Dear Lynx families/Chères familles de Lynx,

I hope you all enjoyed the opportunity to spend some time with friends and family over the past weekend. Even better if it was outside before the cooler, wetter weather rolled in.

A big thank you to all those parents who came out to help us supervise the grade 9 students on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Field trips like that do not happen without your support! The students will now be using some of what they learned on that field trip in a bilingual, cross-curricular, water exposition that Ms. Scholz and Mr. Park have planned. When you have a moment, please chat with your child about this learning opportunity.

You will also notice a storage unit in our visitor parking lot next week. This is being used by the team of contractors who will be carrying out some work at Vanier until the winter break. The team will be replacing our exterior doors and vestibules. Parents, we ask that during this time you park on the street when coming to pick up your child. The visitor parking will be occupied by contractors and currently the staff parking is all accounted for by Vanier staff.

Finally, I am proud to announce that we have 11 (yes 11) student teachers currently visiting us during their first placement. They have been busy observing classes, interviewing teachers, and speaking with Laurelle and me. I believe that the number of students the university sent speaks volumes about the quality of work we are doing at Vanier, and I hope that this is something that the students take away.

Bonne fin de semaine,
Chad Edmonds – Principal GP Vanier

School Photos

You can order your child’s school photos online at: https://my.lifetouch.ca/mylifetouch/#/

You will use your child’s Student ID, which is their CBE number, to order their photo. You can find this information on MyCBE, on a previous year Report Card or IPP, or ask your child. You can also use the information given on the Photo Proof that you received.

Retakes will be October 26. If you want retakes, please hold on to the proofs until this day and have your child bring them to give to the photographer so they know how to improve your child’s picture. If your child was absent for the original photo day, their photo will be taken this day.

Parent Focus Group Invitation from Alberta Education

On Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, Alberta Education will host a focus group with the intention of seeking feedback from parents. The focus group will meet from 7 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Purpose: To collect insight from a parent perspective to update the old “My Child's Learning: A Parent Resource" website into a brand new space that will be hosted on new.LearnAlberta.ca .

10 – 12 parents will be identified from metro, urban and rural school divisions, representing children of varying grade ranges (K-12) to participate in this focus group.
Please share this “expression of interest" survey with your school communities as you deem appropriate (school council, engaged parents, etc.).
It will remain open until Monday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.
Alberta Education Focus Group - Expression of Interest to Participate

Healthy Hunger “Hot Lunch” Fundraiser

The grade 9 Eastern Canada Trip students are organizing a “hot lunch” fundraiser through Healthy Hunger. There will be multiple hot lunches throughout the year; the first of which is Subway! From Monday, September 18 – Friday October 20, pre-order your students’ Subway lunch online at Healthy Hunger. Orders will be delivered during period 7 on Friday, October 27.

Current Healthy Hunger lunches you can order:

October 27 – Subway
November 17 – Little Caesar’s (cannot be ordered yet)
December 15 – Jelly Modern Doughnuts
January 26 – Jugo Juice
February 23 – Mucho Burrito
March 15 – Mr. Pretzel’s
April 26 – Opa (cannot be ordered yet)
May 31 – Edible Arrangements
June 21 – Volio’s Confections (cannot be ordered yet)

Register Student / Georges P. Vanier / Booster Juice / Order / Pay.

Child & Youth Well-Being | Family & Caregiver Series 2023-24

The Calgary Board of Education is inviting all families and caregivers to join in an online series focusing on child and youth well-being. These sessions are hosted in partnership with Alberta Health Services and will explore topics such as vaping, brain development, mental health, and sexual health.

These sessions are offered free of charge and provide information, resources, helplines, and services to support healthy child and youth development.

Please see attached for the links, dates, and further information Family Caregiver Series Information

Sports Updates

Bonne chance to both our girls and boys soccer teams as they compete in semifinal matches this week. Go Lynx! Félicitations and congratulations to our basketball teams this week who have played some excellent games against schools in our division. All CBE middle schools have set similar expectations for games that promote safety, respect, and a positive experience for all. They include:

• All student spectators/athletes must be under the direct supervision of a designated adult
• There are no in and out privileges for spectators
• Student spectators without adult supervision will be directed by the hosting school administration to leave the building
• All spectators - students or adults - are expected to cheer and support players/coaches/referees/parents/guardians in a positive manner
• Disrespectful behaviours will be addressed by school administration promptly and may result in spectators being directed to leave the game and the school building

Upcoming Sports Dates

Monday October 16 – Jr Boys BBall at Simon Fraser, Girls’ Soccer Quarter-Final (Teams/location TBA)
Tuesday October 17– Jr Girls’ Bball at GP Vanier, Boys' Soccer Quarter-Final (Teams/location TBA)
Wednesday October 18 – Sr. Boys’ basketball at GP Vanier
Thursday October 19 – Sr. Girls’ Basketball at GP Vanier

Students, please continue to check the schedule outside of the gym for updates.

Upcoming Dates

Oct 18: Grade 8/9 Band Rehearsal (AM)
Oct. 20: Last Day to order Healthy Hunger-Subway
Oct. 20: Professional Development Day (No school for students)
Oct. 24: Band Feeder Concert at William Aberhart
Oct. 25: Band Parent Association & School Council AGM 7:00pm Click here to join the meeting
Oct. 25 & 26: Camp Chief Hector Parent Night for Grade 9 Parents at 5:30
Oct 25: 9-21 to visit William Aberhart High School
Oct. 26: Photo Retakes
Oct. 27: Healthy Hunger Subway Orders delivered in Period 7
Oct. 27: Halloween Dance 4:30 – 7:00 (information to be shared next week)
Oct. 30: Grade 6 Vaccinations
Nov. 6-8: Grade 6 to Camp Chief Hector
Nov. 7: Grade 9 Vaccination Presentation
Nov. 8: Remembrance Day Ceremony
Nov. 9: Professional Learning Day for staff, no school for students
Nov. 10 – 14: Fall Break, no school for students
Nov. 15: Classes Resume