Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,

This letter is an update that Tom Baines School continues to be over capacity and is projected to remain at its capacity for the next few school years. In July 2023, an overflow for new student registrations was implemented for the 2023-24 school year.

Due to continued enrolment growth in the communities of Edgemont and the Hamptons, the school may be unable to accommodate all students residing within the designated boundary. For the remainder of the 2023-24 school year and beyond, enrolment at Tom Baines School will be capped and the overflow designation will continue.

We anticipate that we will be able to accept all incoming current CBE students for the 2024-25 school year. This includes all current Grade 5 Edgemont community students and Grade 6 Hamptons community students designated to attend Tom Baines School next school year and students currently overflowed to Arbour Lake School may also be called back. However, the overflow will remain in place due to the projected enrolment growth from new students registering for Tom Baines School.

Students who cannot be accommodated at Tom Baines School for the 2023-24 and beyond will continue to be overflowed to:

• Arbour Lake School - located at: 27 Arbour Crest Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T3G 4H3

Students who are overflowed to Arbour Lake School will be placed on a call-back list. If space becomes available, they will be given an opportunity to transfer to Tom Baines School.

No Changes for Current Students at Tom Baines School

Current students will remain at Tom Baines School for the 2023-24 school year and beyond, provided they do not move out of the school boundary.

What is a call-back list?

If space becomes available at Tom Baines School during the school year, that space will be offered to students on the call-back list who are currently attending their designated overflow school, Arbour Lake School.

Students remain on the call-back list while they attend the designated overflow school. Students will be removed from the call-back list if they move out of the Tom Baines boundary or transfer from their designated overflow school. Any new registrations received for the 2023-24 school year will be added to the call-back list based on priority designation and the date and time of their registration.

How do I register for the 2024-25 school year?

Any new registrations from students living in the Tom Baines School boundary must still register for Tom Baines School through SchoolEngage.

For more information on how to register, please visit our website. Once these registrations have been received, the school will determine if there is space and resources available at Tom Baines School. If the student cannot be accommodated, student information is transferred to their new overflow designation, Arbour Lake School. The student will be added to the call-back list based on priority.

The lottery process may need to be followed for incoming Grade 6 students from the Edgemont community and Grade 7 students from the Hamptons community, depending on new student registrations, starting from the 2024-25 school year and onwards.

Lotteries are only conducted for the grade of entry into a school, i.e., Grade 6 for Edgemont students and Grade 7 for Hamptons students. New registrations for upper grades will continue to be overflowed and be added to the call-back list. For more details on the lottery process, deadlines and how we determine priority, please visit our website.

Transportation for students attending the designated overflow schools

Students are eligible for transportation to their designated or overflow school if they live beyond the walk zone. Modes of transportation for middle and junior high school students can include yellow school bus or Calgary Transit. Service levels and fees will be confirmed by May 2024. Please note that transportation fees apply to overflow situations as well.

In the CBE and across the city, we are experiencing a school bus driver shortage that may impact the mode of service provided. Please be assured that we are doing everything possible and working with our partners to restore reliability to transportation services. Families must visit Busing & Transportation for important information.

What if I have questions?

If you still have questions or require additional information, please contact the Area 1 office at Area1@cbe.ab.ca or 403-777-8710 (extension 0).

 

Aubrey Fletcher Acting Director, Area 1

Kevin Howell Director, Area 1

Catherine Ford Director, Planning