Happy New Year, Chaparral Families and Friends! You are wished many
blessings in the year ahead.
As a school community, we are celebrating a very productive fall session. I
am very proud of the growth and success noted in both our students and
staff. Chaparral School is indeed a place of learning for all!
On January 21, students will receive their first of two official report cards. This
report card is considered a formal communication and documentation of a
student’s summative achievement at this point in the school year. It provides
teachers the opportunity to communicate to parents and students the most
significant aspects of student achievement. Report cards are based on
outcomes that describe what students are expected to know and be able
to do according to the Alberta Programs of Studies. In the Calgary Board of
Education, summative assessment indicators are also provided for
Citizenship, Character and Personal Development (Results 3, 4 and 5). While
the assessment of the results is separate from Academic Success, the way in
which they are demonstrated and lived is always through the learning
experience.
In the upcoming report cards, teachers will provide narrative comments to
augment summative indicators. The purpose of the comment is to
communicate additional information related to achievement, supports, and
next steps. Families will note specific attention to feedback provided in the
areas of literacy and mathematics. This focus is reflective of student
achievement goals identified in our School Development Plan for 2018-19.
At Chaparral School we also are very intent on nurturing virtues and traits
associated with Results 3, 4 and 5. This year, we adopted the Circle of
Courage as a model through which we can understand and practice
generosity, independence, mastery and belonging. It has been incredibly
exciting to note students, staff and families express these ideals, reaching out
to the broader community through donations to organizations like the Poppy
Fund, the Calgary Food Bank and Inn from the Cold. For more on these
initiatives please see, Generosity (pg. 3 & 4) and News from Grade 5 (pg. 14).
As a place of learning for all, we are also very proud to be mentoring five
pre-service teachers. These students come to us from St. Mary’s University,
the Werklund School of Education (University of Calgary), and Ambrose
University. We are pleased to welcome the following student teachers:
- Jessica Belanger – working with Andrea Buist Grade 2
- Tammy McLaren – working with Kelly LeBlanc Grade 1
- Ashley Bigelow – working with Lori Wilson Grade 1
- Cassidy Mueller – working with Katie Keil Grade 2
- Jeffrey Bennett – working with Tracy Behl Grade 4
With the start of the New Year, our school community is also very pleased to announce some
changes in staffing:
Newly appointed:
- Tammy Furgason – Lunch Supervisor
- Greg Morrell – Facility Operator
Change of assignment:
- Corinne Yee – Lead Lunch Supervisor
Each season at school brings unique highlights. At Chaparral, the period between Winter and Spring
Break is a time when students make great gains in learning, often grasping concepts and skills that
might have perplexed them just weeks before. The winter months are also a time when we intensify
our focus on community building through various special events, celebrations and initiatives.
Once again, this year, teachers will be offering a variety of lunch clubs. The purpose of clubs is to
provide students with an opportunity to work with different adults, meet new friends, and spend time
in activities that they find enjoyable. More information regarding lunch clubs will be shared at the
end of January. Clubs will run through February and into April.
On Monday February, 25, we will host the Quest Theatre group for We Are All Treaty People. Our
school community is extremely grateful to the Chaparral Parent Association for funding this immersive
and interactive experience that will inspire us to consider an enlightened and sustainable future for
everyone – together. Following this, we will recognize Pink Shirt Day, through focusing on kindness as
a way of mitigating cyberbullying. As stated on pinkshirtday.ca “Kindness requires no manipulation,
no focusing on the negatives, and no filtering of yourself. It’s simply, truly nice. For social media users,
we want them to THINK before the post. We want them to ask themselves if it is: True, Helpful,
Inspiring, Necessary and KIND.”
As always, we strive to involve parents in all aspects of our school. We welcome your involvement in
our learning and special events. Please connect with teachers, administrators, and our main office
at any time.
Yours most sincerely,
Chris Buhler, Principal
Please see:
