Open House Recap – A Wonderful Evening!
We had an incredible turnout for our Open House last night, with so many parents coming together to meet teachers, say hello, and reconnect with fellow community members. The strength and spirit of our Capitol Hill School community were on full display, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere throughout the evening.
A special highlight of the night was the Book Fair, which was a huge success, though a little busy at times! We are deeply grateful to our amazing library assistant, Ms. Ploeger, for her tireless efforts in making the event run smoothly. At last count, we had over $4,500 in sales, which means plenty of new books and resources coming soon to our school!
Thank you to everyone who came out to support this event and for being an essential part of our Capitol Hill School community. Your engagement truly makes a difference!
School Council & CHEES AGM Recap
We had a fantastic first meeting of our School Council and Capitol Hill Elementary Enhancement Society (CHEES) last night, which also served as the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for both groups. During the AGM, our new School Council and CHEES executives were elected.
School Council Executive:
- Chair: Frederique Oberlin
- Co-Chair: Jeri-lyn Zbytnuik
- Secretary: Jess Voykin
- Key Communicator: Lori Bain
- Volunteer Coordinator: Vacant
- Geodome Coordinator: Pam McHugh
CHEES Executive:
- Chair: Chris Laasen
- Co-Chair: Vacant
- Treasurer: Amber Kirby
- Secretary: Jess Voykin
- Casino Coordinator: Maja Frew
Congratulations to all our newly elected members, and a heartfelt thank you to last year’s executive members for their hard work and dedication in making Capitol Hill School a wonderful place to learn and grow!
Minutes from the meetings will be posted on the school's website each month, along with the agenda for upcoming meetings as they approach. We’d like to remind all members of our school community that you are welcome to attend these meetings. It’s a great opportunity to learn about school happenings, provide feedback, and offer your perspective to both the administration and fellow community members. Thank you to our School Council and CHEES for all the incredible work you do to support Capitol Hill School and its students!
Orange Shirt Day Reflection: A Day of Learning and Connection
On Wednesday, September 25, our school came together to commemorate Orange Shirt Day, a day dedicated to honouring the Indigenous children who were affected by the residential school system and to deepening our connection to the land. The day was filled with meaningful activities that helped students reflect on the significance of the day and their relationship with the land we share.
One of the highlights of the day was the sit spot activity. Each class signed up for a designated time to head outdoors, where students sat quietly in nature, taking time to be mindful and connect with the land. This land-based learning experience allowed students to reflect on their surroundings, appreciate the natural world, and feel a sense of peace as they considered the significance of Orange Shirt Day. Even our youngest learners, the kindergartners, took part in this calming and reflective activity, making it a day that truly involved the whole school.
In a touching gesture, our kindergarten students also played a special role by painting orange rocks for every student in the school. Each rock served as a tangible reminder of the day’s significance, with students carrying them to their sit spots and later choosing a place to leave them where they felt a personal connection to the land. This simple yet powerful act emphasized the theme of the day: connecting to the land in meaningful ways.
In addition to the sit spots and orange rocks, each classroom worked together to create their own land acknowledgments. These student-created acknowledgments showed thoughtful reflection and a deepened understanding of the land we live and learn on. The land acknowledgments have been displayed on one of our bulletin boards for all to see, a proud reminder of our school's commitment to understanding and honouring Indigenous cultures.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ms. Gordon, Ms. Keys, and Ms. Dreyer for organizing and guiding us through this incredible day of learning, reflection, and connection. It was truly a day to remember as we worked together to honour the past, connect with the present, and look toward a better future.
While there is no school on Monday in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, there are many meaningful events happening around Calgary. One notable location hosting events is The Confluence (formerly Fort Calgary). You can learn more about their activities for Orange Shirt Day by visiting: theconfluence.ca/events/orange-shirt-day.
CHS Kicks Off First Student Voice Meeting
This past Thursday, CHS held its first-ever Student Voice meeting, giving students a chance to share their thoughts and ideas about our school directly with administration. The group, which will meet monthly with different student reps each time, is all about building belonging and giving students a platform to talk about what's important to them.
During the meeting, students covered all sorts of topics—everything from soccer issues at recess and Halloween excitement to the quality of the toilet paper! They also shared how much they appreciated the orange rocks from the Kindergarten students for Orange Shirt Day, and how meaningful they were in connecting to the day’s message.
Ideas for future Spirit Days were thrown around too, with fun suggestions like Crayon Day (where everyone wears bright colours) and Be the Teacher Day. Students also had a chance to talk about October’s Seven Sacred Teaching, which is "Wisdom", as taught by the Beaver.
We’re excited to see where Student Voice takes us this year!
Alien Inline Skating Residency Starts Soon!
We are excited to share that the Alien Inline Skating Residency will begin next week, running from October 1st through October 17th. As part of our Physical Education program, this exciting opportunity will once again be offered to our students, allowing them to learn and practice inline skating during school hours. Lessons are scheduled for October 1-3, 7-10, and 15-17, 2024. Please check the attached schedule for your child's specific class dates.
The program will be led by skilled instructors from Alien In-Line, offering lessons focused on skating safety, skill development, and fun free-skating time. Please note that students must have returned the Acknowledgement of Risk and Consent Forms that were sent home earlier this week in order to participate. If you haven't yet submitted the form, please do so promptly, as students will not be able to skate without it. Please check the schedule to see the days that your child will be skating.
A big thank you to our School Council and CHEES for generously funding this engaging and active experience for our students!
Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser – Friday, October 11
Mark your calendars! On Friday, October 11th, we’ll be holding our Mathnasium-sponsored Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser. Mathnasium has generously provided pumpkins, and you can pick one up after school in exchange for a donation. It’s a great way to get your pumpkin ready for carving just in time for the weekend while supporting our school – all proceeds go directly back to Capitol Hill School!
We are also looking for volunteers to assist with picking up the pumpkins on the morning of the fundraiser. Volunteers will collect them from Superstore, and Mr. K will coordinate with our organizer, Daisy. If you’re available to help, please reach out to Mr. K at bakwiatkowski@cbe.ab.ca.
Mathnasium will be set up near the grade 3/4 doors by the playground after school on Friday. Be sure to stop by, grab a pumpkin, and support this fantastic fundraiser!
Thank you for your continued support – we hope to see you on the 11th!
Casino Fundraiser – Volunteers Needed!
Our School Council’s biggest fundraiser is just around the corner, and we need your help to make it a success! Every two years, we are fortunate to receive a time slot to volunteer at a casino, which raises the majority of the funds used to support a wide range of programs and activities at our school. This year, our Casino dates are December 6th and 7th, with all shifts taking place at Ace Casino Airport.
The funds raised from this event – typically between $50,000 and $75,000 – are crucial in supporting initiatives such as Inline Skating, Artists in Residence, new technology, books, art supplies, and sports equipment. Without this fundraising, we wouldn’t be able to provide these enriching opportunities for our students.
How can you help?
Volunteering for the Casino fundraiser is simple! You don’t need any special skills or prior experience – all training is provided by the casino staff on the day of your shift. Plus, you can sign up with a friend or family member, and you’ll receive a free meal during your shift. It's an easy and rewarding way to support our school community!
We need a minimum of 36 volunteers, plus 6 backups. To choose your shift and role, please visit the following link to sign up: Casino Volunteer Sign-Up
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Thank you in advance for helping to support Capitol Hill School’s programming – we couldn’t do it without you!
Save the Date – Halloween Dance!
Mark your calendars for our spooktacular Halloween Dance on Thursday, October 24th! Hosted by School Council & CHEES, this event will feature a DJ, lights, a fog machine, delicious treats, pizza, and drinks—all for the incredibly low cost of just $2!
We can’t wait to see everyone in their amazing costumes as we celebrate Halloween with fun, music, and great food. It’s going to be a frightfully fantastic night, so be sure to join us for an evening of fun and festivities! See you on the 24th!
Upcoming Dates
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
Oct. 3-17 – Alien In-line Skating – see schedule for details
Oct. 5 – Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch Orders due (Papa Johns)
Oct. 10 – Fun Lunch – Papa Johns
Oct. 17 – School Council & CHEES meeting @ 6:00 PM
Oct. 21 – Picture Day
Oct. 24 – Halloween Dance
Oct. 25 – Non-Instructional Day – no school
Please refer to the school calendar on the website for the most detailed and up to date information. For a basic PDF copy of our school’s year calendar, you can download a copy here.