Hello Louis Riel families,

Happy belated international Women’s Day! We began our international Women's Day together in a virtual assembly that recognized this day and the global effort to realize a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world where difference is valued and celebrated is a world everyone can live in as equals.  

Staff are looking forward to meeting with students and families in our upcoming school conferences to share and receive feedback about student learning successes, challenges, and opportunities for growth. Even though it feels as though we’re still in the depths of winter here in Calgary you may also be looking forward to the annual spring break at the end of the month. March may be short a week due to the break but it won’t be short on teaching, learning and working together at Louis Riel.  

Please read on to find out more about important upcoming events and activities.

School Conferences this Month

Our second round of conferences will take place in-person on Thursday, March 21 in the evening from 4:00pm until 8:00pm. Conferences will continue online on the morning of Friday, March 22 from 8:00am until 11:45am. Expect to see a link to register once the conference booking system is ready to open in the coming weeks.

Student Pickup/Drop off and Busses

Please be mindful of how you choose to navigate pickup and drop off at Louis Riel. Vehicles are not to enter school parking lots to collect or drop students. These parking lots are not safe spots to access as they involve crossing busy sidewalks and driving between busses. Please obey all posted speed limits and watch out for our crossing guards.  

Bus drivers have reported having to stop their bus as they pull away from designated pickup stops to receive children arriving late. Please ensure your student arrives in time for morning pickup.

Yearbook

Louis Riel students create an amazing yearbook each year and make it available to all students regardless of grade level. The order deadline has now passed and the record breaking order of over 400 copies will arrive in June. Thank you for your interest in our yearbook and we look forward to getting orders to everyone who placed them.      

GPA Parent Association

The association invites you to attend their upcoming GATE Parent Education Session: A conversation about GATE with Chris Radu, Education Director at the CBE.

The GATE Parent Association (GPA) is pleased to offer this session with Chris Radu, who leads the Inclusive Education portfolio supporting GATE and over 150 Specialized Classes across the CBE. At this session, Chris will speak to various topics of interest to parents of GATE kids, and to those who may be interested in learning more about the GATE program. 

Date: Tuesday, March 12

Time: 6:30pm 

Venue: Virtual meeting: advance registration here

Immediately following the presentation, the GPA will hold a short General Meeting. If you have a student registered in the GATE program for this current school year, you are a member of the GPA. 

To attend the session, please register here by March 10. Parents of non-GATE students are welcome to attend the session. 

If you have questions related to GATE that you would like Chris to address, please email them to info@gatecalgary.ca by March 7.

Louis Riel Parent and School Council(s)

Our next online council meeting is scheduled for March 20 starting at 6:30 pm. We are confirming our next guest speaker and will share an updated agenda in the next week.

A reminder that all current minutes and agendas are available on the LRPAC website. This can be found under Agendas and Minutes.

Ongoing Registration at Louis Riel

Offers to attend Louis Riel School for the 2024-2025 school year have been sent to successful lottery applicants and we’re in the process of confirming enrolment. Due to ongoing demand, our Science program continues to have limited capacity for new students but waitlisted students can receive offers to attend up until the first week of September.

To learn more about the lottery process click HERE

Lost and Found at Louis Riel

Please remind your student(s) to walk by our lost and found to locate any lost or misplaced clothing and lunch container items and take them home. If your student regularly loses items at school, please also consider sewing nametags on their clothing items.

We can only keep lost and found items on display for so long until we are left to assume that they are no longer wanted. Twice a year we donate unclaimed items from the lost and found to charitable organizations to share with those who are in need.  

Upcoming Events

March 12 – Leadership Class Texas Donut Sales Delivery

March 12 – GATE Council Meeting Online

March 18 & 19 – Grade 8/9 Outdoor Ed Overnight Trip

March 18 – Grade 6 Tanner and McIntosh classes Flight Hangar trip

March 19 – Grade 7 Earth Science for Society Trip, Grade 6 GATE class to Flight Hangar

March 20 – Gr. 5 & 9 Inside Education guest presentations

March 21 – School Conferences in-person 4pm to 8pm

March 22 – No School due to School Conferences online 8am to 12pm

March 22 to April 1 – SPRING BREAK

April 2 – Classes Resume