Dear Woodman Families
Welcome to October! Highlights of the past week include valiant displays of athleticism at various soccer and basketball games. We wish our junior basketball teams good success at the Hoopfest Tournament at Mackenzie Highlands School this weekend. As well, Grade 7 students experienced a joyful and beautiful day at Calgary Farmyard on Thursday. Thank you to the parents who volunteered on the trip.
Take note of a few important messages for the week of Oct. 7-11.
Wellness Day Retreats
Grade 5
Students will be working together with Grade 9 Leadership students on a number of community building and relationship-strengthening activities within the school environment. The intent is to help our youngest learners feel confident with their older peers, while having fun together.
Grade 6
Students will gather with their friends at Chinook Park School for outdoor play, organized games, and a snack together. This is a walking field trip and more information will be communicated to families next week. The intent is for friendships to grow between both schools, knowing that these cohorts of students will all be together in Grade 7 at Woodman next year.
Grade 8
Parent consent forms (and corresponding fees in Rycor) for the retreat at “The Confluence” are due on Monday. The trip will proceed, rain-or-shine and students are requested to dress appropriately for the weather. Be reminded that there are no Personal Mobile Devices (PMDs) permitted on the trip. We are still in need of parent volunteers; please email your child’s homeroom teacher if you are available to assist.
Grade 9
Letters and forms for the retreat at Kamp Kiwanis on Oct. 23 or 24 will be circulated early next week
Horizons Leadership Conference – Student Interest Meeting, Monday at Lunch
Centennial High School is co-hosting the Horizons Student Leadership Conference, together with the Canadian Student Leadership Association. This conference will feature two top student leadership speakers that have presented across North America. Students will receive leadership training and ideas to take back to their schools. They will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with other student leaders from the Calgary area. We anticipate over 400 students attending. There are 30 spots available for any interested Grade 7-9 Woodman students. The cost per student is $52, although subsidies are available. Join Mr. Homewood for lunch on Monday to learn more and receive consent forms.
Woodman Hosts Basketball Games Next Week
We will be the hosting school for CMSLAA basketball games all of next week, commencing at 4:30 pm. Woodman students are welcome to cheer on their team for the first game of the season. Following the first game, all students must be under the care and supervision of an adult. Students without a supervisor will be asked to leave the school. We send a friendly reminder to all parent spectators to model respectful, encouraging spectator behaviours.
OurSchool Survey Administered Tuesday
On Tuesday, Woodman School will be participating in an online school perception survey for students, called the OurSCHOOL Student Survey. This anonymous survey is completely voluntary for all CBE students.
CBE’s Education Plan prioritizes student voice and well-being in our decision-making processes. Responses from this survey are used at the system and school level to recognize and improve what is necessary for students to feel safe, welcome, and cared for when at school.
Grade 9 Quebec Trip - Save Your Spot by Oct. 10, 4:00 pm
Thank you to the families who attended the Grade 9 Quebec trip interest meeting on Thursday. For those who were not able to attend, and who wish to express interest, email Mme. Wister (mewister@cbe.ab.ca) as soon as possible. A lottery will be drawn in the event of more than 50 applicants. Completed CBE Financial Commitment Forms are due in the main office by Thurs. Oct. 10, 4:00 pm. More information following this deadline will be sent out to all families who applied.
Lifetouch Picture Orders Due
Lifetouch picture orders are due (both online and envelopes to the office) mylifetouch.ca. Retakes are scheduled for Monday, Oct.21.
IPP Distribution and Parent Signature Page - Friday
Families of children with Individualized Program Plans (IPPs) will be provided with their working copy next Friday. 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 sheet the following week.
Woodman is Selected! Jill-of-All-Trades Event
Woodman has been named as one of only two CBE middle schools to participate in Jill-of-all-Trades at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). This is a one-day event on November 20, aimed at inspiring young women in grades 8 and 9 to explore and consider various opportunities and benefits of pursuing a career in skilled trades and technologies. There are only 16 student spots. Any interested students or families are requested to communicate with Mr. Homewood as soon as possible. Learn more through this link: https://jillofalltrades.college/
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
Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth (make new friends in Canada, while practicing English)
Tuesdays Grades 7-9, Room 16
GSA/QSA (peer support group, backed by staff, that promotes safe, inclusive spaces for all)
Wednesday All grades, Room 15
Student Council (Grade 9 student advocacy group to improve and enhance school life)
Thursday interest meeting, second half of lunch (Learning Commons)
Leadership 9, Student-Led Clubs
More information to follow soon
Woodman Staff Email Addresses
Keep in contact with your child’s teachers if any questions or needs arise. The website has been recently updated to include all 2024-2025 staff: https://woodman.cbe.ab.ca/staff. Note the approach outlined in the Woodman School Handbook (p. 15):
“To promote best communication practices, we request that parents connect directly with teachers first, before calling administration, to more effectively address any classroom-based themes. Teachers know students best, especially when topics of concern include student conflict, homework, assessment results, etc. An exception to this process would only occur in highly sensitive matters. The principles of the CBE Administrative Regulation 5007 regarding Concerns and Complaints guide our approach for maintaining a strong home-school partnership.”
September School Council and Education Society Minutes
For those families who were not able to join in person or online, please read the draft minutes of the Sept. 24 meetings here: School Council and Parent Society. We thank CBE Trustee Close and Education Director Yeung for their presence in the meeting.
Woodman Music Parents’ Association Meeting, Tues. Oct. 6, 6:30 pm
The WMPA October Meeting is scheduled for the upcoming week. All music parents are invited to participate, by joining the following Microsoft Teams link:
Woodman 50-50 Raffle Win
On behalf of the Woodman Parent Society, we would like to congratulate R.C. on being the winner of Woodman's 50/50 Raffle! The winning ticket number was D-3964. R.C. will receive 50% of the total amount raised ($4,750) which is $2,375.00.Thank you to all who purchased tickets. Your generosity helps move us towards our goal of updated science labs, new library books, and support Wellness days.
Important Dates
Oct. 7-19 School Council Prairie Gourmet Fundraiser
Tues. Oct. 8 Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth Lunch Time Program
-Commences at 12:15, Room 16, Weekly
Healthy Hunger Chachis
WMPA Parent Meeting, 6:30 pm
Thurs. Oct. 10 Grade 8 Wellness Day at The Confluence (former Fort Calgary)
Healthy Hunger Mary Browns (Grade 8 students should not order, due to the field trip)
Fri. Oct. 11 B Day Option Classes
Healthy Hunger Kernels
IPPs Distributed
Fri. Oct. 18 A Day Option Classes
Oct. 18-19 Sr. Basketball Legends Showdown Tournament
-Mackenzie Highlands School
Mon. Oct. 21 School Picture Re-Take Day
Guest Speaker: Canadian Mental Health Association (Gr. 9 Health Care Services option class)
Tues. Oct. 22 St. Mary’s University Student Teacher, Mr. Stewart (host teacher: Mr. Bane)
Oct. 23-24 Grade 9 Wellness Day at Kamp Kiwanis
Thurs. Oct. 24 CBE Horizons Student Leadership Conference
Fri. Oct. 25 CBE Professional Learning Day, no school for students
Mon. Oct. 28 Wrestling Season Commences
Tues. Oct. 29 Woodman School Council Meeting, 7:00 pm
-Guest Speaker: Canadian Parents’ for French
Fri. Nov. 1 B Day Options
Wed. Nov. 4 Grade 7 Field Trip, Field of Crosses (select classes)
Wed. Nov. 6 Take Our Kids to Work (Grade 9)
Thurs. Nov. 7 Grade 7 Field Trip, Field of Cross (select classes)
Fri. Nov. 8 CBE Indigenous Education Day, No School for Students
Nov. 11-13 Fall Break, No School for Students
Wed. Nov. 20 Jill-of-all-Trades Event, SAIT