Dear Vanier families,
Let me begin by thanking your children for a successful first week of the 2025-26 school year. From my perspective the students have done a great job transitioning to being back at school, or in some cases, adjusting to a new school and all the anxieties that come with it.
One of the things that makes Vanier such a positive school is the support we get from our wider community. For those that are interested in connecting with our school there are a few opportunities coming up over the next month that I encourage you to take advantage of.
- We have our “Meet Vanier” evening this coming Tuesday evening from 6:30-8 pm. This will be an opportunity for you to get a tour of the school from your child(ren) and hear from Mme. Cindy and I about the school. You will also get a chance to say hi to the teachers and, if you would like, schedule early year meetings.
- Submit a volunteer application. In order for many of our field trips to occur we require parental support. If you are interested in volunteering at Vanier, and have not completed a volunteer application you can find more information here (Get Involved | Volunteer) If you have already completed this form at your child’s elementary school please connect with our front office and enquire about being attached to our list as well. In fact, we have an upcoming grade 8 camping trip that we are looking for volunteers for. If you are interested, please contact Mr. Eitzen at mdeitzen@cbe.ab.ca
- Coaching. Last year we were very well supported by a host of parent coaches who gave up their time to work with our athletes. We also brought home a few division titles along the way. If you are interested in coaching, or assistant coaching with Vanier please reach out to Mme. Dunn at madunn@cbe.ab.ca and let her know. This month basketball, soccer and cross-country seasons begin, and we would love your help.
- School Council. This is another fantastic opportunity to support Vanier. Our School Council president, Farouk Gillani, will be at the Meet Vanier evening on Tuesday if you would like to know more, or you can read these emails for upcoming meeting dates and times. Our first meeting is September 23 at 7 pm.
With the new school year, you should have all received emails about the new group of forms that are required of families. Most of these are now online and attached to PowerSchool, so please make sure you access your account to complete these forms.
If your child is in Grade 6, there will be a fee appearing for lunch supervision in October once numbers are confirmed.
Also, please see the notes below regarding the “Fairness in Sports Act” that came into effect at the beginning of the school year.
Your children may also tell you about the new camera system that was installed over the summer. Please read below for more information about that as well.
Finally, thanks to the community member who reached out and asked me to remind families using 31st Ave to drop off their students that because of the construction they should be extra careful as visibility and space are much more limited.
Enjoy your first weekend of the school year!
Bonne fin de semaine,
Mr. Chad Edmonds – Principal Georges P Vanier School
Georges P. Vanier School website has information as well:
https://georgespvanier.cbe.ab.ca.
GP Vanier Cafeteria Menu
Calling All Old Jeans!
Our CTF Fashion class is starting a fun upcycling project and we need your help! We're looking for old or torn jeans and jean jackets to turn into creative and functional denim bags. If you have any to spare, please send them in with your child next week. Thanks for supporting hands-on learning and sustainability!
Volunteers Needed for Grade 8 Outdoor Education Field Trip
The grade 8 outdoor ed program is planning a three-day backpacking trip from Oct. 1-3 in Kananaskis. In order to meet our supervision requirements, the trip requires an additional parent supervisor to attend who has a current certification in wilderness first aid. Please let Mr. Eitzen (mdeitzen@cbe.ab.ca ) know if you are able to join the trip.
Option Changes
For those students interested in changing their option class, option change forms will be available September 15 . More information will be available next week.
Fairness in Sports Act
The Fairness and Safety in Sport Act (the Act) came into effect on Sept. 1, 2025. Under this provincial legislation, all school boards in Alberta—including the CBE—are required to align their practices and policies to comply with the new legal framework.
In response, the CBE has developed and adopted an administrative regulation to meet the requirements of the Act. Our primary goal is to ensure full compliance with the law while continuing to support the well-being, inclusion, and development of all students participating in school sports.
The government of Alberta has additional information about the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act on its website. Questions about the new legislation may be directed to Tourism and Sport at SPAR@gov.ab.ca, or you can contact your member of the legislative assembly.
The CBE remains committed to fostering safe, respectful, and equitable environments for all students in accordance with provincial legislation and our broader educational values.
CBE Online Forms
Each year, schools have a variety of forms that parents / legal guardians / independent students are required to complete or review and update, some of which are paper and others online. For families who have not yet completed these annual forms, please submit the Demographic Verification and Annual Authorization forms in SchoolEngage for your child by Monday, Sept. 15. These forms are required every year for Alberta Education to confirm student funding. We recognize certain families have already completed Demographic Verification and Annual Authorization forms for their children for the 2025-26 school year and we thank you for taking time to submit them.
Details of the online forms found in SchoolEngage include:
- Demographic Verification - 2025-26 – This required form is an Alberta Education requirement as proof of Registration for funding purposes and includes your child’s personal information as well as parent / legal guardian contact information.
- Citizenship Information Update - 2025-26 – This form becomes available if you change your child’s citizenship information on the Demographic Verification form.
- Annual Authorization - 2025-26 – Combines the following forms:
- School District Use of Personal Information - explains how CBE uses personal information in providing education services.
- Consent for CBE Use of Student Information – provides an option to grant / not grant consent for additional use of student information by school/district and third parties.
- Consent for Use of Student Information by News Media and Outside Groups (Third Party) - provides an option to grant / not grant consent for additional use of student information by outside groups and third parties
SchoolEngage is one of the applications found in your MyCBE account. This is the same account that you use to pay fees, view academic information, book school conferences, register to volunteer etc.
If you do not have a MyCBE account, on the MyCBE page click on Create a MyCBE Account. For online help, refer to MyCBE - Creating an Account (includes instructions and a video).
To complete these forms:
- sign in to your MyCBE account
- click on the SchoolEngage icon
- select the form
- complete or review and update the form
- click on Submit to send the form electronically to the school
- repeat steps 3-5 for each form
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school. Thank you to everyone for taking time to complete and submit annual forms each year.
Video Surveillance Notice
Our school has a video surveillance system to help maintain a safe and secure environment at the school for students, staff and the public, and to help address vandalism and criminal activity on school property.
The video surveillance system is installed and reviewed in accordance with Administrative Regulation 1066. Personal information is collected under the authority of the School Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) section 33.
This technology can be placed in areas such as the school parking lot, building entrances and exits, stairwells and hallways. This information is recorded and collected to help maintain a safe and secure environment in the school and on school property. The users of this information are the principal or designate and law enforcement personnel in the case of reported incidents that would require an investigation. Only authorized persons will review video surveillance information.
Inquiries concerning the video surveillance system, or the collection and use of recorded information may be made by contacting the school office.
School Waivers
For the 2025–26 school year, all parents requesting a school fee waiver will begin by applying through the central fee waiver process.
For more information please contact the main office at Vanier or visit: CBE | Fees & Waivers
Upcoming Sports Dates
Cross country, soccer and basketball seasons begin the second week of school. Try-out schedules will be released shortly.
Please sign the Annual Authorization for Athletic Tryout Form that will come home if your child is interested in playing any school sport this year!
Monday: no sports scheduled
Tuesday: no sports scheduled
Wednesday: no sports scheduled
Thursday: no sports scheduled
Friday: no sports scheduled
Upcoming Dates
September 8: School Photo Day
September 9: Meet Vanier Open House 6:30 – 8:00 pm
September 23: School Council 7:00pm
September 26: Terry Fox Run
September 29: Non-Instructional Day (no school for students)
September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (no school for students)