Dear families,
There are still 53 days remaining in the school year and as we enter the last third of the year, there are some relevant updates to share with you.
We thank families for keeping children home when they are ill. Please call the office if your child will be absent (for any reason) or email terryfox@cbe.ab.ca.
Terry Fox has a technology policy! We ask that cell phones are “invisible unless invited” (off and away, unless a teacher has invited students to take them out for a learning activity). In fact, we would encourage families to consider keeping technology at home, as we supply tech for all learning and cell phones are not required at school.
Reminders
- There is a service dog on site daily at Terry Fox School (see school website for more information)
- Smudge is offered daily at 8:50am, held in the Learning Commons
- Students must dress for the weather. PE classes are often held outside.
- Teacher teams send a weekly update to all families –make sure you subscribe to school messages – emails are sent every Friday.
- Families are responsible for student school supplies (including a scientific calculator). Basic supplies (pencils/paper/pencil crayons) are provided in classrooms.
Our staff list is available here. We encourage parents to connect with their child’s teachers by email or phone (call the school to leave a message).
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the canteen is closed for the remainder of this week.
Sincerely,
Leslie McRae, principal
Hannah Fisher, assistant principal
Kristan Kramer, assistant principal
New Bus Zone
Starting today (April 10), there is an expanded bus zone at Terry Fox School. The bus zone is on the Southside of Falshire drive, to the east of the school (adjacent to the staff parking lot).
Terry Fox School no longer shares busses with Grant McEwan School and will have three dedicated school busses that drop off and pick up in this area.
Athletics
Badminton season has started. Student tryouts finish this week, and teams will be in place by next. The season runs until May 21.
Track Season is our final athletic sport of the year, and runs from May 13 to June 16.
Current Clubs
- Girls Club | Monday’s after school
- QSA (Queer Straight Alliance) | Tuesdays at lunch
- Student Advisory | First Tuesday of the month at lunch
- Art Club | Thursdays at lunch (starts April 18)
- Dance Club | Thursdays after school
- Volleyball Club | Friday mornings at 8am
- Lunch athletics | Tuesdays (for grade 7s), Wednesdays (for grade 8s) and Thursdays (for grade 9s).
Technology
Through the CBE technology-recycling program, we recycled old devices and purchased 120 Chromebooks and 3 laptop carts (they arrived yesterday). This significantly increases available technology at the school, which will be in circulation by Friday April 12.
CTF Grant
We have been successful in obtaining a CTF grant and all of the stoves in the foods room will be replaced with new ones.
Falconridge Community Centre
The Falconridge Community Centre (FCC) has communicated concerns around student groups hanging out inside the centre and about traffic safety in their parking lot. The FCC is not part of the CBE and does not provide supervision.
In support of the community centre addressing their concerns, the Falconridge Community Centre (FCC) is off-limits to students (during the school day, including lunch time) as of April 9, 2024.
We appreciate your support in reminding your child(ren) not to go to the FCC during the school day.
School Enrolment and Next Year Planning
Terry Fox School currently has 651 students. We are currently in overflow status for the community of Cornerstone. Read more about overflow here.
Families are asked to keep their address updated on PowerSchool and inform the school if you move.
If you need support to update your address, please call the office. Amanda Anderson, Sara Moores, and Dreanne White are the staff in the office. Our main office is open from 8am – 4pm (Mon-Thurs) and 8am – 2pm on Fridays. Families can call (403-777-8800) or email (terryfox@cbe.ab.ca) to reach the office.
Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs)
Each year grade nine students complete the PATs. These exams do not count towards student grades or impact transitions to high school. All exams are written on computers (technology is provided by the school).
Tests are scheduled for the following days and are written at the start of each day. These are regular days of school and there is no early dismissal. Students return to regular classes/programming once theses tests are complete.
- May 13 – English Language Arts (Part A)
- June 12 – English Language Arts (Part B)
- June 13 – Math (Part A)
- June 18 – Math (Part B)
- June 19 – Social Studies
- June 20 – Science
Important Dates
April 10 – School Council & Parent Association (6:30pm at the school)
April 19 – PL Day (no school)
May 8 – School Council & Parent Association (6:30pm at the school)
May 17 – PL Day (no school)
May 20 – Victoria Day (no school)
June 12 - School Council & Parent Association (6:30pm at the school)
June 27 – last day of classes (Friday schedule – dismissal at 12:50pm)