Capitol Hill Connection: Weekly School Updates

Every week, we send out our school update message, the Capitol Hill Connection, to keep families informed about important news and events.

To make these updates more accessible, we will now include the full content of the message in the body of the email, while continuing to post it on our school website. The website version can be translated into many languages, making it easier for families whose first language is not English to stay informed.

We encourage families to visit our school website as their first source of information. You can read this week’s Capitol Hill Connection on our website by following this link: Capitol Hill Connection - January 17, 2025.

Thank you for staying connected with our school community!

A Huge Thank You to Our Swimming Program Volunteers!

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all the parent volunteers who came out to support our K-4 swimming program last week. Your time, energy, and dedication made this program not only possible but a huge success!

Whether you were able to volunteer for one, two, three, or all four days, we appreciate your support more than we can say. Special shout-out to our assistant principal, Mr. K, and Grade 2 parent Jeff Oberlin, who were at the pool every day from start to finish. Your incredible commitment of time and energy has not gone unnoticed, and we are so thankful.

The feedback from students, staff, and parents has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re excited to announce that we’ll be putting this program on the calendar again for next year!

Thank you to each and every volunteer who contributed to making this such a fantastic experience for our students. We couldn’t do it without you!

Thank You for Attending Our January School Council Meeting!

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended our January School Council and CHEES meeting. We’re thrilled to share that we had a record turnout—it’s truly inspiring to see so many parents and families invested in our school community! Your engagement and input are invaluable as we work together to support our students. A special thanks to Martine Sawatzky, our Area 2 Education Director, for joining us and contributing to such a productive and insightful discussion.

If you were unable to attend, don’t worry—meeting minutes will be posted on our school website in the near future so you can stay informed. Thank you again for your support and involvement. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting – Thursday, February 20, at 6:00 PM.

Hoop Dancing and Storytelling with Elder Shirley Hill

Next week, from January 21 to 23, we are honoured to welcome Shirley Hill (Anatsipi’kssaakii), a respected Blackfoot Elder and hoop dancer, to Capitol Hill School for a special three-day residency. During her visit, Shirley will share stories and teachings about Blackfoot culture, including the history of the bison and the art of hoop dancing.

This exciting opportunity aligns with our school’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and will provide our teachers and students with meaningful ways to connect with and learn from Indigenous traditions. We are grateful to the Alberta Teachers’ Association for supporting this initiative through their Special Initiative Fund. We can’t wait to share highlights of this enriching experience with you!

Outdoor School Parent Information Meeting

If you haven’t heard the great news, all Grade 5 and 6 students will be attending Outdoor School at YMCA Camp Chief Hector from April 1–3, 2025! This is a fantastic opportunity for students to connect with nature, develop leadership and teamwork skills, and engage in exciting activities like high ropes, and nature hikes, and the legendary Predator and Prey game!

 To ensure families are prepared for this overnight excursion, we’ll be hosting a mandatory parent meeting on Tuesday, January 23, at 4:30 PM in the Capitol Hill School gymnasium. At this meeting, we’ll share important details about the trip, including:

·      The program’s educational and recreational activities

·      Transportation and accommodations

·      Packing lists and dietary accommodations

·      Costs and financial assistance options

This is an incredible experience for students to build confidence, foster independence, and create lasting memories alongside their classmates and teachers. We look forward to seeing all Grade 5 and 6 parents at the meeting!

Calling All Fun Lunch Volunteers!

Our next Fun Lunch is on January 30, and we currently have no volunteers signed up to help. We need your support to make this event a success for the students! Volunteers are essential for sorting and distributing pre-ordered lunches. Here’s how you can help:

• Time Commitment: Arrive at 10:45 AM to verify all orders, and help distribute the lunches to classrooms by 11:20 AM.
• Impact: Your assistance ensures that every student receives their meal on time, contributing to a smooth and enjoyable Fun Lunch experience.

This is a great opportunity to meet other parents, get involved in the school community, and make a meaningful contribution - all in just a short amount of time! Even if you can only help for one lunch, your time and effort would mean the world to us.

Sign Up Now: Fun Lunch Volunteer Sign-Up

Upcoming Dates

Jan. 21-23 – Elder Shirley Hill Visits (K-6)

Jan. 23 – Grade 1 Off-site Activity at North Hill Fire Station

Jan. 23 – Camp Chief Hector Information Meeting (mandatory for Gr. 5/6 parents)

Jan. 27 – Report Cards available for viewing through MyCBE

Jan. 27 – Parents invited to sign updated IPPs

Jan. 30 – Fun Lunch (Papa Johns)

Jan. 31 – Non-Instructional Day (no classes for students)