Good morning, Ian Bazalgette Community
A reminder that there are only 24 school days remaining in the year. Please assist your student(s) by making sure they understand the importance of proper sleep as the time of daylight gets longer. Also, ensure your student(s) keep on top of their studies, and that you support your student(s) by staying connected to teachers through email or Google Suite when needed.
School attendance is key to success. Where possible, refrain from having family holidays in June.
Lastly, a reminder that if your student(s) is feeling stressed it is important to let them know that this is a natural reaction to busy times and there are strategies they can use to cope. We have many adults here who can help.
Please see important information for this week, and the school newsletter.
Upcoming Provincial Achievement Tests (Grade 9)
Thursday, May 29 - Grade 9 PAT EXAM | ELA Part A
June 13 - Grade 9 PAT EXAM | Math Part A
June 16 - Grade 9 PAT EXAM | ELA Part B
June 17 - Grade 9 PAT EXAM | Math Part B
June 18 - Grade 9 PAT EXAM | Social Studies
June 19 - Grade 9 PAT EXAM | Science
Smartphones, Social Media, and Their Impact on Student Mental Health
Countries and school jurisdictions around the world have begun to recognize the significant impacts that Smartphones and Social Media have on student achievement and student mental health. Their use has been shown to to interfere with sleep, increase anxiety and stress levels, and cause greater impulsivity and aggression in students. It is partially why the Government of Alberta moved to implement new rules that restrict the use of personal mobile devices and social media in schools. These new rules, which came into effect September 1, 2024, aimed to reduce distractions, promote mental health, and limit cyberbullying opportunities. We have recently had multiple incidents of student cyber bullying brought to the school's attention. In this new world of easy access to the world wide web (Internet), it is difficult for school's to manage Smartphone use and social media since often times use of these things occurs outside of school hours and influence.
We are asking today that all of our community be actively involved in monitoring their child(s) Smartphone and social media use. In most cases, limiting use of the Smartphone and/or stopping the use of social media is an easy support parents can provide their child(s) in grades 3-9. Your interventions at home can have immediate impacts on your child's overall well-being and achievement. Also, we want to point out that in many cases grade seven students are using applications that aren't intended for use at their age.
Please see the Terms of Service for popular and common social media sites:
Discord
Discord's Terms of Service require people to be over a minimum age to access our app or website. The minimum age to access Discord is 13, unless local legislation mandates an older age.
To create an Instagram account, users need to be at least 13 years old.
Snapchat
The minimum age to use Snapchat is 13 years old. Snap Inc. requires users to declare they are at least 13 to create an account. While Snapchat has measures in place to verify age, it's important for parents to be aware that age verification can be bypassed.
TikTok
To create a standard TikTok account, users must be at least 13 years old. However, some features, like direct messaging and live streaming, may require users to be 16 or older.
Personal Mobile Devices Reminder
A reminder that personal mobile devices are not allowed in school during school hours. Some students are now moving towards third or fourth incidents this year. Please review the consequences for Inappropriate Use. Learn More
IMPORTANT NOTICE | Student Behaviour
The focus of Ian Bazalgette School is learning and teaching.
In accordance with the Calgary Board of Education policies regarding schools as safe and secure environments, students may face suspension or expulsion for the following offenses on school property:
- Use or possession of, or active contact with weapons (including laser pointers, water guns and balloons, fire crackers, snowballs) and other potentially dangerous items.
- Verbal or physical threats or intimidation of other students
- Fighting with other students
- Active bystander during a fight
- Extreme use of obscene or abusive language
- Extortion
- Bullying
- Pranks of any kind, especially when disruptive to school operations or being hurtful to individuals
- Vandalism to school property (Students will be responsible for costs of repair)
- Use of, possession of, trafficking in, or being under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs and/or drug paraphernalia
- Visitation to other schools before, during, or after school hours, except as a member of a teacher supervised team or group
Grade 9 Farewell | First Communication
The Grade 9 farewell ceremony will be held on Wednesday, June 25 at 4:30 pm, at Ian Bazalgette school in the main gym. Due to fire code, there will be restrictions to only parent attendance. Further information will be sent home at a future date. Following the ceremony parents will be asked to leave the main gymnasium in order to create space for the students to utilize the gym in case of poor weather conditions, as students are invited to stay for dinner from a local food truck and chat with staff and classmates. All activities will close by 7 pm.
If there are any questions or concern regarding farewell please contact Mr. Hawes at mbhawes@cbe.ab.ca
Busing & Transportation
2025-26 School Year Walk Zones
For the upcoming school year, the CBE will be expanding yellow bus service and adjusting walk zones. This is in response to Alberta Education's School Transportation Amendment Regulation for student transportation that comes into effect on Sept. 1, 2025. It is the provincial government's intent to increase the number of students who can access transportation by changing the transportation eligibility distance and how the distance is measured.
New Walk Zones and Transportation Registration Open:
- Sunday, June 22: Deadline for bus service registration to ensure students are added to routes for the start of the school year.
Link: Register Now for Yellow School Bus Service for 2025-26
Learning Commons | Book Returns
The library books have to be back by May 30 this school year. Parents, please look at home and send any Ian Bazalgette books back to school so they can be signed in. The absolute deadline for this is May 30, after which time charges are pending on your MyCBE accounts.
Lunch | Ordering Food to the School
We remain a closed campus at lunchtime. We want to remind families that students need to bring their lunch or eat the lunches provided by school. We are not able to provide access to microwaves for student use. As a reminder, we are not able to receive Skip the Dishes, Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc. in the main office. The driver will be asked to return the delivery to the restaurant.
Lunch | School Supervision - Local Community
The local community centre and local strip mall are open to students at lunch, as the school supports Junior High School students with growing levels of freedoms and responsibilities. However, please remember that there is no CBE staff supervision of these locations. Please have conversations with your student(s) about being aware of their surroundings when out in public spaces, about avoiding interactions with strangers, and about representing themselves, their families, and the school in a positive manner.
No School
Friday, June 6
School Council
- Please think about joining School Council in the fall.
- Please think about signing up for our next casino fundraiser in the fall of 2026. Every school works casino shifts and this is a huge fundraiser for the school to buy big ticket items that cannot be budgeted.
School Fees
Please review your MyCBE Account and make sure you are up-to-date with your payments.
Please pay on or before May 31, 2025.
*As has been communicated all year, schools cannot cover all costs to offer the programming they do. Continued refusal to pay school fees impact the ability to maintain certain programming in complementary courses, or even lead to cancellation of field trips. Next School Year, students from families that have not paid school fees in a timely manner, or who have a history of not paying school fees year over year, may be moved into complementary courses that do not have substantial course costs. The cost of supplies and equipment in some complementary courses has become too cost prohibitive to continue to cover the costs of families not paying required fees.
Student Mental Health Resource
Community Education Service - Children's Mental Health
Newsletter
Please see Ian Bazalgette School Newsletter May 26-30
Steven Pike
Principal