Hello Rideau!

We might not know it by the snowfall that arrived last night, yet springtime is—indeed—arriving. Here at Spring Equinox, some potential language learning for each of us as Rams:

  • Motoyi (Blackfoot),
  • Xadaguzidi (Tsuut'ina),
  • Widu (Stoney Nakoda)
  • Praentann (Métis)

Our Calgary Board of Education colleagues share through social media that, “Elders have taught us this season is a time to acknowledge Na’a (Mother Earth) and a time for renewal as beautiful changes occur. This is a time to reflect, look back and prepare for our journey.”

Indeed, beautiful things surround us at Rideau! With many, many incredible things to reflect on! Enormous thanks to our generous Parent Society for donating lunch and to each volunteer as school staff are supplied a meal tomorrow evening within Parent-Teacher conferencing.

Recent days and weeks have included learning-rich conversations with real-world, passionate community experts, to name a small few:

  • Our school’s Trustee Vukadinovic joined our most recent School Council meeting on February 28 for an informative Question & Answer opportunity.
  • Member of Parliament Greg MacLean met with each Grade 6 student for an incredible discussion alongside Learning Leader (and teacher) Ms. Gemma Rae on Wednesday, April 13.
  • This most recent Monday (March 18) each Grade 7 class learned from local Métis arts and culture leader Joe Pimlott (Big Eagle Star).
  • Not far from Rideau Park School at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers at Central Library, each Grades 1-2 class was able to hear from Siksika Elder Clarence Wolfleg Sr. (Miiksika'am) and many, many other Central Library experts and staff including the wonderful coordinator Sam who worked alongside each teacher in recent weeks.
  • Local experts including Ed Kusmirski (Executive Director of the Alberta Science Network) as well as local published author Rams alumnus Laura Bontje have also spent time with our Rams learning communities, recently, too.

We trust safe commutes for each of you tomorrow before and after school, leading into Spring Break. Following Spring Break we will share more on an innovative partnership with Honour the Work as we pilot this program alongside two other Calgary Board of Education K-9 schools.

At the end of our Volleyball season I would be remiss to not thank each coach and each volunteer and each fan at the end of yet another successful season! Go Rams!

School Council awaits (with Parent Society meeting following School Council) at 1:45 PM for a virtual meeting on Wednesday, April 17. This is our final meeting prior to May 15’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) within 2023-2024 at 7:00pm.

- Mr. T. Robertson

2024-2025 | Complementary Course Selection

Surprisingly, we are already actively planning for the 2024-2025 school year. It is now time for students to choose their complementary courses for next year. Students should carefully review the complementary course offerings with their parents/guardians, plan their course selections, and then enter them into MyCBE via the student account or the parent account.

For guidance on how to enter courses into PowerSchool: PowerSchool-Student Course Requests. Students should have their course selections selected and entered in PowerSchool by Friday, April 5.

Athletics | Volleyball: Final Standings 

We are so proud of our volleyball teams! All of our teams proceeded through regular season play and play-offs to the final games. Here are the final standings: 

  • Junior Girls finished first in their division! The final game was won in 3 sets over John Ware. Well played, Junior Girls! Congratulations to you and Coach Redwood.  
  • Junior Boys finished first in their division! The final game was won in 3 sets over Louis Riel. Excellent work, Junior Boys! Congratulations to you and Coach Pavlove. 
  • Senior Girls finished third in their division! The consolation final game was won in a hard-fought 4 sets over Louis Riel.  Congratulations to our Senior Girls on such excellent displays of skill and sportsmanship for the entire season; and congratulations to Coach Wegg. 
  • Senior Boys finished second in their division! The final games’ last two sets were so very close with Louis Riel getting the wins. Congratulations to our Senior Boys and Coach Ball on an excellent season. 

Spring Break

Spring Break for students is scheduled from Friday’s non-instructional day through to Monday, April 1. Classes resume on Tuesday, April 2.

Staffing Updates

Mrs. Breen, one of our dedicated Educational Assistants, will be retiring at the end of March. Her last day at Rideau Park will be March 21 (tomorrow). On behalf of all staff and students, we wish Mrs. Breen well in the future.

Ms. Nielsen’s position at our school has changed to student support with Grades 1 to 4, & 6 students on Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings/afternoons.

We welcome Ms. Florence Janzen to our front office throughout each morning for the remainder of 2024-2025.

Ms. Karmen Rempel will be joining our staff for the month of April. She will be taking on Mr. Osborne’s classes while he is on parenting leave (throughout April and Early May).

Ms. Kayla Mulcahy joins our team as a practicum Education Assistant (alongside Ms. Gemma Rae).

Upcoming | Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent conferences are scheduled for:

  • Thursday, March 21: 4:20 – 8:00 pm (in-person meetings)
  • Friday, March 22: 9:00 – 12:00 (in-person meetings) and 12:30 – 3:30 pm (virtual meetings)

The booking manager has been open from Monday at 9:00 am. Parents/guardians can book appointments by logging into MyCBE. Instructions for booking a conference can be found here: How to Book a Conference

Upcoming | Fundraiser: Spring Plants and Planters

We are once again teaming up with Growing Smiles for this fundraiser. Kick-off for this fundraiser is Tuesday, April 2 (although, the ordering website is open now if you wish to put in an early order). For this fundraiser, the following items can be ordered:

  • Premium Hanging Basket
  • Strawberry Hanging Basket
  • Outdoor Patio Planter
  • Rose Patio Planter
  • 10-pack Geraniums (red, white, pink)
  • 10-pack Petunias (white, purple, pink)
  • 10-pack Marigolds
  • 10-pack Assorted Herbs
  • 10-pack Assorted Veggies
  • Organic Garden Soil
  • Organic Fertilizer (shaker)

Last day to place an online order is May 8.

Pick-up date: Thursday, May 23, 1:00 - 4:30 pm

Place an order! 100% of the profits from this fundraiser will be used to fund student programs at Rideau Park School. Thank you for your continued support of our school!

Parent Volunteer Opportunities | Fun Lunch, Field Trips, Year-End

Grade 7 – Heritage Park, June 19. Students will be participating in Planes, Trains and Immigrants program at Heritage Park. Three (3) parent volunteers are needed for this off campus activity. Please contact Ms. Lewis if you can volunteer.

Fun Lunch – almost all of the Fun Lunch volunteer spots until June have been filled. Only 2 remain. Volunteering starts at 11:05 am for approximately 45 minutes:

  • April 18 – 1 volunteer needed
  • June 13 – 1 volunteer needed

Sign up! Thank you for your support.

Important Safety Reminder | Student Pick-up and Drop-off

We ask your cooperation to keep student safety and with respecting our neighbours by following procedures with picking up and dropping off students for school.

Parents are asked to make a loop when driving students to school at Rideau. Please drop off on 30 Ave SW heading eastbound. Do not park in the bus zone or block the alley nor drive into the cul de sac as this is a heavy pedestrian zone. Never be in a hurry when near Rideau Park School. It is not worth the consequence.

There is no car-accessible front door drop-off, nor parking available directly at our school entrance, nor from the t-intersection at the front of the school. (Continue Reading)

Looking Ahead – Upcoming Calendar of Events

Mar 20

  • 2024-25 Complementary Course Selection begins for Grade 7, 8 & 9

Mar 21

Mar 21

  • Parent -Teacher Conferences, 4:20 – 8:00 pm

Mar 22

  • No School for Students
  • Parent -Teacher Conferences – All Day

Mar 25 - Apr 1

  • Spring Break

Apr 2

  • Classes Resume
  • Grades 5 – 9: Science Fair Club, Lunch, Room 11
  • Spring Plants and Planters Fundraiser begins: Order Link

Apr 4

Apr 5

  • 2024-2025 Complementary Course Selection deadline for Grade 7, 8 & 9

Apr 8

  • Grade 8: Calgary Zoo

Apr 9

  • Class Photos, Teams and Clubs Photos

Apr 11

  • Homework Hotel, Grade 7: 3:45pm – 4:15pm

Apr 17

  • School Council (Parent Society meeting follows School Council) 1:45pm, Virtual (RSVP link to be included in April 3 edition of ‘Hello, Rideau!’

Apr 18

  • Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch – Spolumbo’s
  • Homework Hotel, Grade 7: 3:45pm – 4:15pm

Apr 19

  • Non-Instructional Day – no school for students

Apr 25

  • Fee Payment Deadline for Fall 2024 Québec Trip
  • Homework Hotel, Grade 7: 3:45pm – 4:15pm

May 2

  • Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch – Subway
  • Homework Hotel, Grade 7: 3:45pm – 4:15pm

May 6 - May 9

  • Grades 3 / 4 – MNP Week

May 8

  • Last day for Spring Plants and Planters Fundraiser
  • Order Link

May 9

  • Homework Hotel, Grade 7: 3:45pm – 4:15pm

May 10

  • School Visit: MLA Samir Kayande – Grades 6 & 9
  • Gym Strip Ordering Window opens
  • Order: topmarks.ca

May 13

  • Grade 9 PAT: ELA, Part A

May 15

  • Grade 6 PAT: ELAL, Part A
  • School Council & Parent Society Annual General Meeting, 7:00pm

May 16

  • Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch – Famoso
  • Homework Hotel, Grade 7: 3:45pm – 4:15pm

May 17

  • Non-Instructional Day: No school for students

May 23

  • Parent Information Session: New to Grade 7, 7:00pm

May 24

  • Last Day for Gym Strip Ordering for first week of school distribution
  • Order: topmarks.ca