Hello Louis Riel families,
The final four months of school have arrived and we have a lot of teaching and learning ahead of us. Ongoing learning is our priority at all times but this is also the time of year when we begin planning for the inevitable transition to the next year of teaching and learning. Much of this planning involves students joining the Louis Riel community and those who are leaving. New registrations are being confirmed across most grades with the annual lottery process and our Grade 9 families are registering at designated high schools and making course selections for their students. Staff are planning to meet with students and families in our upcoming school conferences in order 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.
The first week of March is already here so please read on to find out more about important upcoming events and activities.
School Conferences Coming 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. These conferences present families with the opportunity to connect with their student(s') teacher(s) to discuss current learning in order to support and promote success in school.
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 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, 2024 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 10th. 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 7th.
Louis Riel Parent and School Council(s) meeting notes from Wednesday February 28
February’s meeting included a presentation from Ms. Tanner about our targeted literacy intervention strategy for Div 1&2 students. In addition to Ms. Tanner’s presentation, we previewed the annual school planning survey focused on collecting input about our school development plan, identifying areas of need we can plan to support, and planning school fees for next year. This survey will be opened following an upcoming message to all families and will remain open for two weeks to collect your input.
Our next online council meeting is scheduled for March 20.
A reminder that all current minutes and agendas are available on the LRPAC website:
https://www.wearelouis.ca under Agendas and Minutes
Ongoing Registration at Louis Riel
Offers to attend Louis Riel School for the 2024-25 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 4 – Grade 6 Story Book Theatre Trip
March 6 & 7 – Kindergarten Wet Felting In-Class Experience
March 12 – Leadership Class Texas Donut Sales
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 – Grades 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