Dear DGS Families,
I hope everyone enjoyed a restful Fall Break — whether you spent time connecting with the land, relaxing with family and friends, exploring the outdoors, or simply taking a moment to recharge. It has been wonderful to see students return refreshed and ready to learn as we move into the second half of November.
November is Hindu Awareness Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the diverse traditions, values, and cultural contributions of Hindu Canadians. It also provides an opportunity to learn more about the philosophy and practices of Hinduism, which emphasize peace, compassion, and respect for all living beings. We encourage families to take a look at the invitation from the Calgary Public Library below for more information and upcoming events.
This week, our school is also recognizing Métis Week — a time to honour the history, culture, and contributions of the Métis Nation in Alberta and across Canada. Teachers have planned classroom lessons and learning activities to help students deepen their understanding and appreciation of Métis identity, traditions, and history.
Last week, we were honoured to host our Remembrance Day assembly. It was wonderful to see so many family members join us for this important occasion. A heartfelt thank you to Lieutenant Bob Morrin for sharing his experiences, wisdom, and passion with our students, and to Mrs. Brunsch and Mrs. Codi for bringing everything together so beautifully in such a short time.
As a reminder, please take note of the upcoming meetings and events listed in the Important Dates section below. We are also very pleased to be moving forward with two exciting learning opportunities for our students this year: the Grade 8 Eastern Canada Trip to Ottawa, Montréal, and Québec City, and the Grade 9 Sailing Trip. These experiences provide students with meaningful opportunities to extend their learning beyond the classroom, build independence, and strengthen connections with their peers. Please refer to the information below for details and contact the teacher in charge if you have any questions.
Finally, I would like to wish both Leigha McNelly and Michelle Trembley the very best as they take on exciting new roles. I want to extend our warmest wishes to Leigha McNelly as she embarks on an exciting new chapter at Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School. Since joining Dr. George Stanley School from the very start, Leigha’s dedication and unwavering commitment have truly shaped our community. Her positive influence and hard work have left a lasting legacy here, and while we’ll miss her greatly, we are excited to see her continue to thrive and make an impact in her new position. We are also saying goodbye to our bookkeeper, Michelle Trembley, who will also be moving on to Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School as their new business manager. We thank Michelle for her hard work and meticulous attention to detail, which have been invaluable to our school.
Warm regards,
Chris Keuben
Principal | Dr. George Stanley School
Items in this update:
- School Council/Parent Society AGM
- Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Individualized Program Plans (IPPs)
- Grade 9 Sailing Trip (Tonight at 6:00pm!)
- Grade 8 Eastern Canada Trip
- Calgary Public Library Hindu Heritage Month Celebration
School Council/Parent Society AGM
You are invited to join the DGS School Council and Fundraising Society for our Annual General Meeting being held on Monday, November 24 at 7PM in the staff room.
We want YOU to join us! We are looking for parents who are interested in supporting the school through advisement, fundraising, and volunteerism on our Parent Council and our Fundraising Society. We have several parents whose children will be leaving DGS in the next year or two and in order to support a smooth transition, we would love to have new parents join now.
All of the roles on both the School Council and the Fundraising Society are up for election on an annual basis. Within the School Council Operating Procedures DGS SC Operating Procedures | 2023 and the Fundraising Society Bylaws DGS Fundraising Society Bylaws | 2024 you will find detailed descriptions of each of the positions.
The positions available on the School Council are: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Volunteer Coordinator, and Key Communicator. The roles of Volunteer Coordinator and Key Communicator are not specified within the Operating Procedures as they are elective positions that we chose to have. If you are interested in these positions, please feel free to reach out to the School Council (email below) or come to the meeting.
The positions available on the Fundraising Society are: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Casino Coordinator, and Directors at Large. The role of Casino Coordinator is a crucial role as we will have a casino in the 2026-2027 school year. This role is not specified in our Bylaws; however, if you would like additional information, please email Heather Johnson at GSFundraisingsociety@gmail.com.
It is imperative that we fill each of these roles in order for the school to continue to be eligible for the casino which generates over $80,000 in needed funding to support school initiatives and learning resources. Over the next year, we hope to limit the fundraising that we do and focus on allocating the remaining casino funds we have in advance of our next casino.
If you would like more information or have any questions about any of the positions on the School Council or Fundraising Society, please feel free to reach out to Heather Johnson at GSFundraisingsociety@gmail.com
Once again, we hope YOU will join us on Monday, November 24 at 7PM at DGS. Please visit School Council and Parent Society page to confirm the meeting Agendas and Minutes.
With Thanks,
DGS School Council and Fundraising Society
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences will continue as scheduled on the evening of Thursday, November 27 (in-person, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and on Friday, November 28 (virtually, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.). Each session will be 10 minutes in length. When booking conferences, please allow adequate time to move (physically or virtually) from one meeting to the next. The Conference Manager will open at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, and will close at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 27.
To book conferences, please log into your MyCBE account and follow these steps:
- Click on “Book and Manage Meeting Times”
- Select “Book a Conference”
School conferences provide an important opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about your child’s learning. Parents/guardians, students, and teachers are able to connect and communicate openly about areas of strength and growth. These discussions help build and sustain respectful relationships that support student success. Prior to your conference, please take time with your child to review PowerSchool for updated grades and Google Classroom for course content and topics, ensuring a focused and informed discussion. If possible, please include your child in the conference as their voice is vital to understanding the next steps in their learning.
After booking, your conference details will appear in your MyCBE account. We recommend adding these to your email calendar to keep track of meeting times and links (if applicable).
Given the recent teacher strike and its impact on assessment timelines, teachers are continuing to update and analyze student data. While they will share available evidence of learning, we ask that families keep in mind that assessment information may still be in progress at this time. The focus of conferences will be on reconnecting, understanding current progress, and planning meaningful next steps to support each student’s continued growth.
We look forward to seeing you and your child at conferences and continuing our shared work in supporting their success.
Individualized Program Plans (IPPs)
Teachers are currently working on Individualized Program Plans (IPPs) for students identified with a special education coding. During the week of November 24, teachers will be reaching out to parents and guardians to review the draft IPPs, gather feedback, and obtain signatures.
Grade 9 Sailing Trip
Last year Dr. George Stanley was fortunate to be able to participate in a SALTS sailing trip based in Victoria, BC. This year, we have been lucky enough to be drawn again for a trip for the 2026 season and are actively planning for a May sail departure. General information about SALTS, as an organization, can be found at www.salts.ca
This trip is meant for Grade Nine students as a capstone trip to celebrate their time at DGS.
If your child has interest in taking advantage of this opportunity for adventure, and you’d like to hear more, please join us on Thursday, November 13th from 6:00pm - 7:00pm in the DGS Learning Commons for our initial information meeting. Details of the trip will be provided, as well as an opportunity to pose specific questions.
- Who: Grade 9 students, Caregivers, Mr. Buist, Ms. Markusoff and Ms. Church
- What: SALTS Sailing Trip
- When: May 11th - May 15th, 2026
- Where: Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands
We look forward to discussing this opportunity with you soon!
Grade 8 Eastern Canada Trip
We are currently planning a student educational trip to Eastern Canada, which includes: Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. The dates are still being finalized; however, we are anticipating the trip will occur between mid-April to early May.
If you are interested in your grade 8 child taking part in this trip, there will be an information meeting for parents and their children on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 6:00 pm in the Learning Commons.
- Who: Grade 8 students, Caregivers, Ms. Ramsay, Ms. Hama, Mr. Keuben
- What: Eastern Canada Trip
- When: TBD (April/May, 2026)
- Where: Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City
If you have questions, please contact our teacher in charge Mrs. J. Ramsay (jlramsay@cbe.ab.ca).
Calgary Public Library Hindu Heritage Month Celebration
November is recognized as Hindu Heritage Month across Canada, a time to celebrate the rich culture, traditions, and contributions of Hindu Canadians. In partnership with the Calgary Public Library, the Hindu Heritage Society is hosting a free community celebration on Saturday, November 22, from 12:00–4:00 p.m. at the Central Library (Patricia Whelan Auditorium). Families are warmly invited to attend and enjoy an afternoon of music, dance, presentations, henna art, snacks, and cultural displays. All community members are welcome, and attendees are encouraged to wear traditional Indian attire to join in the festive spirit.
Upcoming Dates
Thursday, November 13 at 6:00pm
- Grade 9 Sailing Trip Parent Meeting
Wednesday, November 19 at 6:00 pm
- Grade 8 Eastern Canada Trip Parent Meeting
Monday, November 24
- School Council AGM (In-Person) at 7:00pm
Wednesday, November 26
- Grade 6 Vaccinations
Thursday, November 27
- Parent-Teacher Conferences (In-Person) at 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Friday, November 28
- Parent-Teacher Conferences (Virtual) at 8:30am to 1:30pm
- No Classes
Tuesday, December 2
- Picture Retakes