Dear Evergreen Families,
During the Thanksgiving season, we traditionally take time to pause and reflect on the many things for which we are grateful. As we look around Evergreen School, we are reminded again and again of how fortunate we are to be part of such a caring and supportive community.
To our Evergreen families, thank you for placing your trust in us and entrusting us with your children each day. Your children come to school carrying the values you nurture at home - respect, inclusivity, kindness, and appreciation. Thank you for partnering with us and for your continued commitment to the success and well-being of our students and our school community.
We are also incredibly grateful for our AMAZING School Council and Parent Advisory Council and volunteers. Your generosity and thoughtfulness make our teachers feel so appreciated. From providing Amazon gift cards on World Teacher’s Day that allow teachers to purchase materials for their classrooms to the many ways you support our school throughout the year, your contributions make a meaningful difference. Thank you for all that you do behind the scenes and for helping make Evergreen such a special place to learn and work.
To our Evergreen staff, thank you for your unwavering commitment to our students and families. Every day, you create classrooms where students feel safe, valued, and encouraged to take risks in their learning. When we walk through our classrooms, we see students engaged and curious, teachers celebrating successes, and staff encouraging students to persevere when learning feels challenging. We see respect, empathy, perseverance, and a genuine belief in every child woven into the work you do each day. We are so grateful for the care and dedication you bring to Evergreen.
And finally, to our students who bring us joy, laughter, curiosity, and energy each day. You remind us why we do what we do. Teaching is more than a career; it is a calling, and there is no greater privilege than being part of our students’ learning journey.
Below are just a few of the moments we are thankful for from this past week.
UPDATES AND INFORMATION
Alpine Park and Vermillion Hill School Designation Change for 2027–28: The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) has announced a school designation change for students living in the Alpine Park community, including Vermilion Hill, effective for the 2027–28 school year.
Beginning in 2027–28:
- New Kindergarten to Grade 5 students living in Alpine Park and Vermillion Hill will be designated to Dr. Freda Miller School.
- Current Evergreen students living in Alpine Park/Vermillion Hill may choose to remain at Evergreen through Grade 5.
- Siblings who are not currently enrolled at Evergreen will be designated to Dr. Freda Miller School.
- CBE transportation supports (bussing) will change during the 2027-28 school for students who choose to remain at Evergreen.
Families with children currently attending Evergreen who live in Alpine Park/Vermillion Hill must inform the school of their decision to remain at Evergreen or transfer to Dr. Freda Miller School by Friday, March 12, 2027. If a choice is not communicated by this date, the student will automatically be designated to Dr. Freda Miller School.
There are no changes for students currently designated to Evergreen who live outside the affected Boundary Adjustment Area.
Families with questions are encouraged to contact the CBE Area 6 office at Area6@cbe.ab.ca or 403-777-8780 (extension 0).
To read the full notice please see the link below:
School Council Meeting: Please join us on Wednesday, October 14th at 6:00pm in our Learning Commons for our school council meeting. The teacher’s report will focus on the learning that is happening across the grades. The principal’s report will share an overview of the CBE’s Three-Year System Student Accommodation Plan (SSAP).
The SSAP is reviewed annually by the Calgary Board of Education to identify schools that may be experiencing changing accommodation or space needs over the coming three years. Schools may be identified for a variety of reasons, including enrolment growth, declining enrolment, or changes in community demographics.
The CBE considers a range of information when developing the plan, including enrolment trends, demographic changes, community growth, birth data, and projected student enrolment. Because the SSAP is reviewed each year, schools may move on or off the plan as enrolment patterns and community needs evolve.
We will share more information about what this means for Evergreen including the school designation changes for the 2027-2028 school year for the community of Alpine Park, including Vermillion Hill, and provide an opportunity for families to better understand the planning process and ask questions.
Visiting Students During Lunch Recess on Outside Grounds: We know how meaningful it can be to connect with your child during the school day, and we appreciate the care and connection that families bring to our school community. We do, however, need your support with an important student safety expectation during the lunch hour.
During lunch recess, our lunchroom supervisors are responsible for supervising students and ensuring that all students are safe and accounted for. When adults who are not known to the supervisors are on the school grounds looking for or attempting to connect with their child, it creates a safety concern and can make it difficult for supervisors to know who is authorized to be in the school environment.
Please do not come onto the school grounds during lunch recess to find or meet your child. If you need to see your child during the school day, please come to the front office. We will be happy to contact your child and arrange for them to meet you appropriately.
If a lunchroom supervisor sees an adult on the school grounds during lunch who they do not recognize, they may approach the individual and ask them to either check in at the front office or leave the school grounds. Please know that this is not intended to be unwelcoming; it is an important part of our shared responsibility for student safety.
Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, predictable and welcoming environment for all Evergreen students. We truly appreciate your understanding and partnership.
Physical Education Weekly Update: We are continuing to work on our throwing and catching skills. Kindergarten and Grade 1 students played “Don’t Throw Your Junk in My Backyard,” while our Grade 3 students enjoyed “Pizza Toss.” Both games focused on developing underhand throwing skills.
Our Grade 4 and 5 students played “Gauntlet,” working on their overhand throwing accuracy and dodging abilities.
Looking Ahead: Next week, we will continue with throwing and catching activities, while our Grade 4 and 5 students will move into some Team Handball activities.
With the Calgary Flames Classroom Crew visiting at the end of October, please keep an eye out for an Onsite Activities Form coming home soon. Please sign and return the form to your child’s classroom teacher, who will pass it along to me, Mrs. Paterson. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving weekend! -Mrs. Paterson, Physical Education Teacher
Live from the Music Room: Evergreen School's Gathering Space has been resounding with Music this week, as many classes have taken place there.
Many of our Kindergarteners could be seen marching triumphantly to the tune of "Peter and the Wolf" in celebration of the wolf's capture. We also did rhythm and movement songs and activities.
Our Grades 1's learned a famous international action song - and in French, no less. Students sang "Mon chapeau Il a trois bosses" while miming missing words from the song. They also mimed playing various instruments in "Peter and the Wolf".
Grade 2's are learning to write and chant quarter- and eighth-notes, a.k.a. "Ta" and "Tee Tee", while assembling these notes into chants and rhythms.
Students in Grade 3 and 4 have developed four-bar melodies by putting together different notes and rhythms, and then playing these on xylophone.
As for Grade 5, they began playing and strumming chords on the ukulele. Our students learned to strum two rock classics that can be played on a single chord: "Get Up, Stand Up" by Bob Marley, and "Bo Diddley" by Bo Diddley. -Mr. Cohen, Music Teacher
Volunteer Opportunities:
Grade 5 Field Trip to Telus Spark: 2 volunteers required (October 14)
Grade 4 Field Trip to Telus Spark: 1 volunteer required (October 20)
Apple Pick-Up: 6 volunteers needed with flexibility on October 22
Halloween Howl Dance: 19 volunteers required (October 29)
Fun Lunches Various Dates (Many dates to choose from)
Thank you for taking the time to read through all this important information. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at acmcphee@cbe.ab.ca
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and Happy Thanksgiving!