Dear Woodman Families:

We had a great time of exercise, fun, and community building during the annual Terry Fox Run today. Thank you to the Leadership 9 students for their exemplary work in facilitating the event. Many families have already contributed to the “Toonies for Terry” campaign.  Continued donations are being collected under the Woodman School category throughout the month of September.  Visit the following link: https://schools.terryfox.ca/30017

Take note of a few important messages for the week of Sept. 18-22. It is Lifetouch Picture Day on Monday, and that there is no school for CBE students on Friday:

Student Safety and Good Citizenship

We hosted various classroom conversations this week to remind students to be alert when crossing the street.  Despite active teacher supervision and students using the lighted crosswalks, dangerous situations regularly occur on Elbow Drive and 86th Ave. Please remind your child of the necessity of:

• Always crossing at marked crossings (no jay-walking)
• Keeping eyes on the vehicles
• Pausing to proceed into the street until all vehicles have stopped
• Taking out head phones and refraining from speaking on the cell phone while crossing

We also request reinforcement of good etiquette when in the neighbourhood over the lunch hour.  This includes:

• Disposing of waste correctly
• Being courtesy in the Dairy Queen, Western Pizza and Shell convenience store
• Not loitering in these venues unless purchasing food

IPP Parent/Student Input Meetings: Fri. Sept. 22

Over the next few days, every family of a child on an Individualized Program Plan (IPP) will receive contact from their key IPP teacher.  Flexible meeting times will be arranged and set up by the key teacher. Meetings may occur either in person or through Microsoft Teams, in between 9:00-12:00 on Friday.  Students are strongly encouraged to participate in these meetings, in order to foster ownership and voice in the learning process. The next Learning Conferences for all students are on Nov. 23-24.

If you have diagnostic information about your child that you have not yet shared with the school, or if you do not hear back from your child’s IPP key teacher in the upcoming days, please email Ms. Stenhouse, Student Services Learning Leader (tastenhouse@cbe.ab.ca).

Student Input – Wellness Days at Woodman

Over and above weekly Health classes each Friday, Woodman also hosts four full day Wellness events throughout the school year.  Wellness Days are developed using the Alberta Comprehensive School Health and the CBE Student Well Being frameworks as our guide.  Student input into developing themes and content is vital.  A special lunch meeting is being held on Tues. Sept. 19th in the Foods Room.  All interested students who have ideas about our Wellness Days are encouraged to bring their lunch to the Foods Room and join the conversation.  Daily student announcements are made during the school day to encourage students to join the meeting.

Grade 8 Student Interest Meeting – Potential Sailing Trip Spring 2024

This school year, we are again planning to offer a number of overnight trips to enhance learning and strengthen a sense of community.  A sailing trip to the BC West Coast, through the SALTS school trip provider, is being explored for Grade 8 students. We would like to monitor student interest first, prior to making decisions.  Should there be a sufficient number of interested students, a parent meeting will be scheduled in the near future.  Grade 8 students are invited to come to Room 28 in the lower level of the school (Mme. Bailer) with their lunch on Thurs. Sept. 22 to learn more about this exciting opportunity.  Keep posted for more information in the upcoming weeks.

Unpaid School Fees – Last School Year

We have a very high amount of unpaid school fees from various field trips and events that Woodman students participated in last school year.  Please check your Parent Account in My CBE (Power School) this weekend to ensure that fees from the 2022-2023 school year are paid up.  Doing so will help us greatly in ensuring that enriched opportunities can continue to be offered for the 2023-2024 and beyond.

French for Parents

CBE Chinook Learning Services offers courses specifically designed for parents and caregivers of CBE French Immersion students. For Fall 2023, Chinook Learning Services is once again offering French for Parents – Level 1 classes. This eight-week course will help parents of bilingual students learn or refresh their French language skills, build their network of bilingual parents and support their children’s learning at home.

Here is the link on the Chinook Learning Services website: French For Parents Level 1
Check out the course content at Outline French For Parents Level 1

Healthy Hunger Lunch Ordering

Woodman School is pleased to offer a lunch ordering system for all interested families, through Healthy Hunger.  The first lunch order service commences on Tues. Oct. 3rd for Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Orders may be made online, and close the Friday before the lunch date. Lunches are delivered to the school and efficiently served in the school lunchroom. All proceeds are redirected back to improvements in the school experience, based on student input. Please register through the link provided:
https://healthyhunger.ca/parent-help

Music Program Updates

Music programming is in full force at Woodman.  Take note of a few important upcoming events:

• Morning rehearsals (8:00 am) for Grade 8-9 and Jazz bands will commence during the week of September 25
• Small group Band Clinics with professional musicians are scheduled for Grade 7 students on Sept. 27, 4:00-5:30 pm
• Join the annual Woodman Music Parents’ Association Annual General Meeting on Thurs. Sept. 21st, 8:00 pm, as part of the “Meet Woodman Night”.  A virtual meeting link will also be circulated (next week) to optimize family participation.  Important program information will be shared regarding Grade 5-6 Music, Grade 7-9 Bands, and Grade 9 Guitar.  All families are welcome!

School Council Updates

One of the most significant ways families can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students is through school councils.

Woodman School Council is a group of Woodman families and Woodman staff that work collaboratively together to have a positive impact on student success. 

We encourage all Woodman families to become actively involved in School Council by attending our virtual meetings, by reading our minutes shared in the Woodman Weekly, or by volunteering your time as a school council member. 

There are many ways to get involved that allow you to gather valuable information about Woodman and to ensure that the parent perspective is represented in school decision-making.
Join us at our first gathering of the year on Tuesday, September 26 from 7 to 8:30 at Bitter Sisters (510 Heritage Drive SW).  This will be an informal get together with the opportunity for everyone to chat and reconnect. 

Athletics Updates

We commend the Cross Country Team on a successful meet at Stanley Park. We also applaud the many students who have been coming to Soccer and Basketball try-outs.  Final decisions on team formation will occur early next week.   In order to participate on a school athletics team, important criteria must be met, including:

• Demonstrating good character and citizenship in and out of class, and within the game environment
• Consistently attending practices and games
• Completing all needed parent consent forms
• Paying associated fees

See the game and practice schedules for the week ahead, below.  More details and requirements will be communicated in consent forms that will be circulated to students.  Please contact your volunteer coach directly if more specific information is needed:

Mon. Sept. 18

• Sr. Girls BB (AM)
• Jr. Girls BB (PM)
• Boys Soccer (PM)
• X- Country Practice (PM)

Tues. Sept. 19

• Sr. Boys BB (PM)
• Jr. Boys BB (AM) 
• Girls Soccer (PM)
• X- Country (Meet)
• Boys Soccer @ Marshall Springs School

Wed. Sept. 20

• Jr Girls BB (AM)
• Sr. Girls BB (PM)
• Boys Soccer (PM)
• X- Country Practice (AM)
• Girls Soccer @ Willow Park School

Thurs. Sept. 21

• Jr. Boys BB (PM)
• Sr. Boys BB (AM) 
• Girls Soccer (PM)
• Boys Soccer at Willow Park School

Important Dates

Mon. Sept. 18                         Lifetouch School Picture Day
Tues. Sept. 19                        Cross Country Team Meet, 3:45-6:00, North Glenmore Park
Thurs. Sept. 21                       Meet Woodman Night, 6:30 pm – everyone invited!
                                                Woodman Music Parents’ Association AGM, 8:00 pm

Fri. Sept. 22                            CBE Non-Instructional Day
                                                            -IPP meetings between parents/teachers/students
Mon. Sept. 25                         Cross Country Team Meet, 3:45-6:00, North Glenmore Park
Tues. Sept. 26                        School Council Parent Mingling Night
Fri. Sept. 29                            National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – No School
Mon. Oct. 2                             Grade 7 Field Trip – Three Herons Conservation Site (select classes)
Tues. Oct. 3                            Grade 7 Field Trip – Three Herons Conservation Site (select classes)
Fri. Oct. 6                                B Day Option Classes
Mon. Oct. 9                             Thanksgiving – No School
Tues. Oct. 10                          Grade 7 ENVOE Canoe Field Trip
Fri. Oct. 13                              A Day Option Classes

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