Dear Mustang Families:
Given we did not have a weekly message last week, there are several announcements:
- Picture Retakes: Tuesday November 19
- School Council Special Guest: Grade 7 Restart Program (6:30 – 7:00 pm) Tuesday November 19
- Restart will also set up a table on the night of in person Student Teacher Parent Conferences (Thursday November 28)
- Our GSA, led by Mr. Corry, is moving to two meetings a week: Wednesday & Thursday at lunch
- Optional Yearbooks are now available: please use MyCBE to access optional fees.
- Thank you to the many family members who stepped up to support the Casino fundraiser hosted by our Parent Society on November 6 and 7. We are forever grateful for your donation of time given Casino funds is how schools purchase items for the whole student body. At Tuesday’s School Council meeting, allocations for last year's funds will be announced.
- Sign up for Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences are open. Please access your MyCBE account. For more information, please click the link: MyCBE Technical Support
The Calgary Board of Education invites all parents and guardians to join us in a pre-recorded and live online series focusing on child and youth well-being. These sessions will explore topics such as Peer Pressure, Healthy Relationships, Mental Health for Highly Sensitive Teens, and navigating Parent-Teen relationships. The first two sessions are this week (Well Being Series Link)
Wednesday November 20 | 1:00-3:00pm | CBE Well Being Series - Can we Talk: Healthy Relationships | Diana Wark (She/Her), Parent Program Coordinator for Centre for Sexuality - Pre-register here
Thursday November 21 | 12:00-1:30pm | CBE Well-Being Series - Building Resiliency in Today’s Youth | Andrea Halwas Larsen, PhD, CT, REACE - Pre-register here
Athletics Update: Mr. Jones
Basketball: Playoffs are upon us. Our teams will all be striving to advance their seasons forward by winning their quarterfinal matches this week. Good luck to all teams.
- Jr Girls- Monday at Twelve Mile Coulee
- Jr Boys- Tuesday at Tom Baines
- Sr Girls- Monday at Nose Creek
- Sr Boys- Tuesday at CN Goddard
Leadership Update: Ms. Hudson and Ms. Ralph
This Monday, November 18, we are set to kick off our annual SJAM food drive. This is an annual SJAM tradition that directly supports families from our school. Students are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to their SMATH teachers, starting November 18 to support our school community. Monetary donations can also be made using the link below. All donations over $20 will receive a tax receipt. Thank you so much for your generosity. SJAM Food Drive Link
Staff and students always enjoy our November spirit day – Students Dress Like Teachers and Teachers Dress Like Students, taking place this year on November 20! Should costumes be inspired by a specific person, we encourage students to double check with the individual they are dressing as in advance. Can’t wait to see the outfits!
Community Events
AARC: Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre offers a community of care, where young people, their parents, peer counsellors and specially trained staff work together. Above all, AARC is for families — families united against addiction. If you need support for a loved one, please reach out to AARC.
Planet Youth ‘Thorncliffe/Huntington Hills Youth Council”: The organizational meetings - November 28 and December 6 - thorncliffe.huntingtonhills@planetyouthcalgary.com - every SJAM student who wants to make a difference is encouraged to attend! Registration Link
Hindu Heritage Day Invitation: Nov 30,2024 – 12:00-4:00 pm – November is Hindu Heritage Month. As Canadians recognize the ways in which Hindu Canadians have contributed to our communities, our country & to the world civilization, they see the need to support Calgarians in becoming more aware of Hindu culture. The Calgary Public Library is hosting this celebration in the Grand Patricia Whelan Auditorium: 800 3 Street SE. Free.
School Calendar
November 18 - 22: Ms. Billeck and Ms. Balis will visit Grade 9 classrooms to discuss high school possibilities:
Monday November 18:
- Food Drive begins – donations and non-perishable food items are greatly appreciated. All donations are returned to SJAM families in need. Please contact Ms. Billeck (mibilleck@cbe.ab.ca) with questions.
- John Diefenbaker IB High School Open House: 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Tuesday November 19:
- Picture Retake day
- School Council Meeting #3: In person in the Learning Commons (6:30 – 8:00 pm) - 30-minute presentation by the McMann Society - Restart Program
November 20: Spirit Day – Students dress like teachers, teachers dress like students.
Wednesday November 20 | 1:00-3:00pm | CBE Well Being Series - Can we Talk: Healthy Relationships | Diana Wark (She/Her), Parent Program Coordinator for Centre for Sexuality - Pre-register here
Thursday November 21 | 12:00-1:30pm | CBE Well-Being Series - Building Resiliency in Today’s Youth | Andrea Halwas Larsen, PhD, CT, REACE - Pre-register here
November 21: Central Memorial Open House: Fine and Performing Arts (6:30 – 9:00 pm)
Tuesday November 26 (4:30 – 6:30 pm): Indigenous Students Post Secondary Recruitment Fair at Henry Wise Wood School (910 – 75 Avenue SW, Calgary) in the courtyard.
Thursday November 28 | 10:00am-11:30am | CBE Well-Being Series - Mental Health for Highly Sensitive Teens; Unique Struggles for those Emotional Feelers | Tracy Fields, MSW, RSW - Pre-register here
Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences:
Thursday November 28: In person Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences (4:00 – 8:30 pm)
Friday November 29: Virtual Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences (8:30 – 1:00 pm)
- You can ALWAYS reach out to SJAM staff – if you have concerns, please do reach out before the end of November
Saturday November 30: last day for optional yearbooks through MyCBE
Tuesday December 3: Band Field Trip to MRU – Ms. Armstrong will send details to families soon
Thursday December 5: Band Winter Concert in the evening
Wednesday December 11: Pep Rally
Thursday December 19: Locker Clean Out before the break
Friday December 20: Last day of classes before the Winter Break
January 6, 2025: First day of classes after Winter Break
January 16, 2025: Grade 9 SJAM students visit John Diefenbaker High School
January 23, 2025: Crescent Heights High School Open House, including Spanish Bilingual Program
Together We Make A Difference!