Good day Belvedere Parkway Families,
June has either been a long time coming for, or might seem sudden for some. We have all experienced many changes, both with positive and negative outcomes. However, through it all you have remained stoic, resilient and strong models for your children and the examples you set will clearly benefit them.
Over the coming weeks our Website will be updated with more current information. We will continue to be sharing information with you as it becomes necessary to share items of import to you. Please remain vigilant for incoming messages.
We have several updates and appreciations to share with you at this time. We have had a successful year working together with our School Council. A big thank you to Tess McCormick (Chair), Breanne Dollar (Vice chair) and all our School Council members for all their hard work in running our School Council and being so super -techy! We are excited to share that the BP Parent Fund-raising Association raised almost $2000 through the recent Big BelPark Raffle! Many thanks to Breanne Dollar and those involved in donating and securing prizes and in rolling out this effort!
This year we have so many people to thank for their continuous efforts in fund-raising through various initiatives such as; Fill Your Freezer, Growing Smiles, Mom's Pantry and Big Box O' cards. Our Administrative secretaries Rana Jones and Joleen Schneider have also gone above and beyond in supporting our students, staff and families and also raised dollars for the school through Purdy's Chocolates.
We have been incredibly fortunate in the unrelenting commitment of Teena Gilmore and her support families in the maintenance and development of our Learning Gardens and in supporting our Bee Hotels. We were the first School in Alberta to gain recognition as a Bee City School in 2020 and continue to maintain our status as a Bee City School!
In addition, our School Council and Parent Association have implemented and followed through with a variety of activities and fun for all our students throughout the year culminating in our virtual dance this Friday organized by Alison Martini and our Grade 6 Farewell assembly and celebration. Thank you Kris Youell and to all for your hard work and collaboration around that!
We continue to look forward to the installation of the Buddy Benches and Picnic Tables as a result of a kind and generous donation at the beginning of the School Year. This should be completed imminently as well as the installation of the Three Pointer Basketball Hoops purchased so our students and families will be able to enjoy these amenities over the summer months.
We are also grateful for the CBE addition of 13 brand new Chromebooks that were initially sent to us to loan out during online learning and that we are now allowed to keep and assimilate into our school technology portfolio.
In spite of all the negative impacts this year has brought, so many of you have been instrumental in bringing positive experiences to our staff, students and families this year and have lifted our spirits. Thank you to you all!
I would also like to take the opportunity to celebrate the amazing efforts of our staff here at BelPark. Teachers and all members of our staff have persevered with grace, positivity and good humor through all the changes as have our families. They have shown the commitment it has required to overcome the additional work and challenges in supporting our students, families and each other. We are truly blessed here to have such a solid foundation and positive environment for our children to be welcomed into each day.
As always, there comes sad times for goodbyes and this year is no different as we congratulate our Grade 6 students on moving forward to their next exciting adventure into Junior High, and also to some of our staff as they too move on to different positions. We will be saying a tearful goodbye to Lori Benninger, retiring after 32 years with the CBE and 22 years with Belvedere Parkway! Also, Karen Loor who has been with us for 8 years will be moving on. She has been a strong part of our school and we will miss her. Ramneet Kaur will also be moving on as her contract with us comes to an end. Ramneet has been a wonderful addition to the school over the last three years and a loyal and invaluable teacher here. We will also be losing Dayna Wang and Amanda Gordon. They have been a great fit for our school and we are so grateful for their hard work.
In September we will be welcoming some new faces, not just students, but also staff. Please join us in welcoming the following new teachers to our BelPark family!
Julie Williams – Kindergarten
Jenna Schmideder – Grade 1
Christine Hettiaratchi – Grade 2
Ashley Addison – Grade 2
Jennifer Cairney – Grade 5
They will be introducing themselves to their students as do all our teachers in August with a welcome email.
Our KG will have a staggered entry during the first week to support our brand-new students to school life. This means half of the class at a time are introduced to their classroom and peers for their first day at school. All other students will be attending school as normal.
Depending on Covid restrictions on re-entry to school we will be having our (almost) usual Open House on Monday August 30th 2021 between 10:00am – 11:00am.
This is an opportunity for you and your child(ren) to pop in and say hello to the teacher, to see their classroom and to feel comfortable in knowing which door will be your child(ren)'s designated entry /exit door so you know where to go on the morning of their first day. Please bring your questions with you:)
Have a wonderful summer!
Best wishes,
Jane Gibson
Principal
Chris Dewsbury
Assistant principal
