Olympic Heights Update – May 17
Safety Over Convenience – Pedestrian Safety at Olympic Heights
As the weather improves, we've noticed more students walking, biking, and scootering to school. While this is great, it also brings more dangers for students on their way to and from school. Just this morning, we learned that one of our Olympic Heights students was hit by a car while biking home. A nearby community member witnessed the incident and quickly called 911. Emergency services responded promptly. Thankfully, the child was not seriously injured, but they are now afraid to ride their bike again. This happened just outside John Costello School when a car was using the JCS driveway to turn around and head back up the hill towards Olympic Heights. This is exactly the kind of event we fear will happen, and it did. Going forward, please do not use the JCS driveway to turn around, simply the follow the “2 Minute Loop” detailed on the Kiss & Drop section of our Parking & Drop-Off webpage.
Coincidentally, this week the school has been reminding students about pedestrian safety as part of our “seasonal reminders” initiative. You may have seen Mr. Barkley or Mr. Eakins outside at entry or dismissal times, reminding students not to walk through the staff and community association parking lots. This message is especially important for those who ride the bus, but applies to all students. The recent incident highlights the need for these reminders and for everyone in our community to prioritize safety over convenience. We ask that parents discuss this with their children and take extra care to ensure safety, whether driving or walking. A split second of distraction or inattention can lead to something terrible.
By following simple steps, we can make our school and community as safe as possible. After consulting with the Calgary Police Service, we are asking for your help with the following:
- Do not enter the staff parking lot at any time. Do not park in the accessible parking spots unless you have a permit. Even if there are empty spots, please prioritize safety over convenience.
- Keep the ramp to the staff parking lot clear. The ramp has no stopping at any time signage and is a designated fire lane. Use the official crosswalk from the community centre parking lot to the front door of our building. Traffic bylaws prohibit stopping or parking within 5 meters of a crosswalk.
- Ensure your children cross the street at designated crosswalks and know how to cross safely in poor weather. Always use designated crosswalks to keep everyone safe.
- Follow the rules of the road, including speed limits and traffic bylaws, especially concerning U-turns and crosswalks. Speeding and U-turns compromise children's safety. Adhere to the 5-meter rule at crosswalks, which prohibits stopping or parking within this zone.
By working together, we can ensure the safety of all our students. Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to making our community safer. Below we also share some traffic safety reminders from the City of Calgary:
The City wants to remind and encourage anyone who is driving children to school to operate their vehicles safely and responsibly. Parents and guardians are reminded not park where it’s prohibited during drop off and pick up times, such as blocking crosswalks, laneways and private driveways.
Pick up and drop off times can get quite busy. Give yourself extra time to navigate safely around schools, whether you are walking, wheeling, or driving. For those who drive, help alleviate congestion by parking a block or two away and walking in, wherever possible.
Talk to your kids about safe travel practices like using crosswalks with patrols, looking all ways before crossing the street and not jaywalking across the roadways as a shortcut.
Learn more by visiting Calgary.ca/BeSafe.
Ensuring Safety: Training the Next Generation of OHS Patrols
You might have noticed some extra patrollers out in the last few weeks working to keep our crosswalk safe. That’s because we have been training our grade five students to take over for our soon-to-be-departing grade sixes. Please keep this in mind during the busy morning and afternoon rushes and be patient with our new recruits as they learn their roles.
Important Reminders:
- Stop Sign Protocol: If you see the stop sign out, please wait for the whistle and for the patrollers to have their signs behind their backs before continuing on your journey.
- Patroller Procedures: Patrollers follow a precise protocol to ensure everyone’s safety. They arrive on time, check for traffic throughout their shift, and call out "DOUBLE-CHECK" to ensure all directions are clear before proceeding. They make eye contact with drivers and wait for a safe gap in traffic or for vehicles to come to a complete stop.
- Positioning: Patrollers stand one step back from the curb in the ready position and only step into the crosswalk once it's safe to do so. They close the crosswalk with their arm and always stay alert for traffic.
- Emergency Protocols: In case of a traffic emergency, patrollers are trained to stay calm, send someone to get an adult, and remain on duty to provide assistance.
As a thank you for their service, patrollers who have been working for the full year will be invited to attend the 2024 AMA Patrol Picnic held at Heritage Park in June. We extend our gratitude to the School Council for funding this wonderful opportunity for our dedicated students.
Thank you for your continued support in keeping our school community safe!
Gratitude to School Council & OHSPA and Final Meeting of 2023-24
Last night, we had our final OHS School Council & OHS Parents Association meeting of the 2023-24 school year. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces, as well as some new ones, come together to hear about the latest happenings at our school.
Highlights of the meeting included:
- An interactive presentation by the Grade 6 teachers.
- An update on school staffing and grade configurations for next year by Mr. Barkley.
- A presentation on bullying awareness and prevention by Mr. Eakins.
Additionally, the School Council conducted nominations and elections for executive positions for the next year. Congratulations to all the nominees and those elected!
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the incredible School Council & OHSPA members who worked tirelessly this past year to make it a fantastic one for students and the entire school community.
Special thanks to our School Council Members:
- Chairperson: Tori Wright
- Vice Chairperson & Key Communicator: Sumantra Ghosh
- Secretary: Krista Leonty
- Treasurer: Anita Roncin
- Casino Coordinator: Jane Radiff
- Fun Lunch Coordinators: Jane Radiff, Michelle Herbst
- Special Events Coordinators: Leslie Hall, Laura Osadetz
- Fundraising Coordinator: Shannon Gillett
- Playground Fundraising Coordinator: Jane Radiff
- Kiss and Drop Coordinator: Michelle Herbst
- Volunteer Coordinator: Liana Phoenix
- Book Fair Coordinator: Jen Ward
- Yearbook Coordinator: Amanda Ghosh
Thank you to everyone who contributed their time and effort. You make Olympic Heights School the amazing place it is.
Bullying Awareness & Prevention
At our recent School Council meeting on May 16, 2024, we were pleased to feature an important presentation on bullying awareness and prevention at Olympic Heights School. This presentation highlighted our commitment to creating and maintaining a welcoming, caring, respectful, and safe learning environment for all students, staff, and parents. The slide deck from the presentation will be shared on the school website in the following days, but below is a brief overview.
Key Takeaways from the Presentation:
Understanding Bullying:
- Bullying is defined as repeated, ongoing, hostile, or demeaning behavior that is based on a power imbalance and intended to cause harm, fear, or distress. It can manifest in various forms, including physical, verbal, social/relational, and cyber/digital bullying.
What Bullying is Not:
- Bullying is often mistaken for other behaviors such as teasing, conflict, rudeness, or meanness. These behaviors, while potentially hurtful, do not meet the criteria for bullying as they are not typically repeated or rooted in a power imbalance.
Whole-School Approach:
- A comprehensive, whole-school approach is crucial for effective bullying prevention. This involves developing awareness, skills, and knowledge for well-being, positive relationships, and solution-focused problem-solving among the entire school community.
- Key initiatives include Pink Shirt Day (the last Wednesday of February) and Bullying Awareness Week (the third week of November).
Levels of Awareness, Prevention, and Response:
- Student Level: Empowering students with strategies such as WITS (Walk away, Ignore, Talk it Out, Seek Help), Pillars of Care, and Zones of Regulation.
- Classroom Level: Initial responses to student behavior typically occur within the classroom, involving teachers and staff.
- School Level: More serious or ongoing issues are addressed at the school level with the involvement of administration and support staff.
Responding to Behavior:
- The school’s response to bullying incidents focuses on helping students understand the impact of their actions and involves considering the specific context, the student's learning needs, their history, and the severity of the behaviour.
- Ensuring that victims of bullying feel safe, cared for, and respected is a top priority. Support measures are in place to help them regain their sense of security and well-being.
Community and Resources:
- Addressing bullying is a collective effort that requires the involvement of students, parents, staff, and the wider community. Several resources are available, including the CBE Bullying Awareness and Prevention Framework and various Calgary and Alberta-based support services.
We are dedicated to ensuring that Olympic Heights School remains a safe and nurturing place for all students. Thank you for your continued support in making our school a positive environment for everyone.
Our Year of Growth: Character, Care, and Self-Regulation
As we reflect on our journey over the past year (and we aren’t done yet), we are excited to share the meaningful strides we've made in developing our students' character and well-being through a comprehensive educational approach. This year, our character education program has been deeply rooted in the Seven Sacred Teachings, the Three Pillars of Care, and the Zones of Regulation, which have often been the focus of our monthly "Wellness Wednesdays."
Seven Sacred Teachings: Throughout the year, our students have explored the Seven Sacred Teachings, which include Love, Respect, Wisdom, Courage, Honesty, Humility, and Truth. Each teaching, represented by an animal symbol, has helped our students understand and embody these important values. For example, the Eagle teaches Love, encouraging compassion and kindness, while the Buffalo teaches Respect, emphasizing the importance of honouring and valuing others and our environment.
Three Pillars of Care: Our framework for fostering a positive school environment has been supported by the Three Pillars of Care—Care for Ourself, Care for Others, and Care for Our Place. Care for Ourself promotes self-awareness, self-respect, and emotional regulation. Care for Others focuses on empathy, respect, and kindness towards others, while Care for Our Place emphasizes the importance of creating and maintaining a safe and nurturing environment for everyone.
Zones of Regulation: To help our students manage their emotions and develop self-regulation skills, we have integrated the Zones of Regulation framework. This approach categorizes different states of alertness and emotions into four coloured zones: Blue (low states such as sadness or tiredness), Green (optimal state of calmness and focus), Yellow (heightened alertness such as excitement or frustration), and Red (extreme emotions such as anger or elation). By teaching students to recognize and navigate these zones, we empower them to handle conflicts and interactions positively and constructively.
Our monthly "Wellness Wednesdays" have provided dedicated time to reflect, practice, and reinforce these important principles, allowing our students to grow academically, socially, and emotionally in a supportive and inclusive environment.
We thank you for your continued support and engagement in our efforts to nurture and develop well-rounded, empathetic, and resilient individuals. We look forward to building on this strong foundation!
Volunteer Tea
Olympic Heights School is delighted to invite all our volunteers to the annual Volunteer Tea on June 7, 2024 at 9:15 AM. We are immensely grateful to everyone who has dedicated their time this year to our school community. Whether you have helped with off-site student activities, contributed to fundraisers like the book fair or casino night, collaborated with the School Council & Parents Association, supported our school library, ensured student safety at the Kiss & Drop zone, or participated in the many other volunteer efforts, your contributions have made a significant impact. Thank you for your invaluable support. We kindly ask that you RSVP for this event by May 24 so we can plan appropriately, and we look forward to celebrating all that you've done for OHS! Link to RSVP: https://forms.office.com/r/3607kSMD3x
On a related note, we are currently seeking donations of any unused or unwanted teacups. While we’re not looking for your finest bone china or cherished heirlooms, we would gladly accept teacups (with or without saucers) that are simply taking up space in your storage. If you have any items to donate, please email Ms. Ashley Geldart at AsGeldart@cbe.ab.ca. Thank you for your support!
Kindergarten Orientation
We are excited to invite you to the Kindergarten Orientation for the 2024-2025 school year at Olympic Heights School! This important event will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 6:30 PM to 7:15 PM.
This orientation is a special opportunity for parents of registered students to meet our dedicated Kindergarten teaching team and learn about the enriching Kindergarten program we offer. You will have the chance to:
- Enjoy a presentation by our current Kindergarten teachers
- Explore our learning environments and educational resources
- Ask any questions you might have about the upcoming school year
Additionally, a member of our school administration team will be present to share insights and answer questions about our educational approach and community.
Please note: To ensure the event is most informative and comfortable for all attendees, we kindly request that this orientation be attended by parents only.
Please see the following resources for helpful information about Kindergarten in the CBE:
- 2024-25 Kindergarten Welcome Letter
- 2024-25 Kindergarten Enhanced Supports
- Let the Children Play - Jane Hewes
Last Chance to Order Your 2023-24 Yearbook!
Time is running out to order your 2023-2024 Olympic Heights School yearbook! Lifetouch is ready to take your orders for our vibrant, full-colour yearbooks, which feature the amazing artwork of our student artists. At just $28, it's a great deal!
To place your order, visit http://ybpay.ca/ and use the Yearbook ID code 14310924. Remember, yearbooks are printed during the summer and will be delivered to OHS in late September. If your child will be attending another school in the fall (e.g., Vincent Massey Junior High), we will forward the yearbooks to their new CBE school. If your child is attending a school outside the CBE, we will contact you directly with pick-up information in September.
Call for Yearbook Photo Submissions: Additionally, Amanda Ghosh, our OHSPA yearbook coordinator, is still looking for photo submissions from families. If you snapped a great shot at a school event, like our Spring Fling Dance, please send your photos to ohsyearbook24@gmail.com.
Thank you for helping us capture the wonderful memories of this school year!
School Council & OHSPA | Join Us for Picnic in the Park on June 13, 2024!
We are excited to announce our upcoming "Picnic in the Park" event, organized by the School Council & OHSPA, on June 13, 2024. This wonderful evening will feature numerous food trucks and provide a perfect opportunity for families to enjoy an early summer evening together.
Event Details:
- Date: June 13, 2024
- Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
- Location: On the grass near the Gaga Ball Pit
Bring a blanket and a picnic, or indulge in some delicious offerings from the food trucks. It's the perfect way to relax and enjoy a beautiful evening with the OHS community.
Please note:
- Food trucks will begin setting up as early as 3:00 PM.
- Part of Strathcona Dr SW, past Strasbourg Green SW, may be blocked off with pylons during setup.
- The school will not be accessible during this event, so please plan accordingly.
We look forward to seeing you there for a fun and memorable evening!
Upcoming Dates
May 18 Saucy Bread Co. Pretzel fun snack orders due
May 20 Victoria Day – school closed
May 22 & 23 Gr. 2 Off-Site at Bow Habitat Station
May 23 Kindergarten 2024-25 Orientation
May 23 Saucy Bread Co. Pretzel fun snack
May 27 & 28 Knowledge Keeper “Elder Hal” Visits OHS
May 27 - 30 Gr. 6 Outdoor School – YMCA Camp Chief Hector
May 29 Gr. 1 & Gr. 4 Off-Site at Sam Centre (specific classes only)
June 1 Subway fun lunch orders due
June 4 Gr. 4 Off-Site at Weaselhead Flats
June 6 Subway fun lunch
June 7 Volunteer Tea
June 12 & 13 Gr. 4 Off-Site at Weaselhead Flats
June 13 Picnic in the Park presented by School Council & OHSPA
June 14 Kindergarten Celebration 10:30 AM
June 15 Kernels Popcorn & Panago Pizza orders due
June 19 Gr. 6 Provincial Achievement Test – Social Studies
June 20 Kernels Popcorn fun snack & Panago Pizza fun lunch
June 20 Gr. 6 Provincial Achievement Test – Science Studies
June 25 Grade 6 Farewell (AM)
June 26 Sports Day
June 26 Report Cards Viewable to Parents in MyCBE/PowerSchool
June 27 Last day of school for students – early dismissal at 12:23 PM
June 28 Appeals Day / Org. Day – Office closes at 12:00 PM