive learning environment.  The input of every caregiver is essential given you know your child best – please continue to reach out to our staff.  We look forward to Mrs. Pitman’s next visit. 

Exciting update: Ms. Sterling has returned from medical leave. She is committed to offering extra help in Math on Thursday at lunch for all students in room 17.  This is in addition to Homework Hotel in the Learning Commons.  Please encourage your children to benefit from this free math tutoring support. 

We are fortunate to be a practicum learning site for Mount Royal College nursing students.  They will be returning on Monday for another month.  At times, they support classrooms as an extra Educational Assistant.  SJAM students benefit as a practicum location with reciprocal learning taking place.    

Congratulations to 9-4, 8-4 and 7-2 for leading contributions to the food drive.  On Tuesday at lunch, they will enjoy a pizza lunch coordinated by Ms. Billeck. 

The main portion of our PE team’s social dance unit is well underway.  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.  More and more students are attending our lunchtime dances that run on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the next two weeks. We hope to increase our number of participants daily as we head towards our social dance celebration on Friday January 24.  On this day we will be hosting our 20th annual Dance-a-thon from 3-9pm.  This event is an invite only dance for those students that support our lunch time dances. More information will be shared with students in the coming days.  Should 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  Please ask your child to teach you what they are learning.  This lifelong skill offers fun and fitness in a non-competitive environment, while supporting a required component of the Alberta PE curriculum (pg 4). 

Athletics and PE:  Mr. Jones 

Volleyball tryouts were well attended.  Huge thanks to all students that took a healthy risk and came out to give it their all.  Please see the tryout/practice schedule for the next couple of weeks of scheduling.  Items to note going forward: 

  • Morning practices will continue to run from 7am-8am. 
  • Afternoon practices will likely run from 3pm – 4:30pm.   
  • To know if your family’s personal schedule (i.e. your child’s other extracurricular activities) conflict with the upcoming season, here is the league schedule.   

Leadership:  Ms. Hudson and Ms. Ralph 

We are kicking off the new year with our first spirit day of 2025 – Jock or Rock?  Everyone is encouraged to wear either jerseys and sportswear or their favorite band t-shirt on Wednesday, January 15.  We can’t wait to see if we have more sports fanatics or rockers in the hallways of SJAM.  

January 22 is Bell’s Let’s Talk about mental health.  Leadership classes are talking about ways to support positive mental health and the importance of taking care of all aspects of our well-being.  Check out this website to learn more:  https://letstalk.bell.ca/     

Community News 

Wednesday January 15 (6 – 8 pm): Senior’s Financial Literacy and Wellness Workshop presented by Carya.  City of Calgary Thornhill Office.  (6617 Center Street NW – enter through Thornhill Family Dayhome). Registration required:  chaniece.favell@calgary.ca. 

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:  chaniece.favell@calgary.ca. 

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)! 
  • NEW:  targeted MATH support with Ms. Sterling at lunch on 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 14:  9-4, 8-4 and 7-2 enjoy a pizza lunch for outstanding contributions to the Food Drive. 

Wednesday January 15:   

  • Rock or Jock T-shirt spirit day – wear your favorite band t-shirt or sports jersey 
  • IB Presentation in the Learning Commons at lunch.  Tailored for Grade 9 students but interested Grade 7 and 8 students are welcome to attend. 

Thursday January 16: 

Tuesday January 21:  In person SJAM School Council Meeting (6:30 - 8:00 pm):  agenda will be sent the day of the meeting 

Wednesday January 22:  Let's Talk About Mental Health 

Thursday January 23:   

Friday January 24:  Dance-A-Thon at SJAM – more details to follow... 

Monday January 27:   North Trail High School Open House - closed school - Overflow and Lottery Information for North Trail High School - North Trail High School 

Wednesday January 29:

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

Monday January 27:  Last day of Semester 1

Tuesday January 28:  First day of Semester 2

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. 

March 15:   IB Expression of Interest Due for Grade 9s going into Grade 10 

Together we make a difference!