Dear Students and Families, 

WE MADE IT!

It goes without saying that  much has happened since a year ago.  Last year we weren’t able to say good bye to our students or staff who would be leaving us. Last year we faced an uncertain situation returning in the fall. Last year we didn’t know what was going to happen to our school or our world.  We have overcome much in the past year and through it all it has been our relationships that have carried us forward.  The pandemic has focussed our attention on what is truly important in our lives and in our school. 

Over the last year students have thrived and made us all so proud. Looking back, we are celebrating teaching and learning that is responsive and honours student growth from their own unique starting points. We have had opportunities to extend our outdoor classroom beyond good weather and see the benefits of getting outdoors and reconnecting with the land. We have included digital technologies to deliver learning and communicate with parents in meaningful and timely ways. Even while we are hopeful for a typical school year next year, we will incorporate many of the things that we have learned and adapted during this unique year. If you haven’t had a chance to visit our student showcase page on our website we hope you will! Here we have shared celebrations of learning in each online and in person classroom through the 2020-2021 school year. We have much to be proud of and to celebrate!

We’ve observed our students’ responses to the pandemic and realize the need to pay attention to student (and staff) wellness - nothing is possible without this starting point. We’ve also identified a need for intentional teaching in literacy and numeracy in order to prioritize learning interventions for students. This will be the main work of our school development plan next year. Along with this, we will build student resilience through the lens of Growth Mindsets.  We  will revisit our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation through  land based learning and indigenous pedagogies. We will build students’ creativity and critical thinking through the lens of inquiry. Though it reads as a tall order in a single year. In practice these are the strands that connect and intertwine with each other - braided together to create strong outcomes for students. 

It is important to emphasize that the summer's time for families to spend with each other.  Don’t stress about schoolwork. In September we will support students to learn from their starting points.   Students and families have lived through an extraordinary year. It is important that students spend time relaxing and knowing that they are strong and capable.   Reassure them with your calmness, share your strength with them and laugh a lot! This will help students to be centred and regulated when they return to school. - ready to learn! 

Reopening information: 

• Our school office will close on Wednesday, June 30th 

• The office reopens on Tuesday, August 24th at 1pm.  

• Your child’s teacher will reach out to you August 31st via school messenger.  They will introduce themselves and let you know where your child will meet them on the first day of school. 

• Our first day of school will be September 1st.  School starts at 9:05 am. 

• More updates will be posted to our school website at the end of August

• We will continue to use a “soft entry” system where students come directly into the school between 8:50 and 9:05 each morning. 

• If you have any general questions at that  time you can contact the main office at 403-777-6340.  Please note that our email and phone messages are not monitored during the summer. We will respond to parent messages within the first few days of school. 

As we head into the second summer of the pandemic we are hopeful! I Hope that school will return to more normal operations and that students' learning will not be interrupted in the upcoming school year.   We are also planning for safety and will likely continue many of the protocols that have kept our learning environment safe over the past year. More information will be communicated to you at the beginning of the year as our directions from Alberta Health, Alberta Education and the Calgary Board of Education are made clear to schools. 

I know that I speak on behalf of all the Edgemont Staff when I say thank you to our wonderful community of parents! You have encouraged us and believed in us throughout  this year!  Thank you to each and every parent that sent an encouraging email, answered the phone with understanding and created a space where we knew that we had your trust and support.  I feel privileged to be a part of this school community and wish all of our families a wonderful summer!

Lori Holford

Proud Principal