Good afternoon Connect parents;
As we continue to watch the war in Ukraine evolve and the casualty numbers climb, it is timely to reflect on the pain and suffering being experienced by families who have been ripped apart by conflict and human atrocity. Among the most heart wrenching images have been those depicting children separated from their parents and desperately seeking comfort and safety. We should feel so thankful to live in a land that thrives on the principles of mutual respect while celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion. When we speak with our students about ‘place-based learning’ we are striving to foster in them an appreciation for all the positive attributes of the ‘place’ in which we work, learn, and play…. and to never take our democracy for granted. When appropriate, teachers are accessing resources to support student understanding and learning around the rapidly changing events in Ukraine.
Report Cards
Today marks the end of term 2 and report cards will be available on PowerSchool after 3:30pm on Monday March 14th.
Student-Led Conferences
- Student-Led Conferences will take place via Zoom on Thursday March 17, 4:30 – 8:00pm, and Friday March 18, 8:00am – 1:00pm.
- Conference Manager will open for bookings at 4:00PM on Monday March 14, 2022 and will close for bookings on Thursday March 17 at 12:00pm.
- Conference Manager is used to schedule conferences and is available through your PowerSchool Parent Account.
The steps to log in and book a student-led conference at Connect Charter School are:
- Log into PowerSchool at the following URL: connectcharter.powerschool.com/
- Select the Application Launch icon near the top right of the screen
- Select the Conference Manager in the menu list that appears.
Conferences will be in a virtual format using Zoom or Google Meet. You will receive meeting links directly from your teachers.
We look forward to discussing your child’s progress.
Electives for Term 3
Following spring break we will begin elective classes that will be offered for grades 4/5, 6/7, and 8/9. Teachers have been developing elective descriptions and students will sign up for courses during the week of April 3rd with an elective start date of April 12th. A catalogue of elective courses will be coming your way next week.
Calendar Adjustment
Due to an error when finalizing the 2021-22 school calendar, a professional development/non-instructional day was scheduled for Friday May 27th. This PD day was supposed to land on Friday May 20th to provide families with an extended holiday weekend. The Board of Directors has approved an amendment to the calendar to make this adjustment of the PD day to May 20th. My apologies for any confusion resulting from this oversight.
Daylight Savings Time
Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead at 2am on Sunday (does anybody actually do this at 2AM?) as we switch to daylight savings time.
Great Kids Award
Our colleagues at Children’s Services have asked us to share some promotional materials with you that can be used to help spread the word through schools about this year’s Great Kids Award. This award provides a great opportunity to recognize inspiring Albertans aged 5 –18 who have made a difference in their schools or communities during the pandemic. If someone knows a young leader who they feel is deserving of recognition, they can find more information about the award and how to nominate them at www.alberta.ca/great-kids-award.aspx. The deadline for nominations is March 25.
Parent Society and School Council
Parent Society AGM Tuesday Apr 19, 20226:30pm
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 19 when we will hold our Annual General Meeting for the Connect Charter Parent Society. We are in need of new directors for the 2022/2023 school year, and welcome parents or guardians from all grade levels. In the next two years, we will have six directors moving on from Connect, so we especially appreciate representation from younger grade levels.
Notice of 2022 AGM and Minutes of 2021 AGM for the Parent Society
docs.google.com/document/d/1XLDZfG67ljvZrYOyzCMKYPP00y1Ew2RJS_xBMzHcV7o/edit?usp=sharing
The Parent Society is responsible for organizing all AGLC related fundraising (casinos, raffles) which accounts for approximately $45k every 18-24 months. These funds are used to purchase items for educational enrichment for all Connect students. Volunteering for Parent Society is a minimal time commitment, but has a huge impact on our school. Please consider getting involved. The Connect Charter Parent Society (CCPS) serves as a separate entity in parallel with the Connect Charter School Council at the direction of the Connect Charter School Board.
Anyone who is interested is welcome to contact Mary Jensen, Parent Society President, at [email protected].
School Council AGM – Tuesday Apr 19, 20227pm
School Council Executive positions 2022/2023
School Council is looking for parents to fill the following positions for the next school year:
- Treasurer
- Vice-Chair (could be a shared co-Vice-Chair)
- Communications Specialist to help with WordPress site and other parent engagement responsibilities
If you would like to find out more, please contact Sandra Rosano Koeller at [email protected].
Final weekend to order Easter Chocolates!
Our chocolate fundraiser with Purdys Chocolatier is in the final days for ordering, the deadline is midnight on Sunday. Thanks to our supporters so far, we’re over $5,000 in sales to date. Connect earns up to 25% of our chocolate sales, so it is a great fundraiser for our school. If you selected items in your cart, but haven’t paid yet, please submit your payment details this weekend also.
For a catalogue sneak peek, go here (you can’t shop in this link): 2022_Easter_Catalogue_Group.pdf (purdys.com)
To purchase chocolates, go to our campaign website here fundraising.purdys.com/join.aspx/1312277-92610. Create an account, or login if you remember last year’s info, then click Shop Online in the top bar. Choose Marketplace to see all the products and place your order. Payment is made directly online by credit card to Purdys when you’re ready to order.
Feel free to forward this link to any chocolate lovers you know! As long as they can pick up at the school (or you can pickup for them) then they can take part in our campaign.
Deadline for orders is Sunday, March 13th (the website says March 27th based on our delivery date – but our actual deadline is earlier due to spring break).
Pickup at Connect Charter School on the evening of Tuesday, April 12th. Covid friendly car drive-through to be arranged, details TBA.
Thanks in advance for supporting our school!
Fun Lunch
Thank you parents for your continued support of the Fun Lunch program. Term 3 orders are open! A friendly reminder that the deadline for cheque payment is March 16th, payment after this date is by credit card only. If you are paying by cheque for your order, please ensure your student(s) take the cheque to the office. All cheques should be made payable to Connect Charter School and in the memo please put Fun Lunch.
Place your fun lunch orders at: ccs.hotlunches.net
Saucy Bread Company will be fulfilling the order that was missed on Feb 11th. The delivery of your orders will be on March 17th. You don’t have to take any additional steps, your orders have already been placed and paid for.
We are also looking for additional volunteers to help distribute Fun Lunches on Wednesdays and Fridays. Please email [email protected] if you’re available to help.
Lost and Found
Our lost and found has many items looking for a return to their rightful owners. Please take a look at the collection in the link below and follow the instructions to reclaim belongings.
Curriculum Implementation Update
Below is a letter from Minister of Education, Adrianna LaGrange, detailing the governments decision to implement elements of the new curriculum in K-3 classes beginning in September 2022. The only aspect of the new curriculum that will be implemented for Connect students next year will be in physical education and wellness. The text of the Minister’s letter is provided for your information:
Starting this fall, Alberta’s government is moving forward with implementing an updated curriculum in elementary school classrooms across the province. Based on advice from education system leaders, teachers and curriculum experts, we will implement new curriculum in three subject areas in September 2022:
- K-3 Mathematics
- K-3 English Language Arts and Literature
- K-6 Physical Education and Wellness
In addition, new Mathematics and English Language Arts and Literature curriculum will be implemented in grades 4-6 in September 2023.
Focusing on these subjects will help younger students strengthen their numeracy and literacy skills, which are essential for early years learning. It will also support students in learning how to build resiliency and manage their health, mental health and well-being as well as providing a strong foundation in financial literacy. With this targeted approach, we are building on the additional layers of support Alberta’s government has provided to address learning loss experienced by these students.
This balanced and measured approach for the 2022-23 school year is based on insight and advice from the Curriculum Implementation Advisory Group. By May, the advisory group will make recommendations on piloting and implementation strategies for the remaining five K-6 curriculums. Their work also includes identifying implementation timelines and resources for the remaining K-6 subjects.
To ensure teachers and students are equipped for updated K-6 curriculum in classrooms, we are investing $191 million over the next three years. This includes $59 million in 2022-23 for teacher professional development and purchasing quality learning and teaching resources aligned with the new curriculum. The remainder of the funding will be allotted in future budget years to support implementation for the remaining subjects and grades of the K-6 curriculum.
To support teachers as they continue to prepare for curriculum implementation in September, Alberta’s government is providing:
- the final K-3 English Language Arts and Literature, K-3 Mathematics and K-6 Physical Education and Wellness curriculums and supporting resources on new.LearnAlberta.ca in April
- a number of targeted, flexible professional learning opportunities between May and September; details about teacher supports and resources will be provided to school authorities in April
In December, we committed to giving Albertans even more ways to have their say on the draft K-6 curriculum and draft social studies design blueprint. From January 31 to February 28, we heard from Albertans through virtual engagement sessions in five regions across the province. The feedback we received from these sessions, as well as other engagement opportunities and classroom piloting, will continue to inform the final K-6 curriculum.
Later this spring, feedback will be used to:
- finalize the social studies design blueprint
- develop the corresponding draft social studies content and
- update all remaining K-6 subjects for additional piloting.
Feedback received from stakeholders which is informing changes to the drafts will also be released later this spring.
I look forward to sharing more details with you in the near future.
On behalf of Alberta’s government, thank you for the extensive and thoughtful feedback you and your school communities continue to provide. I am confident that by working together, we can continue to develop an updated curriculum that will set elementary students on the best path for success within the classroom and beyond.
Sincerely,
Adriana LaGrange
Minister of Education
Important dates
Calendar connectcharter.ca/calendar/
March 11 Term 2 ends
March 14 Term 2 report cards available in PowerSchool
Term 3 begins
March 17 Last day of classes for students
4:30-8pm Student-led conferences
March 18 8am-1pm Student-led conferences
Spring break begins
April 4 Classes resume
Have a wonder filled spring weekend everyone,
Phil Butterfield
Principal