Family Literacy Week – January 26 to February 2

January 27 is Family Literacy Day, and our school is excited to celebrate Family Literacy Week! Learning to read, talk, and think together helps children of all ages build strong literacy skills - and it’s a great way to connect as a family. We’ve shared a Family Literacy Week resource sheet with ideas and free links for each day of the week, including word games, digital stories, library programs, hands-on science, and fun activities you can do together at home. Even a few minutes of reading, talking, or playing together makes a big difference. We hope you enjoy exploring these activities as a family!

CBE Decodable Digital Library – Supporting Beginning Readers

Our school uses the CBE Decodable Digital Library, a collection of online books created for CBE students and families to support early reading at home and school. Decodable books are specially designed to help beginning readers practice reading words using the letter sounds they have already been taught, rather than guessing from pictures or memorizing words. As students learn new sounds, the books gradually include more words, helping build confidence, accuracy, and fluency. Decodable books are one important part of a balanced literacy program, alongside being read to and enjoying many different kinds of books. This digital library gives families easy access to supportive reading materials that help children learn to trust the print and grow as readers.

School Spirit Day – ’80s Day! | January 29

Get ready to go back in time! On Wednesday, January 29, we’re showing our school spirit with an ’80s theme. Students are invited to dress like the 1980s - bright colours, bold patterns, and fun hairstyles were all part of the look! Easy ideas include neon or colourful clothing, stripes or polka dots, jeans with a bright top, leg warmers or tall socks, headbands, scrunchies, or graphic T-shirts. No special outfits needed - even one fun item can help show your school spirit. And keep an eye out for Mr. Eakins, who will be rocking his neon blue and pink tracksuit with a matching headband! We can’t wait to see our school full of ’80s style and smiles!

Upcoming Open Houses at Branton & Senator Patrick Burns

As Grade 6 students prepare for the transition to junior high, Branton School and Senator Patrick Burns School will be hosting open houses to welcome prospective students and their families.

Branton School’s open house for its French Immersion programs will take place on February 5, 2026, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Senator Patrick Burns School will host its open house on February 11, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, highlighting its Spanish Bilingual and English regular/community programs.

Families are encouraged to visit both schools to learn more about the programs offered and to help determine the best fit for their child.

Kindergarten Registration Open for 2026-27

If you haven’t heard, Kindergarten registration for the 2026-27 school year opened on Monday, January 12, 2026! If your child will be five years old on or before December 31, 2026, they are eligible to start Kindergarten in September. For details about the registration process, documentation requirements, and programming, please see the Kindergarten Registration Guide.

Planning Ahead for the 2026-27 School Year

As we begin planning for the upcoming school year, we are asking families to let us know only if their child will not be returning to CHS next year, or if plans are still uncertain. Having accurate information helps us plan classes, staffing, and supports to best meet student needs.

If this applies to your family, please complete the short form linked below. Families whose children will be returning to CHS do not need to respond, and families of Grade 6 students moving on to junior high do not need to complete the form. Thank you for helping us plan ahead.

Link to the Student Planning Form: https://forms.office.com/r/mimgfhzHr8

Learn and Share: School Planning | February 18

Each year, our school takes part in School Planning, an important process that helps guide how we support student learning and well-being. We make the best decisions when we learn together and hear from our school community. At the School Council meeting on February 18, we’ll be sharing information about our school development plan, budget, and school fees, and how they work together to set priorities and improve student learning outcomes. Families will also have an opportunity to ask questions and share feedback. We value your perspectives and hope you can join us for this important conversation.

Upcoming Dates

Jan. 29 – School Spirit Day (Eighties / ‘80s Day – dress like the 1980s!)

Jan. 30 – Non-Instructional Day (CBE Learning Symposium; no school for students)

Feb. 5 – Fun Lunch (Panago Pizza)

Feb. 12 – Teachers’ Convention (no school for students)

Feb. 13 – Teachers’ Convention (no school for students)

Feb. 16 – Family Day (no school for students)

Feb. 18 – School Council & CHEES (6:30 PM)

Feb. 19 – Fun Lunch (Mucho Burrito)

Feb. 24 – Report Cards available on MyCBE

Feb. 26 – Student-led Learning Conferences (4:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

Feb. 27 – Student-led Learning Conferences (8:30 AM – 12:30 PM)

Feb. 27 – Non-Instructional Day (no school for students)