This will be our final Capitol Hill Connection for the 2024-25 school year. Weekly updates will resume August 29, 2025.

Final Day of School - Early Dismissal Reminder

A reminder that tomorrow, Thursday, June 26, is the last day of classes for all students for the 2024–25 school year!

Please note that this day follows an early dismissal schedule, and students in Grades 1–6 will be dismissed at 12:40 PM. Kindly ensure you’ve made arrangements for your child to be picked up on time.

Kindergarten families, please note the special schedule for this day:

• AM Kindergarten attends from 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
• PM Kindergarten attends from 10:40 AM – 12:40 PM

We’re looking forward to a great final day with students and wish everyone a restful and joyful summer ahead!

Orange Ribbon Display: Our Visible Commitment to Reconciliation

Over the next few days, you may notice something new and meaningful appearing on the fencing in front of CHS. As part of our ongoing commitment to truth and reconciliation, students are contributing to a powerful art installation featuring individually created orange ribbons.

Each ribbon represents a student’s voice - whether a word, message, or phrase - and reflects their personal learning or commitment to action in honour of Indigenous experiences, histories, and voices. This school-wide initiative aligns with our 2025-26 Truth and Reconciliation Commitment, which includes fostering authentic relationships with Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers, embracing Indigenous perspectives and teachings, and creating ethical space for meaningful, relational learning.

This installation is not only a culmination of the work we’ve done over the past year but a public declaration of our continued ReconciliACTION moving forward. Families and community members are invited to view the display and reflect on the shared responsibility we all carry in this journey toward a more inclusive, respectful future.

Staffing Updates for the 2025-26 School Year

As the school year wraps up, we want to share some important staffing updates for the upcoming year. While we are still working closely with CBE to finalize staffing for 2025-26, here’s what we can share so far. Additional updates and introductions will be shared with families at the end of August.

Farewell to Departing Staff
We have several staff members who will be moving on to new adventures, and we want to thank them for their incredible contributions to Capitol Hill School.

Support Staff

• Naoko Orr (Office Secretary) – Heading to Penbrooke Meadows School
• Sakshi Malhotra (Education Assistant) – Moving to Banff Trail School
• Alexandra Ploeger (Library Assistant) – Joining Sunalta School

Temporary Teaching Staff

• Sophie Berg – Thank you for your work with our Grade 4 students this year
• Casey Kearns – Thanks for stepping in to support our Grade 5 team
• Christina Whitehead – Thank you for sharing your musical talents with all of our students

Continuous Teaching Staff

• Janaye Keys (Grade 5) – Bidding farewell as she begins a new chapter outside of Calgary
• Tammy Gordon (Grade 2) – Heading off on maternity leave; congratulations and see you again soon!
• Sean Sager (French) – Transitioning to Branton School full-time — they’re lucky to have you!

We are grateful for the dedication, care, and positive impact each of these individuals has had on our students and community. We wish them all the best in their next steps.

Welcome to New Staff
We’re also excited to welcome some new faces to our CHS community:

• Candice Eidse – Education Assistant, joining us from Rosemont School
• Brenda Bielert – Library Assistant, coming from Westgate School

We’re looking forward to the fresh energy and expertise they’ll bring to Capitol Hill School!

Grade 6 Farewell

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make our Grade 6 Farewell such a meaningful and memorable event. Parents - your support and involvement made a big difference, and we’re grateful for everything you did behind the scenes. Teachers - your care and thoughtful planning made the day run smoothly and helped showcase just how special this group of students is. And to our amazing Grade 6s - thank you for bringing your energy, creativity, and heart. You made the celebration your own, and we’re so proud of each and every one of you. Wishing you all the best as you take on the exciting adventures ahead!

Report Cards Now Available in MyCBE

Final report cards for all students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 are now available to view, download, or print through the MyCBE portal. Families can access report cards from now until Thursday, July 25, 2025. If you would like to keep a copy for your records, we recommend downloading or printing the PDF during this time, as report cards will no longer be accessible in MyCBE after July 25. To log in and access your child’s report card, please visit: www.cbe.ab.ca/mycbe

Thank you for a great year of learning and growth!

Grade 6 PAT Results – Preliminary Scores Coming Home

Grade 6 students recently completed the Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs), a series of standardized assessments developed by Alberta Education to measure key areas of student learning. On the last day of school, your child will bring home their preliminary, unofficial PAT scores. These results are raw scores only and may be subject to change following Alberta Education’s review over the summer. In September 2025, families will receive official results through the Individual Student Profile (ISP), typically shared by your child’s Grade 7 school.

It’s important to remember that PATs provide a snapshot of achievement at one moment in time and focus on specific areas of the curriculum. They complement, but do not replace, the broader view of student progress reflected in report card grades. This year’s Math PAT was based on a newly implemented curriculum, so results may reflect the adjustment period for both students and educators. For a fuller picture of your child’s learning and progress, we encourage families to log in to MyCBE (www.cbe.ab.ca/mycbe) to view report cards and teacher feedback.

Summer Volunteers Needed: Geodome & Garden Watering

CHS is looking for summer watering crew volunteers to help keep our Geodome and front garden beds thriving over the break. Thanks to the hard work of our students this spring, both the Geodome and the garden beds in front of the school are full of flowers and vegetables just waiting to bloom, grow, and eventually be harvested come fall. But we need your help to make that happen!

Over the summer months, especially on those hot Calgary days, the temperature inside the Geodome can soar - and our plants get very thirsty. That’s where you come in! We’re asking families to sign up for one or more short watering shifts to help ensure that all our hard work doesn’t wilt in the heat.

This is an easy task that doesn’t take very long, but makes a big difference. Whether you’re around for just a week, or most of the summer, your support is appreciated.

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084FACAD29A0F8C34-57370079-summer#/

Further instructions will be sent to all volunteers in a follow-up email. If you have older children who enjoy getting their hands dirty, this could be a great little summer family activity, too! Thank you for helping keep our school beautiful and our gardens growing!

CHSC & CHEES Annual General Meeting

Please join us for the final Capitol Hill School Council and Capitol Hill Elementary Enhancement Society meeting of the year, which will serve as our AGM, or Annual General Meeting. An AGM is a yearly meeting where we review key activities and accomplishments from the past year, provide financial updates, and elect members to council and society roles for the upcoming school year. It’s an important opportunity to get involved, learn more about how our parent groups support the school, and help shape future plans.

This meeting will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. You can join using the following link at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, June 25: Join the meeting now

You can find the agenda the meeting here: Agenda - CHSC and CHEES - AGM - June 2025

As well, minutes from last month’s meeting can be found here: Minutes - CHSC and CHEES - May 2025

We hope you can attend and be part of the conversation as we wrap up the year and look ahead to the future!

Back to School Information for the 2025–26 School Year

We know - the 2024–25 school year isn’t even officially over yet, but here we are already thinking about September! To help you plan ahead, all Back to School information for Capitol Hill School is now available on our school website: https://capitolhill.cbe.ab.ca/back-to-school

This page will be updated as new details become available regarding the return to school in September, including any student supplies (like indoor shoes), staggered entry for Kindergarten, and more. Please note that class placements and teacher assignments will not be finalized until the end of August.

Families can expect to receive a welcome email from their child’s teacher on Friday, August 29, with important details about the first day of school.

Please also note the following office schedule:

• The school office will be closed from June 27 at 12:00 PM through August 26.
• Start-of-year office hours will be 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM from August 27–29, 2025.
• Regular office hours (8:00 AM – 4:00 PM) resume on Tuesday, September 2.

We encourage families to check the website throughout August for the most up-to-date information. Until then, enjoy the last day of school - and maybe don’t pack the backpacks for September just yet!

Student Safety in the Community

As we head into the summer months, it's a great time to remind students about staying safe while out and about in the community. With more time spent outdoors and with friends, it's important they know how to make smart, safe choices. Please take a few moments to talk with your child about basic safety practices - like staying with a group, avoiding unfamiliar or secluded areas, and always letting a trusted adult know where they are. Remind them to trust their instincts and speak up if something doesn’t feel right. Having a plan for what to do if they’re approached by a stranger or find themselves in an uncomfortable situation is also helpful. Simple actions - like knowing how to reach a parent or caregiver, sticking to well-lit paths, and keeping personal information private - can go a long way. Let’s work together to help ensure all of our students have a safe, fun, and carefree summer!

Last Call for Lost & Found – End of Year Cleanout!

As the school year comes to a close, it’s your final chance to check out our Lost & Found before everything is cleared out! Classes are being brought by the Lost & Found with their teachers this week, but we know some items still go unclaimed - so if you think your child might be missing a water bottle, hoodie, or lunch kit, now’s the time to take a look! All remaining items will be collected and donated to local charitable organizations after the 12:40 PM dismissal on Thursday. Families are welcome to stop by - just check in at the office and let Ms. Gratto or the office staff know you're heading to the Lost & Found.

And if you’re already thinking ahead to next year, don’t forget to label all your child’s belongings! For a helpful and easy option, check out our Mabel’s Labels fundraiser on the school’s Fundraisers & Donations page - high quality labels that help items find their way home and support the school! Thanks for your help in clearing out our collection and giving those items a second chance!

Reminder: Check and Pay Outstanding School Fees

As we near the end of the school year, we kindly ask all families to log in to their MyCBE account and check for any outstanding school fees, including those related to off-site activities and field trips. Unpaid fees directly impact our school’s ability to support students and provide enriching learning opportunities. For system-assigned fees, such as transportation and noon supervision, please note that the CBE may refer unpaid amounts to collection agencies. If you’re experiencing financial difficulties or need to explore payment options, please don’t hesitate to contact Ms. Gratto at 403-777-6160 - we’re here to help. Thank you for your timely attention to this important matter!

Upcoming Dates

June 25            Report Cards available for viewing in MyCBE

June 25            CHSC & CHEES AGM – 6:00 PM (Virtual Meeting on Teams)

June 26            Last Day of Classes – Early Dismissal at 12:40 PM

June 27            Appeals Day until 12:00 PM

June 27            Main Office closes for Summer Break - 12:00 PM