Good afternoon families! We hope that your weekend is going well. ¡Buenas tardes familias! Esperamos que vuestro fin de semana vaya bien.

We are one week away from Winter Break and the school is an energetic place these days. Last week, A.E. Cross hosted the annual Colts’ Clash Wrestling Quad. Willow Park, Mount Royal and Marshall Springs schools attended the meet and our Colts did extremely well in their matches. Thank you to Mr. MacRae for his organization and leadership for the evening.

Please note that Project Kindness continues this week to support some families within the A.E. Cross School Community. If you are able to donate, please have your child drop off any donations to their classroom teacher or the main office.

The last day of classes for students prior to Winter Break is on Friday, December 20. Throughout this week, there are different activities that students can take part in prior to school beginning in the morning. From Monday through Thursday, the main gym will be open for a holiday singalong and on Friday, our second Chew and Chat breakfast will be taking place in our cafeteria with Grinch pancakes on the menu. We hope to see as many students as we can for those events.

Please have your child check the lost and found in the Art Room hallway. There are dozens of hoodies, jackets, lunch kits, shirts and water bottles that are located there. If your child has come home at some point in the first three and a months missing something, chances are pretty good that it is located there.

Our leadership class has also planned some Spirit Days for the week leading up to Winter Break:

  • Monday, December 16 – Students Dress as Teachers and Teachers Dress as Students
  • Tuesday, December 17 – Twin Day
  • Wednesday, December 18 – Culture Day – wear clothing from your culture
  • Thursday, December 19 – Ugly Holiday Sweater Day
  • Friday, December 20 – PJ Day

School appropriate attire is required for all the above Spirit Days. Should students show up at school wearing inappropriate clothing, they will be asked to change their clothes.

A reminder that this is our last regular Colts’ Community Chronicle for 2024. Our next Chronicle that will get the school community set for January will be sent on January 5, 2025.

We want to wish everybody a safe and festive holiday season. Thank you for all of your support so far this school year. I’m excited to see what our students are able to accomplish in 2025! Queremos desearles a todos unas vacaciones seguras y festivas. Gracias por todo su apoyo en lo que va del año escolar. ¡Estoy emocionado de ver lo que nuestros estudiantes podrán lograr en 2025!

Colts' Community Chronicle - December 16 to December 20 

Project Kindness Information 

Sincerely,

Randy Lewis

Principal, A.E. Cross School

Colts’ Community Chronicle | Dec. 16-20

(New information only. See newsletter under Related Information for more.)

Athletics

Colts’ Basketball

Student athletes should pay attention to announcements regarding wrap up parties for teams. These will be organized once all team fees are paid. For those student-athletes who participated on the basketball teams, please make sure to wash and return your uniforms to your coaches. 

Colts’ Wrestling

Practices will occur:

  • Monday after school from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday before school from 8:00 am to 9:00 am
  • Friday before school from 8:00 am to 9:00 am
  • Wrestling Quad Meets
    o   January 15 – 4:45 pm at Vincent Massey School
  • Wrestling Divisional Meet
    o   January 28 – Genesis Center 

Colts’ Volleyball

Volleyball season will begin immediately after winter break in January. Students will be informed of exact tryout dates on Monday, January 6. Please make sure that you fill out an Annual Authorization Form for your child to try out for Colts’ Volleyball! We look forward to seeing our Colts’ student athletes out on the court in the New Year! 

If you have any further questions please contact Jace Richards at jarichards@cbe.ab.ca

Project Kindness

Each year, the A.E. Cross School community supports families through the holiday season, especially to those facing the greatest challenges. We invite you to participate in Project Kindness with your children by discussing the meaning of helping others and donating over the next few weeks.

From Thursday, December 5 to Tuesday, December 17, we will be collecting gift cards to places like Superstore, Walmart, Canadian Tire, local gas stations, grocery stores, etc. If you would like to participate, kindly place any donated gift cards in a sealed envelope, marked Project Kindness and have your child give it to the main office or their classroom teacher. Please see the poster for more information. 

Ski School

Students who are registered for Ski School with enjoy their second day of lessons on Tuesday, December 17. Students can bring their own ski and snowboard gear and will store it in a specific classroom upon arrival Monday morning. Students will attend their regular period 1 class and be called down to a meeting space at 9:35. Students should bring clothes for all weather as they will be outside for most of the day. If students do not own ski goggles, it is suggested that they bring sunglasses to protect their eyes against the sun reflecting off the snow. Students should bring food in case the cafeteria is closed that day. Please send any questions to Mr. Richards, jarichards@cbe.ab.ca. 

2024-2025 Yearbook

The 2024-2025 A.E. School Yearbook is now available to purchase! To order this year’s edition of the yearbook, please visit the following website: 

A.E. Cross School Yearbook Ordering LINK 

Student Learning Supports

A.E. Cross School is happy to provide the following learning supports for students. I would encourage you to remind your children of these opportunities so that they are able to be as successful as possible. All grades are welcome in each of the spaces below.

  • Math Help Room – Room 26 (Mr. Reid) – Mondays 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
  • Math Help Room – Room 6 (Mr. Virjee) – Tuesdays 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
  • Homework Hotel – Learning Commons – Wednesdays – 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
  • Math Help Room – Room 33 (Mr. Tyrrell) – Tuesdays and Thursdays at Lunch

2025 Provincial Achievement Test Dates

The dates for the 2025 Provincial Achievement Tests have been released by Alberta Education. Attached to this message is letter to parents explaining the Provincial Achievement Test program for students. Below is the 2025 PAT schedule:

  • Thursday, May 29 – English Language Arts (Part A – Written Response)
  • Thursday, June 12 – English Language Arts (Part B – Reading Comprehension)
  • Friday, June 13 – Mathematics (Part A)
  • Tuesday, June 17 – Mathematics (Part B)
  • Wednesday, June 18 – Social Studies
  • Thursday, June 19 - Science 

Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth

We are pleased to have a partnership with the Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth (CBFY). They are able to offer many supports for students and families that are 1st or 2nd generation Canadians, a Permanent Resident, Refugee, or holding a Temporary Worker visa. 

NxtGen Club

Students have been invited to join NxtGen. This lunch time club will begin on Monday November 4, and runs every Monday, from 12:15 - 1:15PM, in the Drama Room. CBFY will provide a Youth Worker that will get the students to participate in exciting games, activities, and presentations. Snacks will be provided! Students attended an information session on Thursday and were provided with the attached poster. Please use the QR code to register your child in the program, or contact Janelle directly - jwong@cbfy.ca or 403-829-8058. 

Settlement Worker

We have access to a Settlement Worker at school every Monday beginning Monday October 28. They are available to meet with parents, or students, and can make connections to many community supports and resources. Their goal is to assist with the adjustment to life in Canada. Conversations can be held in many languages. Just let us know what you will need.

High School Open Houses

Prime Minister's Award Nominatoin

Consider nominating an educator for a 2025 Prime Minister’s Award! Download your nomination package today. The Prime Minister’s Awards nomination deadline is January 15, 2025! 

Help us celebrate those who go above and beyond to create safe spaces for their students, continue to work hard to make learning fun and inspire the next generation to be bold innovators and creators. 

Prime Minister’s Awards recipients for Teaching Excellence, Teaching Excellence in STEM and Excellence in Early Childhood Education can receive:

  • A certificate from the Prime Minister
  • National recognition and promotion of their best teaching practices

Previous recipients have told us, “So much of what we do as educators often feels like it goes unnoticed. Nominating fellow hard-working educators, whether they win or not, is an incredible way to tell them they are seen and appreciated.” – Karen Bowater, 2021 regional Recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in STEM.

Physical Education

Students will continue to participate in outdoor activities. Please send a jacket, gloves and a toque to school with your child so they can participate comfortably as the weather gets colder.

School Council

Thank you to everybody who virtually attended our most recent School Council Meeting on Thursday, November 26. Thank you to Ms. Moore (Learning Leader of Humanities) who spoke about the various activities that students are completing while in English Language Arts and Social Studies so far this school year.

Our next meeting will take place on January 16, 2025 through Microsoft Teams.