Terry Fox School Run
What an incredible day we had at Capitol Hill School! Despite the rain coming down hard as we ran, we rocked the Terry Fox School Run, and Terry would have been so proud of the perseverance and spirit our students showed. We had hoped the weather would hold, but with safety in mind, we called the run off early. However, our dedicated students and families still managed to get a few laps in, showing true resilience in the face of challenges—just like Terry. A special shout-out goes to the students from Ms. Moore’s and Ms. Adarsingh’s classes, who showed great courage by presenting in front of the entire school during the assembly. A huge thank you to all the parents who came out and ran with their children. Your participation highlights the wonderful sense of community we have here at CHS. As of today, we have raised over $750 for the Terry Fox Foundation and cancer research. Donations can still be made online at https://schools.terryfox.ca/CapitolHill. We appreciate everyone's support in making this event a memorable and meaningful one!
Lockdown Practice on Monday
A reminder that we will practicing our first lockdown drill of the year on Monday, at 2:00 PM, with CPS Cst. Mark Enzies and his team. We ask that community members avoid coming to the school for approximately 30 minutes around that time as the drill will be underway and we will be unable to answer doors and phones. As was shared earlier, these drills are part of our Emergency Response Plan, developed in partnership with the Calgary Police Service, to prepare for situations that might require students and staff to shelter inside the school. Schools conduct two lockdown drills each year - one between the first day of school and December 15, and another between January 1 and June 15. Practicing these procedures ensures that students and staff know how to respond calmly and quickly if such an event were ever to occur.
Here’s what happens during a lockdown drill:
- When the lockdown is announced, students and staff remain in their classrooms or move to the nearest secure location. All doors are locked, and windows are covered to maintain safety and visibility control.
- Everyone is instructed to remain silent and away from windows and doors. Teachers ensure that all students are out of sight and follow protocols to keep everyone secure.
- Lockdown drills are conducted at different times of the day, so students and staff can practice responding in a variety of situations - whether they are in class, the hallway, or the lunchroom.
- The administration works closely with staff and law enforcement to review the effectiveness of each drill and make any necessary improvements.
Orange Shirt Day
Next week on Wednesday, September 25, we will observe and celebrate Orange Shirt Day (which officially falls on September 30th and is now recognized as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation). The day honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. Our recognition of and reflection on the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is an important part of our learning journey.
The “orange shirt” in Orange Shirt Day refers to the new shirt that Phyllis Webstad was given to her by her grandmother for her first day of school at St. Joseph’s Mission residential school in British Columbia. When Phyllis got to school, they took away her clothes, including her new orange shirt, which was never returned. In next week’s update, we will share some specific ReconciliACTIONS that Capitol Hill School staff and students took to honour this day. We invite all school community members – students, staff, and families – to wear the colour orange, next Wednesday.
Fun Lunch through Healthy Hunger Returns
Our first Fun Lunch of the year is happening on Thursday, September 26, and we’ll be featuring Subway! Thanks to Amber Kirby and our School Council for organizing this program, which will continue every second Thursday (except in December and June). To participate, please register your child with Healthy Hunger—an easy-to-use online platform that simplifies lunch ordering for families. Healthy Hunger provides access to local restaurants, offering convenient lunch options while also supporting school fundraising.
To ensure your child is included in this Fun Lunch, all orders must be placed and paid for by Saturday, September 21, at 11:59 p.m. Please note that no exceptions can be made after the cut-off. For step-by-step instructions on how to register, please check out https://healthyhunger.ca/parent-help.
OurSCHOOL Student Survey for Grs. 4, 5, 6
Capitol Hill School will be administering the OurSCHOOL Student Survey during the week of September 23 - 27. This survey, which is voluntary and anonymous, allows Div. II students to share their perspectives on important topics such as their sense of belonging, relationships, anxiety, feeling safe at school, life satisfaction, general health, well-being, goal orientation, self-regulation, and cultural awareness of others. The survey responses will help guide decisions at both the school and system levels, ensuring that our students feel supported and safe while at school. Students in Grades 6 will provide additional feedback on issues like depression, self-esteem, and cultural awareness of themselves. The survey also includes demographic questions that help norm the data across various student groups, including age, gender, Indigenous status, immigrant status, and home language. If you have any questions or would like more details, please reach out to Mr. K at bakwiatkowski@cbe.ab.ca. We look forward to hearing your child's voice as part of our ongoing commitment to student well-being.
Meet our Teachers at Sept. 26 Open House
A reminder that CHS will be hosting its annual Open House next Thursday, September 26, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. This event is structured to allow parents with children in different grades to attend multiple presentations. Grade-level teams will be presenting at the following times: Division 1 (Grades 1, 2, 3) will present at 4:00 PM and again at 5:00 PM, while Division 2 (Grades 4, 5, 6) will present at 4:30 PM and again at 5:30 PM. The presentations will cover topics such as curriculum plans, field trips, classroom routines, and what to generally expect this year. There is no need to attend both presentations, as each grade team will be repeating the same content at their second time slot.
Before and after the presentations, teachers will be available in their classrooms for informal visits with families. However, this is not an opportunity for discussing student-specific concerns, such as Individualized Program Plans (IPPs). Teachers will reach out to families individually to schedule private meetings to discuss supports and accommodations for students on IPPs. We look forward to welcoming families and sharing our plans for the year ahead!
Book Fair at Capitol Hill School
The Scholastic Book Fair carts rolled in the school this week, ready to be unpacked and set up for next week! Running from September 23-26, this year’s book fair will be held in the Intellectual Development Centre (IDC), located across from the office. Families can expect a great selection of books for students of all ages. Purchases can be made during the public portion of the fair, which will be open during our Open House on September 26 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. During the week, however, students will have the opportunity to peruse the book fair with their class, make note of titles they are interested in, and build up the excitement.
As part of our efforts to streamline the process, we are going cashless this year. All purchases can be made using credit card, debit card, or ApplePay—no cash will be accepted. (Please do not send any form of payment to school with students, as the only opportunity to make purchases will be during Thursday’s Open House.) This event is not only a wonderful way to foster a love of reading, but it is also a fundraiser for our school. Proceeds will go towards adding new titles and resources to our school library, benefiting students for years to come.
Ms. Ploeger, our library assistant, is still looking for parent volunteers to help out with Thursday evening portion of the event – if you are willing and available, please sign up for a 30 minute slot using the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FA8AC2BA3FEC43-51372645-scholastic
School Council & CHEES
We invite all parents, caregivers, and guardians to join us for our first School Council and Capitol Hill Elementary Enhancement Society (CHEES) meeting of the school year on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 6:00 PM. This meeting will take place immediately after our Open House and is a great opportunity to meet the new School Council members, hear from our new principal, and learn about exciting events and initiatives planned for the year ahead. Attending the School Council meeting is a fantastic way to get involved, share ideas, and help shape the direction of our school. Your voice matters, and we encourage everyone to participate! For more details, visit the School Council page on our website. You can also review the minutes from our May 2024 meeting and view the agenda for the upcoming meeting. We look forward to seeing you on September 26th!
Upcoming Dates
Sept. 21 – Fun Lunch ordering deadline for Subway
Sept. 23-26 – Scholastic Book Fair
Sept. 25 – Orange Shirt Day
Sept. 26 – Fun Lunch - Subway
Sept. 26 – Meet the Teacher Open House (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Sept. 26 – School Council & CHEES (6:00 PM)
Sept. 27 – Non-Instructional Day – No School
Sept. 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – No School
Oct. 2 – Grade 3 Off-Site Activity at Sam Centre
Oct. 3 – Kindergarten Off-SIte Activity at Leighton Art Centre