Annie Gale School
577 Whiteridge Way N.E., Calgary, AB T1Y 4S8
http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b686
t | 403-777-7680 f | 403-777-7686 e | AnnieGale@cbe.ab.ca
Newsletter | December 2014/January 2015
Principal’s Message
Working with adolescents is intellectually, emotionally and physically demanding. My staff
and I very much enjoy the work as it is a particularly interesting time in a person’s
development. Much research has been devoted to the adolescent brain. As educators we
are interested in adding strategies to our repertoire of skills so we often share articles with
each other on this topic. One article resonated with us as a staff:
A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to the teenage brain
The Globe and Mail
Published Thursday, Jan. 08 2015, 3:03 PM EST
Last updated Thursday, Jan. 08 2015, 3:16 PM EST
Important Dates
What follows is an excerpt from this article:
December 4
Celebration of Learning
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young
Adults, Dr. Frances Jensen explains the science and offers a guide to navigating the
perilous territory of a teenage brain.
December 5
Non-Instruction Day
No School for Students
ON HOMEWORK AND THE DIGITAL INVASION
When asked about multitasking, most teens say they believe they are good at it and that it
allows them to accomplish more. On the other hand, studies show that multitasking actually
interferes with learning in adolescents and that it takes anywhere between 25 per cent and
400 per cent longer for a teenager to complete his or her homework if multitasking is
involved. So why do teens profess that multitasking helps them? It may be because
multitasking makes them feel emotionally satisfied.… “This is worrisome,” Dr. [Zheng]
Wang of Ohio State told the media, “because students begin to feel like they need to have
the TV on or they need to continually check their text massages or computer while they do
their homework. It’s not helping them, but they get an emotional reward that keeps them
doing it.”
December 19
Last Day of Classes
Locker Clean-out 11:50am
December 20-January 4
Winter Break
School Closed
January 5
Classes Resume
January 19
School Council Meeting
6:00 – 7:15 p.m.
January 23
Last Day of Semester 1
For the full article, go to http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/parenting/a-neuroscientistssurvival-guide-to-the-teenage-brain/article22363180/
The more the adults who work and parent adolescents know and understand about the
research, the better we can support the development of our children. There is not a one
size fits all model but when we ground our decisions in research our children will have more
advantages.
If you have any questions, e-mail is the fastest way to contact me (eawood@cbe.ab.ca).
Alternatively, you can call me at the school 403-777-7680.
Elizabeth Wood
Annie Gale School
December 2014/January 2015
Course News
Important Dates
(continued)
January 24
Conference Booking
System Opens 8:00 a.m.
January 26
First Day of Semester 2
IPPs go home
January 28
LB Pearson: Online
Registration
9:00 – 11:58 a.m.
Report Cards in T.A.
Locker Clean-out 2:20pm
January 29
Signed IPPs returned
Parent/Teacher/Student
Conferences
1:15 – 4:15 p.m.
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
January 30
Non-Instruction Day
No School for Students
Complementary Courses
Art
Great News from the Art Room:
 Our amazing Annie Gale Artists are completing their major projects in time for the
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Celebration of Learning on the 4 of December. Students in all grades have been
studying the work of the Dutch Artist, Vincent Van Gogh. Please support our students
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by coming on December 4 and seeing their completed work.
 The Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities annual Art contest offered a
prize for the first 10 schools that submitted entries. Annie Gale students submitted 150
projects and we won a Dell Inkjet Printer to be used in the Art room.
 Thank you to the Parent Council for allotting funds to the Art Department. At long last
we were able to restock our shelves and replace some much needed materials.
Band
We’ve had a wonderful start to the year. Students are working hard preparing for the
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December 4 Concert and I’m looking forward to sharing the students’ performances with
you. We’ve had the beginners in Banff for band camp in October and the next crop of
th
grade 7s and 8s will be heading to Banff on November 24 .
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Here is the schedule of call times for the December 4 Concert:
2:30 pm Jazz Band
3:30 pm Choir
4:00 pm Band 9
4:30 pm Advanced Band 7& 8
5:00 pm Beginner Band 6, 7, & 8
5:30 pm Doors Open
6:00 pm Concert Begins
Construction
Oh my word, but we are already in the latter part of November and gearing up for the busy
time of December and then our return in January. First semester students in the
construction classes have been steadily gaining knowledge of tools and equipment safety
the first half of the term and we are all now well on our way in the planning, design and
fabrication of many magnificent projects.
Grade 7s have focusing their attention on the acquisition of hand tool knowledge and use in
their work and are quickly moving forward with some power equipment.
Grade 8s and 9s are involved with a myriad of multiple possibilities ranging from
nameplates in wood, CO2 Cars, Logo designs, Clocks, Wooden Bowls/spindles on the
lathe, Necklace pendants in plastic and much, much more.
We are also integrating with other teachers through interdisciplinary connections in the
classrooms to produce some awesome cross-curricular projects.
Always excitingly busy over in the Construction room, while maintaining safety, safety,
safety.
With Regards,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Construction Man
Mr. Klenke
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Annie Gale School
December 2014/January 2015
French
The grade 6 and 7 French classes are wrapping up their first units. Grade 6 classes have
had the opportunity, as part of their My Health and Well-being unit, to participate in a
cheese taste-test and some preparation of French foods. Grade 7 classes are finishing up
their study of school, comparing school systems in France and in Canada.
Going forward our next big event in French is the Carnival de Québec for Grade 6! Students
will have the chance to learn about the Carnival and (weather permitting!) participate in
some of the events, too!
À la prochaine,
Mademoiselle Jarowicz
English Language Arts
Students have been working hard at completing various projects and reading different types
of reading material.
We often get asked how to tell if your child has chosen a book at their reading level.
Reading books that are too easy or too hard do not help improve our reading skills.
Reading books at our reading level is the best way to improve. The easiest way to tell if
your book is a good ‘fit’ is using the “Five Finger Rule”.
Reading is just like any sport. We continually build our reading stamina the more we read.
Encouraging your child to read at home will not only support your child to become a lifelong
learner but it will also help your child succeed in all of their classes.
Reading at Home
 Have reading materials available.
 Make it fun! Read mysteries together and try to figure out the clues together.
 Visit the public library regularly.
 Is there a movie version coming out? Read the book together first then talk about what
you liked better (the book or the movie).
 Share what you are reading with your child.
 Ask your child questions about what they are reading, such as:
 What is the story about?
 Who are the important characters in the story?
 Where does the story take place?
 Why do you think the character made that choice?
 Why did it happen?
 Would you recommend this book?
Reading at home tips from – www.forteachers.org
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Annie Gale School
December 2014/January 2015
Mathematics
All of our mathematics classes are well into the curriculum at this point in the year. Students
are engaging in their learning of a variety of concepts.
As a reminder, all students should be comfortable with their multiplication facts up to twelve
times twelve. If students are unable to recall these from memory, they should be practicing
at home until they are comfortable with this skill. This becomes increasingly important as
students’ progress through the grades.
Our grade six students have been working on understanding decimals, and are now diving
into exploring operations on decimal numbers. The grade sevens are currently exploring the
relationship between fractions, decimals and percent, and will soon focus more heavily on
numbers in fraction form. Grade eight classes are finishing up their work with operations on
fractions, and will soon be moving into exploring percent. In our grade nine classes,
students are finishing up their exploration of exponents, and will soon begin their study of
polynomials.
Please ensure that you are checking HomeLogic to keep up to date with your child’s
progress in mathematics. Students are being tested every two to three weeks in their Math
class, and should be continuously reviewing the concepts they are learning in class.
Science
Our Science classes are just beginning their second units! The Grade 7 classes are
studying the Heat and Temperature unit where they are exploring such topics as how to use
thermometers and renewable resources for energy. Our Grade 8 classes are investigating
the Cells and Systems unit where they are using microscopes and exploring cells and body
systems. The Grade 9 classes are exploring the chemistry unit of Matter and Chemical
Change where they will be introduced to the periodic table of elements and chemical
reactions. Students who are interested in participating in the Calgary Youth Science Fair
will begin exploring project ideas as part of an in-class science fair project proposal.
Social Studies
Grade 6: We are preparing an action plan to tackle an important issue in our communitylittering. Students are creating a plan for how we can make a change, they will present their
plans and we will decide on an action plan as a class. Over the course of the next few
months we will put our plan into action and see what kind of positive change we can make
in our community.
Grade 7: We are just finished looking at why the French explorers set up colonies in North
America ... what was imperialism? Students have created their own Seigneury which was a
farming system used by the French. Next, we will look at why the English explorers came
to North America ... what is mercantilism? What happened when these two groups met?
Grade 8: We are continuing with our Renaissance Unit. Students have just finished
learning about the different city-states ... wealth, war, competition ... oh, so exciting! We will
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Annie Gale School
December 2014/January 2015
be looking at the Humanist approach next ... who were the Humanists and how did these
ideas influence Renaissance thinking?
Grade 8 K&E & ACE: Students are presenting dramatic shifts from the Dark Ages to the
Modern Age in the Renaissance Unit; looking at Art, Philosophy, Religion, Exploration,
Culture - Foods & Dress, Government & Economy.
Grade 9: Exploring the relationship between Fairness & Equality, tackling the Youth
Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) and Punishment vs Consequences and ramping up our
2014/15 Social Studies Fair.
Other News
Free Library Cards Coming Soon to all CBE students
The Calgary Board of Education and the Calgary Public Library have teamed up to get free
library cards into the hands of all CBE students. Enough cards for every student will be
shipped to all CBE schools in the New Year. All cards are expected to be delivered to each
student by February 2015. Cards can be activated online, by mobile devices or at your local
community library. More details to come in January.
In-School Settlement
Dear Annie Gale Parents and Students:
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and our program. My name is
Samiha Fizal and I work in Annie Gale School as an In School Settlement worker with the
Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth – In School Settlement Program. The languages
I speak are Malayalam, Hindi and English. I am very fortunate to be part of the CBE support
system and also work closely with the Annie Gale school staff, parents and students.
A little bit about our program:
Our In-School Settlement Program is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and
we work in partnership with the Calgary Board of Education, The Calgary Catholic School
District and the Calgary Public Library. We are a team of 30 settlement workers, who speak
different languages. We are placed in various CBE and Catholic schools in different
quadrants of the city.
As an In-School Settlement worker, I assist immigrant families and their children to adapt,
integrate and settle down in Canada by providing them with helpful resources and
information. As families come from different countries, have diverse backgrounds and
different educational experiences, the challenges they face as immigrants also varies. I am
very pleased to provide settlement services to the families, who are in need of support,
guidance and assistance. Please feel free to refer our program to your friends and
neighbours, who arrive as Permanent Residents in Calgary so that more newcomers can
benefit from this program. To book an appointment with me, please email me at
safizal@cbe.ab.ca / call at 403-990-2685 or you may also ask the school office.
Regards,
Samiha Fizal - In-School Settlement Worker
Annie Gale School
The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth - In-School Settlement Program
www.cbfy.ca
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Annie Gale School
December 2014/January 2015
Student Services
Grade 9 teachers will be making recommendations pertaining to core subjects in January,
2015. Students’ grades and work ethic will be evaluated in order to make the best possible
recommendation for high school. We will always aim to place students in the most
challenging classes possible for them, and in which they can find success.
Any grade 9 student wishing to transfer high schools, or apply for special programs, must
complete all necessary forms and applications by March 14, 2015.
Parents, please be aware that IPPs will be coming home again in January as we follow up
on goals which were created in September, 2014. It is essential that these are signed and
returned to Annie Gale School Main Office as soon as possible. Please return them to
school with your child.
Ms. Mead
TLC
Uniforms are an important part of the TLC program. It is essential that you ensure your child
comes to school in the appropriate clothing. Formal days are on the first school day of the
week. If Monday is a holiday then Tuesday becomes the formal day. If you aren’t sure
about the dress code please check the TLC web site using this link.
http://www.cbe.ab.ca/programs/Choices/prog-tlc.asp
We have also started the casual Friday program. If your child wears their uniform without
any violations during the week they can wear casual clothes on Friday. Students who have
a violation will receive a stamp in their agenda. Parents must sign the agenda to show that
they understand what the violation was and take the appropriate steps to make sure it
doesn’t happen again. Students who have a dress code violation and show up to school in
casual clothes will be asked to call their parents. Parents must then bring the uniform to
school for their child to change into.
Thank you for preparing your child for success. If you have any further questions or
concerns please email me, Mr. Kulka at bkulka@cbe.ab.ca
Work Sessions
Reminder to students and parents that Work Sessions run four days a week (Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday (at lunch and after school). Teachers are available to help with
homework or review concepts
A reminder for parents/guardians:
When a student is going to be absent or late, please call the attendance line
403-777-7680 and press 1; leave the child’s name, grade and reason for being
absent or late. The attendance line is open 24/7.
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December 2014/January 2015
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