Happy Sunday, Samuel W. Shaw Families,
Indigenous Education at Samuel W. Shaw
6-3 explored the CBE Land Acknowledgment and worked on the language pronunciations of the greetings, names of the peoples, and place names. They then completed a “Situate Yourself” assignment where they found out which level of settler they were (immigrant, 1st generation, etc.). They then acknowledged the land they were on before moving on to examine the place they feel most at peace. This was to be an outdoor location, where they felt connected to the land. They culminated this investigation by writing a 5-senses paragraph explaining how it felt to be on this land. Below are some student examples; (all images, names, and words are shared with permission). We'd also like to honor the work of the many other students who put their work forward to share. These contributions will be added to next week's update.
Smudge with Ms. Kerry
In an on-going effort to provide a culturally safe space for Indigenous learners, Ms. Kerry (Lax Kw’Alaams First Nation) provides Smudge for Indigenous students every Friday. We meet at 11:30. All self-identified Indigenous students are welcome to join.
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences- March 20-21, 2025
We understand that in some cases the move to online conferences poses additional challenges. For others, it provides an easier way to access information about your child’s academic progress. On Friday, March 14, 8AM, Conference bookings will open and are available for booking in the Parent Portal in PowerSchool. Conferences are 10 minutes in length, requiring teachers and families to be concise in their conversations. If more time is needed, please reach out to your child’s teacher(s) to request additional time for a later date. Please be sure you check PowerSchool for the most up-to-date academic progress for your child(ren) prior to meeting with the teachers. *Due to the nature of the team-teaching approach employed in grades 5 & 6, these teaching teams will meet with families together online.
Youth Philanthropy Initiative in Grade 9
This October, our Grade 9 students officially launched their Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) journey. Working in teams of three or four, they selected a social issue, explored its impact on Calgarians, and researched a local charity advocating for that cause. Their goal? To craft a compelling presentation that could win their chosen charity a $5,000 grant from The Toskan Casale Foundation.
On February 26, the Semi-Finals took place, with 46 groups presenting their projects to their teachers. The level of dedication and effort was outstanding, making it incredibly challenging to narrow the field down to just six finalists.
The final showdown took place on March 4, where the top six teams presented before a panel of judges. After much deliberation, Liam, Elias, Noah, and Aiden’s powerful advocacy for The Calgary Climate Hub secured the $5,000 grant.
The Grade 9 teachers would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all students for their hard work, dedication, and perseverance throughout this journey. We are incredibly proud of everything they accomplished!
Centennial Feeder School Band Concert
Due to the on-going CUPE strike, the feeder school band concert, scheduled for Thursday, March 13 at Centennial High School has been postponed. More information on a new date when possible.
Snacks, Lunches, Accessing Food, & Brown Bag for Kids
Over the last few weeks, the number of students needing to access lunches from us has increased, and an even larger number come for snack-foods throughout the day. Many students are citing they simply forgot to grab food from home. Occasional “forgetting” is understandable. Multiple times a week of “forgetting” quickly depletes resources. Regardless, we never say no. We also know that food insecurity is real, and in all cases, we help whenever we can. Parent Council has generously provided funds for us to ensure hungry students with little to no other means, can access food while at school. If your family would benefit from regular support from us to provide your child with lunches, please reply to this email to indicate so and we can be sure there is always something more nutritious for them to eat. Please chat with your child about whether they access food, and how we can support.
Navigating Social Media: Protecting Our Youth’s Mental Well-Being
Emerging research has drawn attention to the concerning relationship between adolescents' social media usage and exposure to harmful content, including self-harm behaviors and racialized language use. A recent article in The New Yorker highlighted cases where excessive social media engagement contributed to increased anxiety, depression, and, tragically, instances of self-harm among teens (New Yorker). Additionally, discussions in The Guardian have emphasized the importance of integrating resilience-building strategies within educational settings to equip students with coping mechanisms against such online adversities (The Guardian).
In light of these challenges, several Canadian mental health resources are available to support our youth:
- Kids Help Phone: A 24/7 national service offering confidential counseling and referrals to young people. They can be reached at 1-800-668-6868 or through their website.
- Jack.org: A Canadian charity empowering youth to revolutionize mental health. They provide various programs and resources aimed at promoting mental well-being among young Canadians.
- FRIENDS Program: An evidence-based initiative recognized by the World Health Organization, focusing on enhancing resilience and reducing anxiety among children and adolescents.
We encourage open conversations with your children about their online experiences and ensure they know help is available. By staying informed and proactive, we can collectively foster a safer and more supportive environment for our students.
Cobbs Bread
Cobbs Bread Love bread? Us too! Mention Samuel W. Shaw school at the Shawnessy Cobbs and our school receives a portion of proceeds! Win, win!!
Calendar of Events
*Please note that all events outside of school hours IN CBE buildings may be impacted due to the strike. These are noted with *
- March 11-13 - Grades 8 & 9 Band Trip to Edmonton
- March 12 - *Grade 6 Outdoor School Parent Info Night* ONLINE
- March 13 - Parent Council Meeting ONLINE
- March 14 - Conference Bookings Open in PowerSchool
- March 20 -21 - *Parent/Student Conferences* ONLINE (Thursday, 4:30-8PM; Friday, 8AM-1PM)
- March 22 - March 30 - SPRING BREAK!
- March 31 - Classes resume
Healthy Hunger Dates
- March 19 – Subway
- April 24 - Edo
- May 22 - A&W
With warmth,
Bobbi, Shannon, & Kerry
(PS. We are excited to welcome back Mrs. Kivi, tomorrow, and thank acting principal, Bruce Johnston for his support while she was away)