Hats On & Minds Calm at CHS
Wednesday, May 7th is Hats On! for Mental Health, a province-wide initiative that promotes mental health awareness and education in schools across Alberta. CHS will be recognizing this important campaign on Tuesday, May 6th with a calming and inclusive activity: all students will participate in 30 minutes of yoga with a certified instructor during the afternoon. Weather permitting, this will take place outdoors; otherwise, we will move indoors. Unless your child has specific allergies or sensory needs, they do not need to bring a mat or towel. As part of this initiative, students are encouraged to wear a hat on both Tuesday and Wednesday to show their support for mental health and help raise awareness.
As well, Canadian Mental Health Week is taking place from May 5 - 11, and this year’s theme is “Unmasking Mental Health.” The campaign invites us all - especially young people - to imagine a world where we can talk openly about our feelings without fear or shame. Many children and youth often “mask” their emotions to protect themselves from judgment, so this week is an opportunity to encourage honesty, empathy, and open conversations about mental well-being. To support this initiative, the Community Education Services team, in partnership with Recovery Alberta, is offering nine free sessions throughout May for educators and caregivers. These sessions cover a variety of topics related to children’s mental health. To view the full schedule and register, please click here.
Teacher Appreciation Week 2025
Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 in Canada is observed from Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 9, with Teacher Appreciation Day falling on Tuesday, May 6. This week serves as a special time to recognize and celebrate the dedication and hard work of educators across the country.
There are many simple ways families can help show appreciation - a heartfelt thank-you note, a handmade card, or even a few kind words shared at drop-off or pick-up. One especially meaningful idea is to have your child share a specific memory or something they’ve enjoyed learning with their teacher - either in writing or in person. These personal reflections go a long way and don’t cost a thing.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating the incredible work our teachers do!
OWL’s NEST Book Fair Starts Monday!
We’re excited to remind families that our OWL’s NEST BOOK FAIR kicks off this Monday, May 5, and will run through Friday, May 9 at Capitol Hill School! Each class will have a chance to visit the book fair during the week, and students are welcome to purchase books that catch their interest.
This is our first time partnering with Owl’s Nest Books, Calgary’s oldest independent bookstore, and we’re really looking forward to the experience. That said, we’ll be learning as we go - so thanks in advance for your patience and flexibility! A staff member from Owl’s Nest will be on site to help students with purchases, and our wonderful library assistant, Ms. Ploeger, will also be there to lend a hand.
Please note that Owl’s Nest focuses mainly on books - you won’t see the usual extras like pencils, erasers, or posters that some other book fairs have offered in the past.
Book Fair Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 8:30 AM – 11:40 AM
- Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:40 PM
If you're coming to see your child’s Dance Residency Celebration of Learning, we encourage you to stop by the book fair before or after the performance - it’s a great chance to browse and support literacy at Capitol Hill!
If you're sending money or cash with your child, please take a moment to talk about safe and responsible ways to carry it (e.g., not showing it to others, keeping it in a zipped backpack or pocket). A simple solution is to place the money in a labeled Ziploc bag with your child’s name and the amount enclosed.
Prefer to shop from home? You can browse an even bigger selection on the Owl’s Nest Books website. Don’t forget to use the promo code CAPITOL at checkout to ensure your purchase supports our school - plus, they offer free delivery!
We’re looking forward to a great week of book browsing and reading - thanks for supporting this new literacy event at Capitol Hill!
Havana Cuban Dance Celebrations of Learning
We are excited to invite families to our Celebration of Learning dance performances, where students will showcase the amazing moves they’ve learned from Marcos and Nicole of Havana Cuban Dance Studio! There will be two shows on Friday, May 9, featuring different groups of classes.
The first show (starting at 10:00 AM) will include performances from students in the classes of Mr. Evan (Careclakis), Ms. Gordon, Ms. Rojas, Ms. Charland & Ms. Bell, Ms. Charlesworth, Ms. Moore, Ms. Kearns (Group A), Ms. Hildenbrand, as well as our afternoon Kindergarten students.
The second show (starting at 11:15 AM) will feature students from Ms. Gosse, Ms. Adharsingh, Ms. Kooner, Ms. Berg, Ms. Keys, Ms. Kearns (Group B), and Ms. Drever. (Our morning Kindergarten students will have a special presentation earlier in the week, as they do not attend school on May 9.)
Don’t forget to stop by our Owl’s Nest Book Fair before or after your child’s performance - we look forward to celebrating this joyful culmination of learning with you!
Spring Concert: “A Night in the Jungle” - May 14 & 15
Our upcoming Spring Concert, titled “A Night in the Jungle,” will take place on May 14 and May 15. Under the direction of Ms. Whitehead, students have been putting in a lot of effort to prepare a fun and engaging performance for families.
To accommodate all of our students and guests - and to follow fire regulations - we’ll be spreading the performances over two evenings, with different classes performing each night.
We’ll be sending out detailed information on Monday, May 5, including ticket details, which classes are performing when, showtimes, and other important reminders. Please check your email on Monday for everything you need to know.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the show!
RSVP for the Volunteer Appreciation Tea
We are excited to invite you to our annual Volunteer Appreciation Tea on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the school gymnasium!
This is our chance to say a big THANK YOU to all the amazing volunteers who helped make this year so special. Whether you supported School Council or CHEES, helped organize school events like our Halloween Dance, lent a hand in classrooms, sorted and delivered Fun Lunches, supervised field trips or off-site activities like swimming, urban walks, the Calgary Zoo, Telus Spark, Sam Centre, or contributed to fundraising efforts like our Casino fundraiser (and so much more!) - we are truly grateful.
Whether you're a parent, guardian, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or just a fantastic human who stepped up to volunteer this year, we hope you’ll join us for some tea, coffee, light fare, delicious treats, beautiful student artwork, and musical entertainment.
To help us plan, please RSVP by filling out this short form: https://forms.office.com/r/J9TWfLXTD4
(We kindly ask for responses by May 16, 2025.)
If you know someone who volunteered this year but may not be on the school's email list, please feel free to share this message and the RSVP link with them too!
Educational Transition Requests for 2025–26
As we start planning for next school year, our staff will soon begin the thoughtful process of creating balanced class groupings. We take into account many factors - including student input, learning needs, and social dynamics - to help set everyone up for success. Each year, we also invite families to share insights that might support their child's transition.
If there’s anything you’d like us to consider (such as learning needs, peer dynamics, or other helpful information), please complete the Educational Transition Request Form by Friday, May 23, 2025. While we can’t accommodate requests for specific teachers - teaching assignments may change, and all of our educators are incredible - we do appreciate your perspective.
You can find the form here: https://forms.office.com/r/PWDZgB21EK
Leaving Capitol Hill School for 2025–26?
Are you planning to leave Capitol Hill School at the end of this school year? Whether your family is moving, your child is transferring to a new school, or you’re heading off on an exciting adventure, we’d greatly appreciate a heads-up so we can plan ahead for the next school year.
Please take a moment to complete the form linked below. Your early notice helps us prepare effectively - thank you! The form can accessed here: https://forms.office.com/r/DZDHgjsc25
Note: If your child is in Grade 6 and transitioning to junior high, there's no need to fill out the form - we already have that information.
If you’ve already submitted this form earlier this spring, there’s no need to complete it again.
Ms. Gratto’s May Calendar is Ready!
Looking to stay on top of all the upcoming events at Capitol Hill School? Ms. Gratto’s May calendar is now available! This helpful, printable calendar provides a quick overview of what’s happening throughout the month and is a great tool for keeping your family organized.
You can download your copy here and pin it up at home for easy reference. For the most current updates, don’t forget to also check the school website calendar, where you can subscribe and have events synced directly to your device.
Thanks again to Ms. Gratto for helping us all stay informed and on track!
Upcoming Dates
May 4 - Star Wars Day! May the Fourth Be With You!
May 5-9 - Owl’s Nest Book Fair
May 6 - Hats On! For Mental Heath & Yoga Sessions
May 6 - Teacher Appreciation Day
May 8 - Fun Lunch (Edo Japan)
May 9 - Havana Cuban Dance Celebrations of Learning
May 11 - Mother’s Day
May 14 & 15 - Spring Concert (more information to come)
May 14 & 15 - Grade 5 ALS Fundraiser
May 16 - Non-Instructional Day (no classes)
May 19 - Victoria Day (school closed)
May 20 - World Bee Day (Did you know CHS is a recognized Bee School?)
May 22 - Fun Lunch (Boston Pizza)
May 22 - Earth Rangers Presentation (K-6)
May 22 - School Council & CHEES meeting (Final meeting of year)
May 28 - Grade 6 PAT: ELAL Part A (Written)
May 29 - Volunteer Appreciation Tea – 10:00 AM