Bulldog Bulletin - 2024/09/19

We’ve had a great start to the 2024-2025 school year. Our first weeks have been focused on really setting our students up for success through orientation, getting settled in and organized, and building community. We’re building a positive, predictable, and safe learning environment by promoting the three pillars of our PBIS framework throughout the school – Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible. Learn more here. 

The middle school experience is all about helping each student discover their unique potential by supporting both their learning and personal growth. We focus on laying a solid foundation, keeping students engaged through diverse learning activities, and offering choices to broaden their experiences. We work hard to understand each learner individually, building respect and trust, which helps us guide students toward success. In a safe and supportive environment, students feel comfortable taking risks, learning from mistakes, and growing. At Meadowbrook, we empower students through positive relationships and meaningful learning, preparing them to think critically, solve problems, and excel in any setting. It’s amazing to see our students grow in ways that help their goals take shape. 

Partnering with families is key to helping students succeed, and staying connected by talking with your kids about what’s happening at school, their interests, and peer relationships makes a big difference. Making sure they’re at school on time, with healthy habits and a good balance between schoolwork and play helps set them up for success. You can stay in the loop by checking PowerSchool, reading emails, visiting our website or Facebook, and joining in through volunteering or School Council – we’re all stronger together! 

HERE’S WHAT’S COMING UP 

Permission Form Completion   
This is a reminder that your student has been assigned forms in School Engage including the annual authorization form which allows your student to participate in school activities. Some of the forms include leaving school grounds at lunch and walking field trip permission forms. These forms must be completed in order to participate in Terry Fox Day on Friday, September 27.  The instructions on how to access your forms are below.   

To access these forms:   

• Log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account if your student is Active.   

• Scroll down to the very bottom on the left-hand side menu and click on the icon called SchoolEngage.   

• You will see Notifications for outstanding forms to be completed for all your students associated with your account.  Simply click on the Reminder to submit and you will be taken directly into the form.   

• Alternatively, you can click Students. Each student with be identified with a red bubble and a number identifying the number of forms outstanding.  Click on the student’s name - the forms will appear and be identified with a red bubble indicating the form requires attention.    

Healthy Hunger  
Meadowbrook has a number of nutrition programs including Healthy Hunger. This bi-weekly lunch program is brought to you by Meadowbrook School Council. Healthy Hunger for 2024/25 starts up Thursday, Sept. 19 and continues throughout the year. The menu is already set from now until December 19rd (see below). 

Log into your Healthy Hunger account and choose your child's homeroom teacher; make your selections and payment and voila!! There’s one day every two weeks you get a break from lunches and kids get a healthy treat from some of their favorite restaurants. New to Healthy Hunger? Click the link to register a new account at healthyhunger.ca.  

If you can volunteer just a little bit of time to help distribute these healthy and delicious options to students, we’d love your help. Contact the school for more information. 

Oct. 3 – Papa Murphy’s 

Oct. 17 – Opa! 

Oct. 30 – Oodle Noodles 

Nov. 14 – Subway 

Nov. 28. - Boston Pizza 

Dec. 19 – Mucho Burrito 
 

School Council 

There’s no better way to really know what’s going on at Meadowbrook and throughout RVS than being active in School Council. It’s here we can get into the details about things you care about at our school and for our school community. Join us every second Monday of each month at 6:30 pm in the Learning Commons for School Council Meetings (Tuesday, if there’s a holiday on the Monday).  

Mark your calendars! Our meetings dates as posted on this website are:   

• Monday, September 16, 2024 

• Tuesday, October 15, 2024 (Oct. 14 Holiday - No School) 

• Tuesday, November 12, 2024 (Nov. 11 Holiday - No School)  

• Monday, December 9, 2024  

• Monday, January 13, 2025  

• Monday, February 10, 2025  

• Tuesday, March 11, 2025 (Mar. 10 P.L. Day - No School) 

• Monday, April 14, 2025  

• Monday, May 12, 2025 

• Monday, June 9, 2025 

BULLDOG STRONG 

Bulldog Athletics 
Gr. 6 Soccer 
RVS Soccer Tournament is tomorrow – September 20 at Monkland Fields. 
Meadowbrook’s team has one game at 2:00 p.m. and one game at 3:00 p.m.  
Players have been issued schedules from Coach Volk. They are responsible for getting themselves to the games and be there 15 minutes before the game to get their jersey from Coach. Bring a water bottle, shin pads, and athletic shoes. 

Cross-Country Meet 
The RVS Cross-Country Meet takes place at Windsong Heights School next Friday, September 27. 
Grade 6 Start time - 3:30, Grade 7 Start - 3:45, Grade 8 Start - 4:00 

Junior A Volleyball Season  
Try-outs for our Junior A teams has wrapped up and teams will be preparing for tournament season runs from October 4, 18, and 25. Schedules and times will be shared by coaches.  

Grade 6 Volleyball 
The volleyball season for our grade 6s will begin mid-October and more information will be shared in our PE classes. 

Student Leadership Update  
Bulldog Spirit Day - Friday, Sept. 20 
All Meadowbrook students and staff are encouraged to wear their Bulldog gear or school colours - maroon and gold.  

Truth & Reconciliation Week and Orange Shirt Day – Thursday, Sept. 26 
In the days leading up to Orange Shirt Day, Leadership students have planned activities to continue the work of advancing truth and reconciliation among our youth. Students are encouraged to wear orange on Thursday to acknowledge and draw attention to the impacts of residential schools.  

Terry Fox Walk/Run 
The annual Terry Fox will take place on Friday, September 27 with promotion efforts led by our Leadership option classes.  

Meadowbrook is so proud to be kicking off the year with our Terry Fox Run. Please help our students fundraise for cancer research and follow in the footsteps of one of our greatest Canadian heroes. Just think of the positive impact it would have if every student raised even just $5.00. Donate today at https://schools.terryfox.ca/MeadowbrookMiddle 

Together, we can make a difference.  
#terryfoxschoolrun  
@terryfoxfoundation 

We’d love to see parent volunteers come out and join us in this event. Any volunteers with our school require a Criminal Record Vulnerable Sector check. Our anticipated Terry Fox walk/run time to East Lake will be between 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the school.  

Meadowbrook Clothing & Accessories 
Our Online Store for Meadowbrook gear is now open. There is so much great Bulldog gear. Take a look at the Tuxedo Sports website here and order your Bulldog swag today!! 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS 

Healthy Choices Campus 
Please note that Meadowbrook School supports healthy eating habits, and this is a reminder that items such as drinks with excessive sugar including energy drinks, slurpees, Starbucks or Tim specialties, or carbonated soft drinks are not permitted on school property. Snack foods such as chips, confections, and sugary treat purchased off-campus at lunch will also not be permitted on school property. 

Off-Campus Lunchtime Expectations 
Students with parental permission (signed form) to leave campus at lunch, are expected to go home for lunch for the entire duration of both the lunch eating and recess period. Permission to leave school grounds is for the purpose of going home for lunch and not hanging out in the community. This privilege may be revoked if student conduct off campus is detrimental or injurious. 

Please note: Students who leave to go home for lunch are expected to return in time for afternoon classes at 12:50 p.m. They may come back to the school any time during recess but must remain for the duration of the lunch hour. 

STAYING IN TOUCH  

Attendance & Lates 
When reporting a student absence or late arrival, parents are directed to use the SafeArrival system. When absences are not reported by parents, students are marked as ‘unexcused’. Attendance is taken every block during the day within the first 10 minutes of each class. When not on time, students may be marked as absent. Please encourage your child to be punctual. 

Link to information about SafeArrival - https://www.rockyview.ab.ca/schools/learning/absence-reporting 

School Staff 
Recently, we shared that we were granted one additional Grade 8 teacher. This addition has alleviated the class size pressures in Grade 8. The hiring process is well underway and updates will follow as they become available. For a list of all staff, please visit our website. 

 
School Calendar 
All our important dates and events are updated regularly on the school calendar on our main website – link here. You can even add our calendar to your own simply by clicking the calendar+ icon on the left-hand search bar.    

We also post media, events, and updates through Facebook. Look up “Meadowbrook School” to follow.    

   
 
SAVE THE DATE

To see the full calendar of events, visit our website. 

Sept. 20 

• Bulldog Friday – Show that Bulldog spirit by wearing Bulldog clothing or colors 

• Gr. 6 Soccer Tournament at Monkland Fields; MBM games at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. 

Sept. 23-26 

• Truth & Reconciliation Week 

• Orange Shirt Day on Sept. 26  

Sept. 27  

• Terry Fox Run 

• RVS Cross-Country Meet at Windsong Heights (3:30, 3:45 & 4:00) 

Sept. 30  

• No School: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 

Oct. 1 

• Picture Day 

Oct. 3 

• Healthy Hunger 

Oct. 11 

• Professional Learning Day; No School 

Oct. 14 

• Thanksgiving; No School