Hello Rideau Oct. 11 | Fundraiser, Webinars, Computing Challenge, Photos, Family Dance, Info Evening at WCHS, Volunteer

Hello, Rideau!

Now, midway through October, 2023-24 is in full swing! We trust each Rams learner and family has had a great long weekend, and a great Thanksgiving. On Friday, October 20, teaching staff look very forward to collaborative school development planning toward literacy, mathematics, and well-being for learning intentional instructional planning.

Staff and students alike look forward to more autumn events coming soon, including cherished traditions and events. As Halloween approaches, we share that costumes continue to be permitted across grade-levels Kindergarten through Grade 9 and amongst staff, with safety permissions shared, here, too: no face coverings, no weapons, no weapon replicas, allowing for safe/free movement, etc.

Our next School Council meeting is a virtual meeting and discussion at 1:45PM on Wednesday, October 18. Parent Society Meeting follows School Council Meeting (also virtual). To RSVP for this meeting, please click here:

As November draws nearer, too, Ms. Kimberly Lewis will also be sharing more detailed information beginning in next week’s edition of “Hello, Rideau!” on our November 8 morning ceremony as well as on an RPS Veterans’ Food Drive beginning on Wednesday, November 1. Watch for more details!

Mr. T. Robertson

Safety Protocol | Guests to our School

Rideau Park School, like each Calgary Board of Education school, is closed campus. All guests must sign-in immediately upon entry into the school building.

In the mornings, or throughout the day, students are dropped off outside of the main entrance.

Reminder | Attendance

Parents are requested to inform their child's Homeroom teacher as a primary contact about attendance decisions (i.e., reporting absences) in kindergarten and grades 1 to 5, and the Learning Leader as primary contact in grades 5-9. Learning Leaders are teaching staff with administrative designations.

The more specific you are as parents/guardians with teachers/learning leaders, the more specific the attendance code applied will be.

Kindergarten to Grade 5:

Teachers' contact information is also available, here.

Please also include as a carbon copy (CC) within attendance e-mails learning leaders (listed below) for each grade-divisional-level division, too:

Grades 6-9 (primary contacts, below):

Our student information system, MyCBE provides parents, guardians and students with access to detailed attendance information. For help creating an account or signing in, please visit Technical Support for Students & Parents.

Reminder | Volunteer Clearance

Don’t miss out on an amazing field trip because you haven’t updated your Police Clearance.

Please make sure that your Volunteer Clearance is up to date: https://www.cbe.ab.ca/get-involved/volunteer/Pages/volunteer.aspx
If you have any questions, you can contact the office at RideauPark@cbe.ab.ca

On behalf of Parent Society | Upcoming Fundraiser

Rideau Park School’s Parent Society has presented a save-the-date for an upcoming Parent Social and Fundraiser on the evening of Wednesday, October 11.

More information is available on our website’s Fundraisers and Donations page including a save-the-date event poster and ticket information.

Upcoming | Child and Youth Well-Being: A Webinar Series for Parents and Guardians

The Calgary Board of Education invites all parents and guardians to join us in an online series focusing on child and youth well-being. These sessions will be hosted in partnership with experts from Alberta Health Services and will explore topics such as vaping, brain development, mental health, and sexual health.

Click here to learn more:
Child and Youth Well-Being:
A Webinar Series for Parents and Guardians

CBE educators believe that parents and guardians can inspire their kids to make healthy lifestyle choices and increase protective factors – in order to do so, they need the right tools and information.

Well-being is a precondition for learning. As our understanding of student well-being continues to evolve, it is important for those that support children and youth to stay up to date on the same information so everyone can support student success. 

The intention of the series is to advance student well-being by raising family and caregiver’s understanding of a variety of health-related topics.

First session in this series is on November 16: Understanding Vaping

Thank you for your time and consideration to join us.

Math Contest | Beaver Computing Challenge, November 7

The Beaver Computing Challenge is a problem-solving contest with a focus on computational and logical thinking. Questions are inspired by topics in computer science but only require comfort with concepts found in mathematics curriculum common to all provinces.

When - Tuesday November 7th at 3:35 - 4:15pm.
Where - Room 11
Who – Grades 5 through 9 students
How - Complete the Google Form before Monday, October 16. You can also check in with Mr. Yackulic or Ms. Watson for access to the Google Form.

Fall Photo Proof Packages: Order by October 20

The photo proof packages have arrived at the school and will be distributed to students this week. Online ordering is encouraged at mylifetouch.ca. You will be asked for the Portrait ID and the Access Code to view the photo proof package and to place an online order.

For paper orders, return the order form and payment in the envelope provided in the proof package to your child’s homeroom teacher.

Online order deadline: Friday, October 20
Paper order deadline: Thursday, October 19 (October 20 is a non-instructional day)

Photo Retakes

Photo retakes are scheduled for Thursday, November 2

Students absent for the September photo date will automatically be included in the photo retake list. To request a photo retake, please email Ms Cochrane with Subject Line: Photo Retake.

On behalf of Parent Society | upcoming event (Family Dance)

Please join us for the Elementary (Kindergarten to Grade 6) Family Halloween Dance, Thursday October 26, 5:30 to 7:30 in the Gym.

All information in the attached poster and ways to get involved in the sign-up link below:

Junior High students who would like to volunteer to assist with the Halloween Dance can do so at the main office

Reminder | Important Safety Notice for Parents/Guardians (pick-up and drop-off)

Please be advised that due to increasing safety concerns of neighborhood residents and our student community, policing of city bylaws relating to parking and traffic restrictions will be more strictly enforced in the coming months. Unfortunately there is no car-accessible front door drop-off or parking availability directly at our school entrance.

Be aware that Rideau Road Back Alley access (off 30th Ave SW) is NOT permitted for student drop-off. Alley access is for residents and Rideau staff ONLY. Please respect our neighbours.

If you drive your children to school, we URGE you to consider the following:

  • ’Kiss & Go’ Drop-off zone with ONE-WAY TRAFFIC FLOW. See Map: Rideau Road, left turn to 30th Ave
  • Street parking is available on 30th Ave S.W. (south side only please)
  • Minimize idle time. The small public parking lot on the south end of the soccer field is reserved for families with small children and students with injuries.
  • Please walk whenever possible - the pedestrian bridge from Elbow Dr SW provides another foot access entry route
  • Consider dropping off older children within reasonable and safe walking distance and remind them of street safety.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Save the Date | Information Evenings at Western Canada High School for Parents / Guardians

Western Canada High School is hosting two information evenings for current Grade 9 students and their families.

  • Monday, November 27 – Information Evening for International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
  • For prospective IB students for the 2023 – 24 school year
  • More information is available at this LINK

For those students who will be attending the regular program at Western Canada:

  • Tuesday, January 30 – Information Evening, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Parent Volunteer Opportunity | Fun Lunch Thursdays

Fun Lunch – we require some assistance with sorting the Fun Lunch orders from the Healthy Hunger vendors every second Thursday. Time commitment would be 30 – 45 minutes starting at 11:05 AM. We ask for assistance in sorting the individual orders and ensuring they get to the students. Please note that all lunches are marked with the child’s name and classroom, and all classes are grouped together when they are delivered to the school front doors by the restaurant at 11:20 AM on the date of the order.

If you can help with one or some of these Thursdays, please use this link, on behalf of Parent Society, for sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E49AFA72DA7F49-funlunch

Within the month of October, there are enough volunteers signed up to assist with Fun Lunch. For the November 2 Fun Lunch and the December Fun Lunches, additional volunteers are required.

Thank you for your support.

Looking Ahead – Dates of Significance

October

Mon

German Heritage Month
Canadian Islamic History Month
Latin American Heritage Month
Women’s History Month

Oct 11

International Day of the Girl Child

Oct 17-22

Secret Path Week

Oct 18

Persons Day

Oct 19

Take Me Outside Day

Oct 24

Dussehra

Nov 11

Remembrance Day

Looking Ahead – Upcoming Calendar of Events

Oct 12

Thurs

Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch – Coco Brooks

Oct 13

Fri

Weaselhead Off-Campus Trip: Grade 6

Oct 16

Mon

Beaver Computing Challenge - deadline to sign up for this math contest

Oct 17 - 19

Band Camp: Grades 7, 8 & 9 Band students

Oct 18

School Council
Virtual Meeting 1:45PM
RSVP for meeting link: https://bit.ly/RPSOct18SchoolCouncilRSVP
Parent Society Meeting follows School Council Meeting (also virtual)

Oct 19

Thurs

Photo Order for Paper Orders (return to homeroom teacher)

Oct 20

Fri

Photo Order deadline for Online Orders: mylifetouch.ca

Oct 20

Fri

Non-instructional Day (no school for students)

Oct 26

Thurs

Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch – Edo Japan

Oct 26

Thurs

Family Halloween Dance – 5:30 – 7:30pm
**costumes permitted within evening event; safety reminders: no face coverings, no weapons, no weapon replicas, allowing for safe/free movement, etc.

Oct 31

Tue

Costumes permitted K-9 and staff within instructional day; safety reminders: no face coverings, no weapons, no weapon replicas, allowing for safe/free movement, etc.

Nov 2

Thurs

Photo Retakes

Nov 2

Thurs

Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch – Mucho Burrito

Nov 7

Tue

Beaver Computing Challenge (Math Contest), 3:35 – 4:15, Rm 11

Nov 8

Wed

Remembrance Day Ceremony (Assembly) - AM

Nov 9

Thurs

Non-Instructional Day: System Professional Learning (no school for students)

Nov 9 - 14

Fall Break

Nov 17

Fri

Parent Teacher Conferences – Jr High only – 1:20-3:30pm

Nov 23

Thurs

Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch – Spolumbo’s

Nov 23

Thurs

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

Nov 24

Fri

Parent-Teacher Conferences – 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Non-instructional Day (no school for students)

Nov 30

Mon

Information Evening for International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Western Canada High School, 6:30 – 8:00 pm (LINK)