Sept 20 Newsletter

Administrator’s Message 

One of the things that Grade 4 parents are asked about on our annual Alberta survey is ‘Citizenship’. Throughout the year, Ralph McCall provides a variety of opportunities for students to engage in activities that foster citizenship both in the school and in the larger community, including student leadership and mentoring opportunities at the school, cleaning up our outdoor space for Earth Day, singing and cards for Bethany Care, and participating in the annual Terry Fox run. Today was our school’s Terry Fox run and students enthusiastically participated in the event despite the less-than-ideal weather. Thank you to all the parents or other family who came to run or cheer on the runners and thank you for your donations of ‘Toonies for Terry’ or online at https://schools.terryfox.ca/RalphMcCall).  

This week’s quote is from Terry Fox: ‘It took cancer to realize that being self-centered is not the way to live. The answer is to try and help others.’ Through our participation in this event, students and staff do their part to continue to help others, like Terry Fox did with his marathon run. 

Upcoming Dates (please see the calendar on our website for more information): 

Sept 27 – Orange Shirt Day observed at Ralph McCall 

Sept 30 – NO SCHOOL (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation) 

Oct 3 – School Photo Day 

Oct 10 – Lost and Found items will be donated to charity 

Oct 11 – NO SCHOOL (Professional Learning Day for staff) 

Oct 14 – NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Holiday) 

Lost and Found: 

We already have many jackets and sweaters in the Lost and Found. All lost and found will be donated on October 10. Please come and check for your child’s items before the Thanksgiving long weekend. 

School Handbook: 

A reminder that our Student Handbook has been updated for the 2024-25 school year and can be found on the website. Please review the important information in the Handbook, which includes school policies and procedures. 

Picture Day Volunteers Needed: 

School photo day is Oct 3. We need two parent volunteers to assist with photo day. If you have your vulnerable sector check on file and are available to help for the full day on Oct. 3, please contact the school office at 403-948-7030 or at ralphmccall@rockyview.ab.ca. Please note that for this volunteer opportunity, younger pre-school aged children may not come along. 

From the office: 

• If your child is away, you must let the school know by using SafeArrival. On the school website, click on ‘Parents’ at the top of the landing page to quickly find the SafeArrival app. 

• Please ensure that all your annual forms have been completed in School Engage – which can also be found by clicking on ‘Parents’ on the website.  

• Student doors open at 8:00. Instructional time begins at 8:05. Students who arrive after 8:05 will need to come to the office to sign in. 

• If you need to arrange pick-up plans for your child(ren), please contact the office at least half an hour before the end of the day to ensure the message is passed on before dismissal. 

• We do not accept food deliveries for students from delivery services such as restaurant delivery drivers, Skip, Door Dash, etc. Parents are welcome to drop off labeled lunches for their child(ren) before noon (M-Th) and before 11:00 am (F). 

Playground Replacement: 

Many years ago, a group of parents built the playground that our students still use today. We are grateful for their contributions and the legacy they left for the children who would use it long after their own grew up. The play structure is always the busiest place outside at every recess. When staff leave school later in the afternoon, there are typically students playing on it well into the evening.  We notice that former students, who are now in middle school, like to come back for old times' sake and hang out at the playground outside of school hours. The playground at Ralph McCall is a gathering place not only for our students but for other youth in the community.  

Last year, we let our school community know that our playground equipment is 25 years old and now at the end of its life. We’ve been told that it will be removed at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Playground replacement is a parent initiative.  Parents and other community-minded people are needed to organize a group, which would be dedicated to fundraising for a new playground. The Friends of Ralph McCall is a small fundraising group that is committed to donating to the ongoing yearly needs of the school. Playground fundraising is more than that small group can commit to over and above the annual work they do. If you are willing to become involved in the Playground Replacement Project, please reach out to the Friends of Ralph McCall at friendsofralphmccall@gmail.com.  

Portables Coming (October): 

We have been informed that we will be receiving four portables which will be attached to our building. These four portables are being added in anticipation of our shift to a K-5 school next school year. Construction on the portables is expected to begin in October. Parents and students are asked to be cautious around the construction area. There may be additional traffic and disturbed ground. Once it begins, please walk with care around the area of construction. Obey all signs and respect the ‘No Parking’ areas to allow access for the workers. 

PBIS: 

Behavioural Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based framework for improving understanding of agreed-upon school-wide behavioural expectations and following through with actions that demonstrate that understanding. In Rocky View Schools it is an expectation that all schools are implementing school-wide PBIS; a way to support everyone in creating the kind of school where both students and staff feel safe, valued and successful.  

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. At Ralph McCall School, we have identified three areas of focus under the banner of “At Ralph McCall we are RESPONSIBLE”. These three areas include Respect, Safety and Kindness. You can be sure to learn more about our PBIS work as we plan and participate in school-wide PBIS initiatives this year. Updates will be shared with you as we work together to strengthen our school community with our shared understandings of expectations at Ralph McCall School! 

School Emergency Program   

Within the next week or so we will hold our first evacuation drill of the school year, and the staff and students will practice evacuating their classrooms and school in a calm, orderly manner!  Each year, schools are required to complete fire drills, emergency evacuation drills, and lock down drills.  These are important drills to help us prepare for any type of emergency that may come our way.  Rocky View has provided families with some information about the different types of drills that are covered in our preparedness plans.  You can find more information about them here; "Rocky View Schools Emergency Program: A Guide for Parents and Guardians" https://www.rockyview.ab.ca/about-rvs/emergency-response  

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School Council / Friends of Ralph McCall  

Thank you to everyone who attended our first Council/Friends meeting of the school year.  Parents are an integral part of our school community, and your input is extremely valued.  If you didn't have a chance to attend, the minutes will be available on the website once they're approved. For those who are interested in becoming more involved, take a look at our upcoming events. 

Healthy Hunger: The Healthy Hunger schedule has now been posted for the year.  If you are interested in having your child participate, please go to the website https://healthyhunger.ca and follow the prompts to create a new parent account.  For returning parents, your account from prior years is still active, however, you will need to update your child's information. 

Spirit Wear:  Spirit Wear orders open Monday, September 23, 2024, and will close Thursday, October 10, 2024.  All orders can be filled out on the following link: 

Ralph McCall Spirit Wear Order Form (google.com)  NOTE: form opens again on Sept. 23! 

All orders are to be paid by e-transfer to friendsofralphmccall@gmail.com.  E-transfers need to be received by end of day Thursday October 2024. If your payment is not received, your order will not be submitted in the group order. There are no refunds or exchanges for items, please refer to the sizing charts provided on the order form.   

Pick-up of Spirit Wear will be held at the school approximately 3 - 5 weeks after orders close. You will be contacted by email.  If we don't receive an email response for pick-up, the orders will be sent home with students. If you have any questions or any issues with completing the order form, please email Jenn at friendsofralphmccall@gmail.com 

Thank you for supporting Ralph McCall School! 

Great Little Coupon Books: Beginning October 1st, we will be holding our Fall Fundraiser.  At $15.00 each, these coupon books are a great investment as they contain local Airdrie businesses.  No more needing to drive into Calgary to take advantage of a coupon.  This is a local Alberta company as well and provides 50% of all sales back to us for use in the school.  Detailed information will be sent out immediately prior to the start of the fundraiser. 

Playground Fundraising: We are still in dire need of support and assistance with this project in order to ensure that students will have access to a playground in the coming years.  We know household budgets are tight and are looking at ways to get involvement from local businesses, but your support is critical to our success. 

Contacts:  

Friends: friendsofralphmccall@gmail.com 

Parent Council: rmccall-schoolcouncil@rvschools.ab.ca 

You can also find us via the School Council page on the Ralph McCall website: https://ralphmccall.rockyview.ab.ca/get-involved/school-council 

Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 at 6:30pm in the Learning Commons, Ralph McCall School. Zoom link will be in the next newsletter.