Dear Parents and Guardians,
Another eventful week has come and gone, filled with engaging learning experiences and exciting opportunities for our students. We began the week with our Grade 9 students welcoming a guest speaker from Inside Education, who provided valuable insights into environmental and energy-related topics. Meanwhile, a group of Grade 8 and 9 students headed to Nakiska for a day of skiing and snowboarding, enjoying fantastic weather and reaffirming the value of organizing these experiences. The time and effort required to plan such trips are always worthwhile when we see the joy and learning that come from them.
Our Grade 6 students had a unique opportunity to learn from University of Calgary law students, gaining insight into the Canadian legal system and even discussing the complexities of defamation. At the same time, our Grade 7 students began their Hip Hop residency, an exciting program that will unfold over the coming weeks. If you have a child in Grade 7, be sure to ask them about how this experience is shaping up!
March 5 and 6 saw Elev8 Lacrosse visit us, with over 65 students from Grades 6-9 participating in an engaging two-day workshop during PE classes. For the vast majority, this was their first time playing lacrosse, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The sport not only provides excellent benefits for physcial and mental well-being but it also offers a strong connection to Canada’s Indigenous heritage. We are pleased to share that Elev8 will return in April to work with all of our Grade 6 students, ensuring even more students have the opportunity to experience this dynamic sport.
Looking ahead, next week will bring the Grade 7 ski and snowboard trip to Winsport, an exciting outing that many students have been looking forward to and wrapping up our ski and snowboard opportunities for all grades. Our Grade 6 students will also be heading to The Confluence for another valuable off-campus learning experience.
Team photos are on Wednesday of next week and we are preparing to host Volleyball on the evening of March 13. Please note the CUPE Local 40 strike continues bringing with it limitations to the use of our facility, so a quick reminder for spectators coming to watch volleyball that only parents are permitted to attend, and any siblings must be accompanied by a parent. Students who are not participating on a team will not be able to attend as spectators. In the event that the CUPE strik continues into March, make note that Parent-Teacher Conferences scheduled for March 20 (4:00-8:00 PM) and March 21 (8:00 AM-1:00 PM) will be held online. There will be no in-person availability or accommodations. Teachers are being required to work from home during the evening times to ensure the school remains accessible for evening cleaning and to reduce traffic in the building so as to help maintain as clean learning environment as possible during job action.
Finally, in the Announcements section of this message there is information around student enrollment and registration for the 2025-2026 school year – please take a look at take necessary action if there will be changes to your child’s enrollment for 2025-2026. Thank you!
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at nmlisi@cbe.ab.ca if you have any questions or concerns. Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to another fantastic week ahead!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Warm regards,
Dr. Nancy Lisi
Principal
Arbour Lake School