Wishing our Rideau Families a bright and prosperous Lunar New Year.

Safety Reminder

Regarding student safety, we would appreciate parents reminding students that school fields can get icy due to the freeze/melt weather cycles we have experienced recently. Students should avoid the icier areas of the school field, avoid running and playing soccer on slippery terrain, and wear winter boots and shoes with traction for the conditions when outside during recess times. Schools cannot put gravel and salt down on the entire field, so we really do need students to take the steps for safe play. 

School Athletics

The first volleyball home games of the season are scheduled for January 30 when our Senior Girls team plays Elboya and John Ware. Students are welcome to be spectators and to cheer on our Rams.  Spectators are reminded to watch the matches from the stage and to remain in the PE foyer area.  Accessing other areas of the school (lower, main and upper levels) is not permitted. 

Resources | CBE Family Literacy Week

Families across Calgary are invited to join the Calgary Board of Education in celebrating Family Literacy Week from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2, with a focus on environmental learning through the theme “Learn to Be Green, Together.” 

Resources are available at this LINK. 

Grades K, 6 & 9 Celebration Photos, Feb 6

The Lifetouch photographers will be returning to Rideau Park on Thursday, Feb 6 to take the Celebration Photos for students in Kindergarten, Grade 6 & Grade 9.  These photos are to celebrate our Kinders who will be moving up to the mandatory schooling of Grade 1; our Grade 6 students who will be finishing elementary school; and our Grade 9 students who will be finishing junior high and moving on to high school.  Every student in Grade K, 6 & 9 will have a celebration photo taken. 

Hats and gowns will not be worn for these photos.  However, as they are a celebration photo, students are encouraged to wear clothing suitable for a celebration, or clothing that is a bit more ‘dressed up’ than they would typically wear on a school day. 

Composite Photo Orders: Order forms for the class composite photo have been distributed to students. Composite photos must be ordered in advance.  Order envelopes, including payment, should be returned to your child’s homeroom teacher by Thursday, February 6. 

Policy Reminders

Mr Robertson recently messaged all families regarding signing out students prior to 3:15 pm to minimize disruptions to classroom learning as students are finishing up for the day.

As per school and CBE policy and Alberta Education legislation, all K-9 schools are cell phone free from the start of the school day to exit time, meaning student personal mobile devices must remain in lockers at all times, if brought into the school building.

Our students have been overall very good at respecting these expectations. As we are beginning our second term, it is a good time to review this policy as we are noticing more students with their mobile devices on their person during the school day.  Thank you for reviewing this policy with your child. 

Open House | Elboya School, Feb 6, 6:00 – 7:30 pm

2025-26 Intensive French Program Information: Grade 5 students have the option of enrolling in the Intensive French program at Elboya School for Grade 6. This program is for students who would eventually transition to the Late Immersion program in Grade 7. 

2025-26 Late Immersion Program Information: Grade 6 students have the option of enrolling in the Late French Immersion program at Elboya School for Grade 7. 

Parents and students are invited to attend the open house at Elboya School on Thursday, February 6 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm to learn more about these programs. 

More information at this LINK. 

Important Information | High School Programs

All Grade 9 students have been designated to their high school. Students are designated to schools according to their home address.  You can find your designated high school by using the Find A School tool at the main CBE website.

High School Course Requests: Submitting high school course requests, for both academic and complementary subjects, is the next step for students.  The window for submitting course requests is Feb 10 through Mar 15, 2025. 

For Western Canada, students will be required to enter their course requests into PowerSchool starting February 10 and return a paper form that they’ve reviewed choices with their parents/guardians. The paper forms course request forms will be distributed to students next week.

For other high schools, information will be shared with the individual students once received.

High School Transfer Form: the transfer form for high school transfers opens on Feb. 10. This is an online form. Transfers are considered for specific programs or sequence of courses, address change, and IB Program. High school transfers via the online form will be accepted until Mar 15, 2025.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program: students who are interested in the IB program must complete the Expression of Interest form and email it, along with a copy of the January report card, to their designated IB school. For Western Canada, the completed Expression of Interest form & Report Card should be emailed to Susan Rivers.

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

If you are available to volunteer to assist with the trips and / or events below, please contact your child’s teacher or as indicated below.  The Annual Volunteer Registration with a valid Police Information Check is required:

• Grade 5 or 6 off-campus trips to Storybook Theatre, Feb 19 or Feb 20
• Grades 3 to 6 off-campus trip to the Hitmen Be Brave Hockey Game Event, Feb 26
• Grade 8 or 9 skiing trips to Mt Norquay, Mar 3 or Mar 4 – contact Mr Yackulic
• Fun Lunch, every second Thursday starting 11:00 am – see below 

Fun Lunch, Healthy Hunger | on behalf of RPS’ Parent Society

The Rideau Park Parent Association is again coordinating a bi-monthly ‘Fun Lunch’ with Healthy Hunger.  This is also a great fundraiser for the school with a portion of sales being returned to the school.  Participation is completely voluntary with a variety of healthy lunch vendors to choose from.  

Parent Volunteer opportunity: for each fun lunch Thursday, parent volunteers are needed to help sort orders and deliver to classrooms.  Time commitment is about an hour, with the start time at 11:00 am.  If available to help on one or some Thursdays, you must complete the annual volunteer registration, which includes a valid Police Information Clearance. 

Volunteers are needed for:

• Feb. 6 – 1 volunteer
• Feb. 20 – 2 volunteers
• Mar. 6 – 2 volunteers 

Sign Up to volunteer for the above dates and/or future dates.   

From Rideau Park School Council 

The School Council would like to gauge interest for parents available to assist with creating a Grade 9 Memory Book with the Canva application.  At this time, it is only an expression of interest.  If you are available to volunteer, please email the School Council at rppassociation@gmail.com 

Notes of Thanks

Thank you to the following individuals for their recent contributions to our school:

• Thank you to the Fun Lunch volunteers for your time during the first term. Your help is always greatly appreciated. Thank you to: Lisa Avery, Amy Goos, Heather Wilkinson, Melanie Darbyshire, Hena Remay, Shannon Purdy, Katie Robinson, Helen Youn, Elvira Vargas Ovalle, Ping Duan, Brad Purdy and Shirley Lai.
• Thank you to the volunteers who assisted with supervision for the MRU Conservatory off-campus experience for the junior high Band students: Ellen Kenny, Christina Campbell and Tam Le.
• Thank you to Elvira Vargas Ovalle who assisted with supervision for the Grade 9 student tour of Western Canada High School.

Looking Ahead – Calendar of Events