Dear Woodman Families:  

Commuting to and from school, lunchtime, and outdoor learning took on new levels of excitement with the abundant snowfall this week. We extend a special thank you to the Environmental and Outdoor Education Grade 9 students for shovelling many sidewalks in our surrounding neighbourhood.

The School Council Purdy’s Chocolate Fundraiser ends on Sunday.  Get ahead on holiday shopping by purchasing chocolate this weekend.

Note the important messages for the week of Dec. 1-5:

Learning Conferences and Beyond

Thank you for the efforts of parents and students in participating in vital conversations during yesterday and today’s Learning Conferences. They provided an important moment to clarify understanding of what students should be focussed on between now and the Semester 1 report card.  To communicate with teachers, please access email addresses through the school website: https://woodman.cbe.ab.ca/staff. Increasingly, throughout the middle years, we also want to promote student self-advocacy in directing questions and requests to their teachers, who care for them and want to help them strengthen their voice in learning.

December Celebrations and Days of Significance

Woodman School is committed to building a culture of appreciation and inclusion, where students and staff can see themselves valued, respected and celebrated. We have over 55 countries of origin outside of Canada – and 75 languages -  represented within our school community.

This season, we highlight that some of our families will be celebrating:

• Bodhi Day (Dec.8)
• Hanukkah (Dec. 14-22)
• Winter Solstice (Dec. 21)
• Christmas (Dec. 25)
• Kwanzaa (Dec. 26-Jan.1)
• Armenian Christmas (Jan. 5)
• Epiphany (Jan. 6)
• Orthodox Christmas (Jan. 6)

Winter and Yellow School Busses

The following are safety measures the school is committed to, if the yellow school busses are delayed, given the poor road conditions:

• Supervise students until the busses arrive
• Allow students access to the student telephone in the main foyer, or their Personal Mobile Devices, to communicate efficiently between home and school in the event of delays
• The main office normally closes at 4:15 pm, however telephone lines will be monitored until the late busses arrive
• Maintain communication with transportation service providers, if the online tracking system is unavailable or inaccurate
• Send a School Messenger to families if busses have not arrived by 4:15 pm, and if online tracking is unavailable or inaccurate

We request that parents actively monitor the bus apps. Additionally, ensure that contingency plans are communicated with children - as well as with other family members, neighbours, and friends – in the event of bus delays.

Woodman Key Documents

Each year at this time, CBE schools summarize key information for families, as follows:

• Fee Report to Parents 24-25 - Reflects the many events we have planned for our students and charged parents fees for
• School Annual Results 24-25 - Summarizes the work of our School Development Plan last year, and includes supporting data from report cards, PATs, and perception surveys 
• School Development Plan 25-26 – A description of the learning focus for the upcoming school year, centered on language learning, vocabulary development and utilizing culturally responsive texts and pedagogies
• IPP Parent Signature Page – Due : Mon. Dec. 1

Assist us by returning the IPP signature page, for filing into the Official Student Record. 

Lifetouch Picture Proofs

Retake picture proofs were sent home this week. Homeroom teachers handed them to students who got a retake done Nov 17. Please order your photos online or bring in the order form with payment to the main office and we will forward it to Lifetouch.

Lost and Found Items

Student lost and found items are on display in the hallway by the office. Ask your student to look carefully for their items. Anything remaining before the winter break will be donated.

Overdue Notices – Library Books

Through the generous support of the School Council, Woodman possesses an expansive book collection for varying reading interests and languages. Homeroom teachers have received overdue notices and will be providing those to students next week.  Please return overdue books before the winter break.  Students are encouraged to sign out new library books in advance of the winter break, to allow them quality reading time daily. The Learning Commons will be closed from Mon. Dec. 15 onward, as the space is set up for the annual Student Holiday Market.

Winter Band Concert – Thurs. Dec. 4, 6:30 pm

We look forward to celebrating the impressive musical progress that our senior and jazz bands (Gr. 8-9) have made this semester.  All families of participating students are welcome to attend the concert in the main gym.  Doors to the performance area will be open for first come, first served seating, commencing at 6:00.  The concert will be begin promptly at 6:30. 

Families of Grade 5-7 Music and Band students are warmly encouraged to attend the event, to learn more about what their own future music development will look like.  More information about a celebration of musical learning for Grade 5-7 students will be communicated in the near future.

The Woodman Music Parents’ Association is not selling tickets for this event. Donations will be gratefully received at the start and end of the concert, at the main entrance doors.  Popcorn will be sold at the door, and proceeds will be re-directed into music programming.

Healthy Hunger Offerings 

With the colder weather approaching, students may appreciate the opportunity to have lunch delivered straight to the school. If you have not yet registered your child for this paid lunch service, you may do so through the following link: https://healthyhunger.ca/parent-help. This fundraiser is led by the Grade 9 Leadership class, proceeds of which are all re-directed back into student identified areas of priority to enhance school life.

Note the Friday midnight deadline to order lunches for your child.  The restaurants are as follows: 

• Tues. Dec. 2                Boston Pizza   
• Thurs. Dec. 4              Mucho Burrito
• Fri. Dec. 5                   Kernels 
• Tues. Dec. 9                Chachis
• Thurs. Dec. 11             A&W       
• Fri. Dec. 12                 Jelly Modern Doughnuts            
• Tues. Dec. 16              Chick-Fillet 
• Thurs. Dec. 18            Chopped Leaf
• Fri. Dec. 29                 Booster Juice

School Council Updates

Woodman School Council will be hosting a Staff Appreciation Lunch on Friday December 5.  We are very excited to provide staff with a warm lunch to help them to see how much they are appreciated.

If you are able to contribute food or your time to set up or clean up, then please sign up here: Sign Up

Thank you for supporting our amazing Woodman staff! 

Woodman Music Parents’ Association

The WMPA met on Nov. 24 for discussion and planning.  See the minutes here: X The next meeting is on Dec. 15.

Important Dates