Dear families of Fish Creek School,

This has been a week of surveys and engagement, with parents and students answering questions and providing feedback about experiences, perceptions, and values. These surveys are an important source of information that we use to guide our strategic decisions and monitor our progress. Thank you for taking the time to share your viewpoint with us.

Traffic Safety

We have received information from parents about traffic safety concerns, particularly at morning drop-off at Sunwood Road and Sunwood Way.. The crosswalk has been blocked by parked cars, preventing children from being able to access it. We understand that there is a visibility and signage issue here. You can use this link to make a Traffic Service Request (TSR) online. When you follow the link to the second page, choose the option on the right side of the page.

Sometimes a chorus of parent voices can be more effective than a solitary institutional complaint.

Surveys

To inform our planning for next year, we are gathering information from parents and guardians about our School Development Plan and fees. This is an opportunity to express your viewpoint about our process of school improvement, and about the way that financial resources are used to support student learning. You can access the survey here.

This week, Grade 4 students completed the Alberta Education Accountability Measures survey. Grade 5 and 6 students completed the CBE Student Survey. These surveys are used to gather information directly from students about their experiences at school. This information is used to guide our planning and monitor our progress.

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

We have been seeing an increase in the number of children and adults coming down with pink eye. There are several causes. Bacterial and viral pink eye are both highly contagious. In cases of bacterial pink eye, students can typically return to school 24 hours after beginning antibiotics.

Poor handwashing is the main cause of the spread of pink eye. We would like to encourage everyone to remain vigilant and to practice good hand hygiene.

Everyday Math Ideas

As I watch the snow falling from my office, I think back to the experience of trying to walk to school after 30cm of snow had fallen. As a very tall Grade 6 student, I remember struggling through waist deep snow, and wondering how a forecast 30cm seemed to be more like 100cm.

• For younger children, you can take out an old fashioned ruler and ask them to measure the depth of the snow at different places around your home. “Is there a difference between the front and the back? Where is it deepest?”
• For older children, you can look at the weather forecast, and then ask them to make predictions, “If we’re going to get 10cm of snow tomorrow, how deep do you think it’s going to be on the lawn, or on the front steps? What factors might influence the depth of the snow?”

Parent-Teacher Conferences

We will be hosting parent conferences on Mar. 21 and 22 March. On Mar. 21^t, we will be havin a student-led event. Please bring your child any time from 4:30 to 7:30 to have them show off some of the work that they have been working on for the first half of the school year. Take some time to talk to their teacher about what the class has been working on and what's coming next.

Teachers will be reaching out to some families to request individual conferences for the morning of Mar. 22.

Fish Creek School Store

You can access the online Fish Creek School store here. You can find official Fish Creek School gear such as t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and bags. The Fish Creek School Council receives a portion of the proceeds. Show your school spirit and support out School Council at the same time!

Roughnecks Lacrosse Game

FCS Parent Association is headed back to the Saddledome to cheer on the Calgary Roughnecks as they face the San Diego Seals!!   Lacrosse games are high energy and action-packed, so we're in for an exciting evening. Music plays during the entire game and lacrosse is widely known as “the fastest sport on two feet.”

The game is on Friday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are $35.45 each, with $5 from each ticket donated back to the parent association.  Our school will be seated in the same section (223).  Please purchase tickets here:  www.roughnecksgroups.com/Fishcreek

Important Dates

• Wednesday, 28 February: Pink Shirt Day
• Thursday, 21 March: Student Led Conferences (drop-in)
• • 4:30 to 7:30
• Friday, 22 March: Individual Meetings (by teacher request)
• • 8:30 to 11:45
• Saturday, 23 March: Spring Break begins
• Tuesday, 2 April: Classes resume

Sincerely,