| Dear DGS Families, I don’t want to tempt fate, but I THINK we might be experiencing something like Spring. As we finish out the week and head into Spring Break, I’m hoping that you all get a chance to hug your adolescents close to you and explore the world around you. This week, while I was spending some time with Grade 6, I came across a quote from Sarah Thompson’s book Imagine a Day- “Imagine a Day… when the peace of a forest and the strength of a mountain become a cathedral for your heart.” I’m hoping for many of those days as the seasons change. Today we were made aware that the SchoolMessenger program experienced a technical error, sporadically it was not contacting all listed Guardians. The error has now been resolved and we do not anticipate any further complications.
Emergency Preparedness Drills This afternoon, we completed our fourth Fire Drill for the year. We want to thank our students for being calm, organized and safe during the experience.
The Summit: Marian & Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience A week ago, Monday, Alberta Health Services opened a new Centre specifically to better meet youth mental health needs. The Centre offers therapeutic support through a day hospital and community-based treatment. It also provides walk-in services for anyone under 18 years of age and their family who would like to speak with a counsellor. Walk-in services do not require a referral and are open from 10am-10pm 7 days a week. More information about The Summit is located at: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/summit/summit.aspx
Traffic and our Bus Zone We greatly appreciate how greatly improved driver behavior has been around our bus zone. We are working with Calgary Police Service and the City of Calgary to have both 4-Way stops by our school designated as “No-U-turn” intersections and to help drivers who consistently park within 5 metres of the stop signs choose somewhere else to wait for their child. We ask that parents be respectful of school staff who may ask them to move their vehicle- it’s no one’s favourite job!
Backpacks and Lunch Kit Fun Students have all cleaned out their lockers this week- don’t forget to give backpacks and lunch kits a once-over when everything come home Thursday night- check backpacks for missing treasures and clean out lunch kits to avoid the April 2 game of “name that disgusting biohazard.”
Understanding Anxiety The Calgary Board of Education is inviting all community members to join us for an inspiring evening of learning with experts in understanding anxiety. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns affecting children and families across the lifespan. Parents and schools play an essential role in helping children manage their anxiety. This session will explore what anxiety and stress are, how to recognize it, and how to support resilience. On April 4, the CBE’s Well-Being team will host a free online session where parents will be able to join and learn from top experts in the field of health promotion, ask questions and receive follow-up materials. You are invited to join us at the virtual session from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 pm on Tuesday April 4th. Click HERE on Tuesday April 4th at 6:30pm to join the session Understanding Anxiety Child and Youth Well-Being Series for Families and Caregivers
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
6:30 to 8:00 p.m. CBE educators believe that parents and caregivers can inspire their kids to make healthy lifestyle choices and increase protective factors — in order to do so, they need the right tools and information. Since our understanding of student health and well-being is evolving, it is important for parents to stay up-to-date on the same information so everyone is supporting student success.
This is the fourth session offered in a five-part Child and Youth Well-Being for Families and Caregivers learning series that is offered at no-cost to all Calgary Board of Education employees, families, and community members between December 2022 and May 2023. The intention of the series is to advance student well-being by raising family and caregiver’s understanding of a variety of health-related topics. Each session focuses on reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors.
Basketball Season has Arrived… The 2023 Try-Out and Practice Schedule is located here: https://school.cbe.ab.ca/School/Repository/SBAttachments/e451e5e9-450c-46ff-878e-5bebe47fc4da_2023Basketballtryoutpracticeschedule.pdf As with other interschool athletics seasons, we work with the Schools in our Division to establish guidelines for hosting home games. Our Division has decided on the following: For home games, DGS student spectators are welcome to attend the FIRST game of the evening only. Teachers will help students find the exits at this time. No unparented spectators from other schools will be permitted at DGS home games. No unparented DGS students are to attend other schools. Parents attending Away games with their own child are asked to care for no more students than you have seatbelts in your vehicle. This is to prevent one parent from being “responsible” for students they did not bring with them to an Away game or that they do not know.
Journalism Request for Interviews: The Human Library Project Grade 9 Journalism students are working on developing their interviewing skills through asking thoughtful and engaging questions as a means to gain deeper insight into a topic/idea. We are hoping to host a “Human Library” experience (can be either in-person or digital through Microsoft Teams) on April 6th from 8:30am-9:30am where willing parent participants can be interviewed by one of our students. The purpose of a “Human Library” is to share one’s experiences and build a sense of empathy and understanding, as well as extend one’s understanding on a particular topic and/or issue. For more information on this topic, please see: https://humanlibrary.org/ Ms. Cardwell asked the students to compile a potential list of “Human Titles” that they might be interested in interviewing during the process. Some of the “Titles of Interest” students generated include (but are not limited to): First Responder (law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, ER doctors) Pilot Chef Actor Oil & Gas Experts
Social Worker Refugee Immigrant Musician Writer
Climate Activist Meteorologist Game Developer Entrepreneur Lawyer
We love that we have interesting community members with stories to share! If you have an area of expertise above (or something not mentioned), a story, or just are willing to come in and to meet a grade 9 student and be interviewed, please let Ms. Cardwell know at kpcardwell@cbe.ab.ca. We welcome family members of students from all Grade Levels to participate. Upcoming Dates: March 27 – 31 April 7 April 10 April 11 April 25
As always, please feel free to contact me at csmalette@cbe.ab.ca OR 403 817 3556. Chantal Malette Principal, Dr. George Stanley School
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| Dear DGS Families, Spring Equinox is next week. It marks the point in time when the sun sits directly over the Earth's equator as it heads northward. Both hemispheres share the sun's rays equally at the equinox, and night and day are roughly the same length. It marks the beginning of Spring. Spiritually and symbolically, Spring Equinox represents our need for balance. It’s a time of new beginnings, renewal, and growth. Spring is a time when I feel especially connected to the land- I’m waiting not-so-patiently to spot the first crocuses and pussy willows along the ridge- waking up from winter brings us one step closer to the work we will be doing to plant our school’s garden guided by the work of the Buffalo Treaty’s Naapi’s Garden resources. We are excited to learn more about the land where we gather as a school and a community. Basketball Season has Arrived… The 2023 Try-Out and Practice Schedule is located here: https://school.cbe.ab.ca/School/Repository/SBAttachments/e451e5e9-450c-46ff-878e-5bebe47fc4da_2023Basketballtryoutpracticeschedule.pdf As with other interschool athletics seasons, we work with the Schools in our Division to establish guidelines for hosting home games. Our Division has decided on the following: For home games, DGS student spectators are welcome to attend the FIRST game of the evening only. Teachers will help students find the exits at this time. No unparented spectators from other schools will be permitted at DGS home games. No unparented DGS students are to attend other schools. Parents attending Away games with their own child are asked to care for no more students than you have seatbelts in your vehicle. This is to prevent one parent from being “responsible” for students they did not bring with them to an Away game or that they do not know.
Journalism Request for Interviews: The Human Library Project Grade 9 Journalism students are working on developing their interviewing skills through asking thoughtful and engaging questions as a means to gain deeper insight into a topic/idea. We are hoping to host a “Human Library” experience (can be either in-person or digital through Microsoft Teams) on April 6th from 8:30am-9:30am where willing parent participants can be interviewed by one of our students. The purpose of a “Human Library” is to share one’s experiences and build a sense of empathy and understanding, as well as extend one’s understanding on a particular topic and/or issue. For more information on this topic, please see: https://humanlibrary.org/ Ms. Cardwell asked the students to compile a potential list of “Human Titles” that they might be interested in interviewing during the process. Some of the “Titles of Interest” students generated include (but are not limited to): Former or Current Professional Athlete First Responder (law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, ER doctors) Pilot Chef Actor Oil & Gas Experts Social Worker Refugee Immigrant Musician Writer Climate Activist Meteorologist Game Developer Entrepreneur Lawyer Architect Someone who has had a near-death experience Other?
We love that we have interesting community members with stories to share! If you have an area of expertise above (or something not mentioned), a story, or just are willing to come in and to meet a grade 9 student and be interviewed, please let Ms. Cardwell know at kpcardwell@cbe.ab.ca. We welcome family members of students from all Grade Levels to participate. Traffic, Pick-Up and Drop-Off Zones and our Bus Zone Thank you SO much for helping us improve safety in our Bus Zone- we have had a full week of our buses being able to load and unload safely and it is SO appreciated. Families are reminded that Cranston Drive in front of the school is marked as a loading zone. Please do not stop within 5 metres of the 4-way-stop on the corner of Cranston Drive and Cranston Road in ANY direction, as it causes issues for traffic in all directions, and often time, our bus drivers are put in the position that they have to make less-than-ideal turns onto Cranston Road. Most importantly, please do not stop your vehicles in the school bus zone along Cranston Road. We now have 5 school buses needing safe, daily access to this clearly marked zone. Additionally, the staff parking lot is NOT to be used as a pick-up and drop off zone, unless a family is legally accessing our school’s spots designated for people with disabilities. We ask that all families prioritize safety over convenience if they choose to drive their children to school. Power School Parent Update March 17 will be the next update of student achievement data in PowerSchool. Please take a moment with your child to log in and talk about their progress, growth, and achievement. It’s also a great idea to have your student log in to google classroom with you to view specific assignments you may have questions about. Parent Student Teacher Conferences Thank you so much for attending Parent Student Teacher Conferences last Thursday and Friday. If you need more time with your child’s teacher (or if you were unable to attend conferences and want to book a time to meet outside of instructional time) please email the appropriate teacher to connect.
Upcoming Dates: March 21 March 27 – 31 April 7 April 10 April 11 April 25
As always, please feel free to contact me at csmalette@cbe.ab.ca OR 403 817 3556. Chantal Malette Principal, Dr. George Stanley School |
| Dear DGS Families,
“Windy March, you freeze my nose, Will Spring ever come? Who knows, who knows.”
I learned that poem in kindergarten in 1980. It’s stuck with me for 43 years, because it’s entirely relevant to springtime in Alberta. This past week saw two classes of Grade 6 students racing their CO2 cars that they built in construction, badminton tournaments, musical rehearsals, fieldtrip planning, our monthly school council meeting and many more bits and pieces in the works.
Traffic, Pick-Up and Drop-Off Zones and our Bus Zone With our recent blast of winter and dump of snow, it’s clear just how little room we have on our roads in Cranston. Families are reminded that Cranston Drive in front of the school is marked as a loading zone. Please do not stop within 5 metres of the 4-way-stop on the corner of Cranston Drive and Cranston Road in ANY direction, as it causes issues for traffic in all directions, and often time, our bus drivers are put in the position that they have to make less-than-ideal turns onto Cranston Road. Most importantly, please do not stop your vehicles in the school bus zone along Cranston Road. We now have 5 school buses needing safe, daily access to this clearly marked zone. Additionally, the staff parking lot is NOT to be used as a pick-up and drop off zone, unless a family is legally accessing our school’s spots designated for people with disabilities. We ask that all families prioritize safety over convenience if they choose to drive their children to school.
School Planning and Budget Survey Thanks for your patience with me last week while I worked out the technicalities of launching our required school survey related to school planning and budget for the 2023-2024 school year. A direct link to the survey is located here: https://drgeorgestanley.cbedialogue.com/en/projects/dgs-2022-2023-engagement/engagements/dgs-school-planning-survey-2023-middle-junior The survey will remain open until March 15. Your feedback is important to us!
Parent Student Teacher Conferences Conferences will be held virtually this week and can be booked online using My Conference Manager. Should you not be able to secure a time for Thursday night or Friday, please contact your child(ren)’s teachers to arrange an alternate conversation. You are ALWAYS welcome to connect with teachers to discuss your child’s progress, growth and achievement.
Upcoming Dates: March 9 March 10 March 21 March 27 – 31 April 7 April 10 April 25
As always, please feel free to contact me at csmalette@cbe.ab.ca OR 403 817 3556. Chantal Malette Principal, Dr. George Stanley School |
| Dear DGS Families, Fare thee well, February, we’re all about March now! Last week, we managed all of the fun and games nature had in store for us- my personal favourite was the 30-degree temperature swing where I was reminded that the rubber soles of my favourite boots turn into ice skates. Safety first! Don’t worry everyone, some days I am just a wizened adolescent myself as I stand there in impractical shoes, no jacket, and mittens. It used to make my mom crazy, too. This week, the outdoors isn’t so angry with us, and we are getting ourselves back out there for PE Classes, lunch time and community activities. Please note, we cannot open our school any earlier than 8:00am, even in extreme weather, as we are not resourced to supervise students until that time. Please do not drop students off at school before this time unless they are prepared to wait outside. School Planning Parent Survey Last night at our Monthly School Council and Parent Fundraising Society Meeting, I presented our School Development Plan, and Budget and Fees Report in preparation for planning for the upcoming school year. A shortened version of the presentation and a link to a survey where you can have your feedback heard has been sent to all families via school messenger. This survey will be open for completion until March 15 and should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. The feedback gathered from this survey will be used to inform planning decisions for next year and will be shared with you in May 2023. Camp Chief Hector Experiences As you may recall from last Spring, we have now incorporated a 4-day trip to Camp Chief Hector into annual planning at the Grade 7 Level. Typically, this whole-grade experience will take place in June of each year. This year, we were offered a late-breaking opportunity to take our Grade 9’s to Camp Chief Hector the week before the May Long Weekend for three days and two nights. We are pleased to confirm that for one year, we will offer Camp Chief Hector to both Grade 7’s (June) and Grade 9’s (May). Parents in Grade 7 and 9 have been surveyed as to whether or not their child will participate. Our school has now paid the service provider deposit related to both of these experiences. Families in both Grade 7 and 9 who intend on having their child attend will be asked to pay a refundable $50.00 deposit by April 1, 2023, in order to confirm their spot on their trip. This is not a mandatory experience, and students who do not attend will have programming provided to them daily at school. More information will come out regarding this in the weeks to come. We are planning to hold ONE larger scale fundraiser in support of students in both Grades. Stay tuned for more details. Grade 9 Farewell Recently, we were made aware of a revised Provincial Schedule related to Provincial Achievement Tests. This revised schedule necessitates some changes to our tentative plans related to scheduling our Grade 9 Farewell and our Grade 9 Farewell Fieldtrip to Calaway Park. The new tentative date for our Grade 9 Farewell Ceremony is Friday June 16 at 10:00am. The new tentative date for our Grade 9 Farewell Fieldtrip to Calaway Park will be announced as soon as it is available. As with the past two years, our Grade 9 Farewell consists of a formal hour-long celebration of our Grade 9 students from 10:00-11:00am in the Main Gym and an Informal Outdoor gathering (including snacks, drinks, music, and photo opportunities) from about 11:00-11:55am. The celebration audience is meant to include siblings and family members of Grade 9 students only. Students are welcome to wear whatever they wish- there are no formal requirements. Most Grade 9 students do choose to dress up a bit for the occasion. Provincial Achievement Test Schedule Save the Date- this will all be communicated in detail in May and June 2023 (All exams are in the morning) Monday May 15 Wednesday May 17 Tuesday June 20 Thursday June 22 Friday June 23 Monday June 26 Tuesday June 27
Upcoming Dates: March 4 March 9 March 10 March 21 March 27 – 31 April 7 April 10 April 25
As always, please feel free to contact me at csmalette@cbe.ab.ca OR 403 817 3556. Chantal Malette Principal, Dr. George Stanley School
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| Dear Families,
This week’s update is coming to you a day early, so that we can send out a reminder around Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday February 22.
One of the things we have worked diligently on with students and adults in our community this year is the concept of empathy and the ability to use restorative practices when things go wrong. The emphasis in restorative practices is on repairing relationships and changing behaviour, rather than punishment. By fostering empathy and building a learning environment that focuses on social-emotional learning rooted in respect, restorative practices can: reduce social barriers to learning engage more students create a context for understanding and valuing diversity nurture a sense of belonging promote positive mental health
A very useful, accessible video about the foundations of restorative practices published by the government of Alberta is located at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX1hdXnh8ks&t=112s
Restorative practices is one of the key things we do school wide to address bullying behaviour when it has occurred. Part of our work on Pink Shirt Day this year will be taking up Circle Conversations related to these topics. The most important thing is for us to lift each other up every day, and not just when we wear a Pink Shirt. Our work at school remains to help students with developing and showing empathy toward one another and treating one another with respect. It’s our actions toward others that show and model healthy relationships, healthy self-esteem, and healthy ways of handling conflict.
Emergency Preparedness We have entered the “back 9” of the school year and we will be undertaking emergency preparedness drills in the weeks and months to come, which will include a School Wide Lockdown Drill. This week, teachers will review Lockdown procedures with students in anticipation of completing our required “unannounced” practice lockdown. We endeavour to make these experiences as calm and well-organized as possible. Helping students predict and prepare for unforeseen events is a part of the CBE’s commitment to keeping students safe. I will always communicate with you immediately following practice lockdowns so that we do not create unnecessary stress in the community.
CBE Wellness Team Sessions- Save the Date(s) The CBE Wellness Team has some upcoming sessions as a part of their Child and Youth Well-Being for Families and Caregivers Series. These virtual sessions will be held on the following dates from 6:30-8:30pm. Understanding Anxiety (April 4, 2023) Understanding Social Media (May 2, 2023). Communication about these two sessions will be distributed separately.
Stay Safe, Stay Off Storm Ponds It’s a great time of year to remind everyone to STAY OFF Cranston’s storm ponds. They might look like an inviting short cut or opportunity to slide around on the way home from school, but they are actually a little bit treacherous. Before heading outside to play this winter, The City of Calgary wants to remind all of us to be safe while enjoying winter walks and outdoor skating. The city of Calgary and community-designated outdoor skating rinks are open, offering fun, free skating for all skill levels. Rinks maintained by The City are checked daily for ice thickness and quality, and surfaces are flooded as needed to make sure they’re safe for skating. Prior to lacing up, it’s important to remember that not all ice surfaces are safe. While our community storm ponds may look inviting, the City of Calgary wants to remind us that recreational activities are not allowed on them. Storm ponds play an important role, providing protection from overland flooding while returning cleaner water back to the river, but they have hidden hazards that make them dangerous to people and pets. Rapidly changing water levels cause unstable air gaps and quickly changing depths. The ponds also have sediment and contaminants (e.g., bacteria, fertilizers, pesticides, vehicle fluids, metals and road salt) that are collected as water travels across properties, streets, and roads that can weaken the ice. That’s why it’s not safe to skate, walk or play on storm ponds.
Upcoming Dates: February 22 February 28 March 4 March 9 March 10 March 21 March 27 – 31 April 7 April 10 April 25
As always, please feel free to contact me at csmalette@cbe.ab.ca OR 403 817 3556. Chantal Malette Principal, Dr. George Stanley School
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| Dear Families, Today brings to a close the shortest week for students in any given school year. We hope that your family has the opportunity to regroup, relax, and recharge over Teacher’s Convention and the Family Day Long Weekend. This week, our Grade 9 students completed the bulk of their high school registration. The guidance counselors will be working with student registrations in the weeks to come around confirming student course selections into PowerSchool. Next week, we will be visiting both Cranston School and Sibylla Kiddle School to start the important process of getting to know our next year Grade 6 students. And finally, our school marks Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday February 22. The most important thing is for us to lift each other up every day, and not just when we wear a Pink Shirt. Our work at school remains to help students with developing and showing empathy toward one another and treating one another with respect. It’s our actions toward others that show and model healthy relationships, healthy self-esteem, and healthy ways of handling conflict.
Stay Safe, Stay Off Storm Ponds It’s a great time of year to remind everyone to STAY OFF Cranston’s storm ponds. They might look like an inviting short cut or opportunity to slide around on the way home from school, but they are actually a little bit treacherous. Before heading outside to play this winter, The City of Calgary wants to remind all of us to be safe while enjoying winter walks and outdoor skating. The city of Calgary and community-designated outdoor skating rinks are open, offering fun, free skating for all skill levels. Rinks maintained by The City are checked daily for ice thickness and quality, and surfaces are flooded as needed to make sure they’re safe for skating. Prior to lacing up, it’s important to remember that not all ice surfaces are safe. While our community storm ponds may look inviting, the City of Calgary wants to remind us that recreational activities are not allowed on them. Storm ponds play an important role, providing protection from overland flooding while returning cleaner water back to the river, but they have hidden hazards that make them dangerous to people and pets. Rapidly changing water levels cause unstable air gaps and quickly changing depths. The ponds also have sediment and contaminants (e.g., bacteria, fertilizers, pesticides, vehicle fluids, metals and road salt) that are collected as water travels across properties, streets, and roads that can weaken the ice. That’s why it’s not safe to skate, walk or play on storm ponds.
Upcoming Dates: February 16 February 17 February 20 February 28 March 4 March 9 March 10 March 21 March 27 – 31 April 7 April 10 April 25
As always, please feel free to contact me at csmalette@cbe.ab.ca OR 403 817 3556. Chantal Malette Principal, Dr. George Stanley School
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| Dear DGS Families, This week’s update is coming to you one day late- somehow Wednesday completely got away from me! Last night, we hosted our Open House for students new to Dr. George Stanley School in the Fall of 2023. It was wonderful meeting, new faces from both Sibylla Kiddle and Cranston Schools- our Grade 6 students for next year were eager to learn about what it means to be a student at DGS.
A book I can’t say enough great things about that really helps all families with adolescents is called Brainstorm: The Power and the Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel J Siegel. It’s an easy read that helps parents, guardians, teachers and adults who spend time with teenagers unlock some of the WHY behind the things we see them doing every day. Highly recommend it, if you’re looking for some good reading. We want to congratulate Ms. Thomas and ALL of our instrumental music students for the out of the world performances they delivered last Thursday night. Yesterday, we hosted the Grade 9 Badminton Team from Lakeshore School for a little friendly scrimmage. Now that the nerves are out of the way we’re looking forward to showcasing our student’s skills on the middle school athletics stage. It's Survey Season This week, our students are participating in surveys designed either by the CBE or Alberta Education, depending on their Grade Level. These surveys deal with topics such as access to programming, parental involvement, and safety and wellness in school. Parents of students in Grade 7 should watch their mailboxes for communication directly from Alberta Education on how to complete the parent portion of the Alberta Education Assurance Measure Survey related to your child’s experiences at Dr. George Stanley School. All student surveys will take place during class time with their teachers. Please watch school messenger for the annual parent engagement survey concerning budget and program offerings at DGS. I plan on sending it home to families immediately following Family Day.
Upcoming Dates: February 10 - Cut-off for ordering Yearbooks
February 16 - Teacher’s Convention (no school for students)
February 17 - Teacher’s Convention (no school for students)
February 20 - Family Day (school closed)
February 28 - School Council & Fundraising Society Meeting
As always, please feel free to contact me at csmalette@cbe.ab.ca OR 403 817 3556. Chantal Malette Principal, Dr. George Stanley School |
| Dear DGS Families, Students have now started their Semester 2 Exploratories and are taking advantage of these new opportunities to design, create, learn, and explore for themselves. Mid-Year Report Cards are now available for viewing in PowerSchool- if you have any questions about your child’s progress in any area, please do not hesitate to reach out to individual teachers for clarity and support. Our next set of Parent Student Teacher Conferences are set for mid-March, but it’s important to remember that we are ALWAYS here for conversations and questions related to growth and achievement. Bi-weekly assignment updates in PowerSchool will also re-commence as of Friday February 10, 2023.
Winter Concert Our instrumental music program is pleased to present our 2023 Winter Concert on February 2. All DGS students will be attending afternoon performances of the concert on this day so that they can celebrate the success of their siblings and friends. The evening performance is reserved for parents, guardians and family members who are not DGS students. This is to support there being enough space for our audience. DGS students who are not in the instrumental music program will not be admitted to the evening performance. There is no charge to attend this event. Doors will open at 6:30pm with the performance starting at 7:00pm.
It's Survey Season Next week, all of our students will participate in surveys created either by the CBE or Alberta Education, depending on their Grade Level. These surveys will deal with topics such as access to programming, parental involvement, and safety and wellness in school. Parents of students in Grade 7 should watch their mailboxes for communication directly from Alberta Education on how to complete the parent portion of the Alberta Education Assurance Measure Survey related to your child’s experiences at Dr. George Stanley School. All other student surveys will take place during class time with their teachers. Social Media and Our Students What follows is something I originally wrote in response to an incident that occurred in Edmonton at the start of this summer. As the year has progressed, we have worked with a number of students who have needed extra guidance around the choices they make related to social media. As the adults in our student’s and children’s lives, it’s important we are partners in this work. This isn't meant to be about the "evils" of social media- it's about open involvement in your adolescent's online presence, digital citizenship for all, and putting protective factors in place for those times when their developing adolescent brains are on overload. Kids need us more than ever to show them we care, we are interested, and we are involved. Here are my thoughts: 1. Know what your adolescents are doing on Social Media. When I say Social Media, I mean anything where they interact with content, including YouTube, gaming platforms, messaging apps, etc. When I say know, I mean scroll it with them, ask them to share their DMs with you, be linked to them on the apps with your own account, ask them lots of questions, maybe even consider a program like Bark. (And the second they refuse to share, pull their phone- technically, no matter who "pays" that bill, 13-year-olds don't have registered mobile devices- YOU do.) It's eye opening for parents when they realize this, especially when an adolescent has been making poor choices with social media. 2. Ensure that they are not connected to people they don't know IRL. Ask them questions about the people they do know. Don't be afraid to speak up to other families if you see their kiddos doing sketchy things online. Remember that it's quite likely that family doesn't realize what their young adult is posting/saying/doing. Come at it from a place of care, a place of "I am not sure if you are aware of this, and..." 3. Educate yourself about the apps and platforms they are using. Have accounts yourself. Know how to use what your kids are talking about, no matter how uncool they tell you you're being. 4. Ensure their profiles are created as "private" AND that they stay that way. As I have said to adolescents and parents, "If I can find your child's account, so can icky people." 5. Actually observe the age restrictions for different Social Media apps. 6. Repeat items 1-5 REGULARLY. It's not a one and done situation. What they do today they can undo tomorrow and then you're no further ahead and they are no safer. 7. Start today- be open-minded, caring and most of all, be the thoughtful and "protective factor" adult they may not think they need, but they well and truly do.
DGS Badminton Practice Schedule The season of play practice schedule is located here: 2023 Badminton final practice schedule.pdf
Yearbooks Yearbooks for 2022-23 – must be PREPURCHASED prior to February 10, 2023. You will need to self-add the yearbook to your account following these simple steps: 1. Login to your MyCBE account, using your username and password 2. Click the box “Fees, Waivers & Service Registration” 3. Select your student 4. Click on “School Based Optional Fees” 5. Click on the box “Yearbook 2022/23” 6. Click “Add to Cart” and proceed to payment
Upcoming Dates: February 2 February 3 February 8 February 10 February 16 February 17 February 20 As always, please feel free to contact me at csmalette@cbe.ab.ca OR 403 817 3556. Chantal Malette Principal, Dr. George Stanley School
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| Dear DGS Families, This week is the last week of Semester 1 Exploratories for students. It has been wonderful to see the variety of project work and learning experiences students have had over the last 5 months. Students will review their Semester 2 Exploratories with their homeroom teachers at the end of this week in preparation for Monday. We will not be making changes to student selections, unless there are very exceptional circumstances at play. In part, this is because we have experienced a significant increase in student enrolment since September, and we have worked carefully to ensure we have been able to offer all students an opportunity to access spaces in high demand classes.
Winter Concert Our instrumental music program is pleased to present our 2023 Winter Concert on February 2. All DGS students will be attending afternoon performances of the concert on this day so that they can celebrate the success of their siblings and friends. The evening performance is reserved for parents, guardians and family members who are not DGS students. This is to support there being enough space for our audience. DGS students who are not in the instrumental music program will not be admitted to the evening performance. There is no charge to attend this event. Doors will open 30 minutes before the performance. Full details for the performance will be sent in a separate message.
Yearbooks Yearbooks for 2022-23 – must be PREPURCHASED prior to February 10, 2023. You will need to self-add the yearbook to your account following these simple steps: 1. Login to your MyCBE account, using your username and password 2. Click the box “Fees, Waivers & Service Registration” 3. Select your student 4. Click on “School Based Optional Fees” 5. Click on the box “Yearbook 2022/23” 6. Click “Add to Cart” and proceed to payment
Stay Safe, Stay Off Storm Ponds Before heading outside to play this winter, The City of Calgary wants to remind all of us to be safe while enjoying outdoor skating. City of Calgary and community-designated outdoor skating rinks are open, offering fun, free skating for all skill levels. Rinks maintained by The City are checked daily for ice thickness and quality, and surfaces are flooded as needed to make sure they’re safe for skating. Prior to lacing up, it’s important to remember that not all ice surfaces are safe. While our community storm ponds may look inviting, the City of Calgary wants to remind us that recreational activities are not allowed on them. Storm ponds play an important role, providing protection from overland flooding while returning cleaner water back to the river, but they have hidden hazards that make them dangerous to people and pets. Rapidly changing water levels cause unstable air gaps and quickly changing depths. The ponds also have sediment and contaminants (e.g., bacteria, fertilizers, pesticides, vehicle fluids, metals and road salt) that are collected as water travels across properties, streets, and roads that can weaken the ice. That’s why it’s not safe to skate, walk or play on storm ponds.
Keeping Sick Students Home We ask that if your child is sick, please keep them home from school, as we want to see all of our community make it through cold and flu season safely. Please continue to phone or email the school each day that your child will be absent, with the reason for the absence (examples: illness, medical appointment, etc.). Teachers will continue to post assignment basics in Google Classroom by 4:00 each day for students to access.
Got Lunch? We remain a closed campus at lunchtime. We want to remind families that students need to bring their lunch or have it ordered through Healthy Hunger for distribution through the servery. We do have a variety of lower cost items for purchase at the server including Cheese Buns, Ham and Cheeses Buns, and Chocolate Chip Buns from Glamorgan Bakery. Hot water is available for soup through the servery. We are not able to provide access to microwaves for student use. As a reminder, we are not able to receive Skip the Dishes, Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc. in the main office. The driver will be asked to return the delivery to the restaurant.
Upcoming Dates: January 26 January 30 January 31 February 2 February 3 February 8 February 10 February 16 February 17 February 20
As always, please feel free to contact me at csmalette@cbe.ab.ca OR 403 817 3556. Chantal Malette Principal, Dr. George Stanley School
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| Dear DGS Families, Our first week back has been very productive. Students and teachers have settled into routines really well. As an experiment, I tried using emerging ChatGPT Technology to generate one section of my weekly principal’s message. Can you spot the topic that was written by AI? (And I will definitely see the irony and humour if that’s your favourite part of my message!) With so much talk about the potential impact of ChatGPT on academic integrity, it’s important for us as adults to experiment with what’s possible. Our teachers will continue to have conversations with students about how to leverage new and emerging technologies ethically and appropriately. DGS Badminton Try-out Schedule Please see the attachment for all the details for grades 6-9 badminton try-outs schedules this month. As a reminder, our Badminton and Basketball Seasons have been switched, so as to ensure we have sufficient referees for the 2023 basketball season. BadmintonTryoutschedule2023-new.pdf Toy Mountain We are pleased to announce that our 2022 Toy Mountain cash donations totaled $297.60. Thank you so much for your generosity! Stay Safe, Stay Off Storm Ponds Before heading outside to play this winter, The City of Calgary wants to remind all of us to be safe while enjoying outdoor skating. City of Calgary and community-designated outdoor skating rinks are open, offering fun, free skating for all skill levels. Rinks maintained by The City are checked daily for ice thickness and quality, and surfaces are flooded as needed to make sure they’re safe for skating. Prior to lacing up, it’s important to remember that not all ice surfaces are safe. While our community storm ponds may look inviting, the City of Calgary wants to remind us that recreational activities are not allowed on them. Storm ponds play an important role, providing protection from overland flooding while returning cleaner water back to the river, but they have hidden hazards that make them dangerous to people and pets. Rapidly changing water levels cause unstable air gaps and quickly changing depths. The ponds also have sediment and contaminants (e.g., bacteria, fertilizers, pesticides, vehicle fluids, metals and road salt) that are collected as water travels across properties, streets, and roads that can weaken the ice. That’s why it’s not safe to skate, walk or play on storm ponds. Social Media Safety Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to connect with others, share information and ideas, and express oneself creatively. However, it's important for adolescents to understand the importance of being safe and responsible while using social media. Adolescents should be educated about the potential risks of sharing personal information, posting inappropriate content, and interacting with strangers online. They should also be reminded of the importance of privacy settings and how to use them effectively. It's also important for adolescents to understand the potential consequences of cyberbullying and to be aware of the resources available if they or someone they know is a victim. Parents and caregivers can play a vital role in promoting social media safety by monitoring their child's online activity, having open and honest conversations about online behavior, and setting guidelines for social media use. It's also important for adolescents to learn to balance their online and offline life, and to take breaks from technology. Keeping Sick Students Home We ask that if your child is sick, please keep them home from school, as we want to see all of our community make it through cold and flu season safely. Please continue to phone or email the school each day that your child will be absent, with the reason for the absence (examples: illness, medical appointment, etc.). Teachers will continue to post assignment basics in Google Classroom by 4:00 each day for students to access. Got Lunch? We remain a closed campus at lunchtime. We want to remind families that students need to bring their lunch or have it ordered through Healthy Hunger for distribution through the servery. We do have a variety of lower cost items for purchase at the server including Cheese Buns, Ham and Cheeses Buns, and Chocolate Chip Buns from Glamorgan Bakery. Hot water is available for soup through the servery. We are not able to provide access to microwaves for student use. As a reminder, we are not able to receive Skip the Dishes, Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc. in the main office. The driver will be asked to return the delivery to the restaurant.
Upcoming Dates: January 26 January 30 January 31 February 2 February 3 February 8 February 10 February 16 February 17 February 20
As always, please feel free to contact me at csmalette@cbe.ab.ca OR 403 817 3556. Chantal Malette Principal, Dr. George Stanley School
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