Dear DGS Families, 

We are in love with Spring returning to Calgary! Monday was the much-anticipated Solar Eclipse- we worked to ensure students made good choices related to health and safety. 

Every other Friday, teachers are asked to release core assessment marks in PowerSchool. This is a great opportunity to sit down with your student and review their ongoing progress, growth and achievement. This Friday April 12 is a release date  

CBE Well Being for Caregivers Series: Sexual Health 

April 11, 2024 
6:30 to 8:00 PM 

On April 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, the CBE is partnering with AHS to present the second last session in the Well Being for Caregivers Series. As the first and most important sexuality educators, parents and caregivers play a critical role in their children’s healthy sexual development. Learn how, when and why to talk to your children about sexuality and how to support healthy values development in children. This session will also explore what sex education looks like at school and how you can support it. The session is a webinar format and does not require registration. 

A link to sign in to the session is located here: 

https://cbe.ab.ca/about-us/school-culture-and-environment/health-and-wellness-in-school/Pages/child-and-youth-well-being-family-and-caregiver-series.aspx 

Once you have landed on the page, scroll to the bottom to access the session.   

DGS Fundraising Society Events  

The DGS Fundraising Society is excited to offer three fun treats to the students coming up this spring!!  

  • April 26- Flossy AF Cotton Candy  
  • May 24 - Texas Donuts  
  • June 14 - The Kona Ice Truck  

All of these delicious treats will be available for pre-purchase on Healthy Hunger and through The Kona Ice's purchase portal. Who doesn't love a sweet treat?!? The cut-off to order cotton candy is tomorrow at noon; and orders will be delivered to students on Friday, April 26. We have flavors including watermelon, cherry, bubblegum, orange, strawberry-banana, blue razz, grape, root beer, birthday cake, and raspberry.  The Cotton Candy is being provided by Flossy AF Cotton Candy which is a local business!! 

We are looking for volunteers for 2 of these events, Cotton Candy and Texas Donuts. If you are available and have a valid Police Clearance, please click on the following link(s) to sign-up.  

https://signup.com/go/ohVUoLy  Cotton Candy on April 26 

https://signup.com/go/FkLtHnx  Texas Donuts on May 24 

Thank you for your continued support of the DGS Fundraising Society! 

Literacy Afternoon 

What/When: 

Grade 6-9 Humanities teachers are looking to welcome students and parents/guardians on May 10 from 2-4pm to view ongoing work exploring the conceptual question: “What influences change?” This question has been a collaborative effort of the Literacy Professional Learning Community this year and has been taken up in each grade level according to the specific Programs of Studies and individualized vocabulary targets determined by each grade level. 

Why: 

Every two weeks, the grade 6-9 teachers belonging to the Literacy cohort have met to build students’ capacity to understand and apply academic language as one of our ongoing goals to increase student comprehension in all core subject areas related to reading, writing, and speaking. Academic language is defined as “the specialized words and phrases that are commonly used within academic settings such as classrooms, higher level fiction, scholarly articles, and educational discussions. These terms are typically more formal, precise, and specific than everyday language and are essential for understanding and communicating effectively within instructional contexts.” 

Although each grade approached the same conceptual question each grade targeted 3 words from their programming to highlight as essential/key. 

Overarching Conceptual Question: “What influences change?” Grades 6-9 

Academic Vocabulary Grade 6 

  • Evidence 
  • Critical Thinking 
  • Point of view 

Academic Vocabulary Grade 7 

  • Inference 
  • Opinion vs Fact 
  • Revise 

Academic Vocabulary Grade 8 

  • Analyze 
  • Critical thinking 
  • Point of View 

Academic Vocabulary Grade 9 

  • Empathize 
  • Relevant 
  • Perspectives 

The purpose of this event is NOT to serve as a formal interview, but rather to invite students to speak to the ongoing work that is occurring in the classroom, highlighting the (beautifully chaotic) process that has been taken to engage in the question and exploration of the academic vocabulary. Parents are welcome to view any/all of the work that grades have produced as a means to visualize how skill development occurs between each grade.

Where:

Grades 7, 8, and 9 will have tables/spaces upstairs out in the hallway with student work displayed. Grade 6’s will have tables and a space downstairs by the Learning Commons. ​​​​​​​

We look forward to seeing you! 

Grade 6-9 Literacy Team 

Important Upcoming Dates    

Friday April 19, 2024  - Non- Instructional Day (No School for students)  

Friday April 26 - Cotton Candy

Monday May 13, 2024 - Grade 9 ELA Exam- Part A 

Friday May 17, 2024  - Non- Instructional Day (No School for students)  

Monday May 20, 2024  - Victoria Day (School Closed)  

Friday May 24 - Texas Donuts

As always, I am available to answer questions- csmalette@cbe.ab.ca  

     

Chantal Malette  

Principal, Dr. George Stanley School