Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

Our Week at a Glance email is sent out once a week to provide you with the most up to date information with what is happening at Ranchlands School.

Important Dates

No School For ALL Students on Monday, Jan 15

This is a Professional Development Day, and there is no school for all students.

Grade 3 - Teacher's Pet In-School Field Trip - Wednesday, Jan 17

Spirit Day - Favourite Character Day - Thursday, Jan 25

Announcements

Welcome Student Teachers!

We would like to welcome 4 student teachers who joined us in the new year! They will be assisting in several classrooms until mid-April as follows:

• Ms. Oliva Martinez will be assisting in Ms. Patel's Grade 3 classroom
• Ms. Koch will be assisting in Mr. Hefler's Grade 4 classroom
• Ms. Kittlaus will be assisting in Mr. Scheidegger's Grade 5 classroom
• Ms. Besant will be assisting in Mr. Zhang's Grade 6 classroom.

Program Options / Open Houses

Did you know that the CBE offers alternative programs in addition to the excellent regular program offered at the designated community schools? CBE programs recognize students’ diverse ways of learning and address a broad range of interests and abilities. Please click the link below to find out more information regarding program options at the CBE. Also included is a link to a listing of upcoming School Open Houses.

Grade 6 students interested in the Late French Immersion Program at Branton School are invited to view this link for their Open House.

• Program Options
• CBE Open Houses

Kindergarten Registration Begins Monday, January 15

Visit www.cbe.ab.ca/kindergarten to learn more about when your child can begin kindergarten and how to register for the 2024-2025 school year. Registrations are now completed online at: https://cbe.ab.ca/registration/registration/Pages/new-students.aspx.

School Council News

Indigenous Drumming Circle For Parents - Thursday, February 22

School council will be hosting an indigenous drumming circle for parents on Feb 22 from 6:30-8:30. Parents interested in this event are asked to RSVP to ranchlandscouncil@gmail.com.

Ranchlands School Council Parent Library

Ranchlands School Council is pleased to launch our new parent library. We have attached a list of books and workbooks about parenting and mental health that are available for our parents to borrow. We do ask that you only take the books out for 2 weeks at a time, and that you use the workbooks as a guide - keep the pages clean for other families to use too! Books can be accessed by emailing ranchlandscouncil@gmail.com.

Ranchlands Community Association News

Ranchlands Free Book Swap - Saturday, Jan 27

This free shopping event will take place at the Ranchlands Community Association Hall (7713 Ranchview Dr NW) between 11am and 2pm.

In preparation for our inaugural book swap on January 27th, which marks Family Literacy Day, the Ranchlands Community Association is looking for books! We are collecting new and gently used books in all age categories from 10am-3pm Mon-Fri at the RCA office with extended drop off times on Jan 17 and 24 from 4pm to 6:30pm. Volunteers are needed to help sort donations and set them up on tables from 6-9pm on Jan 26th. If you would like to volunteer, please email us at volunteerrca@gmail.com by Jan 19th.

School-Wide Initiative

Seven Sacred Teachings

The Seven Sacred Teachings originate from the Seven Grandfather Teachings from the Anishinaabe people and have been adopted by many (but not all) First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples. The teachings focus on the relationships we have with all of creation and offer ways on how people should treat others. The seven teachings include love, respect, honesty, courage/bravery, truth, wisdom and humility and each teaching is represented by an animal. Each animal helps teach us how we can live our lives respecting animals, people, and the environment – every living thing. It should be noted that these teachings may differ slightly between groups or cultures.

In December our school learned about Honesty. The Sabe teaches us HONESTY. Honesty is speaking and acting truthfully, and thereby remained morally upright. Long ago, there was a giant called Kitch-Sabe. Kitch-Sabe walked among the people to remind them to be honest to the laws and honest to each other. The highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual was the saying "There walks an honest man. He can be trusted." To be truly honest was to keep the promises one made to others and to oneself. The Elders would say, "Never try to be someone else; live true to your spirit, be honest to yourself and accept who you are the way you were made."

This month we will be learning about Humility. The Wolf teaches us HUMILTY. Humility is being humble and not arrogant. The expression of humility is manifested through the consideration of others before ourselves. In this way, the Wolf became the teacher of this lesson. He bows his head in the presence of others out of deference, and once hunted, will not take of the food until it can be shared with the pack. His lack of arrogance and respect for his community is a hard lesson, but integral in the Indigenous way.

As always, please call the office at 403-777-6350 ext 0 if you have any questions or concerns.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ranchlands School Office Team