Gratitude to our Kiss & Drop Volunteers 

Following the recent snowy and chilly conditions, we wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful volunteers at our Kiss & Drop zone. These dedicated individuals, including Michelle Herbst who leads them, courageously face the weather each day to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and parents. We deeply appreciate your contributions to our school community! We also remind all families to emphasize safety above ease during drop-off and pick-up times, setting a positive example for our students.  

 

School Planning for 2023-24 

Thanks to all our families who attended School Council last night – it was a great session! As shared at Council, we are beginning to plan for 2023-24 and value your voice and feedback. Please take a couple of moments to complete this engagement and help provide input on direction for next year. The survey is available in a variety of languages and can be accessed on our Engagement Hub or by following this link: https://olympicheights.cbedialogue.com/en/projects/2023-24-school-year.

(If you attended the meeting on Thursday night, a brief meeting evaluation is also available, for you to provide feedback on the presentation.) Thanks everyone!

 

The Raven Teaches Us Honesty

Shared at this month’s Student Voice meeting, we are focusing on honesty, using the Raven as our guide. The raven teaches us to be clear, truthful, and adaptable. Interestingly, some Indigenous cultures use the Sabe, or Sasquatch, to represent honesty, showing there are many ways to understand and value this important trait. We're encouraging our students to practice honesty in all they do, building a trustworthy and supportive school community. Let's all strive to be more honest in our everyday lives, inspired by the Seven Sacred Teachings. 

 

Care for our Library Books

We've noticed an unfortunate increase in the number of damaged books being returned to our library, predominantly due to water exposure, likely from backpacks left in snow or wet areas. This rise in damage has forced us to remove many popular titles from our shelves, impacting everyone's ability to enjoy our library resources. At our school, we view this situation as an opportunity for learning and growth. We kindly ask for your support in reinforcing the importance of "caring for our place" with your children. Ms. Sjogren, our dedicated library assistant, has already introduced proper book care to each class in September and provided ongoing reminders. However, the collective effort of our school community can significantly enhance these initiatives. Together, let's encourage our students to practice responsibility and respect for shared resources, ensuring that our library remains a well-maintained treasure for all. Thank you for your cooperation and support in fostering a culture of care and respect.

 

Grade 5 Students Present Makerspace Proposal to School Council

On February 8, grade 5 students who are part of the Makerspace Club presented their proposal to School Council to re-invigorate Maker education at OHS. It was great to see students speaking passionately about a topic of importance to them! Gwinn R. and Alex O. shared the following write-up for this week’s Olympic Heights Update:

“Last night during School Council we had a presentation about the makerspace. The makerspace club is designing and creating a new room where kids can build whatever they want with the proper tools and materials. We have successfully convinced School Council to provide some funding but parents can also donate recycled materials like bottles, egg cartons, yogurt lids, and more. Please continue to watch for further updates on what we might need donated. Thanks!”

 

 

Casino Fundraiser Volunteers Needed! Sign up here!

Olympic Heights School would like to remind everyone about a unique fundraising event this spring at the Elbow River Casino! We're calling on our dedicated community to join us as volunteers for this significant occasion. Your participation is crucial, as it offers a tremendous opportunity to support our school. By volunteering just a few hours of your time, your participation can help us receive funding, often about $70 000! These funds are vital for enhancing student learning through resources such as advanced technology, improvements to our green spaces, and support for literacy, math, makerspaces, educational field trips, and inquiry-based learning projects.

Here are the key details you need to know:

• The event is scheduled for the weekend of April 20-21, 2024, at the Elbow River Casino, located at 218 - 18th Ave SE, Calgary.
• We welcome anyone over the age of 18 to volunteer; you don’t need a police clearance, nor do you have to be a parent of an OHS student.
• We're offering both day (11am-7:30pm) and night shifts (7:30pm-3:30am or 11pm-4am), with exact times available upon sign-up.
• No prior experience is required.
• Volunteers will receive training, a meal, and free parking.
• Feel free to sign up with friends or family, or come alone to meet new friends!

Please note, it's imperative that all volunteer positions are filled by the end of March to secure our participation in this event. Don't miss this chance to contribute to our school's biggest fundraising event of the year. Your support can make a real difference in enhancing the educational experience at Olympic Heights School. Find out more here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F4AA9AC29A4FE3-47077490-casino#/

 

Upcoming Dates

Feb. 10             Lunar New Year

Feb. 14             Valentine’s Day – wear pink, red, white, or purple

Feb. 15-16        Teachers’ & Staff Association Conventions (no school)

Feb. 17             Subway Fun Lunch orders due

Feb. 19             Family Day Holiday – no school

Feb. 20-23        Skate Shack (Grades 3 & 4)

Feb. 22             Subway Fun Lunch

Feb. 26             Evergreen Theatre – Snow White & the Seven Regions

Feb. 28             Pink Shirt Day

Feb. 29             Jump Rope for Heart

Feb. 29             Movie Night! presented by School Council & OHSPA – 6:30 PM

Mar. 2              Kernels Popcorn Fun Snack orders are due

Mar. 4-8           Havana Cuban Dance Residency

Mar. 7              Kernels Fun Snack

Mar. 10            Daylight Saving Time begins

Mar. 10            Ramadan Begins

Mar. 14            School Council & OHSPA Meeting 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Mar. 21-22       Book Fair

Mar. 21            Student-led Learning Conferences (evening)

Mar. 22            Student-led Learning Conferences (morning; no school)

Mar. 22            Last day before spring break

Mar. 25-Apr. 1  Spring Break