Hello Louis Riel families,  

The first Fall Break meant a short week of learning for the community at Louis Riel. Even though it was a short week there were two noteworthy events that took place. Those of you who came by the front of the school early in the week may have seen a large piece of machinery and a lot of flagging tape outside the main entrance. Thanks to the amazing effort, dedication and leadership of Ms. Olsen to direct the hundreds of student and teacher hands that went into the mosaic project, it was finally installed. This collaborative installation was created with the help of almost every student in the building through design, materials prep, and tile placement last year and this fall. The project grew from its modest beginnings as a project to cover up a tired school façade to become a collaborative project supported by our facilities management team, CBE trades, School Council, staff and students at Louis Riel. The mosaic features local plant and animal species as well as the Bow river and our beloved Bison school mascot.  Click the image under Resources to view full size.

On Wednesday, we observed Remembrance Day in two separate divisional ceremonies to bring as many of our students together to share the act of remembrance. The ceremony featured musical performances by our grade 9 band, art from students adorned the walls and multiple gallery displays, students presented provocations on peace, slideshows of family connections to veterans and peacekeeping were shared, and our Grade 5s read In Flanders Fields. Students listened to the Last Post, observed two minutes of silence, and Rouse was played. To end the ceremony, homeroom students from all grades participated in a procession to lay wreaths before we exited the gym. This opportunity to come together as a school was made possible by a committee of teachers and staff led by Ms. Rose. Additional thanks to Ms. Houston’s band, Mr. Olsen’s PE team, Ms. White’s technical expertise, Ms. Olsen’s art direction, the Grade 5 teaching team and all staff who supported students as they learned about Remembrance Day and prepared their contributions to a beautiful ceremony. The entire ceremony was thoughtfully put together and deeply moving for all participants.  

Save the Date: School Conferences November 23 pm and November 24 am 

Our first round of student conferences will take place in less than 2 weeks. Although our teachers are always accessible via email, scheduled phone calls or meetings, time is set aside to discuss your student’s learning and progress in school conferences. This is the best opportunity to hear answers to questions that your student may not be able to provide related to teaching, current learning, and their level of understanding.  

We will offer blocked opportunities to meet in person and virtually to accommodate as many families as possible. Booking will open a week in advance.  

Traffic Safety at Louis Riel 

Our crossing guards continue to see unsafe driving at drop-off and pickup times. It is up to those of you behind the wheel to be mindful of your speed and of our little pedestrians trying to get to school. Calgary Police have been invited to attend the school to help remind our hastier drivers that unsafe driving in school zones can earn fines and demerit points.  

Please slow down, be mindful of students crossing the road, and please respect the important work of our crossing guards.     

GPA Parent Association 

Did you know if you have a child in GATE as of September 2023 you are automatically a member of the GATE Parent Association? Sign up to receive the GPA newsletter on their website https://gatecalgary.ca/  and be a part of the GPA Community! 

November 21 GATE Education Session: 

WHY I LOVE WORKING WITH  GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS:  
Embracing originality, unpredictability and challenge 

The GATE Parent Association (GPA) is excited to announce that Mr. Gary Perfect, GATE learning leader at Queen Elizabeth School, will be leading a presentation for GATE families. Mr. Perfect has worked with Calgary GATE students for over 20 years and with gifted students for over 30 years. He will share his insights on GATE students and the unique ways in which GATE students approach school projects.

Date: Tuesday November 21, 2023 
Time: 6:30pm 
Venue: Virtual meeting

Immediately following the presentation, the GPA will hold a short General Meeting. If you wish to attend the presentation and the general meeting, please register at this link and a meeting link will be sent to you a day or two before the presentation: https://gatecalgary.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7e097cc7704c7aa4748cfdcd9&id=79f074d3d1&e=cef25d5c2b.  

Next Louis Riel Parent Association and School Council Meeting is November 29  

Each month we will have teachers from different divisions, departments, and programs present to council and community about the teaching and learning going on in their classrooms. This month’s teacher presenter will be Ms. Evans who will be sharing her experience as a GATE humanities teacher in junior high/division 3 classes.   

A reminder that all current minutes and agendas are available on the LRPAC website: https://www.wearelouis.ca/ under Agendas and Minutes. 

Child and Youth Well-Being: A Webinar Series for Parents and Guardians  

The Calgary Board of Education invites all parents and guardians to join us in an online series focusing on child and youth well-being. These sessions will be hosted in partnership with experts from Alberta Health Services and will explore topics such as vaping, brain development, mental health, and sexual health. The next session is November 16th how to engage in challenging conversations with your young person regarding vaping. 

Click here to learn more:    
Child and Youth Well-Being:  A Webinar Series for Parents and Guardians  

Fun Lunches at Louis  

Fun lunches are a great source of fundraising for the School Council, give parents a day off from packing a lunch, and are exciting for the kids to receive! Fun Lunches will continue throughout the year with our regular rotation for elementary and junior high students each month. All future junior high fun lunch dates will be the second Wednesday of each month and Elementary will be on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.  

Sign up at www.HealthyHunger.ca. There is also a link on the Louis Riel School website. 

It is important to note, that due to health and safety protocols on food storage, the school will not be able to accommodate storing left-over lunches to the next day if your child was absent. Left-over lunches will be donated. 

Spectator Expectations at Louis Riel Athletics Events 

If you plan to attend as a spectator after the first game of the evening you need to have an adult with you who is a parent or is willing to act as your chaperone. If you have a parent or chaperone in the gym, you must be seated with them for the duration of the game(s) you choose to attend.   

Please keep in mind that our main goal is to maintain a safe and fun environment for students. 

• The players are kids. 
• The coaches are volunteers. 
• The referees are human. 

Thank you for supporting our students and our spectator expectations 

Lost and Found at Louis Riel 

Please remind your student(s) to walk by and 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.  

Volunteers Support Our Program 

Volunteers are often required to meet supervision ratio requirements for off-campus field experiences. Without parent volunteers to help meet the required supervision ratio, off-campus activities and field experiences cannot proceed. Please volunteer for some off campus activities and field experiences this year to support your student and their class.  

Interested in volunteering this year? Please fill out the following form: Annual Volunteer Registration Form 

Digital Citizenship at Louis Riel   

We are an Away for the Day school. Student brains need a break from mobile devices, and they all benefit from opportunities to engage in other ways of communicating, creating and exploring. Part of our work is to promote safety, lessen cyberbullying, and to foster and sustain focus on learning. How our Away for the Day policy supports this is simple: 

• Cell phones/personal electronic devices are powered off and go into lockers as you enter 
• Cell phones/devices do not come out until you’re exiting after the final bell at 2:50 pm 
• Cell phones may only be used for learning tasks during the school day with teacher permission 

Upcoming Events  

November 10 – 14 Fall Break 
November 15 – Grade 7.4 Zoo Trip 
November 16 – CBE Child and Youth Well-Being Webinar Series 
November 17 – Grade 6 & 7 Prospects Basketball Tournament 
November 20 – Grade 9: National Geographic Live  
November 21 - GATE Education Session and GPA Virtual Meeting 
November 23 – Grade 9: Calgary Zoo 
November 23 Evening – School Conferences  
November 24 Morning – School Conferences 
November 29 – LRPAC/School Council Meeting