Dear Fish Creek Families,

We have been working hard to prepare for back to school. This message contains important information for the school year.  Please keep it for reference. 

Teacher Contact & Parent Viewpoint

You will receive an email from your child’s teacher this afternoon.  Included in it is a “Parent Viewpoint”.  This document provides the teacher valuable information regarding your child and how they can best be set up for success. We ask that you fill this out as soon as possible so that your child’s teacher can incorporate the information into their plans.

First Day of School

The first day of school is Tuesday, September 2, 2025.  Staff will be outside of the school at 8:25 am. The email from your child’s teacher will indicate at which door to meet, along with a school map. We look forward to having everyone back at school!

School Items

No school supplies need to be purchased. All supplies will be provided by the school through the Supplies Fee.

• All items should be labelled with your child’s name.
• Mabel’s Labels is a great way to support Fish Creek School Council and do this at the same time.

All students should have the following:

• Their own labelled water bottle & lunch kit with a healthy lunch & snacks to get them through the day. 
• Comfortable indoor shoes (runners preferred) labelled with their name that will stay at the school. 

School Hours (Grades 1-6)

Please make note of our new school hours. It is important that students arrive on time ready to learn not only for themselves, but also for the teacher and other students.  As school officially starts at 8:41am, we ask that students be in line ready to enter the school by 8:39 am, which is when teachers will collect their students.

Kindergarten Hours & Staggered Entry

We use a staggered entry process to help kindergarten students become familiar with their new environment. Kindergarteners attend at the time given based on the student’s last name.

Absences 

Every child is expected to be in school on all school days designated by the Calgary Board of Education, unless illness or personal reasons make attendance not possible.  CBE administrative regulations require that students and parents shall account for absences or tardiness. Fish Creek School does not grant approval to be absent; we simply record parental intent to have the student discontinue attendance during family vacations. The absence will be entered as a “Family Vacation – Unexcused” in the student record. 

Before school begins for the day, please call the school (403-777-6400, ext. 1) or email fishcreek@cbe.ab.ca to let us know if your child will be absent or late.  This will help us to ensure that all students are safe and accounted for.  After reaching the school, press 1 and leave your message on the attendance line.  Please let us know:

• your child’s first and last name (spelling the last name);
• teacher and room number; and the
• reason for and duration of the absence.

Lates 

Punctual attendance is expected. Late students have a significant impact on the student’s learning as they miss instruction and educational activities. Late children interrupt the learning already underway in the classroom and teachers may have to repeat instructions. Our office staff is also impacted as they must change absences to lates in our attendance system and issue late slips. Similarly, it is advised that students not be withdrawn early from classes as, again, learning time will be missed, and some learning opportunities will have to be re-taught. Students who are habitually late and/or absent will have their number of late minutes and absent days documented and a letter will be sent home and placed in a student’s file, as per CBE Administrative Regulation 6020.

Illness

For the health and safety of everyone, please do not send your child to school if they are showing signs of illness.  If a student becomes il at school, parents will be contacted to pick up their child.

Hug & Go Zone

The Hug & Go zone was implemented as a QUICK drop off option for families.  The goal is to have a vehicle enter and exit the Hug & Go zone in 10-15 seconds to ensure a smooth and continuous flow for drop off. 

• Adult driver stays in the driver’s seat.
• Child(ren) exit the vehicle curbside and close the car doors.
• Parents drive away.
• Child(ren) proceed to the school.
• The vehicle must not be left unattended. This is considered being parked. 

Students should be able to unbuckle themselves, open and close the car door and carry their backpack independently. Backpacks should be easily accessible to the child, not in the trunk. If this does not describe your child, please use another option until they are able to do so.

After school, there is no waiting for your child in the Hug & Zone in your vehicle. This is  considered parking and the Calgary Parking authority may issue you a ticket through in-person or photo enforcement.

School Parking Lot

Do not use the school parking lot at any time. This is very dangerous, especially at drop-off and pick-up.  We do not want students walking through the parking lot. It is often very difficult to see a child when backing up and have had near misses in the past.  Not all of our staff start and end work at the same time, so there are people coming into the parking lot at different times.

Parking Around Schools: Photo Enforcement

Calgary Parking Authority is helping to make school areas safer for our students and school communities. Here’s what you should know:

• The Calgary Parking Authority is now using photo enforcement in addition to Enforcement Officers in school areas. Tickets may be received in the mail or placed on vehicles that are in violation of parking regulations.
• You must follow posted signage, even if you remain in your vehicle.
• To avoid parking fines:
• Do not park and/or leave your vehicle in the Hug & Go zone.
• Stay back at least 1.5 m from entrances to garages or driveways.
• Watch for No Stopping and No Parking zones.
• Keep school bus zones clear (no stopping and/or parking).
• Leave 5 m between your car and cross walks.

Parking responsibly around schools is very important for the safety of the students attending these schools and members of the community.

Respect Our Neighbours

Do not park on private property, block driveways or park side-by-side. We have received multiple phone calls from concerned and frustrated neighbours regarding the driving and parking habits of some of our families. There are community members who are concerned about the number of people parking across their driveway, or using their driveway as a way to make a turn. Please be respectful of our neighbours.

Riding Bikes and Scooters to School

Students may ride their bicycles or scooters to school but must walk them once they are on school grounds. Students must also be aware of the rules of bicycle safety, including the mandatory use of helmets. Locks are required for each bike and students must use the bike racks (east side/back door by the flagpole) to secure their property. Consideration for other pedestrians is expected when students are on school property. Therefore, students must walk on the sidewalks and may not use/ride equipment such as, shoes with wheels in the heels (Heelies), rollerblades, skateboards, scooters and bicycles on school property. The school is not responsible for the security of such equipment on school property. In the spirit of encouraging active living and reducing car rides to school, we are happy to accommodate these ways of getting to school. 

No Dogs on School Property

We would like to remind our community that according to the City of Calgary Bylaw 23M2006 - Responsible Pet Ownership, dogs are not allowed on CBE property. This regulation is in place for two reasons.

• Children play on the property and dogs, through no fault of their own can create unsanitary conditions. 
• Perhaps most importantly, some children are fearful of dogs and should not have to face that fear every day.

The restricted area for dogs includes the entire playing field, the grassed areas on school property, the compound area and all sidewalks that lead to school entrances. We appreciate your consideration. 

Service dogs, as defined in the Service Dogs Act (2007) are exempt.

Volunteers

We welcome volunteers at Fish Creek School. In order to volunteer, you need a current police clearance specific to CBE. Please contact the school to get the process for clearance or renewal started.  

When volunteering, please follow these protocols:

• Parents/guardians/visitors must sign in at the office each time they visit the school.  
• All parents/guardians who will be volunteering in the school must sign in when they arrive and sign out when they leave and must wear a volunteer/visitor badge to identify themselves.

School Fees

• All fees are posted to and can be paid online through MyCBE account.
• System Fees: Transportation & noon supervision fees are set by the CBE.  More information can be found on the fees andwaivers page. 
• School Fees: All your child’s basic school supplies are purchased and provided by the school.  Families do not need to provide anything.

A reminder that any unpaid school fees for field trips come directly out of the school’s budget, impacting the programming that the school is able to offer.  We ask that fees be paid promptly when fees come out. Please pay fees from previous years as soon as possible.

Lunch

Students are supervised at lunch when they are eating and then when playing outside. Please ensure that your child is registered for lunch supervision. If your child will only be staying certain days, please contact the office to discuss the best option. If a child is not registered for noon supervision, it is expected that they are not on the school property during the entirety of lunch time

Please provide your child with a healthy lunch and snack to provide them the necessary energy for learning throughout the day. We are a nut and allergy aware school. No nuts or products containing nuts should be brought to school. Additionally, due to dietary/medical restrictions, students are not permitted to share or trade food at any time. For the same reason, we ask that no food be sent to school for birthdays or other celebrations. There may be occasion for a class celebration in relation to learning, during which time the teacher may ask for healthy and food-specific donations. 

The Calgary Board of Education uses the boomerang lunch approach.  A  boomerang lunch  is  a  program where students  are  asked to bring  all  the waste home from  their lunches.  This  includes  all  packaging  and food  waste.  The  purpose of  a boomerang lunch is  not  to transfer  waste  disposal  from  the school  to home,  but  to  provide  parents  with first  hand knowledge  of the  eating habits  and  preferences  of  their  children.  School  staff  see  a huge  amount  of  uneaten  food  go into the  garbage day  after  day. This  is  not  only  wasteful  but  also  expensive.  A waste-free lunch, which contains, no disposable  or  throwaway  packaging, is encouraged. 

Communications

You will regularly receive email communications from the school through School Messenger.  A weekly update is sent on the last instructional day of every school week. 

CASL: Families need to subscribe if you want to continue receiving commercial electronic messages from your child’s school and the CBE, on school topics such as picture days, student fees, field trip costs, yearbooks, fun lunches etc.

If you are not receiving School Messenger emails, please contact the office so that they can determine why you are not receiving them. 

Directly email teachers for specific, individual questions.  Emails will receive an initial response within 3 business days.

MyCBE / PowerSchool

A MyCBE / PowerSchool Parent Account will allow you to access a number of supported technologies and tools at the Calgary Board of Education, including:

• Access to your children's academic information (schedule, grades & attendance)
• Register for transportation and noon supervision
• Pay fees online and request waivers
• Book school conferences
• You will need your child’s CBE ID and access code

Please contact the office if you need support in setting up or accessing your MyCBE account.

Standard of Dress

Students are expected to maintain acceptable dress and grooming practices.  We appreciate parent cooperation in following these guidelines. Unacceptable dress includes: 

• T-shirts with inappropriate, offensive language or pictures  
• Halter tops, half shirts, mini skirts, muscle shirts and chains 
• Low-riding trousers/jeans 

Students who come inappropriately dressed will be asked to change, according to CBE Administrative Regulation 6010 

Student Conduct 

The Calgary Board of Education is committed to providing students and staff with safe and caring school environments. Students and staff are expected to model and reinforce socially responsible and respectful behaviours so that teaching and learning can take place in a safe and caring environment. Fish Creek School adheres to a progressive student discipline policy as outlined in CBE Administrative regulation 6006. 

Our goal is for every child to be self-disciplined: 

The self-disciplined child:  

• knows what is acceptable behaviour;
• accepts the consequences for his/her behaviour and attitude; and
• can examine his/her behaviour and come up with acceptable alternatives.  

For self-discipline to be nurtured, a climate of warmth, support, mutual trust and respect is necessary.  

If unacceptable behaviour occurs:  

• A child showing unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with initially by the classroom teacher. Consequences for such behaviour may include the loss of privileges within the classroom or school, a brief "cooling-off" time outside the classroom, or a phone call home.  
• Continued unacceptable behaviour may be dealt with by a member of the administrative team. More serious consequences may be used, including in-school and out-of-school suspensions. Parents may also be required to meet with a member of the administrative team to achieve a resolution to the problem.  
• Communication with parents about these incidents will be through a note in the agenda, a phone call home or an in-person meeting with school staff.   

Homework Policy 

Extensions of school learning are meant to be non-stressful and promote positive parent-child relationships. Five to 10 minutes of reading per night is recommended. Parents are encouraged to discuss, with their children, their child's daily activities, and/or assignments brought home. The nature and amounts of home study recommended by the Calgary Board of Education (Administrative Regulation 3066) are as follows:  

Division I (Grade K-3): The motivation which comes from parent interest in children’s schoolwork can be valuable to a child.  Parents and teachers should encourage children to read from books suggested by the school. Excessive pressure can bring about negative results. No formal assignments shall be made, but from 5-10  minutes of systematic study is recommended. 

Division II (Grade 4-6): Formal assignments may be given at the discretion of the teachers particularly for pupils who need special attention or help, but in general, assignments should be of the reading or study type. Parents should be made aware of the teacher's general requirements with respect to home study, and the Board's expectations that no school requirements should exceed 20 minutes in length. 

Digital Citizenship 

Digital citizenship is about having the knowledge skills and attitudes needed to demonstrate responsible and respectful behavior when participating in digital environments. Classroom teachers discuss expectations for the responsible use of electronic devices with their students at the beginning of each school year.  These expectations are reviewed over the course of the year when necessary. We ask that students not bring devices which can connect to any type of network. If a student must bring a device, it must be kept in the student’s bag, “away for the day”. The school is not responsible for any devices brought from home.

No photos, videos or audio recordings are to be made at school without the express consent of the classroom teacher. 

Toys/Games/Personal Listening Devices 

Items such as games, toys, cards, iPods etc. should and do not come to school as they may go missing or get broken. Personal items used inappropriately in the classroom may be confiscated and later released to the parent.

Fish Creek School Council/Parent Society

The role of School Council is to provide parents and community members, as important partners in public education, the opportunity for voice in the school. Through school councils, our partners can make significant and meaningful contributions to the learning opportunities provided to CBE students.

Fish Creek Parent Council and Parent Association welcome you back for another wonderful year. We hope you had a safe, happy and restful summer vacation!

Our first meeting of the year will be on Tuesday, September 16 at 7:00 pm at the school.  Our meetings are generally held on the third Tuesday of the month, so mark your calendar!  

Please consider joining us. Our council is very active and there are many ways you can volunteer to help enrich our school and improve the experience of our children.  We plan events, teacher appreciation, fundraising, advocacy, fun lunch, yearbook, residencies, classroom volunteering, etc. 

Hope to see you there!

Casino

We still need 6 core spots and multiple backup/on call volunteers.

Calling all volunteers! We are fortunate to have our next Casino dates coming up Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11, 2025. This casino will bring in somewhere between $65,000 and $85,000 to the school to help pay for things like playground upkeep and replacement, books, gym equipment, student online resources, laptops and technology, and so much more. Without parent volunteers we will have to forfeit the casino and miss out on this huge contribution to the school, so if you can volunteer please do!  Please view the Sign Up Genius to see the shifts available.  

You do NOT need school clearance and a police report to participate. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbours and anyone over 18 is welcome to volunteer. You can volunteer for multiple shifts but they have to be the same role each time over the 2 days (ie if you are cashier one day, you need to be cashier the next). A meal and snacks are provided. 

We really appreciate all of those that have already put their name in for a shift! Without all of the support this wouldn’t be possible! Thank you!

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s learning needs this year and working with us to make it a great school year.   We look forward to seeing everyone in person!

Everyone @ FCS - we look forward to seeing everyone on September at 8:25am.