Week Ahead        

Upcoming Important Dates

Principal’s Message|

“Life is a circle. The end of one journey is the beginning of the next.”

Tomorrow is the first day of a new school year!

The night before school can bring many different feelings. We might feel excited, nervous, curious, or even a little unsure. Students may be wondering about their new classroom, their teacher, their friends, and what the year will bring. Adults can have these feelings too!

New beginnings can feel a little scary, but they also bring new possibilities. Tomorrow is a chance to reconnect with friends, meet new people, learn new things, and begin a new adventure together.

Tonight, backpacks will be packed and alarms will be set. Tomorrow, our hallways will once again be filled with the sounds and energy of our students—and we cannot wait!

To our returning families, welcome back! To our new families, welcome to our school community!

Here’s to the nervous excitement of a new beginning and all the wonderful possibilities ahead.

See you tomorrow!

Lisa and Kate

Attendance |

If your child is going to be absent or late, please notify the office via email at douglasharkness@cbe.ab.ca. If you need to pick up your child early, you can also email the office and your child’s teachers to ensure they’re ready for you.

MyCBE/PowerSchool Account Set Up |

Having an active MyCBE/PowerSchool Account is critical for accessing everything from fees to report cards to booking Parent / Teacher Conferences. To access your account or to create an account please go to the Student and Parent / Legal Guardian Sign In page on the CBE website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school office.

School Fees |

Once school fees have been uploaded by the CBE, they will appear on your PowerSchool Account. These fees are usually uploaded in early October. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school office.

Lunchroom |

All students may stay at school over the lunch break to eat their lunch and have an active living break. Once the system has been updated, you will be able to register and pay for the lunchroom program via your MyCBE / PowerSchool Account.

Please note, that we are operating under the assumption that all students will be staying for lunch. If your child will be going home for lunch, please let the school know so we do not include them on our lunchroom attendance lists.

Severe Allergies |

Our school is a nut aware school. Several students at our school have severe and, in some cases, life-threatening allergies to various nuts and nut products. Out of respect for these students and their families and in the interest of allowing all students to be safe at school we are asking that you do not pack lunches or snacks that contain these products.

Administrative Regulations| 

We would like to highlight two CBE Administrative Regulations of note: AR 6031 - Welcoming, Caring, Respectful and Safe Learning and Work Environments and AR 6006 – Progressive Student Discipline. Please feel free to review at your convenience.

Parents are also encouraged to read the CBE’s Student Code of Conduct. This document outlines guiding principles and responsibilities as to what is expected from students and parents concerning the school. Our teachers have been reviewing the concepts contained within this document with our students this week, using developmentally appropriate language and examples.

Away for the Day Cell Phone Policy|

CBE students will not be permitted to use personal mobile devices during instructional time as directed by the Alberta Government Ministerial Order. As such, Douglas Harkness School will be using ‘away-for-the-day’ guidelines, which aligns with our practices for the past few years. Students will not be permitted to use personal mobile devices or Smart watches during the school day. Mobile devices and Smart watches must be kept in their backpacks for the entirety of the school day and turned off. If you need to get a message to your child during the day, please call the office and one of our staff members will be sure to inform your child.

Opt In for Messaging|

In order to stay connected, and in accordance with anti-spam legislation, parents will need to opt in for messaging to receive commercial information (ex. field trips) which you can do HERE. If you have any questions about this, please refer to CBE Q+A document.

Dogs on School Property| 

We have seen lots of your furry friends on our school grounds this week. While you love your dog and we love your dog, they should not be on school grounds according to City of Calgary Bylaws. If you have a concern in this area, please contact 311. It is acceptable to have a leashed dog on the city sidewalks around the school and the upper part of the fields to the north and west of the school.

Birthday Treats| 

We know that birthdays are important to our students. Considering student food allergies and preferences, we ask that families do not send in food-based treats for birthdays. Please keep food treats for home-based celebrations. However, non-food-based treats such as a special pencil or a new book for the classroom can be great alternative ways to celebrate the day. Teachers will also celebrate student birthdays in their own individual ways in classrooms. Thank you for your support and understanding.

School Council| 

Douglas Harkness is thankful to be supported by an AMAZING School Council. All parents are invited to our first meeting which will be held in-person and online starting at 6:00 PM on Thursday, September 17.