Dear Lynx families/Chères familles Lynx 

I want to start off the weekly update by recognizing the successful evening our band and grade 9 drama students had this week.  Wednesday evening, we had a standing room crowd on hand to watch Ms. Ramos lead her students in a presentation to parents.  I was so pleased to see the turnout and the support from families for our program.  We have seen a huge growth in our music program that I hope continues as the years progress. 

We have a school fundraising casino coming up on February 12 and 13 (this is the days leading into Teachers' Convention/Family Holiday).  The money raised from events like this is a huge financial support to schools like Vanier.  Our last casino raised upwards of $75 000 which our parent council has used to support numerous activities and improvements around the building.  These include: paid buses for each class to lower the cost of field trips, a renovated learning common, PE equipment that has led to a broader more inclusive program, learning resources to support our English and French students, a wider, more up to date, selection of books in the learning commons and much more.  We are currently 15 volunteers short for the evening.  If you would be interested in volunteering some time at this event there is more information below, or you can email our school council president, Farouk Gillani.

Finally, good luck to our volleyball teams that start the season on Monday.  We will send families a notification when the fees are up on PowerSchool.   

Bonne fin de semaine, 

Mr. Chad Edmonds – Principal Georges P Vanier School  

Please see our cafeteria menu!

Yearbook information 

Families, if you are interested in ordering a yearbook, please visit Jostens Yearbooks.

Students will also have access to a flyer with a QR code that can be scanned. 

  • Current Price: $35 
  • Deadline to Order: February 28, 2025 
  • Students will not receive a yearbook if they do not order by this date 

School Casino 

Date(s): Wednesday February 12 and Thursday February 13 2025 at the Ace Airport Casino: 40 AERO CRES NE 

We need over 50 volunteers to make this a successful endeavour. In the past, we have raised over $70,000 from each casino so maximum volunteers are essential! Sign Up!

Alberta Chung Wah School 

The Chinese language school that uses GP Vanier on Saturday’s is inviting our school community to celebrate the year of the snake on February 1.  Please see the attached flyer  for more information.  

Individual Program Plans 

Students with an IPP will be receiving a copy of their IPPs by Monday January 27. IPPs are meant to coincide with the Report Cards in sharing progress as well as the supports in place. If your child has an IPP as an indicator in the Report Card, please make sure to read the IPP for further comments about your child's progress. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your child's homeroom teacher or Mr. Cheng.   

High School Transfer 

With high school registration well under way, many students are curious about high school transfers. Please be aware that high school transfer request will be open on February 10th. All information can be found on the High School Transfers page.

GEM Program 

We are excited to participate in GEM this year. Girls Excel in Math (GEM) Calgary is a Saturday enrichment program for grades 6 - 8 students who identify as girls and want to have fun exploring some interesting mathematical topics with their teacher and schoolmates! 

Students will have fun exploring mathematical topics that they would not normally see in the classroom. 

Winter 2025 Dates: GEM will take place at the University of Calgary from 9 am – 12 pm on the following dates: 

  • Saturday, Mar. 8, 2025: Mathematical Card Tricks 
  • Saturday, Apr. 5, 2025: Taxicab Geometry 

If your child is interested, please email - Mme Shah at rashah@cbe.ab.ca 

In the email, please mention the full name of your child, their grade and their homeroom teacher. 

Thank you, 

Mme Shah  

French Language Courses – Chinook Learning 

Chinook Learning Services offers courses specifically designed for parents and caregivers of CBE French Immersion students. For Winter 2025, Chinook Learning Services is offering French for Parents – Level 1. 

This eight-week course will help parents of immersion students learn or refresh their French language skills, build their network of bilingual parents and support their children’s learning at home.   

These classes are also being held at GP Vanier and are taught by one of our staff, Mme Aristou.  

Check out the course description at French For Parents Level 1 

Check out the course content at Outline French For Parents Level 1 

Upcoming Sports Dates 

Monday: Boys’ Volleyball vs SJAM at Vanier 

Tuesday: Girls’ Volleyball vs SJAM at Vanier 

Wednesday: Wrestling Divisionals (all day), Boys’ Volleyball at Colonel Irvine 

Thursday: Girls’ Volleyball at Colonel Irvine 

Friday: No sports scheduled 

** please see the board outside the gym for new volleyball practice schedule **  

Upcoming Dates 

Jan 27 – End of Semester 1 

Jan 27 – Grade 6 to Youth Interpretative Centre 

Jan 28 – Start of Semester 2 

Jan 28 - Grade 6 to Youth Interpretative Centre 

Jan 28 – School Council Meeting 

Jan 30 – Grade 9 Immunizations 

Jan 31 – Non-Instructional Day (no students at school)