Dear Woodman Families:  

It is a busy season. We thank every member of our school community – parent groups, teaching teams, and students – for contributing towards the energy and enriched learning that is palpable everywhere. 

Note the important messages for the week of Nov. 24-28.  There are no classes in the CBE on Friday, to accommodate Parent-Teacher Conferences. 

Winter Weather Practices 

With the commencement of colder temperatures and snowfall, we request that students come prepared and appropriately dressed for the weather. Arrive close to the morning entry time (9:00 am), and not before.  The Calgary Board of Education stipulates that when temperatures exceed -20 degrees, indoor lunch plans will be provided.  On all other days, students are expected to go outside during the second half of lunch.

IPP Distribution and Parent Signature Page – Mon. Nov. 24 

Families of children with Individualized Program Plans (IPPs) will be provided with their working copy on Monday.  Please review the IPP together with your child; it is a living document and intended to reflect the voice and input of your child in their learning.  Signing and returning the Parent Signature Page is a legal accountability that we request your assistance with.  Please return the Parent Signature Page during Parent-Teacher Conferences, or by Mon. Dec. 1.

Overnight Trip Expression of Interest Deadlines

To confirm our vendors and finalize costs we request that families interested in any of the following overnight trips communicate with the designated teacher by the following dates:

• Camp Cadicasu ENVOE Gr. 9 - ASAP
• Quebec Gr. 9 - Mon. Nov. 24
• Sailing Gr. 8/9 - Thurs. Nov. 27

Calling Student Leaders! Due: Tues. Nov. 25

As was communicated earlier last week, we are seeking interested student leaders to participate in the CBE Middle School Well-Being Symposium at Mount Royal University on Dec. 9. The team of eight students across grade levels (Gr. 6-9) and programs will lead change throughout the school year and bring a greater experience of belonging and inclusion for all Woodman students. Sign up in the main office or mail Mr. Homewood (smhomewood@cbe.ab.ca) or Ms. Reeves (mlreeves@cbe.ab.ca). 

Lunch Time Activities 

With the return of colder temperatures, students will be offered a range of indoor, optional activities on a rotating basis: 

Learning Commons Drop-In (play some piano, read a book, socialize quietly) 

Monday           Grades 5/6 

Tuesday          Grade 7 

Wednesday     Grade 8 

Thursday         Grade 9 

Main Gym Drop-In (develop and refine skills in a low-structured environment) 

Monday           Grade 7 

Tuesday          Grade 8 

Wednesday     Grade 9 

Thursday         Grades 5/6

Wrestling Club

Tuesday          Grades 5/6

Student Holiday Market

Wednesday     All grades (full lunch hour)

GSA (support group to promote inclusion and diversity)

Tuesdays        All grades (Room 15)

Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth After School Program – Tuesdays

Keep your teen socially active during the longer evenings of winter! Participate in the Tuesday after school program for all Gr. 7-9 students (3:45-5:45 pm). Together with youth workers, students engage in a variety of social games and life skills building. To register, contact Irkoo at ihussein@cbfy.ca. 

Basketball Exhibition Night at Woodman – Tues. Nov. 25

We anticipate a lively evening as the basketball teams of Elboya and Woodman apply their skill development in friendly competition. Across the CBE, middle schools have developed similar spectator expectations, as follows:

• Students of the home game may remain for the first game only
• After the first game, all students must be under the supervision of a parent/legal guardian 
• Students without a guardian supervision will not be admitted into the gymnasium, and will be asked to leave the school

High School Tours and Visits – Thurs. Nov. 27

Information will be sent to Gr. 9 families early next week, regarding the walking field trip for students in the English program to Henry Wise Wood High School.  Students in the French program will remain at school and receive a visit from the guidance counsellor and school leaders of Dr. EP Scarlett High School. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences – Nov. 27-28 

Teachers are looking forward to connecting with families during the upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences, which serve as a mid-semester “oral report card”.  

Thurs. Nov. 27 Face-to-Face Conference Tips (4:30-8:30) 

• Allow enough time to park, enter the main doors of the school and view the map with teacher meeting locations 
• Respect our neighbours by refraining from blocking their driveways 
• Late arrival times will result in a reduced meeting time, as teachers wish to respect everyone’s schedules 

Fri. Nov. 28 Virtual Conferences Tips (9:00-1:00) 

• Log in 1-2 minutes before the start of your conference time.   
• Wait in the virtual lobby and teachers will admit you at the designated time 
• Cameras and microphones should be on for all participants to enhance good communication.   
• If you are a CBE employee, ensure that you are accessing the MicrosoftTeams link through your personal, not CBE email address. This ensures parent access, not meeting organizer access 

General suggestions for a successful 10-minute conference: 

• Ensure that your child is present and participates in the meeting 
• Participate in the meeting with the knowledge that, given disruptions because of labour action, teachers have had less opportunity to assess and communicate the same volume of evidence of learning in Power School as in a typical year
• Frame your conversation around: “What has my child’s adjustment to the new grade and learning expectations looked like?” and “What are the action steps (2-3) that we can focus on between now and the first report card at the end of January?” 
• Be courtesy of start and end times, to allow teachers to progress through their conferences in a timely fashion 

Should you have any questions about booking, please contact the main office. 

Wellness Day Plans – Fri., Dec. 12 

The school will host three Wellness Days this school year, to promote comprehensive school health, social-emotional learning, and a sense of belonging/community. The first Wellness Days took the form of grade level retreats in September-October.   

The upcoming Wellness Day on Fri. Dec. 12 will be focussed on Citizenship and Community.   

• Grades 5-6 - Distributing holiday cards to local neighbours and seniors’ homes 
• Grade 7 - Leading a Fill-a-Sock Campaign, through the Calgary Drop-In Centre 
• Grade 8 - Spend the day volunteering at the Calgary Dream Centre, and learning about how vulnerable Calgarians can best be supported 
• Grade 9 - Students will visit feeder schools – Chinook Park, Haysboro and Janet Johnstone – and will participate in interactive activities with younger students 

We thank the School Council for sponsoring the transportation costs for this Wellness Day. 

Warm Hearts, Fill Socks! 

In preparation for our December 12 Wellness Day, we are hoping to bring warmth and hope to those experiencing homelessness and poverty in our community. We are partnering with the Calgary Drop-In Centre and their Fill-A-Sock campaign to collect essential donations for the winter months. We kindly ask families to consider donating new items as outlined here: Community Wellness Day - Fill a SOCK. 

Please have students bring any donations directly to their homeroom teacher. A simple sock filled with care can make a big difference! 

School Council Minutes

See the minutes from the School Council and Parent Society meetings of Nov. 18.

Important Dates