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Welcome Back!

It’s been a smooth start to the school year, and we want to thank our students, families, and staff for helping everything get off the ground so well. It’s great to see everyone back and settling in. This is our second year of sharing weekly school updates through the Capitol Hill Connection. Each week, usually on Friday afternoon, you’ll receive the full update by email, and we’ll also post it on our school website so you can access it anytime. The website version includes a Google Translate option in the top-right corner, which makes it easier for families who prefer to read in another language. Thanks for being part of our community, and we're looking forward to a fantastic year ahead!

Kicking Off the School Year

Our first assembly of the school year was a great way to start 2025–26, bringing students and staff together to celebrate being back at Capitol Hill School! There was a buzz of excitement in the gym as we welcomed both returning students and those joining our school community for the first time.

We introduced our fantastic staff team, including several new faces: Ms. Schachtner (Grade 6), Ms. Thibault (Grade 6), Ms. Kisil (Grade 5), Ms. Eidse (Educational Assistant), Ms. Bielert (Library Assistant), and Ms. Searle (Acting Assistant Principal).

A special surprise highlight was a visit from Mr. K, who stopped by to say a warm farewell to students before returning to his new role as Assistant Principal at Sir John A. Macdonald Junior High. It was wonderful for students and staff to have a chance to see him again and wish him well in person!

To close, we reflected on our Pillars of Care - care for ourselves, care for others, and care for our place - which help guide how we learn and grow together throughout the year. It was a great way to launch into the year ahead, and we’re excited for all that’s to come!

Check the School Website First

If you're ever looking for information, the school website should be your first stop. It’s where we post all of our updates, including this weekly message, and it’s also home to our online calendar, which is the most up-to-date source for school events. Whether you’re checking dates, looking for announcements, or trying to find general info, the website is the best place to start. It’s a quick and reliable way to stay connected to what’s going on at school.

Visitor Reminders: Safety and Student Independence

Keeping our school safe and supporting student independence are both important parts of how we operate at Capitol Hill School. All visitors, including parents and caregivers, must check in at the main office and sign in before entering the building. This helps us know who’s in the school at all times and keeps the learning environment secure and focused.

We’re also encouraging students to walk to class on their own and manage their belongings independently. These small steps help build confidence and responsibility. We ask that families support this by saying goodbye outside and letting students enter on their own whenever possible.

If you're dropping off or picking up your child from Adventurers School Age Care, please wait at the door rather than entering the building.  Thanks for your ongoing support in helping us keep the school safe, calm, and focused for everyone.

Student Safety During Drop-Off & Pick-Up Times

Keeping students safe during pick-up and drop-off is a shared responsibility, and we appreciate your help. Please remind your children to use crosswalks, watch for traffic, and avoid distractions like headphones when walking near the school. If you're driving, be extra careful in the school zone, stick to speed limits, and avoid distracted driving.

A quick but important reminder: the staff parking lot is for staff only. Families should not use it for parking, dropping off, picking up, or even walking through. It’s a busy space during peak times, and keeping it clear helps keep everyone safe.

Reminder: Away for the Day – Personal Device Policy

A reminder that the "Away for the Day" policy is now in place for all Alberta schools, including ours. Students in Kindergarten to Grade 9 are expected to keep personal mobile devices like phones, smartwatches, tablets, and earbuds out of sight, silenced, and stored during the school day - or ideally, left at home. This policy supports student focus and well-being by minimizing distractions during learning time. As always, there are exceptions for health, medical, or specific learning needs. Social media access is also blocked on CBE networks and devices.

Reminder: No Dogs on School Property

A quick reminder that dogs are not allowed on school property, unless they are accredited service animals. While we know many families love bringing their dogs along for school drop-off or pick-up, this rule is in place to help keep all students, staff, and families safe. Some students may be allergic or fearful, and even well-behaved dogs can act unpredictably in busy spaces. Thanks for your understanding and for helping us keep the school grounds safe and comfortable for everyone.

First School Council Meeting – September 17

Our first School Council meeting of the year is coming up on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM. School Council is a great way for parents, caregivers, and guardians to stay connected, share ideas, and work alongside staff to support our school community.

Whether you're a returning member or thinking about attending for the first time, all are welcome. We'll be setting the tone for the year, sharing goals, and starting conversations that help shape the school experience for our students. For more details, visit the School Council page on our website. Hope to see you there!

Walking Trips in the Community

Throughout the year, classes may head out on short walking trips to nearby parks, libraries, or other community spaces that support learning. These local outings don’t require transportation and are a great way to connect classroom learning with the world around us.

Under CBE guidelines, consent forms are not required for walking-distance trips that don’t involve restricted activities (like swimming). Teachers will always give at least 48 hours' notice before any trip and will send details through SchoolMessenger, including the date, time, location, possible risks, and which staff members will be supervising. For more information on the types of places we may visit and the guidelines we follow, please see the Trips Within Walking Distance annual letter.

Library Visits Start Next Week

We’re looking forward to kicking off weekly library visits starting next week with our library assistant, Ms. Bielert. These visits give students time to explore books, build research skills, and develop responsibility as library users.

Each class will start with a short orientation, where students will learn how to find books, check them out using the computer, and take care of their borrowed materials. Books are loaned for two weeks and can be renewed if needed. Also, books must be returned before more can be loaned out. Teachers will provide reminders to students and families about when students’ library visits are occurring.

We encourage families to help students keep books in a safe spot at home - away from water, pets, and little ones. If a book gets damaged, students should let Ms. Bielert know right away.

Library use connects to our Pillars of Care: returning books on time shows care for others, and taking care of books and shared spaces shows care for our place. If a book is overdue, Ms. Bielert will give a friendly reminder. In rare cases where a book is lost or books are repeatedly damaged, a fee may be added to your child’s MyCBE account.

Reminder: Complete Your Annual School Forms

Each year, families are asked to review and update important student information. If you haven’t already done so, please complete the Demographic Verification and Annual Authorization forms in SchoolEngage by Monday, September 15. These forms are required each year to confirm Alberta Education funding for your child.

You can access SchoolEngage through your MyCBE account - the same place you go to pay fees, book conferences, or register to volunteer. If you don’t have an account yet, visit the MyCBE page

 and click Create a MyCBE Account.

Here’s a quick look at what’s included:

·         Demographic Verification: Confirms your child’s registration and updates contact details

·         Citizenship Update: Only appears if you make changes to citizenship info

·         Annual Authorization: Combines permissions for use of student info by CBE and third parties

We appreciate the families who have already completed their forms — thank you!

Labeling Student Personal Items and Belongings

As we begin the school year, we encourage all families to clearly label their child’s belongings. Items like water bottles, lunch containers, hoodies, and indoor shoes are frequently misplaced at school, and labeling helps ensure they can be quickly returned to the right student.

To make this process easier, families can use Mabel’s Labels, which offers durable, waterproof labels suitable for everything from clothing to school supplies. If you choose to order through the Mabel’s Labels fundraising page and select Capitol Hill Elementary School (Calgary) as your school, a portion of the proceeds will go directly toward supporting school programs.

You can find the fundraiser at www.mabelslabels.ca by clicking “Support a Fundraiser” and searching for our school name.

Field Access and Dry Pond Construction Update

You may have noticed some changes to the east side of our school field over the summer. Construction fencing has been installed around the new soccer pitch area, where work has been completed to level the field and lay fresh sod. While we were originally hoping to access this space this fall, we’ve now been informed that the fencing will remain in place until next year.

In the meantime, students still have access to the west part of the field without leaving school property, using a corridor along the north fence. We continue to stay in touch with CBE and the City of Calgary as the project progresses. The actual dry pond work isn’t scheduled to begin until summer or fall of 2026, once the soccer pitch is ready for school use.

Upcoming Dates

Sept. 17 – Meet the Teacher (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM) – more information to come!

Sept. 17 - School Council & CHEES (6:00 PM)

Sept. 26 – Terry Fox School Run

Sept. 29 – Non-Instructional Day – No School

Sept. 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – No School

For additional and future events, please refer to the website calendar.