Mark Your Calendars:

• Dec. 6, 2023: Tim Hortons fun snack at recess
• Dec. 6, 2023: Pickup of School Council fundraising items
• Dec. 7, 2023: Lockdown Drill at 9:30
• Dec. 8, 2023: No School for Students – Professional Learning Day
• Dec. 15, 2023: Deadline to order Little Caesar’s Pizza fun lunch
• Dec. 19, 2023: Santa’s Workshop
• Dec. 20, 2023: Fun Lunch – Little Caesar’s pizza
• Dec. 20 –21, 2023: Carol Singing in Gym 8:30 – 9:00am – parents welcome

Dear Silver Springs School Parents and Guardians,

Wonder Day: Our first Wonder Day, held on Thursday, November 30, was a huge success! On this day, our teachers got to share some of their interests and passions with groups of students ranging from Kindergarten to grade 6. These included painting, song & dance, card games, outdoor nature exploration, bracelet making, building challenge, juggling, robotics, stop-motion animation, volleyball, earring making, music and yoga. Students had the opportunity to explore some of their own interests while getting to know some new friends across the grades.  Students will have the opportunity to explore a different activity for each of the coming Wonder Days in January and May.

Scholastic Book Fair: Thank you to those families who purchased items from our annual book fair. We sold over $5500 in products. We were able to pull over $600 worth of books from the fair and will be able to purchase an additional $1700 of products from Scholastic to supplement our library collection and classroom resources.

The Giving Tree: Thank you so much to those families who have already picked a tag from our Giving Tree. We only have a handful of tags left on our tree. We are grateful to be able to support several families in our own school community who need a little extra care this holiday season. If you missed selecting an item to donate, the tree is set up in front of the office. We ask that you return the items, unwrapped, by Friday, December 15, so that we have time to organize things and distribute your donations to these families. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Lost and Found: There is a lot of lost and found clothing and other items accumulating at school. Parents are welcome to come to school and check out the lost and found.  Any items remaining at the start of the Winter Break (December 22) will be donated to charity.

Lunch Supervision, Bus Fees, and Student Supply Fees: These fees have been added to MyCBE parent accounts as of October 16.  The lunch supervision fee is $305/year. The bus fee is $260/year.  The student supply fee is $40 (grade 1-6 students) and $20 for Kindergarten students. You can now login and pay all or part of your fees.  If you need to apply for a fee waiver, it is better to do it sooner rather than later. Here is a link to information on fee waivers https://www.cbe.ab.ca/registration/fees-and-waivers/Pages/Waivers.aspx

Return Library Books: As we get ourselves organized for the winter break, we ask that you take a good look around the house and return any library books to school, no later than Monday, December 18^th. We would like to have the opportunity to reorganize our bookshelves for the new year and send home any overdue notices.

Education Matters: Our Silver Springs School Council and Parent Society do an amazing job of fundraising to support great learning opportunities at our school. Their efforts help to provide reduced fees for field trips, learning residencies, and help in replacing aging technology at the school. It also provides many extra learning resources in the learning commons and in the classrooms that helps our teachers to offer improved learning opportunities.

If your family would like to support these efforts, but prefer the option of doing a one-time donation over taking part in campaigns such as chocolate sales, monthly fun lunches or other fundraisers, you are able to donate through Education Matters. You are able to receive a tax receipt for any donation above $20, and the funds will be used directly towards learning enhancements, new technology, learning commons resources and other learning resources.

Please visit https://www.educationmatters.ca/project-matters/silver-springs-school/

 

Sincerely,

Michelle Ryskamp,

Principal, Silver Springs School

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SCHOOL COUNCIL UPDATES

Santa’s Workshop: Thank you for the wonderful donations dropped off during conferences. We will be accepting more donations from Wednesday, December 13 to Friday, December 15!  Please hold on to items until then or email Erin at sssparentcouncil@gmail.com to make other arrangements. 

We are looking for new or gently used books, puzzles, games, small toys, hobby items, mugs, knick-knacks, jewelry, and art for dads, moms, sisters and brothers.  We are also accepting gift bags, tissue paper and wrapping paper.  Please be mindful of the items you donate.  They should be clean, in good repair, functional and child-appropriate.  Please do not send any large or heavy items that are hard to wrap or bring home. No stuffies or clothing for allergy reasons. Unchosen items will be stored for next year or donated to Value Village.

How Santa’s Workshop Works: On Tuesday, December 19, parent volunteers will set up tables in the gym with the sorted items, like a garage sale.  Students will come in with their class during their allotted time to shop for the (human) family members in their households.  Volunteers wrap their chosen items so they can present them to their family!

With your children, please make a list of who they are shopping for.  We suggest the list to be limited to people in their immediate household(s). 

We will also be collecting cash donations from students for the Calgary Food Bank at the door.

On Tuesday, December 19, please send children with a reusable shopping bag and their list. 

More information will be going home with students.  If you have any questions about the event or making a donation, please contact the school council directly at sssparentcouncil@gmail.com

Come join in the holiday fun!  We need parent volunteers to sort, prepare, set up, help students shop, and wrap gifts. Check out the sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4FADAB28A0FF2-46457668-santas

Winter Meats and Sweets Fundraiser: Thanks again to all who ordered to support our winter fundraiser. The order pick-up date is this week, on Wednesday, December 6, at the front of Silver Springs School from 3-5pm. If you have any questions, please contact Sandra or Sara at sssparentcouncil@gmail.com

 

Healthy Hunger: Next Fun Lunch: Little Caesars on Dec 20 (Order by Dec 15th) Next Fun Snack: Cobs on Jan 10 (Order by Jan 5th)

Did you know you can order Fun Lunches ahead of time up until January right now on the website? Please log onto the Healthy Hunger website for more order information: https://healthyhunger.ca/

We need volunteers to help on the Fun Lunch days! Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4FADAB28A0FF2-funlunch2

Ever Active Schools: Ever Active Schools (everactive.org) is an organization that supports healthy school communities. In partnership with the City of Calgary, one of the programs they run is called Active and Safe Routes to School. The goal of the program is to increase opportunities for safe, active travel to school. The benefits of the program include:

Ever Active Schools works alongside 10 schools a year, and would be willing to set up an initial meeting with Silver Springs School if we are interested in participating in the program. We would need a volunteer who is interested in being the main parent contact if we would like to proceed. If you are interested in volunteering for this position, please contact Silver Springs School Council at sssparentcouncil@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Loyce Sakuhuni and Olivia Parsons

(School Council Chair and Vice Chair)

sssparentcouncil@gmail.com