Good afternoon families and Happy Thanksgiving! ¡Buenas tardes familias y feliz Día de Acción de Gracias! What a gorgeous weekend to enjoy the company of family and friends!

Below is our latest edition of the Colts’ Community Chronicle. There is a lot of important items within the weekly message but here are some highlights:

Student Fees Due

Please check your student’s MyCBE account for student fees associated with complementary courses and athletics.

  • School Council Meeting – Thursday, October 17 – 7:00 pm at A.E. Cross School Learning Commons
  • ​​​​​​​A.E. Cross School Council AGENDA - October 17, 2024 at 7:00 pm

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parents/Guardians will be able to book conferences beginning Friday October 18, at 4:00PM. The conference bookings will register you to meet with 1 teacher at a time. This means that you will have to make multiple bookings if you desire to meet with more than 1 of your child's teachers, or to talk about different courses. We value the role that your child plays in their learning, and strongly encourage all students to attend conferences with their parent/guardian.

Format

  • Thursday October 24, 5:00-8:00 PM, all conferences will be in-person at A. E. Cross School
  • Friday October 25, 9:00AM-2:00 PM, all conferences will be online via Microsoft Teams and a meeting link will be emailed directly to you
  • Each conference meeting will be 10 minutes in length.
  • The conference booking tool will be closed on Wednesday October 23 at 9:00PM. It is important to ensure that you book your conferences prior to then.

NEW! We are able to provide interpretation services for 200+ languages. If you require an interpreter for your conferences, let each teacher that you are meeting with know ahead of time.

Please refer to this website, MyCBE - School Conferences, for instructions on how to book a conference through your MyCBE account. Should you have any difficulties or questions, please phone the main office and school staff can assist you.

School Council will be provided some food for teachers on the evening of October 24. If you would like to support the potluck meal provided to teachers, please sign up.

Colt's Community Chronicle Oct. 14-18

Important Dates

  • Monday, October 14 No School – Thanksgiving Day
  • Thursday, October 17 School Council Meeting – 7:00 PM
  • Thursday, October 24 Parent-Teacher Conferences (In Person)
  • Friday, October 25 Non-Instructional Day
  • Parent-Teacher Conferences (OnLine via Microsoft Teams) Friday Schedule (Oct. 18)
  • Day A (Periods 2-RTI-4-6)

Notes from Administration
Please continue to monitor your health. Do not come to school if you are ill. A,.E. Cross Attendance When reporting student attendance issues, including lates, absences and leave early, please call the main line and press extension 1 for the attendance line. Remember to spell the last name of the student and leave the reason for the absence, late or leave early

Colts Athletics

Athletic Authorization forms must be submitted to the students PE teacher to tryout for any sports team. There are fees associated with each athletic team. These fees cover the cost of refs, rentals, equipment maintenance and team celebrations.

Fees will be added to the students MyCBE account once the season begins.

Colts’ Basketball Congrats to all students selected for our basketball teams this season.

Junior Boys Basketball

  • Games – Tuesday, October 15 - 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm at Georges P. Vanier
    • Practice – Tuesday, October 15 – 7:45 am to 9:00 am
    • Practice – Wednesday, October 15 - 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm

Senior Boys Basketball

  • Practice – Tuesday, October 15 - 7:45 am to 9:00 am
  • Practice – Wednesday, October 16 - 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm
  • Games – Thursday, October 17 – 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm at Colonel MacLeod

Girls Basketball

  • Practice – Tuesday, October 15 – 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm
  • Practice – Thursday, October 17 – 7:45 am to 9:00 am
  • Games – Wednesday, October 16 – 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm at A.E. Cross Spectator Expectations for Athletic Events CBE middle schools have set similar expectations for games that promote safety, respect, and a positive experience for all.

They include

  • All visiting student spectators/athletes must be under the direct supervision of their parent/guardian for the duration of the games.
  • There are no in and out privileges for spectators. If you leave the building, you do not re-enter.
  • Student spectators without parental supervision will be directed by the hosting school administration to leave the building.
  • Cell phones must remain in bags. No photos or recordings can be made by students. This is a privacy concern for the athletes from all teams.
  • Parents are asked to be mindful if they are taking photos or videos of their child. The privacy of other student athletes should be considered.
  • All spectators - students or adults - are expected to cheer and support players/coaches/referees/parents/guardians in a positive manner.
  • Disrespectful behaviours will be addressed by school administration promptly and may result in spectators being directed to leave the game and the school building.
  • Parents/guardians who bring younger children are responsible at all times for their direct supervision. Please ensure that they are not wandering the halls and playing on phys ed equipment in the gym/on stage If you have any further questions please contact Jace Richards at jarichards@cbe.ab.ca

Ski and Snowboard Lessons

Registration letters have been sent home to students interested in participating in this 2 day field trip to WinSport. There are still spots open for this trip. Please send your child to Mr. Richards for a registration form. The registration deadline is October 25. If you are able to volunteer for this trip, please contact Mr. Richards (jarichards@cbe.ab.ca) for more information. 

Earn a Bike Program

The earn a bike program starts Wednesday, October 9. Students are at school form 4- 6pm each Wednesday until December 11. Please make sure a ride is here to pick them up by 5:45 so that our teacher volunteers can head home as soon as possible. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parents/Guardians will be able to book conferences beginning Friday October 18, at 4:00PM. The conference bookings will register you to meet with 1 teacher at a time. This means that you will have to make multiple bookings if you desire to meet with more than your child's teachers, or to talk about different courses. We value the role that your child plays in their learning, and strongly encourage all students to attend conferences with their parent/guardian.

Format: Thursday October 24, 5:00-8:00PM, all conferences will be in-person at A. E. Cross School Friday October 25, 9:00AM-2:00PM, all conferences will be online via Microsoft Teams and a meeting link will be emailed directly to you Each conference meeting will be 10 minutes in length.

The conference booking tool will be closed on Wednesday October 23 at 9:00PM. It is important to ensure that you book your conferences prior to then. NEW! We are able to provide interpretation services for 200+ languages. If you require an interpreter for your conferences, let each teacher that you are meeting with know ahead of time.

Please refer to this website, MyCBE - School Conferences, for instructions on how to book a conference through your MyCBE account. Should you have any difficulties or questions, please phone the main office and school staff can assist you. School Council will be provided some food for teachers on the evening of October 24. If you would like to support the potluck meal provided to teachers, please sign up!

High School Open Houses

  • Central Memorial High School – PVA Program – November 21, 2024 – 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
  • Central Memorial High School – General Open House – To Be Announced
  • Ernest Manning High School – November 28, 2024 – Time To Be Announced
  • Henry Wise Wood High School – November 28, 2024 – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

More information for high school open houses will be included as we receive it. 

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

You’re Invited and Volunteers Needed - School Council & Parents’ Association Thurs, September 19 at 7 pm in-person.

Dear A.E. Cross Parents & Guardians: You are invited to attend the next A. E. Cross School Council and A. E. Cross Parents' Association (AECPA) meetings on Thursday, October 17. School Council meeting will begin at 7 pm with the Parents' Association meeting directly following. Meetings will be held in person at A.E. Cross School - upstairs in the Learning Commons We hope to see you on there!

Call for Volunteers

Do you have skills and time to share with the School Council or the Parent's Association this year? We welcome anyone interested in an informal or formal role to email us at aecrosscouncil@gmail.com.

A number of roles are vacant so we welcome you to join us as many hands make light work! Many positions do not require attendance at the regular meetings and can be done from home or the roles can be shared.

We are looking for volunteer(s) for the following important positions (no experience needed!):

Executive (Council/AECPA)

  • SECRETARY - Work with executive team, prepare agendas, attend meetings, document meeting minutes, general communication. Templates are all set up and you would be supported by the outgoing Secretary.

Please join us; this role is very important!

Council Liaisons & Committee Coordinators

  • Special Speaker Coordinator: Research and coordinate speakers and/or resources for parents.
  • Volunteer Coordinator: Recruit and co-ordinate parent and community volunteers at the school and to ensure that all volunteers have appropriate police clearance to perform volunteer duties at the school.
  • Fundraising Coordinator(s): Co-ordinate fundraising activities and social events that encourage school spirit among students, staff and parents.
  • Grant Writer and/or Coordinator(s): Research, coordinate, support and/or write grants.
  • Communications Coordinator: Oversee Council and Association communication and liase with administration on school communications.
  • Grade 9 Farewell Committee Members: Work with committee and teacher in charge to support organization of Grade 9 Farewell and/or Grade 9 Spanish Ceremony to be held in June 2025.
  • Please reach out to the email below or attend the meeting next week if you are interested in any of the above roles or would like more information. Thank you in advance for your time! A. E. Cross School Council and Parents' Association Executive aecrosscouncil@gmail.com
  • Visit the School Council page

Continuing Education Opportunity

Chinook Learning Services offers courses specifically designed for parents and caregivers of CBE Spanish Bilingual students. For Fall 2024, Chinook Learning Services is

offering Spanish for Parents – Level 1 classes at three locations: Canyon MeadowsSchool, Dalhousie School, and Eugene Coste School. This eight-week course will help parents of bilingual students learn or refresh their Spanish language skills, build their network of bilingual parents, and support their children’s learning at home. 

This course would also be beneficial for any Support Staff who are interested in learning along with parents! 

Here is the link on the Chinook Learning Services website: Spanish for Spanish - Level 1 Here is the link for the course content: Course Outline - Spanish for Parents - Level 1

School Forms

Each year, schools have a variety of forms that parents / legal guardians are required to complete or review and update, some of which are paper and others online. In CBE, the forms in an online format (SchoolEngage) are:

  • Demographic Verification - 2024-25 – This form includes your child’s personal information as well as parent / legal guardian contact information.
  • Citizenship Information Update - 2024-25 – This form becomes available if you change your child’s citizenship information on the Demographic Verification form.
  • Annual Authorization - 2024-25 – Combines the following forms:
  • School District Use of Personal Information - explains how CBE uses personal information in providing education services.
  • Consent for CBE Use of Student Information – provides an option to grant / not grant consent for additional use of student information by school/district and third parties.
  • Consent for Use of Student Information by News Media and Outside Groups (Third Party) - provides an option to grant / not grant consent for additional use of student information by outside groups and third parties

SchoolEngage is one of the applications found in your MyCBE account. This is the same account that you use to pay fees, view academic information, book school conferences, etc. If you do not have a MyCBE account, on the MyCBE page click on Create a MyCBE Account. For online help refer, to MyCBE - Creating an Account (includes instructions and a video).

To complete these forms:

1  | sign in to your MyCBE account

2  | click on the SchoolEngage icon

3  | select the form

4  | complete or review and update the form

5  | click on Submit to send the form electronically to the school

6  | repeat steps 3-5 for each form 

Please submit the Demographic Verification and Annual Authorization forms in SchoolEngage for your child by Monday, September 16. These forms are mandatory every year for Alberta Education to confirm student funding. Thank you for completing them. 

If you have any other students with the Calgary Board of Education, you may proceed with completing their forms too.

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school.

We thank those families who have already completed forms for their children.