Week Ahead         

Upcoming Important Dates 

 Principal’s Message| 

“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” 
~ William Arthur Ward 

There were many smiles at Douglas Harkness this week! Staff were happy to reconnect, students were excited to see familiar faces, and families said goodbye as their children began a new school year. 

As we visited classrooms, we were reminded of the power of a smile. A smile can help us feel happy and calm. It can also help others feel welcome, comfortable, and valued. We certainly had lots of reasons to smile as we welcomed students and families back to school. 

Over the next few weeks, ask your child about the people they are getting to know at school. Encourage them to say hello, smile, or talk to someone new. Together, these small acts of kindness help make our school a place where everyone feels welcome, safe, and that they belong. 

We are excited for a wonderful year together! 

Lisa and Kate 

Volunteering at the School|   

Volunteers are a valued part of our school community. We welcome volunteers to support us in the classroom and on field trips.  

To volunteer with the Calgary Board of Education, adults must have a valid police security clearance. Please see the office if you wish to start the police clearance process. 

To ensure the safety and security of CBE students and staff, all volunteers must also be registered with the school each school year before participating in volunteer activities. The Annual Volunteer Registration Form is valid for the current school year only. All volunteers, including returning volunteers, must complete a new registration form each school year before participating in volunteer activities. 

 Parents and guardians can register as volunteers through the SchoolEngage tab in their MyCBE account. As part of the registration process, all volunteers must review the POPA requirements and sign to indicate their agreement with the conditions outlined in the form. 

Traffic Safety| 

With the start of the school year and with our growing student numbers, we wanted to remind families to practice safe driving habits around the school. Various traffic violations can put our students and families at greater risk of being injured. Safe driving habits help keep our students safe while also being respectful of the residents who have nearby homes. Please adhere to parking signs, including the bus zone, when driving to school. U-turns and jaywalking are unsafe practices, and we ask you to refrain from these. We can all work together to take care of our community and keep it safe. 

Dates of Significance|  

The CBE is committed to building a culture of appreciation and inclusion, where students and staff can see themselves valued, respected and celebrated. This calendar identifies some of the significant days of recognition and celebration within the CBE community.  

https://cbe.ab.ca/registration/calendars/Pages/dates-of-significance.aspx 

CBE Annual Forms| 

Each year, schools have a variety of forms that parents are required to complete or review and update. The following forms are available online in SchoolEngage. SchoolEngage is one of the applications found in your MyCBE account. This is the same account used to pay fees, view academic information, book school conferences, register to volunteer etc. 

• Demographic Verification - 2026-27 – This required form is an Alberta Education and Childcare requirement as proof of Registration for funding purposes and includes your child’s personal information as well as parent / legal guardian contact information.  
• Citizenship Information Update - 2026-27 – This form becomes available and is required to complete if you change your child’s citizenship information on the Demographic Verification form. 
• Annual Authorization - 2026-27 – Combines the following forms: 
• School District Use of Personal Information - explains how CBE uses personal information in providing education services. 
• Consent for CBE Use of Student Information – provides an option to grant / not grant consent for additional use of student information by school/district and third parties. 
• Consent for Use of Student Information by News Media and Outside Groups (Third Party) - provides an option to grant / not grant consent for additional use of student information by outside groups and third parties 
  o Consent for Student Participation in Annual CBE Surveys – these surveys support school and system planning and help improve programs and supports offered to students 
• Parental Opt-In for Notifiable curriculum for students in grades 3 to 9 – written consent of parents prior to providing instructions or materials that deal primarily and explicitly with human sexuality, gender identity or sexual orientation. Students are unable to participate in this portion of the curriculum unless consent is granted. 

Walking Field Trips|  

The CBE values the educational benefit of field trips. Field trips close to our school can complement classroom learning by giving students opportunities to explore the community around their school.  

As parents/guardians, you will no longer need to fill out a consent form for your child to go on a class trip that is walking distance from the school, e.g. to a local park.  

Appropriate walking distance is determined by the principal and may vary, depending on the age of the students. Teachers will provide at least 24 hours’ notice when planning a trip to a local site. You will be notified about these trips by email. 

Please see the attached field trip letter for locations and distances of walking field trips from Douglas Harkness School. 

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 6:30PM (please note the new time) on Thursday, September 17. 

Please watch for the Chip Notice that came home with your child.