Dear Woodman Families:
What a week of positive representation of Woodman students in the community!  Families may have viewed the local news story about Jill-of-All-Trades, featuring Woodman and other schools’ participation. Additionally, students had an excellent day of leadership development at Dr. EP Scarlett High School, an opportunity that we thank our feeder school for having offered.

Take note of a few upcoming events and announcements for the week of Nov. 25-29.  Friday, Nov. 29 is a CBE non-instructional day (and Woodman’s Learning Conferences day).

Winter Weather Practices

With the commencement of colder temperatures and heavy snowfall, we request that students come prepared and appropriately dressed for the weather. Arrive close to the morning entry time (8:55 AM).  The Calgary Board of Education stipulates that when temperatures exceed -20 degrees, indoor lunch plans will be provided.  Given that Woodman has an off campus lunch policy, Gr. 7-9 students may still prefer to leave the school in cold temperatures, but they will not be required to exit for the second half of the lunch hour.  Internal lunchtime supervision plans will be in effect.

Winter and Yellow School Busses

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

  • Supervise students until the busses arrives
  • 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 4:00 PM, however telephone lines will be monitored until the late busses arrive
  • Maintain communication with transportation service providers, in the event that the online tracking system is unavailable or inaccurate
  • Send a School Messenger to families if busses have not arrived by 4:00 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.

Learning Conferences – Nov. 28-29

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. 28 Face-to-Face Conference Tips (4:00-8:00 PM)

  • 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. 29 Virtual Conferences Tips (9:00 AM-12:00 PM)

  • 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 Microsoft Teams 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
  • Verify posted grades on Power School leading up to the conference, which teachers are currently working intensively at updating
  • 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 sensitive to start and end times, in order to allow teachers to progress through their conferences in a timely fashion

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

Library Book Sign-Out Closes Nov. 28-Jan. 6

In order to foster a love of reading in our adolescent learners, we will be closing the library for a major re-organization of books. Research on library book usage indicates that when books are displayed and categorized by genre (instead of by author last name), readers will be more interested and likely to select texts that they enjoy. Teachers will provide students with opportunities to sign out at least one French and one English book this week, which students may loan for an extended period of time and return upon re-entry to classes in January.

International Cake Day – Nov. 25-28

Leadership 9 students are excited about selling slices of cake over the lunch hour next week, for $1/slice.  Proceeds will all be directed towards organizing school spirit events and dances throughout the school year. Raising funds and creating/maintaining budgets is also an important leadership and life skill that this activity will foster in our Leadership students.  Thank you for supporting a good/fun cause.

Basketball Play-Offs This Week

Teams and volunteer coaches have had a season full of incredible skill development and positive team spirit.  Note the play-off games that will be hosted next week.  Woodman students may attend as a spectator, however they must be accompanied by a responsible adult or guardian for the duration of their time within these CBE school facilities. We thank our families for continuing to positively cheer on our players, in a dignified and supportive manner.

Monday          

  • 4:30     Woodman Jr. Girls vs. Lakeshore at Louis Riel School
  • 7:30     Woodman Sr. Girls vs. TBD at Louis Riel School

Tuesday

  • 5:30     Woodman Jr. Boys vs. McKenzie Highlands at Dr. Martha Cohen
  • 6:30     Woodman Sr. Boys vs. McKenzie Highlands at Mountain Park School

Wednesday    

  • 4:30     Woodman Jr. Girls vs. TBD at Midsun School
  • 5:30     Woodman Jr. Boys vs. TBD at Lakeshore School
  • 6:30     Woodman Sr. Girls vs. TBD at Midsun School
  • 7:30     Woodman Sr. Boys vs. TBD at McKenzie Highlands School

Wellness Day Plans – Fri., Dec. 13

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. 13 will be focused on Citizenship and Community. 

  • Grades 5-7 – “Giving To Our Own Community”
    • Distributing holiday cards to local neighbours and seniors’ homes
    • Leading a Fill-a-Sock Campaign, through the Calgary Drop-In Centre
  • Grade 8 – “Giving to the Larger Community”
    • Spend the day volunteering at the Calgary Dream Centre, and learning about how vulnerable Calgarians can best be supported
  • Grade 9 “Giving Back to our Former School Communities”
    • 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 13 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. A simple sock filled with care can make a big difference!

We kindly ask families to consider donating new items such as: $5 Tim Horton’s gift cards, gloves, mitts, hats, toques, socks, underwear, travel mugs, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, throat lozenges, hand warmers, lip balms, razors, Calgary Transit tickets, chocolates, candies, gum, or monetary donations to help us purchase additional items.

Please have students bring any donations directly to their homeroom teacher. Thank you for helping us give back to our community!

School Council and Parent Society Meetings - November 26, 7:00 PM

Everyone is encouraged to join us at our meetings on Tuesday November 26 at 7 PM.  We will meet both in person in the Learning Commons and virtually through the following Microsoft Teams link: Join the meeting now

Important information regarding the transition to High School will be shared by Ms. Stenhouse (Student Services Learning Leader) and Mr. MacCarl (Assistant Principal). See the meeting agenda on the School Council page.

We continue to look for parents to volunteer their time to become (1) our secretary, (2) our staff appreciation coordinator, and (3) our fundraising coordinator.  All of these roles come with support from the previous parent volunteer.   

Questions?  Email Tara at ParentCouncilWoodman@gmail.com 

WMPA Updates

Join the Woodman Music Parents’ Executive Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 25, 6:30 PM.  The meeting will be held virtually.

We request that families continue to save their refundables and direct them to a good cause – the Woodman Music Program! Bottles may be donated at the trailer in the NE corner of the staff parking lot, in between Thurs. Dec. 5, 4:00 pm – Sat. Dec. 7, 1:00 PM.

Important Dates                                                         

Mon. Nov. 25                          Grade 6 AHS Immunizations

                                                WMPA Meeting (virtual), 6:30 PM

Western Canada High School French IB Night, 6:30 PM (at Western Canada High School)

Tues. Nov. 26                         Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth at Woodman

School Council Meeting, 7:00 PM

Thurs. Nov. 28                        Calgary Police Service Presentation “You and the Law”

                                                Henry Wise Wood High School Open House, 6:00-8:00 pm

Learning Conferences, 4:00-8:00 pm

Fri. Nov. 29                             Learning Conferences, 9:00-2:00, no school for students

Mon. Dec. 2                            Guest Speaker: Canadian Mental Health Association

Tues. Dec. 3                            Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth at Woodman

                                                Skills Exploration Day

Wed. Dec. 4                            Wrestling Quad #1, 6:30 pm

Thurs. Dec. 5                          Haysboro Seniors’ Luncheon – Leadership 9 Volunteers

Grade 8-9 Senior Band Winter Concert

Dec. 5-7                                  WMPA Bottle Drive

Dec. 9-17                                Eco Cooks – Elements Society (Foods option classes)

Thurs. Dec. 12                        Sailing Trip Student Lunch Meeting (Room 28)

Fri. Dec. 13                             Wellness Day

Tues. Dec. 17                          Wrestling Quad #2, 5:00-7:00 pm

Fri. Dec. 20                             Last Day of Classes

Dec. 23-Jan. 3                        Winter Break

Mon. Jan. 6                             Classes Resume