| Newsletter | October/November 2020
Principal’s Message
“Listen with your Heart”
Each year, at Taradale School, we start with a special picture book
that we bring to life, throughout the year, in our 30 classrooms.
This school year, 2020-2021, we started with the book,
LISTEN
By
Holly M. McGhee
“And when your heart hears your own story, it hears my story too.
Your story, my story, our story...,”
which is the message we are sharing with our
Kindergarten to Grade Four students
Our first two months have already been packed full of celebrations. Please ask your
children, each day, to share their celebrations with you.
I am honored to begin my fifteenth year as the Principal of our Taradale community, which
has created a respectful tone of valuing education and appreciating the opportunity to learn.
It is a privilege to be working with our Taradale families. I feel very fortunate.
As a school community, we look forward to continuing to frame our work this year with the
Calgary Board of Education Mission, Results and Values:
Mission - Each student, in keeping with his or her individual abilities and gifts,
will complete high school with a foundation of learning necessary to thrive in
life, work and continued learning.
Results - Academic Success Citizenship Personal Development Character
Values - Students come first. Learning is our central purpose. Public
education serves the common good.
We are very pleased to welcome all of our families to Taradale School.
The Calgary Board of Education sent a letter home to our parents on September 15, 2009
stating, “....due to continued enrollment growth at Taradale School, the school is at capacity
and will continue to be capped.”
The designated overflow bus receiver school for kindergarten to grade four students residing
inside Taradale School’s attendance area is Guy Weadick School, which is located the
community of Temple at 5612 Templehill Road NE. You can contact the school at (403)
777-6740.
At this time, most new kindergarten to grade four students moving into Taradale School’s
attendance area are designated to Guy Weadick School.
Every Friday early dismissal afternoon will begin with a staff meeting for all teachers and
support staff. This is an excellent opportunity for the whole staff to all meet together in
creating hopes and dreams for Taradale School. The rest of the afternoons are dedicated
to professional learning, system work and professional learning communities.
With this being the twelfth year for Taradale School to schedule Friday early dismissals, the
support of our Taradale Community is very much appreciated! The time to meet, work and
dream together with the whole staff is invaluable. Teachers also meet in Professional
Learning Communities, on Friday afternoons, to create student learning goals and to focus
on an area of inquiry related to the Literacy and Well-Being School Development Goals.
Thank you to Taradale Community for adjusting your schedules to accommodate Friday
early dismissals.
Most sincerely,
J. McLaren
Principal
September School Council Meeting
Our first 2 School Council Meetings were held on September 29 and October 27, 2020. It
was a pleasure to share our school’s accomplishments and programs with our new Council.
Items shared were as follows:
̄ Enrollment
̄ School Start – Wonderful
̄ Welcome Back Assembly
̄ Parent Teacher Conferences
̄ Staffing
̄ Professional Learning
̄ This year’s book LISTEN by Holly M. McGhee
̄ Annual General Meeting
̄ COVID – Safety Plan
̄ School Fees
̄ Parent Handbook
̄ Terry Fox Run
̄ Organization for Learning
̄ Student Learning Celebrations
We thank all of the parents who joined us for our first School Council meeting. We invite
and look forward to additional families joining us at Taradale School for our next meeting on
Tuesday, November 24th, at 6:15 pm, which includes our Annual General Meeting. All
of our Taradale parents are welcome to attend.
School Opening Package
Your child will be coming home with a school opening package. Once you have reviewed
the package, please return to the school.
This package contains the following:
| Please review and update information if
necessary
| Consent for CBE Use of Student
Information
| Review the form, fill out and sign
| Consent for Use of Student
Information by News Media and
Outside Groups (Third Party)
| Review the form, fill out and sign
| | Only fill out if your child has a medical condition
the school should be aware of
| | Review the form, complete and sign
| Visitors
All parents and visitors are required to use the front door of the school and check into the
office when entering the school. The office staff will assist all visitors with their requests.
The staff at Taradale appreciates everyone’s help and support in implementing the Safety
Guidelines when entering and exiting Taradale School. Thank you.
SCHOOL HOURS 2020-2021
Morning Start Time
Lunch Time
Afternoon Start Time
Dismissal Time
Morning Start Time
Dismissal Time
Grades 1 to 4
Monday through Thursday
8:15 am
11:50 am to 12:40 pm
12:40 pm
3:00 pm
Friday Early Dismissals
8:15 am
12:15 pm
Morning Start Time
Dismissal Time
Afternoon Start Time
Dismissal Time
Morning Start Time
Dismissal Time
Kindergarten
Monday through Thursday
8:15 am
11:10 am
12:05 pm
3:00 pm
Friday Early Dismissals
8:15 am
11:15 am
Lunchroom and Activity Fees
GRADE 1 TO 4 NOON SUPERVISION
| | Noon Supervision/per year (if required – must be registered)
| | Drop-In/per student per day
| | | | Medical Alert
Snacks and Lunches
We would like to thank all of our Taradale parents for providing their children with healthy,
nutritious snacks and lunches on a daily basis. Parents are reminded to discuss with their
children the importance of only eating their own snacks and lunches to prevent the sharing
of food. We have students in our schoolhouse who have severe allergies to peanuts,
cashews and other food sources which if eaten could create a medical difficulty.
Please minimize the amount of peanut products in your child’s snacks and lunches.
Working together to teach our students to eat only their own food and not sharing, as well
as to be aware and sensitive to each other’s allergies, is key in maintaining a safe
environment for all of our Taradale students.
Medical Conditions and Medication
A medical form was sent to parents asking to inform the school if their child has a medical
condition or problem. It is important that we be made aware of medical issues and the
procedures to follow in case of an emergency. This information should be updated at the
beginning of the school year and at any time throughout the year, should there be changes
to the condition or procedures. It is important to provide this information to the school office
and discuss it with the child’s teacher at conferences or simply by booking an appointment
with the teacher.
Some children take medication during the school day. To protect the safety of all of our
students and to ensure the security of the medications, all medications must be stored at
the school office with instructions for administration. An authorization form for the
administration of medication must be completed and signed by the principal before
medication will be administered at school. Please request a form from the Office.
Remembrance Day Ceremony
Taradale School shall not forget.....
Our Remembrance Day Ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10th, at 10:00 a.m.
This is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to remind ourselves of the
value of peace in our world. Peace is the result of many minds and hearts working together
to create a sense of harmony and to develop a way of living with common purpose and care
for each other.
At Taradale School, much of what we do as a school is in direct relationship to the four
components of The Circle of Courage. Our ceremony will encompass belonging,
independence, mastery and generosity. The Circle of Courage is directly related to the
dedication towards the men and women who worked for a peaceful Canada, and ultimately
a better future that we all enjoy.
This year, our ceremony will be a virtual gathering, streamed live to each classroom.
Students and teachers will enjoy quiet moments of reflection as our school community joins
together to remember the past, look toward the future, and live the present together in hopes
of peace in our world.
Taradale School October/November 2020
“Phone in for Safety” Program – 24 hrs
It is very important for parents and the school to know that each child has arrived at
school safely each day. Please call 777-6270, ext. 1 to leave a message, if your child is
going to be absent or late for school.
Please provide us with the following information:
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