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Weekly Message - March 13
 
Important Dates to Remember: 
Spring Forward - we moved forward by one hour. Don't be late for school tomorrow!
March 25 – April 2   Spring Break – School is Closed 
Grade 4 families – your assurance survey closes this Friday. Please fill out your Assurance Survey from the Alberta Government.  
 
School Spirit Day (Presented by the Grade 5 Leadership Students) 
March 17 – St. Patrick's day. Wear green, wear what makes you feel lucky.  
March 24 – Twin and triplet day. Dress the same as a friend or a group of friends, wear your hair the same as a friend or group of friends, wear your uniform – just like all of your school friends! 
 
 
Dear families, 
Thursday was a beautiful example of our amazing school culture at Chris Akkerman School. We have gone for so many years without welcoming families into schools that these opportunities continue to fill my heart and overwhelm my sense of joy and pride for our families, our students and our education team. Thank you for participating in your child’s student-led conference! It is beautiful to see our students take pride and leardership in their learning as they show their parents what they have been learning and why this learning is important. When a student is able to share what they are working on, what they have done well and what their next right step in learning is, we know we have all succeeded in touching the heart and mind of a young learner. Thank you for taking the time to listen to your child and allow them to direct you through their learning experiences. Thank you for your generous praise and wise interactions with your learner. Thank you for providing your child with feedback and for making this process a great learning opportunity for our students. Parents, you truly are our partners in educating our students. When you participate and take up the work, as you did on Thursday, everyone in our community benefits. Thank you for all you have done to make Student Led Conferences so successful! 
Dr. Bettesworth 
 
Education Matters 
If you wish to make a donation directly to Chris AKkerman School you may do so. THis is the link to make cash donations to the school. These donations are always greatfully accepted and will go directly to the school and benefit all students. Thank you for your kind generosity. 
Education Matters Donation 
Or copy and past this into your browser: https://www.educationmatters.ca/campaign/donate-to-a-specific-cbe-school/ 
 
Parent Alert 
We sadly need to update and request assistance in many areas that are not a typical part of my weekly message. I apologize in advance as this next section does not apply to all of our community. Please read and assist us in making our community a better place for everyone. Our goal, always: a safe, caring, welocming and respectful place for all! 
Traffic – the traffic outside of the school can be very dangerous at times. I worry that a child is going to be hit by a car every day. I worry that my team of educators will be hit by a parent in a hurry or not following traffic rules and city by laws.  
Please think of the safety of our students and the safety of our educational team at CAS. When you are driving around the school, kindly drive slowly. Please leave extra time to get to where you need to be. Please follow traffic law and city by-laws. Please be kind, respectful and safe.  
I never want to write a note about injuries, but I fear, this is coming soon given the way parent drivers are around the school. Please, kindly drive safe and slow. 
Bathroom Behaviours – we are certain the behaviours in our bathrooms are not at all like what is expected or tolerated in the bathrooms in your homes. We do need your help to assist us in teaching our students respectful bathroom behaviours. Lately, the troubles have been more focused on the boys bathroom, however, from time to time, all of our students need reminders. We are kind, respectful, and caring in our bathrooms. This means we don’t stand on toilet seats, look over or under stalls, enter a stall that already has one person in it. Paper is used to dry our hands and then it is put in the recycle bin. Paper is never thrown on the ceiling or walls. Toilet paper is used on our bottoms and then put directly into the toilet where it is then flushed. Personal items are never attempted to be flushed down the toilet nor are personal items put into the toilet as a prank. We never bang of stall doors, nor do we tease those who are in a stall looking after their business. We are hopeful our parents, as our partners in educating our students, are able to speak to their children about healthy and safe bathroom behaviorus so we can all use the facilities peacefully and safely. 
Virtues – the virtue of honesty is one I need to discuss with all families after our bookfair week. While our bookfair was a great success and it put books into the hands of many of our children. The bookfair also succeeded in allowing some students an opportunity to put tiny treasures in to pockets and bring them home. It also provided an opportunity for students to seek out the treasures of others and claim them as their own. If you child happens to have a new eraser, or a pen or bookmark or a tiny treasure that you didn’t purchase for them, it is quite likely it came from the bookfair or from a classmate who spent their own money on the treasure. If you find thing that do not belong to your child, kindly send them back to school and the teacher will sort out next steps. This should be looked at as a learning opportunity for all.  
We have learned and have decided that our future book fairs will not include the tiny treasures such as erasers, book marks, pencils and tiny trinkets. This is simply too enticing for young children. The loss this year at our spring book fair was simply too much and the temptation for our young learners too much.  
Toys and treasures at school – please do not allow your child to bring toys and cards etc to school. This includes Pokemon cards, cars, sports cards, and toys. If students insist on bringing toys to school, the teacher we confiscate them and they will need to be picked up by a parent. It is distracting to have at school and from time to time these treasures get lost. Please don’t send these items to school. When a teacher makes a specific request for items to be brought to school for an educational purpose, then this is managed by the teacher. Otherwise, kindly leave your toys at home.  
 
Chris Akkerman School Engagement Opportunity 
Many, many families participated in this great opportunity for feedback at our Student Led Conference - thank you! If you haven’t yet shared your feedback, please provide us with feedback on the Chris Akkerman Budget, Fees, and School Council.  There are about 8 questions on this survey. It shouldn't take longer than about 5 minutes to complete.  We are eager to hear what fieldtrip and residency opportunities families would like their child to participate in. We are also eager to hear what fees for fiend trips and activities should be set for next year.  We look forward to your feedback. 
The survey is currently open, it will close on March 15. 
***This is available in many languages. Please select the language that works for you in the top corner. Please forgive any language errors as the translation piece is not perfect.  
Engagement Survey 
 
Alberta Education Assurance Survey  
Grade 4 families, each year Alberta Education conducts a survey and seeks your feedback. The Alberta Education Assurance Survey is now open. It will close later in March. Alberta Education uses the Assurance Survey as a way for school authorities to measure their success and assess their progress towards meeting their learning goals. Parents / Legal Guardians of children in grade 4 will receive their survey in the mail.   You are encouraged to complete the survey online. Students and all teachers will complete their surveys online at school. Your voice matters. Your participation in the survey helps provide important information on the quality of education your child is receiving. Alberta Education and Calgary Board of Education thank you for returning the parent Assurance Survey promptly. If you have questions or need a link to fill in the survey, please contact Ms Bauman at djbauman@cbe.ab.ca 
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