Bulldog Bulletin - 2024/12/19

Wishing You and Yours the Very Best!

As we approach the final days of 2024, we extend our warmest wishes to our students, families, and staff for a joyfilled and restful winter holiday. This time of year presents a wonderful opportunity for reflection, renewal, and celebrating with loved ones.  

Looking back on the first part of the school year, we are incredibly proud of the progress our students have made. With Bulldog pride, they have embraced our core values of being safe, respectful, and responsible, creating a positive and supportive atmosphere both in and out of the classroom. From special events to classroom successes, it has been a time of memorable moments. We are truly grateful for the hard work of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the ongoing support of our wonderful school community. As we look ahead to the new year, we’re excited for the opportunities and growth it will bring. 

Wishing you peace, happiness, and good health throughout the holiday season, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back on January 6, 2025!  

Your Admin team,  

Shawna Neis & Justina Law 

Thank You for a Fantastic Winter Concert! 

A big thank you to everyone who attended and supported our recent Band/Music Winter Concert! It was a sensational event, highlighting the exceptional talents of our students. Our Band 7/8 students, Rock Band, and Grade 6 musicians all gave impressive performances that showcased their hard work and dedication. 

We are so proud of their efforts this term, and we’re deeply grateful to Ms. Wong for her expert guidance and passion for developing these young musicians. A special thank you as well to the families and friends who came to cheer on our performers—your support truly means the world to our students! 

We can't wait to hear what they have in store for the Spring Concert in the new year! 

HERE’S WHAT’S COMING UP 

Festive Friday Tomorrow! 

As we gear up for the holiday break, let's get into the spirit! Students are invited to wear: 

• Ugly holiday sweaters 
• Fun holiday hats 
• Cozy festive pajamas 

We can't wait to see all the creative and cheerful outfits! Let's celebrate the season and wrap up 2024 with some festive fun! 

E-gift Card Fundraiser thru Healthy Hunger 

Here’s a last chance before the holidays to take advantage of the e-gift card fundraiser exclusively through Healthy Hunger. 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. 

PARTNERS IN LEARNING 

Level Up Your Math: Holiday Fun with Card and Board Games  

Card and board games are a fun and engaging way for middle school students to strengthen their math skills, making them a perfect activity for the holiday break. These kinds of games often involve critical thinking, strategy, and quick calculations, helping students practice key concepts like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and probability. For example, games like Monopoly or Uno encourage players to manage money, count points, and make decisions based on numerical values. Additionally, games foster pattern recognition, probability estimation, and mental math, all of which are important for developing a deeper understanding of math concepts. Students can enjoy these games with family and friends, sharpening their skills in a relaxed and enjoyable way. Beyond numbers, card and board games also foster problem-solving, teamwork, and communication, giving students the chance to practice important life skills while having fun. Whether during the holidays or any time of year, at home or on the go, card and board games are a great way to stay sharp, build confidence in math, and have fun. 

Supporting Reading at Home & School 

With the holiday break coming up, students will soon have a nice long stretch of time to curl up with a good book.  

To promote comprehension and understanding story structure, ask your child to describe these elements in the books they are reading: 

• Beginning + problem 
• Setting and characters 
• Rising action events 
• Climax 
• Falling action events 
• Resolution 

Engaging with these story elements will not only enhance their reading experience but also strengthen their skills. We hope this encourages meaningful conversations about the books they’re enjoying, and we wish everyone a wonderful and relaxing holiday filled with great stories!  

BULLDOG STRONG   

Bulldog Athletics 

Jr. A Basketball 

Congratulations to our Boys Jr. A team for an undefeated run in their first tournament on Friday, December 13! Our girls' team is also making great strides, building strength and teamwork as they prepare for their upcoming games. The next tournament takes place on Friday, January 10 – Girls at Bow Valley High School and Boys at Northcott Prairie. 

Click here for a detailed schedule of Junior A Girls Basketball tournament dates and locations. Click here for the Junior A Boys schedule. 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS  

Locker Clean-Ups and Lost & Found Before the Winter Break 

A reminder for students to ensure their lockers are clean before leaving for the Winter Holiday break. Please take home gym strips and any other clothing items, and make sure there are no food items or containers left behind that could attract pests. This is also a great time to organize binders and paperwork in preparation for the new year. 

Additionally, students are encouraged to check the Lost & Found for any items they may have misplaced. Thank you for helping remind students to clean out their lockers and check the Lost & Found before the holiday break! 

Off-Campus Lunchtime Expectations 

This is a reminder that students who have signed permission are expected to go home for the entire duration of lunch eating and recess time. In addition, students with permission must leave at the beginning of lunch eating portion, meaning they are not to leave at other times such as part-way through or after the lunch eating portion. They are to be off school grounds for the whole lunch break. If students come back to campus during eating or lunch recess, they must then remain on campus under supervision for the remainder of the lunch break.  

We appreciate students being safe, respectful, and responsible in the community, as their actions reflect on both themselves and our school. By following these guidelines during lunch, students help maintain a positive and safe environment for all. Upholding the values of safety, respect, and responsibility throughout the year reflects our commitment to being good neighbors and contributing to a positive community. 

Please note that students who leave to go home for lunch are expected to return by 12:50 pm for the Block 5 bell to ensure they are not losing important instructional time. 

The permission form is found on SchoolEngage (AF 330-A). 

SAVE THE DATE  

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

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. 

Jan. 16 

• Healthy Hunger: State & Main 

Jan. 30 

• Healthy Hunger: Taco Time 

Feb. 11 

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

Feb. 13 

• Healthy Hunger: Saucy Bread Company  

Feb. 17-21 

• No School: Family Day and Teachers Convention 

Feb. 27 

• Healthy Hunger: Papa Murphy’s Pizza