Dance Residency to begin Wednesday November 26th, 2014

The long awaited Dance Residency instructed by Pulse Dance Studios will begin Wednesday.  The residency is cross-curricular learning that will include Art, Music, Language Arts, and addresses the individual pursuits  and dance and movement strands of the Physical Education curriculum.  A number of artists will be in the school to work with students around all of these disciplines. Mr. Rattan, our music teacher, has been working with students to provide accompaniment through the use of the school musical instruments and through regular music class instruction.  The exciting outcome of this residency will be that the school will be divided into two performance teams that will present our Winter celebration on the evenings of Wednesday Dec 10th and Thurs Dec 11th . Both performances will begin at 6 p.m.

Parent council will be providing beverages and selling cookies and fundraising after the performance. Winter raffle tickets will be also be sold.  Parents should check the list below to determine when their child is performing. The list provided gives your child's teacher's name and the performance date:

Dec. 10th: P.M Kindergarten (Hay), Young, Gaspar, Binks, Laberee Lee, Sadowsky, Anderson, and Paschalis

Dec. 11th: A.M. Kindergarten (Hay and Fisher), Nelson, Brink, Grainger, Maher, Grant, Quon, Tam and Cheng.

We ask that during the residency, students are dressed in appropriate clothing that allows for ease of movement while still providing coverage. Appropriate shoe for dancing will also support student success.

We want to thank Parent Council and the Alberta Foundations for the arts for their support of this residency.  Without the financial support from these sources this residency would not be possible.

DURING THE PERFORMANCE

The level of performance by our school as a whole is expected to be of a high quality and we want to thank families that have made arrangements to attend the performance in its entirety. Our goal is to honour the work of the school and recognize the efforts of all our students here at Beddington Heights.

We will be providing a photo area for parents to use to record their child's performance. If parents wish to use their own camera's or recording devices, we ask that you use this area to avoid disruption of the performance.  Please note, that parents are only to record their own child as there are many children within the school who are unable to be recorded. We ask for your help in protecting the privacy of others in our school community.

So I guess it is time to start wishing you all Happy Holidays and along with your children we look forward to your attendance on Dec, 10th or 11th.

Beddington's Responsiveness to School and Community Safety

With the recent events that have taken place in Ottawa, and the power outages that have occurred this past September, we want to reassure all parents that student safety continues to be planned for proactively at Beddington Heights School, and throughout all CBE schools. "Emergency Response Plans" are revised annually, and are reviewed regularly with staff.  As well as being sent to Area Office, a copy of this document is also sent to Corporate Security downtown.  Fire drills and lockdowns are scheduled and practiced as we move to continually plan for student safety. In addition to lockdowns, we also work closely with our Occupational Health and Safety staff at CBE. This work is continually revisited with safety being a primary concern. We do our best to keep all students safe.

Beddington Heights - New Logo

Schools throughout CBE are given the opportunity to have their logos redesigned when a building is repainted.  Beddington has recently finished being painted, and we have had a new logo designed that reflects both the history of the school, as well as gives a fresh new design that is easily recognizable.   The Beluga tail has remained, but the pillars of care logo, which was no longer accurate (due to having the historical three pillars instead of four) has been replaced by the stylized letters "BHS".  The letters of the school name have given inspiration in the form of three new guiding verbs, which students will work towards. These will be combined  with the pillars of care (Care for Self, Others, Place and Learning) as students continue to develop character throughout their experience with us here at Beddington Heights.  "Believe, Honour and Strive" have been chosen to symbolize inspirational qualities we continue to value  Belief in self and others, honouring what has gone before and what is to come, and striving to be our very best personally and academically will be guiding virtues we will espouse as we move forward as a school community.  The new logo can be found on our webpage and it also found on the back wall of our gymnasium.  We encourage you to take a look.

Free Movie Day at Cineplex Sunridge Spectrum this Saturday!

On Saturday, October 18th, Cineplex is hosting a FREE community day with $2.00 concession items. 100% of proceeds will be going towards "Free the Children".  Please see the flyer below for more information on the movies that are playing and select show times.

Homework in Community Schools

The amount of homework schools assign is regulated by the Calgary Board of Education.  Homework is considered to be an extension of the projects that are worked on in the classroom environment and is usually assigned after the teacher has provided an adequate amount of time for the assignment to be completed in school. “The assignment of formal exercises for completion is the prerogative of the teacher, but every encouragement shall be given to pupils (and parents) to set aside some regular time

each evening for home study.” - Administrative Regulation 3066

The nature and amounts of home study recommended within the Calgary Board of Education's Administrative Regulation 3066 are as follows:

Kindergarten to Grade 3:

“The motivation which comes from parental interest in children's school work can be valuable to a child. Parents and teachers should encourage children to read from books suggested by the school.  Pressures can bring about negative results. No formal assignments shall be made, but from 5 to 10 minutes of systematic study per night is recommended.”

Grades 4 to 6: 

"Formal assignments may be given at the discretion of the teacher, particularly for pupils who need special attention or help, but in general, assignments should be of the reading or study type. Parents should be made aware of the teacher's general requirements with respect to home study, and the Board's expectations as set forth.   No school requirement should exceed 20 minutes in length.”

   

At Beddington Heights, we have listed a number of resources on our school website that can support learning and provide skills practice at: http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b372/students.htm. These can be utilized by parents in the home environment.  You may also find websites or resources that reinforce Math and literacy concepts on your child's homeroom teacher's on-line agenda. You are also encouraged to check the agenda daily for updates. 

Lots of Information!

This week, our students should have brought home many forms in their plastic folder:

- Swimming Forms for grades 1 to 6 (due by Wednesday, September 17th)
- Digital Citizenship agreement / On-Line Agendas Acknowledgement (for grades 1 to 6) (due as soon as possible)
- Allergy Information Handout from our school nurse
- Meet the Teacher Pre-Conference Information Form for grades 1 to 6 (due by Wednesday, September 17th)
- Information about free glasses at Superstore for children 4 to 10 years of age (offer only until September 20th)


Meet the Teacher Conferences will be:
Grades 1 - 6:  
Thursday, September 18th from 3:30-7:30 and Friday, September 19th from 8:00 - noon for grades 1-6.
Kindergarten:
Thursday, September 18th and Friday, September 19th during the day & Thursday evening.

Please see our school website (www.cbe.ab.ca/b372) for information on the Pick-a-Time on-line conference booking system starting at 6:00 am on Monday.  We look forward to seeing you at this month's conferences!

Welcome Back Assembly

Welcome Back Assembly:

Please join us Monday morning, Sept 9th, at 10:30 a.m. for our welcome back assembly. We will be introducing our new teachers to the community, as well as welcoming back our veteran teachers. In addition, we will be introducing our new logo which is on the newly painted gym wall.  The assembly will be a short but important one as we set out to set the tone for the new school year. As always we look forward to seeing as many parents and guardians as possible so that together we continue to provide the best community learning experiences for our students. We hope to see you Tuesday.

School starts Sept 2nd, 8:00 a.m.

Welcome Back!

Both Mrs. Brinson and I want to take this opportunity to welcome you back to Beddington Heights School. We look forward to seeing our students and parents on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m.  Tuesday is a regular school day with children finishing at the regular time (2:30 p.m.). The exception will be kindergarten students who will be using a staggered entry system this week. Reminder information regarding staggered entry should have been forwarded to you through your phone or e-mail. If you have questions regarding this process, please call the school @ 403 777 6610 or come see us in the office.

Our grade 1- 6 teachers will be waiting to greet your child on the compound at approximately 7:45 am. Teachers will have a sign and you will be able to identify and connect with your child's teacher based upon the name provided to you through our automated phone message system. We ask that parents say good-bye to their child outside at the bell and teachers will then escort students into the school and to their classroom.  If you need to see your child at any time during the school day, please come to the office and we will call your child down to the office to meet with you. If you are picking up your child at the end of the day, please arrange a meeting place where you both will meet at the end of the day.

If you would like to receive this blog through email, please look at the top of this page and enter your email address in the white box that allows you to "Follow by Email" so that you can be receive updated blog information automatically.  (All classrooms will be using an on-line student agenda as well, so please click on the "Student Agendas" button on our Beddington Heights home page, and then on your child's teacher's link to access their agenda.  You may also sign up to receive these agenda updates via email by entering your email address in their "Follow by Email" section.)

Staff have been hard at work preparing for your child's arrival and we are excited that you are giving us the opportunity to welcome your child into our learning community. Can't wait to see you on Tuesday.

Mr. Hebert

Summer Camp Opportunities

Within the City of Calgary, there are many opportunities available for children to help keep them busy and active.  Please click HERE for a few options that may be a fit for your family.  

In addition, the City also offers several free options for summer fun:

Lawn Chair Theatre is scheduled to be in Beddington on August 14th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.

Park n' Play (for children 6-12) is scheduled in Beddington July 28 - Aug 1st from 10:00 am - 3:30 pm. 

Stay n' Play (for children 3-5) is scheduled in Beddington July 28 - Aug 1st from 10:00 am - noon.

(Click HERE for more information about the Park n' Play and Stay n' Play opportunities.)

Aboriginal Awareness Week

June 15th to the 21st is Aboriginal Awareness Week here in Calgary.  There are many free activities, such as the POW WOW FESTIVAL down at Shaw Millennium Park.  (Click HERE to view the poster about the event.)

There are also other opportunities available throughout the city. Click HERE to visit the YMCA website to find information about their Aboriginal Buddies program and their Aboriginal Drum and Dance program.

These events are for all families, of all cultures so please feel open and free to check out the events!

Self-Regulation Group

This summer, the Can Learn Society is offering a Self-Regulation Group for Kids on August 18, 20, 25, and 27.  This group will be focused on helping children learn to manage their emotions and behavior, respond to stress, develop strategies for relaxation, and learn to get along with others.  Please click HERE to view the information that will help you register if you are interested.

No Paper Agendas Next Year

Next year, we will not be using coiled paper agendas at Beddington Heights School.  Instead, every classroom will use a DIGITAL agenda /blog. You will be able to find your child’s teacher’s agenda / blog by going to our home page, clicking "School Blogs" and then clicking the link for your teacher’s blog. (http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b372/)

Because paper agendas will no longer be used, it will be extremely important that you check the agenda / blog on a regular basis.  This agenda / blog will inform you of the day-to-day happenings in your child’s classroom. If you have a specific comment or question about your child, you will need to contact the teacher directly. Email addresses will be provided.

This year, our classroom teachers have been using their digital blogs on a weekly basis in preparation for this change.  Please continue to check this blog weekly to help get in the habit of utilizing this digital format.  

Healthy Eating and Cardel Place Healthy Living Challenge!

We are working hard to help students understand the benefits of eating healthy foods while at school.  In the May newsletter, we included two excerpts with information as well as two links to sites that provide more information.  For additional information on how to make healthy eating part of your child's regular routine, please click HERE to visit HealthyEatingStartsHere.ca (and click on 'Healthy Eating at School') or click HERE to be taken straight to the link.

Cardel Place Healthy Living Challenge: March 22-June 21 2014
What does healthy living mean to you? Cardel Place and local community partners invite you to take part in Calgary’s first Healthy Community Challenge presented by ATB Financial. This at home 90-day challenge (March 24 to June 21) is designed to encourage whole communities to get moving and be healthier in mind, body and spirit through focus on developing positive practices in physical activity, nutrition, hydration, sleep, and social habits.

Prizes will be awarded at the end of the Challenge for both the community and individual(s) who demonstrate the biggest shift in lifestyle (as indicated by point total), however, the greatest rewards received will not be those that can be counted on paper, but those that can be measured in feeling, outlook and attitude. 

If you are interested, participate on "Team Beddington" - Click HERE to register or HERE for more information.

Volunteers Needed to help out in the Learning Commons

With the transition from Library to Learning Commons, many things have changed.  In the past, students had access to the Library to sign out books once per week when their teacher brought them down as a whole class.  Now, students may come with their whole class to sign out their books, with a small group to sign out their books, or whenever they are done reading their books as an individual.

With this change, we have A LOT more books being signed out that later need to be properly resigned in and re-shelved.  If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity, the Learning Commons could use your help!  We are looking for someone who would be able to come in approximately once per week for 1 hour to help us check returned books into the computer and then put them back in the right spot on the library shelves.  If you think this would interest you, please call us at the school at 403-777-6610.

**If you already have your volunteer clearance, please ask to speak to Mrs. Murtaza or Mrs. Paolini in the Learning Commons.**

**If you do not have your volunteer clearance, please stop in at the office and see Mrs. Cumming.  She will help you fill out the paperwork.  It's free and all we need you to bring is 2 pieces of government issued ID (such as a Driver's License, Social Insurance Card, Alberta Health Card). **

We look forward to having you help out!  Thanks!

Memorial Service for Mrs. Jeffrey - our Previous Admin. Secretary

During Spring Break, we were informed of the passing of Mrs. Luanne Jeffrey, our previous admin secretary at Beddington Heights School.  Luanne was an important member of the school community and an anchor of the school.  Those who knew her, speak about her deeply caring nature and amazingly kind heart.  In order to allow the staff who knew her well to pay their respects at her Memorial Service on Friday afternoon, we will be be moving students to the gym around 1:00, and getting them settled to watch a movie.  Some grades / classes will explain this sad event if it becomes apparent that many students are aware and need time for discussion, while others will answer student questions as asked on a one-on-one bases as needed.

In addition, Mr. Hebert and I decided this would additionally be an opportunity to reward students for the improvements we have seen students show when following our pillars of care.  In the past month and a half, we have seen: care for self through an improvement in the nutritional quality of snacks; care for others through fantastic cooperation and kindness on the playground; care for this place through the picking up of playground garbage; and demonstrating care for learning on the activities for the Student Learning Plans for Student Involved Conferences and when capturing their learning for the Math Showcase in May.

 We thank you for your support during this time!  

Free Effective Parenting Courses!!!

Hull Services is offering a FREE parenting course, with a free group for children ages 5 to 12 running at the same time.

Topics for parents include:  Attending and giving attention, planned ignoring, transitional warnings, "when...then..." strategies, planning ahead, motivation systems, effective consequences, and problem solving.

Topics for children include:  How to listen, how to do what is asked, how to share your feelings, how to problem solve, how to calm down, what to do when things don't go your way, time-out, and how to be a good friend.

For information on how to register for the courses at Janet Johnstone Elementary, please click HERE.  For information on how to register for the courses at Keeler Elementary, please click HERE.

Help Needed to Keep Students Safe in the School Zone!

Parking and the drop off of students can be a problem.  In order to make improvements, everyone in our school community needs to work as a team!  Please read the Calgary Parking Authority's "Park Safe" brochure below for tips on how we can all help keep our students safe.

Veteran's Food Bank Food Drive

In the spirit of 'Care for Others', the students at Beddington Heights School have been discussing how our small acts of kindness can have a great effect on many people.  This was clearly shown through our Veteran's Food Bank Food Drive this month.  Thank you to all families that donated non-perishable food items and other items essential to daily living, both at the Family Dance, and in the classrooms.  As a school, we collected 894 items!  Students in Mrs. Laberee Lee's and Ms. Binks' classes, as well as students in Ms. Tam's and Mrs. Winter's classes will be partaking in an extra phys. ed. class as a reward for bringing in the greatest number of items.  The generosity of all was greatly appreciated and will help make a difference to many needy families in our city!

Multiple Ways to Solve Math Problems

One of our goals this year is to help students continue to try to figure out Math problems, even when they are finding them difficult.  Another goal is to help them improve their skills when working through open ended questions that have many different answers.  Teachers have been planning and designing opportunities for students to use multiple methods to solve problems.  Students have been explaining their thinking in a variety of ways, and have been coming up with more than one way to show their answers.  

Below is a problem that was presented in Kindergarten.  Students were asked to show the number 7 in as many ways as they could.  This particular student was able to come up with 12 different ways.  She was very proud that she clearly understood what 7 could look like!

Jump Rope for Heart Fundraiser Began Today!

The Heart and Stroke Foundation representatives visited Beddington Heights School to kick off our Jump Rope for Heart fundraising event.  

Jump Rope for Heart encourages kids to get active by skipping.  A skipping rope has been provided to help all students have access to this great heart smart physical activity.  Mr. Sadowsky will be helping all Beddington Heights students develop a positive attitude about activity while learning a variety of tricks and skills.  

Throughout the fundraiser, students will be collecting pledges to help support the Heart and Stroke Foundation.  Any pledge amount is gratefully accepted and students can record their pledges on the pledge sheets that were sent home.

Last year, we raised $4500.00 and the students felt they could reach this goal again!  We appreciate any support families provide to this important cause!!!

Please click HERE to learn more on the Jump Rope for Heart website.

CBE's Night with the Calgary Hitmen

On Friday, January 31st, the Calgary Board of Education is hosting a Night with the Hitmen down at the Saddledome, where the Hitmen will take on the Brandon Wheat Kings.  Tickets are just $11.00, with $2.00 from each ticket being donated to the Fuel for Breakfast Program.  If you are interested in attending, don't forget to provide the code "CBEFUEL" to receive the special price.  Students that attend can join in the spirit by wearing their Beluga t-shirt or Beluga blue.  Please click HERE to find out more information and view the poster about the event.

Synrevoice Phone Messaging System

At Beddington Heights, we have been looking at adding additional ways to increase communication with our school community.  You will be receiving a phone message (and possibly an email if it has been provided to the school) informing you about how this system will work.  Your child has also brought home a letter that provides more information.  (You can click HERE to view an electronic version.)  We hope that this will help provide you timely information about any absences, special events, upcoming events, or other things you might need to know.  If you have had any change in your contact information, please call 403-777-6610 and dial 0 so we can ensure we have the most up to date phone numbers or email addresses that you would like to have connected.  Thank you!

Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth Newsletter

At Beddington Heights School, we are lucky to have The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth work with many of our ELL students each Tuesday after school in an After-School Life Skills Program.  Their vision is to engage immigrant youth and families to fulfill their potential in Canadian Society. To learn more, please click HERE to view their December newsletter.