March 2024
Dear Taradale Families:
We hope this email finds you well! It will be nice with daylight savings time to see some more daylight as we move into Spring. We have 2 weeks until Spring Break, and the students are very busy working on their Student Led Conferences with their teachers. It was wonderful to see so many parents at our Celebration of Learning on Friday for the PM Kindergarten and Ms. Ostafie and Russell’s classes.
Please read all of the important updates below:
Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth
We are partnering with Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth for some programming for our students. The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth has a wonderful opportunity for Taradale students. Every Tuesday from 3:00 to 5:00 we will be holding Bridge Club. This is an opportunity for any student to spend time making new friends, completing craft projects, playing fun games. To register, parents need to contact Kanwaljeet Mann at CBFY. Please see attached flyer for Kanwaljeet’s contact information.
Attendance
Under the Education Act, it is an Alberta Education expectation that all students under the age of 16 attend school every day. This includes our half-day Fridays. Even though students are only in school for the morning; there is still important learning that is taking place. Please make it a priority to ensure your child attends all days of school.
If your child is going to be away, please call out Attendance line 403-777-6270 option 1.
Communication
When you have specific questions about your child, your first point of contact is always the classroom teacher. Please email the teacher to book a time to talk. Teachers are not available to talk during school hours as they are teaching.
Student-Led Conferences
We will be having Student-Led Conferences on March 21 and 22. Please watch for more information later this week to information on booking your child’s Student-Led Conference. This is an amazing opportunity to spend time with your child as they showcase their learning!
Volunteer Clearance
We would love to have you volunteer at Taradale School! We have a number of field trips coming up, and we need to ensure Police Clearances are completed prior to the trip. If you are interested in volunteering, please let the office know and they will get you set up!
Late Arrival
Our doors open at 8:09 for students to come into the school to begin their day. We will have a warning bell at 8:09. 8:15 is the beginning of instructional time. Your child should be in their classroom ready to begin learning by this time. If your child arrives after 8:15, they must go around to the office to access the building and check in at the office. Please prioritize being on time for school.
Early Pick up
If you are coming to the school to pick up your child early, you must come to the office. Students will not be released from their dismissal doors. Please ring the bell and let the office know you are here to pick up your child.
Dismissal
Students are dismissed at 3:00 pm. The students must stay in their meeting spot with their supervisor until they see a parent. It is very important that families are on time to pick up students.
Crosswalk
Student and staff safety is one of the most important things we do at school. We recognize that the traffic is very busy at dismissal time. Please be respectful to school staff as we are doing our best to cross students safely. It is our job to cross the students safely. We are doing our best to do this as efficiently as possible. We are not directing traffic. Please be patient, and we will ensure we are being efficient with crossing the street. We all have a role to play in student and staff safety.
Please be mindful of the following:
· No parking in the crosswalk
· No parking in the bus zone
· Watch for the flashing light that indicates pedestrians will be crossing
· Do not park in the middle of the road
Dress for the Weather
This is a reminder that we will be going outside during recess and at lunch for some fresh air to play and socialize with friends. As it warms up, please ensure your child continues to have warm weather and waterproof footwear. We monitor the weather and continue to go outside until it is -20.
School Planning Survey
The School Planning Survey will be open until Wednesday, March 13. If you haven’t had a opportunity to complete the survey, please see link below to have your voice heard on school budget, and fees.
Brown Bagging
Taradale has a partnership with Brown Bagging 4 Kids who provide our school with lunches for students in need. If you are struggling to provide your child a lunch each day, please reach out and we will ensure your child receives a lunch. Please call the office to sign up for this program.
School Messenger
Please ensure you have subscribed to School Messenger so that you receive emails from Taradale School and CBE System Updates. School Messenger and the Taradale School webpage are the primary means of parent communication.
Instagram Account
Ms. Bose has created an Instagram account for school updates. You can follow @PrincipalBose to see school updates and important information.
School Council s
There is no School Council meeting in March. We are looking for additional School Council members. Please let us know if you are interested in becoming a member of School Council. We are currently looking for a Secretary and a Treasurer.
Karen Bose
Principal