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Dear DGS Families,

Anyone else doing a countdown? Just me? When you get this message, we will have just 8 days left with your sweet teenagers.

For this week and next, I will be sending my updates on Monday, so that you have the most up-to-date information for planning your last two weeks of June.

In advance of National Indigenous People’s Day on Wednesday June 21, we want to share our 2023-2024 renewal of our commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s 93 Calls to Action. Our work into the upcoming year will focus on our continued commitment to plan and access land based learning opportunities for our students.

Last week, we held our grade 9 Farewell, and we really enjoyed the opportunity to formally recognize the efforts and achievements of our Grade 9 students. A number of people have asked for the poem I shared at the Farewell- it’s called “After a While,” originally composed in Spanish by Jose Luis Borges. In 1971, a woman named Veronica Shoffstall translated it to English and added a stanza. It is a borrowed and altered text and it’s so important to honour original authors and give a voice to the creators of literature. I hope these words find a place in your day.

After a while you learn 
the subtle difference between 
holding a hand and chaining a soul 
and you learn 
that love doesn’t mean leaning 
and company doesn’t always mean security. 
And you begin to learn 
that kisses aren’t contracts 
and presents aren’t promises 
and you begin to accept your defeats 
with your head up and your eyes ahead 
with the grace of woman, not the grief of a child 
and you learn 
to build all your roads on today 
because tomorrow’s ground is 
too uncertain for plans 
and futures have a way of falling down 
in mid-flight. 
After a while you learn 
that even sunshine burns 
if you get too much 
so you plant your own garden 
and decorate your own soul 
instead of waiting for someone 
to bring you flowers. 
And you learn that you really can endure 
you really are strong 
you really do have worth 
and you learn 
and you learn 
with every goodbye, you learn… 

Upcoming Dates:        

June 20 

• Grades 6 & 9 PAT (ELA) 

• Annual General Meeting of the Dr. George Stanley School Council and the Dr. George Stanley Fundraising Society at 7:00pm
  

June 22 

• Grades 6 & 9 PAT (Math) 

• Senior Girls and Boys Basketball Team vs CPS Members Game

June 23 

• Grades 6 & 9 PAT (Math) 

June 26 

• Grades 6 & 9 PAT (Social Studies) 

June 27 

• Grades 6 & 9 PAT (Science) 

June 28 

• Grade 9 Farewell Fieldtrip to The Beach (details to follow separately) 

June 29 

• Year End Activity Day 

• Report Cards available for viewing/printing in Power School 

June 30 

• No School for Students 

• Appeals Day (8:30am-12:00pm) 

July 28

• Final day for viewing/printing Report Cards

August 28 

• Classroom assignments will be communicated to families via School Messenger 

As always, please feel free to contact me at csmalette@cbe.ab.ca OR 403 817 3556.     

Chantal Malette  

Principal, Dr. George Stanley School