After an up-and-down January and February we are all hoping that March 'comes in like a lamb' and brings us some warm weather! Even if we begin to see more sun, though, please remember that the weather in Calgary is unpredictable and so we must always be ready for whatever Mother Nature might send us. Children should always be dressed appropriately for the weather, in layers, because not only do we go outside each day when we can, the school is often cool and in the event of an emergency, there is no time to stop and get outdoor clothing on. As I sit to write this message, there are students at school today wearing only thin, short-sleeved t-shirts and if there were an emergency, these students would be pretty cold and could experience a significant health risk if we had to evacuate the school! Please ensure that children are dressed for the weather, and that all clothing is labeled with your child's name as it will be easier to return the jackets and such that are left outside.
I would also like to remind all students and families that all valuables, including electronics, toys and Pokémon cards for example, should be left at home and NOT brought to school. Things brought to school can get lost or broken, and always there are issues with fairness when trading or sharing happens. Students have been asked again to please leave all such valuables at home, and we appreciate your support with this.
Looking back, for a short month February was quite busy as our daily hard work and high expectations kept us thinking and moving forward to begin our second term. March will be another busy month of learning, and we will also have virtual Learning Conversations, our Scholastic Book Fair, and spring break all upon us this month. Please see the attached calendar for a more detailed list of activities planned for March.
LEARNING CONVERSATIONS
We are hoping that we will be able to connect with all parents and guardians through our virtual Learning Conversations (conferences) with teachers either Thursday March 25th, 2021 evening or Friday March 26th morning. These conversations will again be held online through Microsoft Teams or via the telephone. Please remember that these conversations are an important part of the reporting process as they will focus on student progress and growth, as well as goal-setting for the last part of the school year. We do ask that parents please book a time to speak to teachers, as with many parents to schedule we are not able to accommodate drop-in meetings. It is also important that you are on time for scheduled conversations so that we can be fair in our time with you and with other parents. Please watch for information about when you will be able to book your conversation time online through your My CBE account.
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Radisson Park School this month as well! Students will have an opportunity to view and purchase books at the school, or families will be able to view and purchase online as well. This is an opportunity for families to purchase new Scholastic books at a very reasonable price, and all school proceeds will go towards purchasing new books for the library. Students will be bringing home more information as we get closer to the Book Fair.
There will be NO SCHOOL for all students on Friday March 26th, 2021 as this is a RPS non-instructional day (Learning Conversations) then the following week is Spring Break. STUDENTS WILL RETURN TO SCHOOL ON TUESDAY APRIL 6TH, 2021.
Planning for the 2021/2022 School Year
It is that time of year when schools are beginning to plan and organize student information for the next school year. As we move into this planning phase, it is important for us to have current, up-to-date information. If you know your child will NOT be attending Radisson Park School next year, please let the school know as soon as possible. We thank you for your cooperation as this really helps with school organization.
We are thrilled that Radisson Park School will be returning to the modified calendar again for the 2021/22 school year! The first day of school for next year will be August 17th, 2021.
For the upcoming year we will again continue to only accept registrations for students who live within our designated community boundaries. A child who started this current school year within our boundaries and moves away during the school year is entitled to finish the school year here, but is then required to register in their community school for the next school year. If a child moves during the summer they are required to register in the school within the community they have moved to. School designations are done by a child's PRIMARY home address, and daycare or childcare in the area does not qualify as a residency requirement. As we do each year, the office will be closely reviewing all demographic information for all children in all grades, and any current students who are NOT living with a parent or legal guardian within our designated boundaries may be designated to their community schools.
Kindergarten registration for August 2021 is ongoing. If you have a child eligible to start kindergarten (born in 2016), or know somebody in the community who does, we encourage parents to please register as soon as possible as this helps with planning and preparation. Please know that we currently are registering for half-day kindergarten, as yearly Calgary Board of Education decisions about the possibility of full-day kindergarten are dependent on budget considerations.
Internet Safety
The first week of March is Internet Safety Week, and we ask all parents to take this opportunity to talk to your children about this important topic. It is important that we guide our children to understand the benefits and pitfalls of cyber space. The best way to help our children is to know what they are doing online, and to talk with them about their cyber activities. As well, according to our Community Police Officers, children should not be on Facebook and many other social media platforms until they are at least 13 years old! Children should know that cyberspace is a huge environment, and nothing that they do online is truly protected or private. They should know that it is impossible to really tell who else is online. Cyber bullying and predators are serious police matters and two dangers that we hope none of our children ever experience. We thank you for working with us to help all children become responsible cyber citizens, as together we can help our children navigate the Internet safely.
