HIGHWOOD SCHOOL - Calgary Board of Education

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
April was a very busy month at Highwood School. We
had the honor of hosting a very special delegation
from the Chongqing Yubei Education Commission with
which CBE now has a memorandum of understanding
with. This will mean more opportunities for
partnerships and enhanced learning opportunities for
students and staff. Special thanks to the staff and
students who rolled out the red carpet for our guests
and really impressed them with their talents and
academic abilities.
April also marked the end of After School Cultural
Activities. I would like to take this opportunity to give
a big thank you to ASCA’s council: Karen Charleton,
Betty Wong, Cecelia Chong, and Marnie Wong. As
well, none of this could have been possible without
the parent volunteers who supported each of the
ASCA classes and helped out the instructors.
Highwood School is very lucky to have dedicated
volunteers who understand the importance of
offering students the opportunity to experience
diverse cultural activities and the important role that
culture plays in learning a language.
HIGHWOOD SCHOOL
Chinese Bilingual Program
May 1, 2012
April was also the month where I started to
plan for the 2012-2013 school year. I am
pleased to confirm that next year, we will
have the following classes at Highwood
School with the estimated number of students
per class in brackets:
2 AM Kindergarten Classes (21)
2 PM Kindergarten Classes (21)
4 Grade One Classes (21)
3 Grade Two Classes (19)
3 Grade Three Classes (19)
2 Grade Four Classes (21)
1 Grade Five Class (27)
1 Grade Six Class (16)
We will also have one music specialist and one
technology specialist to provide students with
other learning opportunities outside of the
core subject areas.
Thank you to all staff members and parents
who attended April’s Council Meeting for your
input and suggestions for next year’s staffing.
Specific teacher and support staff
assignments have not yet been confirmed and
once they are, I will inform you of them.
Christine Cheung
Principal, Highwood School
SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
Get Involved, Have a Say, Be
Informed…
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
NOON
Highwood School Library

APRIL HIGHLIGHTS
Grade 6 Leadership Bake Sale
Thanks for your support… they raised $480!
Virtue Easter Eggs!
Creative Easter Eggs!
Grade 3 and 4 Skating
CELEBRATION OF LEARNING
STUDENT AUTHOR’S NIGHT
To celebrate and share the creative writing
process that your child has been learning
about, we will have an Author’s Night
featuring….
YOUR CHILD!
Please join us on May 10 and 31 for an
evening of celebrating your child’s writing
with student reading and presentations. The
evening is from 6:30- 8:00 pm. We hope to
see you there!
May 10: PM Kindergarten and Grade 2
May 31: AM Kindergarten and
Grades 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
HAVE AN EXTRA CAMERA?
Very often families replace their old digital
camera with a new one and have no more
use for the old one. If you have an old digital
camera that you are no longer using, we’d
love it if you could donate it to the school!
We have many uses for digital cameras—
often for student and teacher use. If you
have a gently used digital camera you’d like
to donate to Highwood School, please bring
it to the office, along with all of the
appropriate cords/ battery.
THANKS!

CAMPBELL’S LABELS FOR EDUCATION
Help Highwood School redeem free stuff!
Highwood School is now registered with the
Campbell Soup’s Labels for Education campaign.
This campaign asks families to save Campbell Soup
product labels/ UPC codes and donate them to the
school. The school will then collect them and
redeem them for free prizes for the school such as
gym equipment, musical instruments, DVD’s, books,
etc.
Eligible products include:
-all Campbell Soup products (i.e. Chunky Soup;
Condensed Soup; Gardennay; Healthy Request
Bowls)
-Campbell Soup broths, Easy Cooking Sauce, PREGO
Pasta Sauce
-PACE Salsa; GOLDFISH crackers
-all V8 Beverages
ALL LABELS/UPC Codes can be dropped off at the
main office.
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
VIRTUE FLOWERS
Congratulations to April’s Virtue draw winners who
have enjoyed milk and cookies with the principal.
Week of April 2-6:
Katherine C. and Tia W.
Week of April 9-13:
Justin Y. and Nicole Z.
Week of April 16-20:
Kennedy F. and Sara L.
Week of April 23-27:
Angela W. and Renee S.
STUDENT SAFETY
We are asking students to not wear flip flops to
school as they are dangerous to run around and
play in while outside for recess or gym.
Please wear sensible shoes that are appropriate for
active play.
VIRTUE OF THE MONTH:
FLEXIBILITY
Flexibility is being open to change. It means
not always having to have your own way. It is
being open to the opinions and feelings of
others. With flexibility, you are willing to
change your mind. If you something doesn’t
work, you try a new way. Flexibility is making
changes for the better.
Why practice flexibility?
Without flexibility, people keep doing things
the same old way when new ways are needed.
They become rigid. They get angry and upset
when things don’t go their way and try to
control other people. When you are flexible,
you adjust and adapt. You bend like a tree in
the wind. You keep making positive changes.
How do you practice flexibility?
When you practice flexibility, you let go of bad
habits and learn new ones. When you see a
need for change, look inside and find the virtue
you need. Then practice it little by little, day by
day. Try new, creative ways to get things
done. Accept the things you cannot change.
Go with the flow. When you are flexible, you
enjoy surprises.

Did you know?
> By law, all cyclists under
18 years of age must
wear an approved
bicycle helmet. The law
applies to both riders
and passengers,
including children in
bicycle trailers.
> Research shows that
approved bicycle
helmets reduce the risk
of brain injury by over
85%.
> Positive role modeling
helps to ensure that
children will wear their
helmets so adults
should always wear one
too.
Summer Safety
As summer approaches, children and teens of all ages
are getting out their gear in preparation of long days
filled with activity. Activities in the summer season
include:
• Biking,
• In-line Skating, and
• Skateboarding.
Awareness of the safe use of bike trailers during this season is
also important.
Proper supervision, safe environments, hazard awareness, and participating
in age-appropriate activities all help reduce the risk of injury to children and
teens participating in summer activities.
Learn more… >
For more information go to www.albertahealthservices.ca/injuryprevention.asp

Managing the Risks ...
To help manage risks during summer activities: Look First, Wear the Gear, and Get Trained.
General Summer Safety Tips
Wear the Gear
• Always wear an approved helmet.
• People who choose their own helmets
are more likely to wear them so allow
your children and teens to choose their
own.
• Start the habit early. As soon as your
child gets their first set of wheels, for
example a tricycle or a scooter, ensure
that he wears a helmet.
• As a parent, be an example for others.
• Wear bright, reflective clothing.
Biking
Look First
• Ensure that the bicycle fits. Riders
should be able to touch the ground
with their feet while seated, and the
handle bars should be within easy
reach.
• By law, bicycles must have a working
bell or horn.
• A well-maintained bicycle will improve
your riding pleasure and keep you safe
on the road. Before heading out for a
ride, always do an ABC Quick Check:
> Air: firm tires
> Brakes: clean and working properly
> Chain: tight, well lubricated
Wear the Gear
• Always wear a helmet approved
for cycling that meets current safety
standards.
• Replace your helmet at least every five
years even if it has not been in a crash.
• A helmet that has been in a crash
must be replaced even if it does not
appear to be damaged.
• Wear cycling gloves to improve your
grip on the handlebars and proper,
supportive footwear.
Get Trained
• Take a bicycle safety course with a
trained instructor.
• Obey traffic signs and follow all road
rules.
• Encourage young cyclists to walk their
bicycles across busy intersections.
• Stop, look left, right, and left again
before entering traffic (roads,
driveways, sidewalks, alleys or parking
lots).
• Stay on the right-hand side of the road
and ride in the same direction as
traffic. Find out your community’s rules
about riding on sidewalks.
• Shoulder check every time you move
out to turn or pass and always use your
hand signals.
In-line Skating
Look First
• Skate on a smooth, flat surface that is
free from water, sand, and debris.
• Avoid skating near crowds, traffic, and
animals.
• Do not wear headphones while you are
in-line skating.
• Cross the road at the corner or at a
marked crosswalk.
• Always follow the pedestrian lights
when crossing the road.
• Always pass pedestrians and other
skaters on the left.
• Blow a whistle or call out ‘passing on
your left’ to alert others when you are
approaching.
Wear the Gear
• Wear protective gear every time you
skate. This includes a helmet safety
tested for in-line skating, knee
and elbow pads, and wrist guards.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts.
• Choose good quality skates that fit your
feet properly and provide ankle support.
Get Trained
• Take lessons to learn how to skate,
stop, and fall safely.
• First-time skaters should try skating on
a flat, grassy surface.
Skateboarding
Look First
• Do a safety check of your board before
each ride. Look for loose or broken
parts, sharp edges, a slippery top
surface, and cracks in the wheels.
• Avoid riding near crowds, traffic, and
animals. Never ride in the street.
• Only one person per skateboard.
• Do not wear headphones while you are
skateboarding.
• Do not hitch a ride from a car or
bicycle.
• Tricks require careful practice and a
designated area. Only skateboard
where it is permitted.
Wear the Gear
• Wear protective gear every time you
skate. This includes a helmet, knee
and elbow pads, and wrist guards.
• Current Canadian standards do not
exist for skateboarding helmets.
Consult a reputable skateboarding
shop for information on the most
appropriate helmet.
• Wear closed, slip-resistant shoes.
> SUMMER SAFETY
Fitting a Bicycle Helmet
Before buying a bicycle helmet, measure
around the head at eyebrow level and
find a helmet that is made for that size
of head. Different brands of helmets fit
different shaped heads.
STEP 1: Place the helmet on the head
and make sure it is level from front to
back.
STEP 2: The helmet must sit 1-2 finger
widths (about 3 cm) above the eyebrows.
STEP 3: Make sure the helmet fits snugly.
The helmet should not move when the
cyclist nods or shakes her head.
STEP 4: Adjust the straps to form a “V”
just below and in front of the earlobes.
STEP 5: Do up the chinstrap.
STEP 6: Adjust the chinstrap so that
you can only fit the width of one finger
between the cyclist’s chin and the
chinstrap.
STEP 7: Make sure the helmet can only
be removed by undoing the chin straps.
A bicycle helmet must not be worn with
a baseball cap underneath – a cap could
interfere with the helmet’s effectiveness
on impact.
Bike Trailers
Choose a bike trailer with…
• a rotating hitch,
• a secure harness system,
• metal bars or a ‘roll cage’ around the
carrier,
• non-removable sides,
• reflectors on all sides or one that is
made of reflective material.
Using a trailer safely…
• ensure the trailer is properly secured
to the bicycle,
• ensure you and your child wear a
bicycle helmet,
• before children are ready to travel
in a bicycle trailer, they should be
able to sit upright, have good head
control, and should be over one year
of age,
• secure the harness at all times,
• mount a brightly coloured flag at least
0.9m (3 ft) high at the back of the
trailer,
• only carry the recommended load,
• be aware of the increased length and
width of the bicycle with a trailer,
• practice riding on quiet streets
before heading out onto busy roads or
pathways.
INJURIES ARE NOT ACCIDENTS… THEY ARE PREDICTABLE AND PREVENTABLE!
Revised April 2011
CHP09-1295 (2009/04)

May 2012 (Virtue of the Month: Flexibility)
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
6 7-Day 1
Kindergarten: African
Safari Animals
Presentation
Gr 5/6: Ann and Sandy
Cross
1-Day 3
13 14-Day 3 15-Day 1
20 21
NO SCHOOL
Victoria Day
Kindergarten: Clay for
Kids
2-Day 1
8-Day 2 9-Day 3
Noon- School Council
Meeting
PATs: Grade 3 ELA
Part A
Gr 2: Incredible Insects
Presentation
22-Day 1
Gr 5/6- Children’s
Festival
Lunch Lady
Gr 2: Antennae Foundation
Presentation
Gr 3:Clay for Kids
Lunch Lady
16-Day 2
Lunch Lady
PATs: Grade 6 ELA
Part A
1:30- Munsch-a- Palooza
K: Nature presentation
Gr 2: Clay Guy
23-Day 2
27 28-Day 2 29-Day 3 30-Day 1
Lunch Lady
PM- Gr 1 Su/Yang Food
Ordering
Lunch Lady
Gr K-1- Field trip to Calgary
Zoo
Gr 5/6: Telus Science
Centre
3-Day 2 4-Day 3
10-Day 1
6:30: CELEBRATION
OF LEARNING:
PM K and Gr 2
17-Day 3
Grade 5/6: Spaceport
Gr 2: Clay Guy
24-Day 3
AM- Gr 1 Su Food
Ordering
9:30 am: Assembly
Host: K- AM
7:00 pm: New Kinder/Gr 1
Orientation
31-Day 2
6:30: CELEBRATION OF
LEARNING:
AM K and
Gr 1, 3,4, 5, 6
Gr 3: Sound and
Hearing
Presentation
11-Day 2
Kindergarten: Bike
Safety Presentation
Gr 4: Clay project
18
NO SCHOOL
Professional
Development Day
25-Day 1
Grade 4: Mad
Science
5
12
19
26

May 2012
In September, the Calgary Board of Education made a
series of promises to you for this school year. To me, a
promise is not something to be taken lightly. When we
made these promises, we intended to keep them. You
are our valued partners in education and you deserve
nothing less. Now, as this school year comes to a close,
it seems fitting to look back on what we’ve done to
deliver on these promises and to also reflect on what
we’ve learned as we get ready for the next school year.
We promised that your child would be welcomed by an
excellent teacher and supported by talented and
innovative principals. We believe our educators are the
best in the country to deliver the best learning for our
students.
Our teachers are highly educated and highly skilled.
They are focused on personalizing learning so that each
student can fully develop their unique abilities and gifts.
Our principals are learning leaders who collaborate with
each other as well as system leaders to create a leading
school system.
I am always encouraged by the many stories people
share with me about students whose curiosity and
passions have grown as a result of CBE teachers,
principals and employees. I am proud of the amazing
work that happens in our schools every day and thankful
for the commitment of these dedicated employees who
inspire young minds. Your children are in good hands.
We promised that CBE learning would help build
successful, lifelong learners. On virtually every measure,
CBE students are demonstrating consistently strong
academic results locally, provincially and globally.
In the 2011 Grade 12 Diploma Exams and Grade 3, 6
and 9 Provincial Achievement Tests, CBE students
outperformed the province in 43 out of 48 measures.
Our students are transitioning to post-secondary
education at a steadily improving rate, the percentage of
graduates eligible for the Rutherford Scholarship
continues to improve, and our students who wrote the
advanced placement exams surpassed achievement at
provincial, national and global levels.
Academic success is important, of course, but we also
promised to help students develop their character and
citizenship. The students of today are the leaders of
tomorrow.
I am confident that CBE students are global citizens who
care about their world. For example, nearly 900 middle
and junior high school student leaders and their teachers
were inspired to take action locally and globally at this
year’s My World Conference.
Students from 40 CBE schools had the opportunity to
learn from local, national and international organizers
and activists about how they can make a difference. This
event is but a glimpse of what students are doing to
make a difference in the world. I know their efforts are
valued both in their individual schools and in the
community as a whole.
Finally, we promised that we would communicate with
you. We committed to improving how we engage parents
and over the past year we have provided parents with
several opportunities to provide their input on important
issues affecting our school system.
For example, when we asked our community for
guidance on where to spend additional funding from the
province, more than 6,000 Calgarians responded to our
survey, which helped shape the final outcome.
Additionally, the CBE wanted to understand parents’
expectations for how fees are set, managed and
communicated. We initiated a comprehensive
community engagement process where more than 4,000
parents provided their input, which helped us set the
framework for fees for the 2012-13 school year.
Thank you for your continued support of our schools.
The truth is public education belongs to the public.
Together we have created a world-class education
system. Together we will improve public education in
Calgary so it will continue to serve the evolving needs of
the children and youth in our community and meet the
high expectations of all Albertans.
Naomi E. Johnson
Chief Superintendent of Schools