Principal's Message

Good afternoon Ian Bazalgette Community.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and took opportunities to enjoy the last bit of warm weather before we transition into the fall on the autumnal equinox on Sept. 22. Again, a reminder, that classes begin at 8:00 am every day. Monday through Thursday, classes end at 2:32 pm. On Friday, classes end at 12:16 pm. 

Quick Reminder of Important Upcoming Events and School Information:

  • Basketball, Cross-Country, and Soccer tryouts are occurring this week with games to shortly follow.
  • Student Photos. Sept. 19 
  • Terry Fox Run Sept. 20 
  • Meet The Teacher Evening on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The school will be open between 6:00-7:30 pm.
  • September 27 is a Non-Instructional Day (No Classes).
  • September 30 is a Non-Instructional Day - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (No Classes).

Personal Mobile Device & Social Media Use in Schools

As you may have already heard, CBE is implementing restrictions on Personal Mobile Device & Social Media Use in Schools effective Aug. 29. This policy will comply with the Ministerial Order provided by the Government of Alberta this past June based on survey feedback provided by families.

CBE cares about the mental health and well-being of students. Restricting access to personal mobile devices and social media is expected to improve student achievement and learning outcomes. CBE strongly recommends students simply leave their devices at home, because in most cases, personal mobile devices are not needed to support student learning.

For students in kindergarten to Grade 9, CBE will use ‘away for the day’ guidelines similar to what many schools have been using in recent years.  Personal mobile devices brought to school including cell phones, tablets, gaming devices, laptops, smart watches, Bluetooth speakers/headphones or any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate with or access the internet must be powered off or set in silent mode and stored out of sight in student lockers, backpacks or other designated area for the duration of the school day.

If a student is found to be using a personal mobile device in class without permission from the teacher, the CBE will work with the student to ensure the rules are understood. We rely on good communication and other existing processes to ensure students know what is expected. When necessary, schools will use a progressive student discipline approach in working with students.

These new rules will apply to all students, with exceptions for students using devices for health and medical needs, to support specialized learning needs and for educational purposes.

For students who require access to a personal mobile device for health and medical needs, it is advised that parents complete and submit a Student Health Plan as soon as possible or contact Mrs. Tanya Miller in student services.

For students who require access to a personal mobile device to support an identified educational need, families should contact the school to discuss this being included as an accommodation or support in the student’s individual program plan (IPP).

For English as an Additional Language Learners who require access to a personal mobile device, a new PMD Exception form will be approved by School Administration in conversation with parents/guardians. 

Also, aligned with the Ministerial Order, the CBE will restrict student access to all known social media platforms on the CBE network.

This policy will be in place for the first day of school. However, it is set to be reviewed in December, 2024. At that time, any feedback from schools will be considered before the Administrative Regulation is finalized as of Jan. 1, 2025.

Thank you for helping us to make this transition successful. For further resources, please view additional information on our website.

New Portable

Throughout the province cities and schools are experiencing unprecedented population growth. This has meant expanding schools through portable modular classrooms. At Ian Bazalgette, we are currently finishing the installation of an additional modular classroom (portable). Students will notice that there is protective fencing around the work being done. Please remind students that they are not to climb on such fencing.

City of Calgary Transportation Notice

City of Calgary is notifying Ian Bazalgette Junior High School of upcoming construction in front of your school. 

As part of the Various Street Improvements program, The City identified crossing and intersection improvements along 26 Ave S.E. at 39 St S.E. as a priority this year. We work closely with our contractor, ALSA Road Construction, to ensure timely completion of projects. 

The project is scheduled to begin work September 4, and we anticipate completing it with minimal impacts to the surrounding properties by working during non-peak hours, which typically range from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to improve Calgary’s infrastructure and make our city a better place to live, learn and work.  

For information on upcoming Various Street Improvements in your community, please visit calgary.ca/improvements. 

Video Surveillance Upgrade

Under the Education Act the CBE has an obligation to:

  • Create welcoming, caring, safe and respectful learning environment;
  • Protect and maintain school assets;
  • Comply with FOIP and all applicable laws;
  • Carefully ensure an appropriate balance is achieved with respect to supporting security infrastructure and practices and minimizing the impact on privacy.

Our school had a legacy Video Surveillance Technology (VST) that was at end-of-life. The CBE refreshed the security camera system with a modernized solution. At the first School Council meeting of the school year, more information will be provided and an opportunity for feedback.


Steven Pike

Principal

Ian Bazalgette School



Sept. 9-13 News


GRADE 7

ELA

  • Students will complete an expository essay (a pre-writing activity/first draft) in class this week. Grade 9 students will write on Monday, grades 7 and 8 on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Expository writing will be the main instruction of the week. The Daily Five activities of reading and word work will also continue throughout the week. 

SCIENCE 

  • Students will be continuing to review scientific methods for inquiry. They will be focusing on learning to create observations, inferences and conclusions. 

MATH 

  • Review of crucial concepts from grade 6.
  • Diagnostic assessments to ascertain students’ strengths and areas of growth.

SOCIAL STUDIES 

  • Students are developing their research and inquiry skills by completing lessons and activities regarding search engines like Google, the tools they offer, and learning skills to support more precise research. 

GRADE 8

ELA 

  • Students will complete an expository essay (a pre-writing activity/first draft) in class this week. Grade 9 students will write on Monday, grades 7 and 8 on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Expository writing will be the main instruction of the week. The Daily Five activities of reading and word work will also continue throughout the week. 

SCIENCE 

  • Students will be introduced to design thinking processes in science and utilize their understanding of design thinking and critical analysis through the building of bottle rockets. Students are asked to bring recycled 1L and 2L soda bottles from home to participate in the activity. Rockets will be launched to test their efficiency. 

MATH

  • Students will continue to review concepts taught the year before. The emphasis this week will be on solving algebraic equations and calculating area and perimeter.

SOCIAL STUDIES 

  • Students are developing their research and inquiry skills by completing lessons and activities regarding search engines like Google, the tools they offer, and learning skills to support more precise research. 

GRADE 9

ELA

  • Students will complete an expository essay (a pre-writing activity/first draft) in class this week. Grade 9 students will write on Monday, grades 7 and 8 on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Expository writing will be the main instruction of the week. The Daily Five activities of reading and word work will also continue throughout the week. 

SCIENCE 

  • Science 9 students are starting our Biodiversity unit. We will be learning about continuous and discrete variation and reviewing behavioral and structural adaptation. 

MATH 

  • Students will review how to solve two step algebraic equations and use their problem-solving skills to determine the surface area of different objects found within the classroom. 

SOCIAL STUDIES 

  • Teachers and other support staff will utilize a variety of formative and summative assessment tools to guide students through the process of achievement of mandated outcomes. Driving assessment will be a pedagogy of inquiry (questioning) that diminishes an ‘answering pedagogy’. The latter expects students to simply engage in a ‘narrow sense of recall’, in other words to produce just enough knowledge to produce answers for a grade on assignments. Utilizing project-based learning in some curricula areas, our students will expand on their previous knowledge and through a sense of discovery, engage in finding a variety of answers to big questions through research skills, higher order thinking, asking questions themselves, sharing of ideas and problem-solving activities.
  • Students in grade 9 Social Studies will begin their year developing their research and communication skills, delving into current events here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and globally. They will practice discussing their findings and debating their opinions on complex topics. This will support their future work in learning about federal government policies in Canada, as well as discussions about the Canadian economy.

COMPLIMENTARY COURSES

What’s happening in Computer Science? 

In the first full week of September, Computer Science students began to participate in the Minecraft design build off challenge, designing and building images of structures of their choosing. The Minecraft Design Challenge provided students an opportunity to challenge and complete against other in class to build and design their images through a customized virtual representation of buildings from around the world.

Students in Computer Science also began coding this first week, and once routines are established, students in Computer Science will complete independent work in the following four areas: 3D printing, Coding, Designing and Robotics. Students will be learning how to 3D print and create their own gadgets. Students will experience guided design projects based on the processes that real-world professionals go through every day.

All students will continue to practice and learn Java / Python coding at the beginning of each class using our Code Combat program. 

What’s happening in Foods? 

Welcome back to Baz! For our first couple of weeks in Foods, we will be learning or reviewing the topic of Food Safety. We need to tackle a few important topics to then move on to the cooking component of the program. 

Theory work, along with cooking labs will be the 2 main components of the course. Attendance is very important. Sanitation and following rules for safety is very important. By now, all parents or guardians should have signed the Foods Safety Agreement, and that form should be returned promptly. 

I'm looking forward to a fun filled semester in Foods. Set the bar high, tell yourself that you WILL be successful and complete all work that is asked of you for academic success.

Ms. Hammond 

What’s happening in Drama and Leadership?

  • Drama. In Drama, students will be exploring the role of movement and body language in theatre. We will be working collaboratively to tell stories physically and communicate emotion through our bodies and facial expressions. Students will also continue to learn foundational concepts of theatre including stage directions, key terms, and basic character development through movement. 
  • Leadership. In Leadership this week, students will be working together to plan and prepare for the Terry Fox Run on Friday, September 20th. We will be signing up for different roles and responsibilities for the event and discussing ways to fundraise prior to the run. Additionally, students will be exploring leadership qualities and contemplating the strengths they have currently and want to achieve in the future to become successful leaders. 

What’s happening in Construction?

Grade 7 / 8 / 9 Students will be wrapping up their safety unit this week. We will be watching a series of safety videos and completing a short multiple-choice test before going over the safety contract. 

What’s happening in Art? 

Grade 7 students will be working towards an understanding of the elements of art: value and line work together to create different styles of artistry. They will be learning and practicing specific shading techniques and using photography to create their references images for their first project. 

Grade 8 and 9 students will be examining the human eye, learning and practicing specific techniques to create realistic renditions of emotions through eyes. They will additionally be working with photography to create reference photos for their upcoming projects.

and wrapping up any loose ends with their watercolor exploration. 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION & INTRAMURALS

  • Physical Education classes will be continuing to focus on basketball and soccer. Please ensure that your students are prepared to be outdoors. 
  • Our lunchtime intramural program will begin in the month of September. The Physical Education team also provides open gym time in the morning starting at 7:30 am and ending at 7:55 am. Students are more than welcome to come and borrow a piece of equipment to play with during this time. We provide many opportunities to get active! 

Intramural Schedule

Monday Not running yet.

Tuesday Not running yet.

Wednesday Not running yet.

Thursday Not running yet.