Dear Mustang Families:
Due to our Fall Break, the next weekly will be on Sunday November 17. The CBE Fall Break will take place from Friday November 8 until Wednesday November 13. Classes will resume on Thursday November 14.
Our Grade 9 Open Minds field trips have come to a close. Deep gratitude is extended to the many parent volunteers who offered their support to ensure these five-day off-site learning opportunities took place. Our staff also invested a great deal of energy and three days of professional learning in their personal time over the summer to participate. Facilitators shared they were impressed with the high level of engagement by our Grade 9 learners. If you would like to provide feedback, please email Ms. Else (njelse@cbe.ab.ca) and Mr. Hoblak (mchoblak@cbe.ab.ca).
Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences
The opportunity to sign up for Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences will begin at 8:00 am on Thursday, November 14. Please ensure you can access your child’s account by this Thursday given staff will be on fall break until the 14: CBE School Conferences.
- Thursday, November 28 | 4 – 8:30 pm: in-person conference
- Friday, November 29 | 8:30 am to 1:00 pm: virtual conference
Mr. Rachid (morachid@cbe.ab.ca) will send out a reminder through School Messenger.
Digital Citizenship Plan
Mr. Rachid and Mr. Le also led the creation of the 2024-25 SJAM Digital Citizenship Plan. Digital citizenship, as it relates to the context of a school, can be defined as the responsible use of technology and digital devices to improve learning, share information, and connect with others. This Digital Citizenship Plan has been devised through collaborative consultation with the administration, teachers and students of Sir John A. Macdonald School. The number one priority is the promotion of a safe, welcoming, caring and respectful school learning community; “Together We Make a Difference”. We value and appreciate the leadership you enact in your home given digital citizenship is a societal expectation that extends beyond your child’s time in school.
Child and Youth Well-Being Series
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 be hosted in partnership with experts from Alberta Health Services and Recovery Alberta and will explore topics such as Peer Pressure, Healthy Relationships, Mental Health for Highly Sensitive Teens, and navigating Parent-Teen relationships. Full details in this link.
Virtual and Live Sessions: Register Here
November 20 | 1:00-3:00pm | Can we Talk: Healthy Relationships | Diana Wark (She/Her), Parent Program Coordinator for Centre for Sexuality
November 21 | 12:00-1:30pm | Building Resiliency in Today’s Youth | Andrea Halwas Larsen, PhD, CT, REACE
November 28 | 10:00am-11:30am | Mental Health for Highly Sensitive Teens; Unique Struggles for those Emotional Feelers | Tracy Fields, MSW, RSW
Pre-Recorded Sessions: Links Here
1| Adolescent Brain Development and Navigating Parent-Teen Relationships
2| Screen Time: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
3| Understanding Autism & ADHD to Promote Long-Term Success
Mental Health Literacy Series, also Pre-Recorded: Links Here
1| Focused and Engaged: Finding Balance through Self-Regulation
2| Sleeping Your Way to Better Mental Health
3| Behavioural Challenges of School Aged Children
Athletics Update: Mr. Jones
Basketball: Our student-athletes will be competing in the following competitions:
- Jr Girls host Monday Nov 4 with games at 4:30pm and 7:30pm.
- Jr Boys play Tuesday at FEO with games at 5:30pm and 6:30pm.
- Sr Girls are at WD Pratt with games at 6:00pm and 7:00pm.
- Sr Boys have a bye week and will not be playing games.
Fans are welcome at SJAM if they attend all of their classes for the day (excused absences are permitted). Last week, a visiting Principal shared with Ms. Hornby that Mustangs fans are amongst the most positive and enthusiastic in the league! If SJAM fans want to go to other schools, they must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
Community Events
Hate and Discrimination Workshop: Tuesday November 5 (6:00 – 8:00 pm). Hosted by the City of Calgary. Presented by Derrick Campbell with the Alberta Hate Crime Coordination Unit. Thorncliffe Community Association (5600 Center Street North). Registration required: christina.buchan@calgary.ca
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: November 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 6 and 7: Our SJAM Parent Fundraising Society needs your help with our upcoming Casino Fundraiser: SJAM Parent Sign Up link. THANK YOU to the many family members that have donated their time.
Wednesday November 6: optional event for Grade 9 students – Take Your Kid to Work Day
Thursday November 7:
- Remembrance Day Assembly at the school
- Last day of classes before the Fall Break
- 'Gear Up' event for 12-24 year olds who are couch surfing and/or in a very uncertain housing situation
Friday November 8: Indigenous Ways of Knowing Professional Learning Day: no school for students
November 11 – 13: CBE Fall Break – no school for students or staff
Thursday November 14: Classes resume
Tuesday November 19:
- Picture Retake day
- School Council Meeting #3: In person in the Learning Commons (6:30 – 8:00 pm)
CBE Well-Being Series: November 20 | 1:00-3:00pm | Can we Talk: Healthy Relationships | Diana Wark (She/Her), Parent Program Coordinator for Centre for Sexuality - Pre-register here
CBE Well-Being Series: November 21 | 12:00-1:30pm | Building Resiliency in Today’s Youth | Andrea Halwas Larsen, PhD, CT, REACE - Pre-register here
CBE Well-Being Series: November 28th | 10:00am-11:30am | 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
Tuesday December 3: Band Field Trip – Ms. Armstrong will send details soon
Thursday December 5: Band Winter Concert in the evening
Together We Make A Difference!