May 30 Newsletter

This week, we’ve no key message to share; there’s simply a lot of random thoughts and important items to communicate! Read on... 

Upcoming Dates (Please see the calendar on the website for more information) 

• June 9, 11, 13 – Clearance book fair 

• June 10 – School Council and Friends of Ralph McCall (6:30pm) 

• June 12 – Grade 1 to Heritage Park 

• June 12 – Kindergarten concerts (during the day) 

• June 13 – Talent show (not open to the parents due to space constraints) 

• June 20 – Kindergarten - Last day of school 

• June 23 – Activity Day with a Stampede Theme 

• June 25 – Grade 1-4 – Last day of school 

• June 26 – Lost and Found will be donated at noon.  

Bus Loop reminders 

• Accessibility spots are for students - not parents who do not leave their vehicle.  We get it...parking around the school is hard! However, the accessible spaces are for those who need it. If you have a placard, you know this matters! Unfortunately, we are seeing a number of parents abuse the few spaces we have available. Please be considerate of our many students with complex needs.  

• If your child does not have an accessibility tag for parking in designated spaces, you may not use the bus loop to drop off and pick up between 7:40 – 8:05 and 2:45 – 3:00 (M-Th) and 1:00 – 1:15 (F) 

• Child’s Play Drop-Off and Pick-up - Access to the loop is prohibited between 7:40 – 8:05 and between 2:45 – 3:00 (M-Th) and 1:00 – 1:15 (F). 

Book Fair 

We are once again hosting a clearance book fair! This is a wonderful opportunity to stock up on some summer reading for your child. Books are Buy One; Get One of equal or less value for free. This only applies to reading books and not the trinkets, posters, etc. The book fair will run on Monday, June 9 (8:15 – 3:30), Wednesday, June 11 (7:45 – 3:30), and Friday, June 13 (7:45 – 1:15). 

Library 

• Please ensure all library books are returned to the library by June 16 for inventory. 

• If you are spring cleaning and have fairly current books in good condition that you would like to donate to the library, we would gratefully receive them! We are looking for books for K – 5 students. Any books that we can’t use, we will put in our free little library so that we can get literature into the hands of children!  

• Airdrie Public Library will be at school on June 4 in the morning to talk to students about summer programs at the library. 

Spare clothes at school 

• June is often a wet month in Alberta – which means puddles and mud! We play outside if it isn’t a downpour. Please send a change of clothes (particularly socks and pants) in your child’s backpack on those damp days. 

• The school has limited spare clothing for soaked children. If your child must borrow some, please wash and return promptly. 

• Our supply of spare clothes is running out. If your youngest child has had a growth spurt and has outgrown some clothes, please consider donating the following to our spare clothes cupboard. We ask that items be clean and in good condition. We are looking for sizes to fit students from Kindergarten through Grade 4 - even big kids fall in puddles! 

• Stretchy pants – no jeans 

• T-shirts (short sleeve or long sleeve) with no logos or sayings 

• Pairs of socks  

Talent Show 

Some of our students are busy preparing for the talent show. Please note that due to space constraints, we are unable to open this event to parents. If you would like a photo of your child during the show, please contact your child’s teacher to see if they would be able to do that for you. 

Lost and Found 

With the cool mornings and hot afternoons, lots of jackets are in the lost and found after being left on the playground. Please check the found items on occasion if you can. All items will be donated at noon on June 26. 

Student Transitions 

• Are you moving over the summer? Have you made other education arrangements for your child for next year? Please let the office know. We need to be aware so that we can plan and staff accurately. Thank you! 

• Most of our students are returning to Ralph McCall next year. However, if you would like to confirm which RVS school your child will be attending, please see the letter that was sent to all parents on Thursday for instructions on how to check. 

2025-26 Placement Requests 

Requests relating to class placements for 2025-26 must be made by emailing school administration (ekorver@rockyview.ab.ca and lguy@rockyview.ab.ca ) by June 15. Requests from previous years do not transfer to the current year. Only requests accompanied by an educational reason for the request will be considered. Please note that it may not be possible to accommodate all requests. Teachers of each grade team work together, with support from School Administrators, Learning Support, and the CDA. The teams take great effort and care when creating classes to support the learning and progress of all the students.  

Your child’s class placement will be emailed to you during the last week of August. Requests for last moment changes to class placement in August/September are unlikely to be approved. 

Indigenous Peoples Day events 

June 17 for Grades 1 and 2 -  

Henri Giroux, a Cree educator, author, and storyteller from Driftpile First Nation, will be speaking to our Grade 1 and 2 students in celebration of Indigenous Peoples History Month. Henri has worked extensively with the Calgary Public Library and across Alberta, sharing her knowledge and building bridges through story. 

Henri is the author of Sharing the Land We Call Home, a thoughtful and engaging picture book for children ages 5–9. Henri will read her book and facilitate an interactive author session with students, helping them explore Treaty 7 and land acknowledgments through the eyes of a visitor. The story follows Haley, a young girl who moves from her northern reserve to a city in the south. As she adjusts to a new school and forms a friendship, readers are invited to reflect on feelings of belonging, cultural differences between Cree and Blackfoot Peoples, and key aspects of Indigenous culture. 

June 20 for all students; Families are invited to attend 

We are honoured to welcome Chantal Chagnon and Dorienne Proulx for a special performance in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 20. Weather permitting, this even will take place outside at 10:00 am. 

Chantal Chagnon is a Cree-Métis singer, drummer, storyteller, and educator whose powerful voice and teachings bring Indigenous culture to life. Through song and story, Chantal shares traditional teachings that foster understanding, respect, and reconciliation. 

Dorienne Proulx is an Anishinaabe-Cree Métis womxn and powwow dancer. Her dancing embodies cultural pride and connection to community, history, and spirit. Dorienne’s presence and performance offer a vibrant expression of identity and Indigenous brilliance. 

Together, Chantal and Dorienne will share music, movement, and teachings that honour the strength and beauty of First Nations and Métis cultures. Their visit is an opportunity for students and staff to reflect on respect, resilience, and the ongoing contributions of Indigenous Peoples. 

We look forward to learning from and celebrating with them. 

Early summer departures 

If your child will be leaving before the last day of school, please let their teacher know so that they can ensure all belongings and work is sent home before the break. Anything left behind will be discarded over the summer! 

PBIS 

Our last focus area of the year, our “Respect Campaign” is wrapping up and teachers are engaging the students in lessons and activities that explicitly teach and reinforce the concepts of Respect. The students have been divided up into teams and classes are participating in a weekly Kahoot activity to help their team earn points. The teams have color names, and your child may talk about wearing their team color on Friday. Ask them how they enjoyed the Kahoot. At Ralph McCall we continue to work to build a safe, kind and respectful place to learn and grow together. 

Our work with the PBIS framework guides us as staff in our commitment to respond to student behaviour responsively, through prevention, teaching and responding to student need.  Updates will be shared with you as we work together to strengthen our school community with our shared understandings of expectations at Ralph McCall! 

From Rocky View Schools: 

Register by June 30 to Save on Transportation Fees 

Rocky View Schools (RVS) has opened transportation registration for the 2025/26 school year through SchoolEngage. Parents/guardians are encouraged to register by June 30 to receive a $40 discount or by Aug. 1 to ensure bus service for the first day of school. 

In response to rising costs, transportation fees have increased for the coming school year. A list of fees is available on the RVS website. Families are encouraged to take advantage of the early registration discount to offset some of the transportation cost. Eligible families may also apply to have their transportation fees waived by completing a Transportation Fee Waiver. 

The June 30 early registration discount of $40 is extended to each of the first two Kindergarten – Grade 12 students in a family, with additional students receiving $20 off if registering early. A minimum payment of 50 per cent is due at registration. Bus service may be cancelled up until Oct. 31 to receive a full refund for all fees paid. 

Families are urged to register as soon as possible for transportation to ensure a smooth start to the fall. To guarantee service for the first day of school, registration must be received before Aug. 1. Students registered after this deadline may experience delays of two to three weeks before they can ride the bus.  

A step-by-step guide to registration, fee information and more is available on the Transportation section of the RVS website. 

From Parent Council and Friends of Ralph McCall 

Next Meeting: June 10 at 6:30 pm. If you wish to join on zoom, here’s the link: https://rockyview.zoom.us/j/99828322715 (Password: Ralph) 

Healthy Hunger: There's still time to sign up for the last few Fun Lunch Fridays for the year!  If you have suggestions of restaurants, you'd like to see us add for next year, please contact Friends. 

Healthy Hunger Volunteers: We're always looking for volunteers to hand out fun lunches on Friday as well.  All you need is a completed criminal record check, and a free hour!  Simply show up on Fridays at 10:15, food is delivered at 10:30, we confirm the list matches what is delivered and then get to pop by the classrooms to drop it off.  The kids get a kick out of seeing the parents, especially on school spirit days where we get to participate! 

Apple Creek Arcade:  We will be partnering with Apple Creek Arcade in the next few weeks for our first big playground fundraiser!  Purchase a $30.00 - All You Can Play for 2 Hours pass, and the playground will receive 75% of the funds.  It also allows us to support a popular local business.  They have food and drinks on site including a bar for the grown-ups.  It's a great way to spend a rainy afternoon, or even a sunny one! 

Playground: This is still a major topic for us at Friends and on the Council.  Thank you to all those who signed-up for more information at Student-Led conferences, more info should be following soon. 

Casino 2025:  Our 2025 Casino date has been set for October 20th and 21st, 2025.  This is a huge influx of funds that we desperately need.  Sign-up sheets will go out at the beginning of the new school year.  We have 34 shifts that will need to be filled in the cash cage and count room.  Stay tuned for details of the roles and requirements for the volunteers.