Good afternoon Abbeydale School Families,

Wow, what an amazing turnout we had for our first round of Parent-Teacher conferences over the past two days. Between our in-person evening and online platform we were able to meet with over 230 families. When we meet to discuss care, concern, celebrations, and next steps for our students we are setting them up for success! We’d also like to sned out a huge THANK YOU to Ms. Krukoff, our library assistant, for organizing and running the book fair. This is highlight for many of our students and the many hours she puts in to make this happen is appreciated!

Please see updates from the week ahead below:

Weather...Snow and Cold Temperatures are Coming!

While we’ve enjoyed some beautiful weather this week, it looks as though the cold and snow will be upon us next week. A reminder to check the Weather Network regularly to ensure that your child/ren are dress appropriately. As per CBE policy, we plan to go outside for recess/lunch as long as the temperature doesn’t hit –20 or colder.

School Council Meeting (Monday, Oct. 23 at 6:30pm)

Our next School Council meeting (and the AGM) is Monday at 6:30pm online. Everyone is welcome to attend! Find out ways council supports initiatives at the school and be a part of an awesome group of advocates that help make Abbeydale School a great place for everyone!
School Council Meeting Link

Halloween (Tuesday, Oct. 31)

Halloween is quickly approaching and with that we know that there are a number of questions regarding how we can celebrate this at Abbeydale.

Can students wear their costumes? Yes, students can wear costumes on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

What costumes are NOT permitted?
Full face masks, blood, gore, weapons, and other non-school appropriate dress. Please remember that it is a learning day and bulky costumes (such as blow-up costumes) may not be suitable for learning.

Can I send them items (candy, etc.) to hand out?
No, students are not able to hand out any items, including food/treats. Please keep these at home. We encourage parents to still pack healthy snacks throughout the week and limit candy consumption at school.

Is it still a regular school day?
Yes! This is still a regular Tuesday school day.

Free 8 Week Parenting Course

The Calgary Board of Education has partnered with Hull Services to offer free, evidence-based parenting courses within the city of Calgary. We are pleased to announce that Children's Village School, in the NE community of Renfrew, will be hosting our next FREE Community Parent Education Program (CPEP). This course will also include a FREE social skills program for children aged 5 - 12.

CPEP is a free, 8-week course that focuses on teaching effective parenting skills. In addition to this, CPEP includes a Children's Social Skills group for children aged 5 - 12. Our course is specifically designed for parents who want to enhance their parenting skills and support their children in learning important social skills and executive functioning strategies. Furthermore, CPEP specifically addresses the needs of children that may demonstrate characteristics associated with ADHD. These practical skills are proven to be strategies accessible in improving and supporting parents/children in all areas of family functioning.

We encourage parents to bring their children (aged 5 - 12) who can also attend and learn valuable skills through the "Children's Group" with active fun and play. The Children's Group will focus on teaching the children social skills; how to listen, how to accept no/disappointment, how to express their feelings and how to deal with being angry/frustrated.

The CPEP program is facilitated by Hull Services staff. Hull Services is a leading social service agency in Calgary. There is no referral needed in order for interested participants to register with us. Parents can register via email at HullCPEP@hullservices.ca. Each program consists of 8 classes that run once a week from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The CPEP program reviews various topics, such as, relationship building, recognizing positive behaviour, reducing conflict, managing transitions successfully, special incentives, collaborative planning, effective consequences and problem-solving strategies.

Attached is the schedule for your further information which contains details around location, dates and times. We look forward to hearing from you or your referrals.

Have a great weekend,

Megan Liddell (mrliddell@cbe.ab.ca) & Jaydon Derdall (jwderdall@cbe.ab.ca)