Dear Woodman Families:
We greeted the month of June with purpose and rigorous learning plans. Everyone is focused on achieving curricular outcomes, maintaining high expectations for conduct, and creating a balance between stability and preparation for transition.
Take note of the important messages for the week of June 8-12:
PATs and Afternoon Classes
Grade 9 students complete their French Reading (Monday) and English Reading (Tuesday) Provincial Achievement Tests next week. Teachers have been intentional in ensuring that students are all as prepared as possible for success. Additional information includes:
- For all students, the timetable is rotated, and runs from Period 6-7-1-2-3-4-5
- Given the length of some of the Grade 9 PATs, lunch times may be modified for those students requiring extra time
- Students should come to school punctually, bring a book to read when their exam is completed and have sufficient water and snacks for the duration of the morning
- Students with a formal, pre-existing exemption status have an excused absence on the morning of PATs
- All non-urgent absences from school on PATs should be avoided; limited opportunities are available for a student who misses a PAT to complete it on a subsequent day
- It is imperative that students remain at school for regular afternoon classes. Especially considering the lost learning time in October, teachers are still busy covering curriculum and providing review opportunities for the remaining PATs
- If a parent has an unavoidable cause and wishes to excuse their child from afternoon classes, regular communication processes are in place. This includes sending an email to woodmanattendance@cbe.ab.ca with your child’s last name, first name, grade and homeroom, and reason for absence
Woodman Staffing Increase – Class Size Reduction
We are pleased to inform you that our school has been allocated one additional teaching position(s) for the 2026–27 school year through the Government of Alberta’s Class Size Reduction Grant.
This grant funds teaching positions that support improved learning conditions in kindergarten to Grade 9 classrooms.
This funding is specifically intended to help reduce class sizes in core subject areas (English Language Arts/French Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies), with priority given to schools experiencing the greatest class size pressures.
This decision was made using system-wide data that considers:
- The number of classes exceeding provincial class size benchmarks
- Projected enrolment and class organization
- School programming and grade configuration
Our goal is to ensure students benefit from:
- Increased teacher attention
- Improved classroom learning environments
- Greater support for diverse learning needs
We remain committed to supporting strong learning environments for all students and using our resources thoughtfully and strategically.
Grade 9 Farewell Postponed – Tues. June 16, 6:30-10:00 PM
We thank the efforts of staff and the flexibility of Heritage Park in offering an alternate date for the much-anticipated Grade 9 Farewell (as a result of the intense rainfall on June 2). We are hopeful for better weather and will communicate directly with Grade 9 families regarding final details for the evening.
New Student Furniture
Students welcomed the addition of new bistro tables, chairs and soft seating for the school hallways. Funds for these enhancements are covered through Healthy Hunger fundraising, led by Leadership 9 students. Thank you to all families who regularly supported the initiative this school year. All proceeds are directly re-invested into school enhancements and determined by student-identified preferences.
Woodman Library Books Due: Fri. June 19
The last day to check out library books was today. All books are due back to the Learning Commons on Fri. June 19. Mme. Heron-Mykyte, Library Assistant, will provide overdue reminders to students. Students who have not returned their library books by June 19 will be billed $15 per book, which will be added to the Power School fees account.
Thank You, Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth
Woodman is one of many partner schools with CBFY, which offers direct and tangible settlement supports for newcomer families. This school year, our families have benefited from 69 types of supports. These include: referrals for tutoring, therapeutic and non-therapeutic counselling, vouchers to off-set living costs, student leadership opportunities and one-on-one check ins with in-school settlement workers. Calgary Bridge Foundation also offers school wide enhancements for all Woodman students, which this year have included Wellness Day workshops and NextGen After School programming. We are grateful for the ongoing partnership!
CBFY Summer Camps
Please see the attachments for two summer camp opportunities offered by Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth (CBFY).
Bridge Summer Camp is a three-week program (Mon - Thurs) open to all students in Grades 1-9. There are two sessions offered: July 6-22 and July 27-Aug 13. The registration link is: https://pci.jotform.com/form/261394134148255
WIN/NOW Summer Camp is a free two-day program (Aug 18 & 19) open to current Grade 6-11 newcomer students who have Permanent Resident status. The registration link is: https://form.jotform.com/261324539383258.
New in September: Bridges to Justice
An exciting new opportunity will be available to all interested Grade 9 students in September. Brought to Woodman by CBFY, Bridges to Justice is a six-week, after school program designed for junior high–aged youth. It introduces participants to the Canadian criminal justice system, with a strong focus on youth justice and the Youth Criminal Justice System (YCJS). It combines interactive lessons, guest speakers from human rights educators, and other professionals working within the justice and community sectors. It offers youth foundational knowledge of legal and social systems while strengthening connections within their community. Keep posted for a parent survey soliciting interest.