Thanks for Coming Out to the Volunteer Tea!
We had a fantastic time at our Volunteer Appreciation Tea yesterday - it was such a great chance to slow down for a moment, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea together, and say thank you to all the amazing folks who’ve supported our school this year. From field trips to fundraisers, classroom help to fun lunch sorting - our volunteers really do it all, and it was great to come together and show our appreciation.
A big shout-out to our Volunteer Tea Teacher Committee for planning and organizing, and to our Grade 5 crew who did an awesome job serving treats and keeping everyone’s teacups full. We were also lucky to be serenaded by the school choir, led by Ms. Whitehead, and some very brave and talented student soloists from across the grades - they really brought something special to the morning. Thanks again to everyone who came out, and to all of our volunteers - we couldn’t do it without you!
CHS Students Lead the Way in French Language Learning
We’re incredibly proud to share some exciting news: for the second year in a row, Capitol Hill School will be the largest feeder school for the Late French Immersion program at Branton School for the upcoming school year. This is a remarkable achievement and a reflection of the enthusiasm, dedication, and confidence our students have developed in learning French during their time here.
We recently received a thoughtful message from Sébastien Picard, Principal at Branton, recognizing the outstanding work happening at Capitol Hill. He highlighted the impact of our French teacher, Mr. Sager, and the welcoming, language-rich environment we’ve cultivated together as a school community. We’re so grateful for this recognition and for the ongoing support and partnership with Branton.
Our French as a Second Language program at Capitol Hill is built around the Neurolinguistic Approach (NLA) and the Literacy Loop model, which emphasize speaking, listening, reading, and writing in meaningful, authentic ways. This approach has clearly resonated with students and families alike, helping to foster a love of French language and culture.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to share that we’ve already submitted our application for OLEP funding for the 2025-2026 school year. Our proposal includes an exciting new partnership with Cambrian Heights School, where we hope to expand our successful model and continue growing student engagement with French across the CBE. Our shared goal is to help more students discover the joy of learning French and to prepare them for a seamless and enthusiastic transition into Late French Immersion.
Thank you to all of our families for supporting this important work - we’re so proud of what our students are accomplishing!
Fall Planning Update: Straight Grades Ahead!
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the families who took the time to complete our recent survey or reached out directly with your thoughts and questions. Your feedback was thoughtful, honest, and deeply appreciated. It’s clear that our community is engaged and committed to what’s best for students—not just academically, but socially, emotionally, and in terms of overall school experience.
We had a strong response to the survey, and it was clear from the comments that families are thinking deeply about how different classroom structures might impact learning, peer relationships, and teacher capacity. Many of you shared support for our teachers, recognition of the challenges they face, and thoughtful questions about how to balance flexibility with stability.
Based on what we heard from families and teachers - and with current student registration numbers in mind - we are planning for a straight grade structure for the 2025–26 school year, with two classrooms at each grade level. We believe this best supports student learning and teacher well-being, at this time. Of course, we’ll continue to monitor registrations and will keep families informed if anything changes. Once again, thank you for your engagement and partnership - it truly makes a difference in the way we plan and grow as a school.
Thank You Garden Clean-Up Volunteers!
A big thank you to all the wonderful CHS families who signed up to help out with our Garden Clean-Up tomorrow! As always, when the call goes out, our community steps up - and it looks like we’ve got a solid crew ready to roll up their sleeves and help spruce up our front garden beds and geodome area.
If you have a spare shovel, hoe, rake, garden shears, gloves, or any other handy tools, feel free to bring them along - they’ll definitely come in useful! Still thinking about joining in? There’s room for a few more helping hands! You can sign up here: Garden Clean-Up Sign Up Genius
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM. Don’t forget your sunscreen, water bottle, and community spirit!
Stampede Pancake Breakfast – Just a Few Days Away!
We’re only a few short days away from our Stampede Pancake Breakfast, and we’re looking forward to welcoming students, families, staff, and community members for a fun and delicious morning together!
The event will take place on Tuesday, June 3, from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM on the school field. Thanks to the Calgary Stampede Downtown Attractions Committee, along with support from CHS staff, we’ll be serving up fresh pancakes and halal turkey sausages, complete with syrup, cutlery, and napkins.
Families are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on, as well as water bottles, since drinks are not provided. If your child is attending without a parent (e.g., arriving by bus, part of Adventurers, or being dropped off), don’t worry - staff will be outside supervising from 8:20 AM onward, and all students will be included in the fun.
This is still a regular school day, so after breakfast wraps up at around 9:30 AM, we’ll ring the bell and students will head inside with their class to begin the day. Formal attendance will be taken once students are back in their classrooms.
We’re excited to kick off our Stampede Spirit Day with this community event and are grateful for everyone’s support in helping to make it a success. Don’t forget to dress for the weather - and if you feel like adding a little western flair to your outfit, go for it! We can’t wait to see you there!
June Outdoor Lunch & Recess Plan
Starting Tuesday, June 3, Capitol Hill School will be launching a new outdoor lunch and recess routine for all students, weather permitting. With the warmer days ahead, we’re excited to give students more opportunities to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine during the lunch break!
Here’s what families need to know:
- All grades will be outside at the same time for both eating lunch and playing.
- Students will eat lunch first in designated areas with their classmates and a supervisor.
- After eating, students can leave their lunch items in a safe, assigned spot and head off to enjoy recess activities.
- Supervisors will be stationed across all outside areas to ensure safety and support.
Students are encouraged to bring:
- A hat
- Sunscreen (applied before school)
- A small blanket or towel to sit on, if desired
- A water bottle
We’ll continue with this outdoor model throughout the month of June, as long as the weather cooperates. It’s a great chance for students to take advantage of our beautiful outdoor space, move around more freely, and enjoy a relaxed midday break. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your support as we roll out this exciting end-of-year change!
Ms. Gratto’s June Calendar of Events
Ms. Gratto’s June Calendar of Events is now available for families! It’s a great way to stay on top of everything happening at Capitol Hill School as we wrap up the school year.
You can download the calendar here, and don’t forget to check the school website calendar for the most up-to-date information and any last-minute changes.
Thanks to Ms. Gratto for helping keep us organized right through to the final bell in June!
Upcoming Dates
May 31 - School Garden Clean-Up (Saturday 9:00 AM)
June 2 - AHS Vaccinations (Multiple Grades)
June 3 - Stampede Breakfast & Spirit Day 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
June 5 - Fun Lunch (Mucho Burrito)
June 10-11 K – Gr. 2 Fluoride Treatments
June 13 - Grade 6 PAT: Math Part A (Operations)
June 13 - IPPs sent home for final review and signature
June 16 - Grade 6 PAT: ELAL Part B
June 17 - Grade 6 PAT: Math Part B
June 18 - Grade 6 PAT: Social Studies
June 18 - Deadline to return IPP final review signature pages
June 18 - Food Trucks and Families Event presented by School Council (3:30 PM - 5:30 PM)
June 20 - Sports & Activity Day (Both AM & PM Kindergarten classes attend on this Friday!)
June 23 - CHS Annual Mini Golf Experience (Put on by Grade 5)
June 24 - Grade 6 Farewell - 9:00 AM
June 25 - Report Cards available for viewing in MyCBE
June 26 - Last Day of Classes – Early Dismissal at 12:41 PM
June 27 - Appeals Day until 12:00 PM
June 27 - Main Office closes for Summer Break – 12:00 PM