New Assistant Principal for Beddington Heights

Good bye Ms. Brinson and thanks for all you've done!

Ms. Brinson is moving on to a new Assistant Principal position at Coventry Hills School. Her last day at Beddington Heights will be Friday February 20th, 2015. You should have received a letter from Ms. Brinson that was brought home by your child  after school today.  Please check your child's home envelope if you have not received it.

Personally I would like to thank Ms. Brinson for all her support of school initiatives and her support of my work as Principal.  I would also like to take this opportunity to thank her on behalf of all the students she has developed relationship with, and those she has supported through her work as resource teacher and as Assistant Principal. I know teachers are also grateful for the help and mentoring she has provided.  Her work has demonstrated tireless commitment. She has been a cornerstone of the building and its success. We will miss her. We wish her well in her new position and will always think of her as part of our Beddington Heights family.

We are already in the process of looking to have a new Assistant Principal in place as quickly as possible. Posting of the position is expected to happen this week and together with area office I will be looking to interview potential candidates as soon as possible.

Hopefully we will have good news for you soon.

Parent Teacher Communication

A big "thanks" to all the parents who continue to be in regular contact with your child's teacher.  At Beddington Heights we appreciate your involvement in your child's education and social growth.  We strive to give you the ability to be heard, and consider you partners in providing wrap around service for your child.

Recently, we have had a number of parents coming in first thing in the morning and wanting to speak with teachers just before classes begin. We encourage you to consider booking a time to speak with teachers or come after school if you want to try to "catch" a teacher.  Mrs. Cumming or any other office staff will be happy to assist you in connecting with any of the teachers and scheduling a time to give your questions the time they deserve. This generally cannot happen first thing in the morning without an appointment as teachers are getting ready for instruction and the time needed to fully address your questions is not available.

Feel free to call us any time as well at the school office if you need to connect with us at any time.

Tell Them From Me Survey

Beddington Heights School has partnered with Alberta Education and The Learning Bar (www.thelearningbar.com) to survey students in Grade 4, 5 & 6 at Beddington Heights School on their level of engagement in learning, their level of student wellness and the climate of their classroom(s) and school.

The Tell Them From Me (TTFM) survey was developed by internationally renowned educational researcher Dr. Douglas Willms and is based upon years of research in Canada and around the world. Gathering student feedback through this survey will support our school’s plans for continuous improvement.

Also included in the TTFM survey are Alberta Education’s Accountability Pillar Survey questions for students. As an annual check-up on the education system, Alberta Education conducts surveys of students to gather information on the quality of education provided by Alberta school authorities and their schools. The results are provided to school authorities to inform the development of their three-year education plans and annual education results reports, and are used to evaluate performance on Accountability Pillar survey measures.

Student participation in the survey was voluntary and completely anonymous. Students were assigned a random username and password so that survey responses could not be attributed to any individual student. Grade 4, 5 & 6 students at our school participated in this survey in January.  The survey was completed on-line and was completed within the school day during regular class time.

For further information on Alberta Education’s Accountability Pillar Surveys, please contact Keith Bowen, Director, System Assurance Branch, by email at keith.bowen@gov.ab.ca or by phone at 780-422-4750. Dial 310-000 first for toll-free access.

School Lockdown Practice - Thursday

 

 Re: Safety precautions at Beddington Heights School

 

The safety of all students and staff of Beddington Heights is of great importance. To that end, we have been working to establish appropriate safety measures for the various situations that may occur and affect our staff and students.

Fire drills are a long-standing expectation of everyone who congregates in a setting such as a school. We are required to have a minimum of six fire drills each school year. Our students and staff treat each drill as though it was the real thing and we are very proud of their performance during those drills. Teachers keep class lists with them during all drills and attendance is always taken. Parents or other visitors are expected to evacuate the building when the fire alarm is sounded.

It is a reflection of the changes in our society that we must add variations to our safety drills. We are going to practice a drill known as a “lockdown” on Tuesday, January 29, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.. The teachers will be instructing students regarding their role during a drill of this kind.  No one is allowed to enter or leave the building during a lockdown procedure.

Our staff will be providing students with the following directions for our lockdown drill:

-          There will be an announcement from the office to notify students and staff of internal lockdown

-          All students will come in to a classroom with a locked door

-          Staff and students wait quietly until the drill is over

 

As we continue to refine our school safety procedures, other safety precautions we now have in place include:

• Locking Exterior Doors, with the exception of the main door for office access
• Walkie-Talkies – have been purchased for communication when children are out in the school field
• A Fan Out Procedure – has been established to ensure clear and swift communication with parents in the event of an emergency.
• Visitors – are expected to register at the office
• Volunteers – must complete a security clearance and wear nametags at all times
• Substitute Teachers – are provided with emergency information upon entering the school.
• Teachers are trained in first aid and have thoroughly reviewed emergency plans with the children.

If you feel that your child might become anxious or nervous during this drill, please provide them with the reassurance that lockdown drills and fire drills are regular parts of increasing safety for students in all schools.  We appreciate your support in these very important matters. If you have any questions, please give me a call.

 

Yours truly,

 Brian Hebert

Principal

School Evacuation - Jan 5, 2015

Please be advised that we had an unscheduled fire drill this morning at Beddington Heights School. The alarm sounded at 11:10 a.m. and originated from the pull station by the upstairs boys’ washroom.  Due to weather conditions, we moved students to our evacuation location at St Bede School. Unfortunately this involved students travelling to the evacuation location without coats and outdoor shoes.   This was necessary as we were not aware of whether we were facing a real fire. 

This alarm was previously tested, and appeared to be fully operational in December of 2014. Should this have been a prolonged evacuation, teachers would have been contacting you using the student information that is contained in their emergency backpacks. If there are any changes to your emergency information please let us know as soon as possible.

It should be noted that students of Beddington Heights represented our school well while at St.Bede’s. They also observed fire drill protocol and exited the building in quick and efficient manner and it looks as if they have learned a lot from our previous drills. Due to the fact the drill happened during our lunch break we realize this may have caused some scheduling concerns for families.  We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

If you have any further question please feel free to contact us.

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!