Good afternoon, Ian Bazalgette Community.
Our first week back after Spring Break was a busy one, with classes beginning anew, badminton tryouts, and of course the consistent changing weather of Calgary. Believe it or not, though we just came back from Spring Break, there are approximately sixty school days remaining for this school year. The next few months will bring good weather (hopefully), field trips, examinations, and the grade 9 farewell. Continue to communicate with your student(s) and their teachers to ensure the year ends well.
Please see information for this week:
Special Announcement | Monday, April 8, 2024 - Solar Eclipse
On Monday, April 8, a partial solar eclipse may be visible in Calgary. The solar event will begin just before noon and conclude by 2:00 p.m., with the maximum coverage occurring at 12:43 p.m. We know that this provides a unique learning experience for students and staff in our schools; however, there can be serious impacts to vision as a result of viewing the eclipse in an unsafe manner. During this partial solar eclipse on Monday, we would like to invite all students to remain at school during the lunch break. Please send a lunch with your child.
If you decide that your child will walk home for lunch on Monday, please discuss with your child not to look at the sun to protect his/her eyes from damage by the solar eclipse.
At Ian Bazalgette School the Monday bell scheduled has been modified as a precautionary measure in order to support those children that may still walk home at lunch:
Modified Schedule for Monday, April 8
Welcome to Students 7:55–8:10 am
Period 1 8:10–9:06 am
Period 2 9:07-10:03 am
Period 3 10:04-11:00 am
Lunch 11:00-11:40 am - Welcome bell 11:35
Period 4 11:40-12:26 pm
Period 5 12:37-1:33 pm
Period 6 1:34-2:30 pm
Attendance Reminder
Recently on the CBC, you may have seen or heard about absence rates increasing in schools, that in multiple districts across the country, rates of chronic absence — the percentage of students who miss at least 10 per cent of the school year, or two full days a month — are up significantly. Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.
In the weeks before and after a school’s spring break, drops in attendance are common. In the face of challenging weather and illness, it can be difficult for parents to be persistent with keeping your kids learning and engaged! We appreciate everyone’s hard work and commitment. Thank you!
As long as your student is healthy, please encourage showing up to class when school is in session. If you have questions about your student coming to school due to a health or mental health concerns, please contact Administration, Student Services, or any of your child’s teachers.
Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn and connect to peers and their teachers. And communities only grow better when spending time with one another.
Update | Grade 6 Provincial Achievement Tests 2023/24 School Year
Alberta Education has announced that Grade 6 English language arts and literature (ELAL) and mathematics provincial achievement tests will not be administered in the 2023/2024 school year.
Alberta Education will instead offer field testing between April and June 2024. These optional field tests will be on Vretta and will help inform the development of future PATs for Grade 6 English language arts and literature and mathematics that align with new curriculum in these subjects.
It is important to note that Science 6 and Social Studies 6 PATs will still be administered using Vretta for all Grade 6 CBE students in June 2024. FLA 6 PATs will also continue to be administered for those not piloting new curriculum.
All Grade 9 PATs will also continue to be administered using Vretta in May/June of 2024.
School Newsletter
Ian Bazalgette School Newsletter April 8-12
Steven Pike
Principal