Bulldog Bulletin - 2024/11/29

Supporting Reading at Home & School – ACTIVE Reading Strategies 

Reading is one of the best ways to keep skills sharp, and it’s easy to do every day! To help students in all our grades improve their reading comprehension, we’ve been focusing on ACTIVE reading strategies.  

This simple but powerful acronym offers easy-to-remember techniques that help students get the most out of any text, whether it’s for school or for fun. By using ACTIVE strategies, students can develop stronger reading habits and gain a deeper understanding of what they read. 

The benefit of every student learning these strategies is that they provide a predictable and consistent approach across all classes, creating a supportive environment where students can continue to build and deepen their skills over time. 

A - Asking Questions 

C - Connections 

T - About the Text 

I - Infer 

V - Vocabulary 

E – Evaluate 

Link here to download a copy for use at home at any time. 

HERE’S WHAT’S COMING UP 

End of Term 1 for Grade 7 & 8 Options   

Term 1 Options wrap up on December 3 next week and Term 2 begins on December 4. Students in grades 7 and 8 can find their Term 2 CTF option courses in PowerSchool.

Please note that all students must complete a full 6-day cycle before asking for any option changes. A sign-up list to request a change will be available in the office on December 13. Although we do our best to accommodate student requests, option changes are not guaranteed. 

E-gift Card Fundraiser thru Healthy Hunger 

We’re excited to share a brand-new fundraising opportunity for our school community! Now, exclusively through Healthy Hunger, you can purchase an e-gift card, and a portion of each sale will go directly toward supporting our school’s fundraising efforts. There are so many options – from individual retailers to great group deals – for food, entertainment, retail, travel, or grocery. E-gift cards from as low as $5 to $500. Click on this How-to Flyer. 

Your purchase of E-gift cards helps raise funds for our school, so whether you're buying for yourself or someone else, you're making a difference. It's an easy way to give back and support our school community this season.

Visit Healthy Hunger today! 

COMMUNITY CONNECTION  

Tim Horton’s Smile Cookies Campaign 

On Monday, November 25, a sweet surprise arrived at Meadowbrook: 534 Smile Cookies were delivered to students and staff! A huge thank you to Mr. Bergman and the Leadership 7 students for leading this amazing campaign and spreading some extra joy around the school. 

A special shout-out to Ms. McEwing, Danielle Domshy from the Airdrie Food Bank, and Dave Willies from Tim Horton’s for their extra effort in making sure Meadowbrook’s cookies were nothing short of amazing this year. 

Calling All Volunteers for Hot Lunch!  

Sign Up Genius Here! 

We’ve added some extra Healthy Hunger dates and are looking for helping hands to assist. If you can spare 45-minutes once every couple of weeks to support our community and ensure our students have a nutritious meal, we would love to have you on board. Volunteers will help with receiving, sorting, and distributing the meals that are delivered to the school. It’s a great way to connect with other parents, meet staff, and see your kids during the day. Thank you for helping out! 

Please sign up here through Sign Up Genius.  

BUILDING FUTURE-READY STUDENTS   

Safeguarding Children and Youth 

During recent discussions with our school’s RCMP Community Resource Unit, the topic of online safety and emerging trends was highlighted. They recommended the following websites as trusted resources for up-to-date information, programs, and support for educators, families, and youth. 

Video: Online Risks & Trends - Be informed and stay in-the-know! Learn about online trends and risks and the strategies for helping to keep kids safe online. Explore the programs & initiatives and resources & research offered by The Canadian Centre for Child Protection, a national organization dedicated to the personal safety of all children. 

ProtectKidsOnline.ca is designed to assist parents/guardians in protecting their children on the internet and reducing their risk of victimization. Information is regularly gleaned from Cybertip.ca to create current, developmentally appropriate prevention material. 

Click here to watch a quick introductory video of what ProtectKidsOnline offers. 

Cybertip.ca provides information, resources, support, and referral services to help Canadians keep themselves and their families safe while using the internet. It is Canada’s tipline for receiving, processing, and directing to authorities tips from the public about potentially illegal material, including online sexual exploitation of children. 

BULLDOG STRONG  

Student Leadership Update   

Twin Day – Friday, November 29  

Join in the second Spirit Day this month, sponsored by your Bulldog Leadership students! Grab a friend and dress alike! Whether you match in outfits, colors, or styles, let’s see how creative you can get with your twin look.  

Leadership 8: Adopt a Family Event 

The Adopt-A-Family Event is officially underway, and we’re thrilled to see so many students stepping up to make a positive impact! This is a school-wide initiative aimed at supporting families during the holiday season. By collecting essential items, the program brings the community together to make a meaningful impact. The purpose is not only to provide much-needed support but also to foster compassion, teamwork, and a spirit of giving among students and staff alike. 

To add some friendly competition, we’re challenging each grade and class to collect the most items for donation! The more items we gather, the more families we can help.  

As an added incentive, for every item a student brings in, they will receive a ticket from their teacher. These tickets serve as entries into a special raffle, where one lucky student from each grade—6, 7, and 8—will be drawn to win a Healthy Hunger Free Lunch as a reward for their generosity and contribution to the community. The more items you bring, the better your chances of winning! 

Collection Dates: Nov. 25 through Dec. 6 

What to Donate: 
We’re looking for essential items to support families during the holidays, including: 

• Non-perishable food items 
• Health and hygiene products 
• Baby care essentials 
• Stocking stuffers and small holiday gifts 
• High-demand winter items (gloves, toques, scarves, socks, etc.) 
• Other everyday necessities 

Let's work together to make this holiday season brighter for those in need. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a big difference. Thank you for your generosity and school spirit! 

Lunch Time Clubs    

Looking for something engaging to do during lunch? Check out these awesome clubs and activities happening every week: 

• Reading Club – Day 2 in the Learning Commons  
• Extra Band Practice – Day 3 & 4 in the Band Room  
• Safe Space Social Club – Day 3 in Room 1051 
• Homework Club – Day 4 in Room 1050 
• Board Game Club – Day 5 in Room 1007 
• Intramurals - Day 1 (6.1 - 6.4), Day 2 (6.5 - 6.7), Day 4 – Gr. 7s, Day 5 – Gr. 8s 

Bulldog Athletics  

The final tournament for Jr. B Volleyball Girls takes place November 29 at Meadowbrook from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. Link here to see the schedule.    

Jr. A Basketball Tryouts: 

Boys Jr. A - Monday, Nov. 25, and Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 3:00 to 4:15 p.m. 
Girls Jr. A - Wednesday, Nov. 27, and Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 3:00 to 4:15 p.m. 

Players for each team roster will be finalized after tryouts.
Basketball season runs from December 3 through to February 5. 

Band/Music Winter Concert – Dec. 17   

Mark your calendar with the upcoming Winter Concert showcasing Band 7/8 and Gr. 6 Music students.  

Students will perform three concerts on Tuesday, December 17.  
One concert repeated three times to accommodate three different audiences. 

Parents may choose from any of these concert blocks for a time that best suits their schedules. Seating is first-come first-serve and cannot be reserved in advance.  

Concert #1 Block 3 (10:10 - 11:06) - for Grade 8 student audience  

Concert #2 Block 4 (11:09 - 12:06) - for Grade 7 student audience    

Concert #3 Block 5 (12:53-1:49) - for Grade 6 student audience 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS  

Be Winter Wise 

As temperatures drop, you might wonder about weather and conditions that create challenges for school operations.  

Please note that, unless you hear otherwise, assume RVS schools are open and operating as usual. In the event of a weather-related closure, updates will be posted on the RVS website, shared via RVS’s social media channels, and broadcast by local news outlets. 

The RVS Inclement Weather webpage is an information hub for when wintry weather hits hard. Find details about inclement weather policy and procedures, busing, cold weather tips, and other helpful resources. 

If your child will not be attending school, please remember to report the absence through the SafeArrival attendance line. 

Winter Safety Tips & Reminders: 

• Dress for the weather: Layering is the best way to stay warm, with special attention to protecting extremities from frostbite. This is especially true for students who take the bus to and from school. 

• To and from school: Ensure you know the safest route to school and are aware of potential winter hazards, such as icy sidewalks or roads. 

• Be Respectful: Some winter activities (like throwing snow) can have unintended consequences. Always consider the safety and well-being of others and avoid rough play that could lead to injuries. 

Thank you for taking these winter weather considerations into account. Let’s ensure everyone stays safe, warm, and prepared for the winter season ahead. 

SAVE THE DATE  

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

Nov. 29  

• Twin Day 

• Jr. B Volleyball Tournament (Girls at Meadowbrook)  

Dec. 2 

• Professional Learning Day (NO SCHOOL) 

Dec. 5  

• Gr. 8 Field Trip: Christmas Carol at Bert Church Theatre 

• Healthy Hunger: Arby’s 

Dec. 6

• Adopt a Family Event Donation Deadline

Dec. 10 

• School Council / Partners of Meadowbrook Meeting, 6:30 p.m. 

Dec. 16 

• Healthy Hunger: McDonald’s 

Dec. 17 

• Healthy Hunger: Mary Brown's
• Band/Music Winter Concert 

Dec. 18 

• Healthy Hunger: New York Fries 

Dec. 19   

• Healthy Hunger: Mucho Burrito  

Dec. 20  

• Last Day of School before Winter Break (Dec. 21 – Jan. 5) 

• Healthy Hunger: Crumbl Cookies  

Jan. 6  

• School Resumes (Day 2) 

Jan. 14 

• School Council / Partners of Meadowbrook Meeting, 6:30 p.m.