Cougars Corner Weekly Update

Final Message for the 2025-26 School Year

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As this school year comes to a close, I find myself feeling incredibly proud and deeply grateful.  It is an incredible privilege to serve this school community and work alongside such remarkable students, families, and staff.

This year asked a great deal of our community. Following job action, when my staff returned to work on October 29, they did not pull back…they leaned in! Staff returned focused on students, recommitted to learning, and continued building relationships, opportunities, culture, and care in meaningful ways.

As you read through the list below, I hope you see what I had the privilege of witnessing every day: staff who continued saying yes to new experiences, creating opportunities, giving their time, and finding ways to make school feel joyful, meaningful, and connected for students. I watched tremendous professionalism, heart, and dedication as staff worked to ensure students finished this year feeling supported, challenged, celebrated, and excited to come to school. I could not be prouder of what we accomplished together.

As we look ahead, I’m also excited about what’s to come. This summer will bring several exciting updates to our school environment, highlighted by the replacement of our original hallway flooring…tile that has welcomed generations of Cambrian Heights students since the school first opened in 1957. Alongside this long-awaited renewal, we’ll also continue refreshing our spaces through updated Cambrian Heights branding and new logos in our foyer, gym, and library, painting seven classrooms, as well as painting the  exterior stucco to help revitalize and refresh our school for the years ahead.

When I sat down to reflect on this year, I realized once again that schools are built in moments. This list is a celebration of those moments and all we created together:

·         Cambrian Heights School on Instagram
This year, we launched our school Instagram account, giving families another way to see the learning, creativity, celebrations, and everyday moments that make Cambrian Heights special. It has been a great way to strengthen connection and showcase the hard work of our students and staff.

·         Beginning the Year in a Good Way
Before students returned, Indigenous parents Dee and Lucas Cowston from our school community supported us by smudging learning spaces throughout the building. This helped us begin the year with reflection, gratitude, and a continued commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.

·         Student Morning Announcements
Our Division 2 students stepped into a leadership role by helping lead morning announcements. This gave older students an important opportunity to share their voices, support school routines, and contribute to the daily rhythm of our building.

·         School Safety Patrol Program
Our student patrollers demonstrated responsibility and leadership each day by helping students arrive safely and supporting our school community in all kinds of weather. Their year concluded with both a Patrol Appreciation Swim and celebration event.

·         Buddy Days
Throughout the year, students regularly partnered across grade levels for Buddy Days that connected to school-wide themes including oral storytelling, Black History Month, seasonal celebrations, and community-building. These experiences helped students build leadership, mentorship, friendships, and belonging across our school.

·         Soccer Club
Soccer Club began early in the school year and became a consistent part of school life. Students met regularly during lunch recess, continuing through changing seasons and eventually growing into advanced and intermediate groups later in the year.

·         Cambrian Heights Spirit Wear
School spirit was on full display with the return of Cambrian Heights Spirit Wear. Families were able to order hoodies, shirts, and other clothing items to show their Cougar pride.

·         Fall Equinox Assembly and Buddy Day
Students gathered to recognize the Fall Equinox and participated in Buddy Day learning connected to the season. These experiences helped students build relationships across grade levels while learning about seasonal change, connection, and community.

·         Terry Fox Run
For the second year in a row, our school community came together for our Terry Fox Run at Confederation Park, continuing a tradition that combines perseverance, community, leadership, and giving back. As students walked and ran together through the park, they reflected on Terry Fox’s legacy of courage and determination while helping raise funds in support of cancer research.

·         National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Assembly
Students and staff gathered to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Through learning, reflection, and school-wide participation, we continued our commitment to understanding the truth of residential schools and walking forward in a good way.

·         Grade 6 Learning at The Confluence
Grade 6 students visited The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland, where they learned about the layered history of this land, Indigenous perspectives, Treaty relationships, and the importance of place-based learning.

·         Calgary Crew Floor Hockey and Flag Football Residency
Students participated in a Calgary Flames Classroom Crew residency focused on floor hockey and flag football. They built skills, teamwork, confidence, and school spirit, and our school was able to keep the floor hockey equipment for future use. To top off the week, students also had the exciting opportunity to meet Calgary Stampeders players Kelon Thomas, Dominique Rhymes, and Bryce Bell, who joined us and helped make the experience even more memorable.

·         Remembrance Day Ceremony
Our Grade 6 students led a heartfelt Remembrance Day Ceremony, sharing original poetry, artwork, and reflections. Their leadership helped our school community pause, remember, and give thanks.

·         The Return of Music at Cambrian Heights
This year marked the return of a dedicated music program at Cambrian Heights after many years without one. Ms. Andrews brought music learning, performance, singing, and creativity back into the weekly experience of our students.

·         Buddy Day: What Does Community Mean to You?
Students partnered with buddy classes to explore the meaning of community. They shared stories, ideas, and visual representations of the people and places that help them feel connected and supported.

·         Student Teachers and Future Educators
Cambrian Heights continued to be a welcoming place for future educators this year as we welcomed 10 student teachers from the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University into our classrooms. These partnerships brought fresh energy, new ideas, and additional caring adults for students to connect with while also giving us the opportunity to support the next generation of teachers. We are proud that Cambrian Heights continues to be recognized as a place where future educators feel supported, challenged, and inspired as they begin their careers in education.

·         eSports Gaming Club
Our eSports Gaming Club returned this year, giving students an opportunity to build strategic thinking, teamwork, communication, focus, and problem-solving skills. For many students, gaming club offered another meaningful place to belong and connect with peers.

·         Calgary Bridge Foundation Lunchtime Club
The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth launched a lunchtime club for Grade 4, 5, and 6 students. This created a welcoming space for students to build confidence, friendships, mentorship, leadership, and community.

·         Cambrian Heights Reading Challenge
Ms. Jasmin launched a school-wide reading challenge to encourage daily reading and build strong literacy habits. Students tracked their reading and earned fun rewards while strengthening confidence and a love of books.

·         Community Activity Days (CADs)
Community Activity Days continued to be one of the traditions that makes Cambrian Heights special. Throughout the year, students came together in mixed-grade groups for hands-on experiences including STEM, art, movement, storytelling, and team-building. More than just fun days, CADs helped students build friendships across grades, strengthen our values of Respect, Honesty, and Bravery, and deepen their sense of belonging to our school community.

·         Intramurals
Mr. Sadowsky opened the gym at lunch for intramurals, giving students structured opportunities to stay active, play together, and build teamwork skills during the school day.

·         Winter Concert: The Sights and Sounds of Winter
Our Winter Concert brought families together for a joyful evening of music, performance, and community. Students worked hard, showed courage on stage, and filled the gym with energy and pride.

·         Holiday Market
School Council hosted a Holiday Market during the Winter Concert, adding a festive and welcoming feel to the evening. It was a wonderful example of school and parent community working together.

·         Scholastic Book Fair
For the second year in a row, Cambrian Heights hosted a Scholastic Book Fair. Organized by our phenomenal Library Assistant, Ms. Jasmin, the Book Fair gave students opportunities to explore new titles, discover favourite authors, and build excitement around literacy. Thanks to the incredible support of our families, the event generated approximately $3,500 in rewards for our school library, allowing us to continue expanding our collection and investing in new resources for students. Thank you, Ms. Jasmin, for helping create a library space that students are excited to visit and helping foster a culture of reading at Cambrian Heights.

·         Bake Sale for Grade 6 Outdoor School
Families generously donated baking for a Winter Concert bake sale to help reduce the cost of Grade 6 Outdoor School. The bake sale sold out and showed once again how strongly our community supports student experiences.

·         December Spirit Week and Carol Singing
Students enjoyed a week of theme days, including toque day, pajama day, crazy hair day, whiteout day, and festive sweater day. Carol singing in the gym helped bring joy and connection into the final week before Winter Break.

·         Grade 4 Poetry Café
Grade 4 students hosted a Poetry Café to share original writing, oral expression, and storytelling. After exploring different forms of poetry, students bravely shared their work with families and celebrated their growth as writers and speakers.

·         Food Bank Donations
Our school community showed kindness and generosity through food bank donations before Winter Break. Students, families, and staff contributed to supporting others in meaningful and practical ways.

·         Pulse Dance Studio Residency
Students across the school participated in a two-week dance residency with Pulse Dance Studio. Through movement, choreography, practice, and performance, students built confidence, coordination, self-expression, and joy.

·         Pulse Dance Showcase
The Pulse Dance residency ended with a showcase for families. Students’ hard work shone on stage, and the experience became a celebration of creativity, courage, and community.

·         Technology Evergreening
Cambrian Heights received 87 new Chromebooks to support purposeful technology use across the school. These devices help students create, collaborate, write, present, code, and access learning in more flexible ways.

·         Grade 4 Leighton Art Centre Experience
Grade 4 students participated in a Leighton Art Centre in-school field trip where they handled artifacts, explored biofacts, learned sketching techniques, and created needle-felted artwork connected to nature and place.

·         Literacy Week
Students celebrated Literacy Week through school-wide read-alouds and shared stories across classrooms, helping highlight the joy and importance of reading. We were also grateful to welcome our Ward 2 & 3 School Trustee, Laura Hack, who visited Cambrian Heights and spent time reading with students, helping reinforce the importance of literacy and the power of sharing stories together.

·         Buddy Day: Oral Storytelling
Students worked with their buddy classes to learn about oral storytelling and Winter Solstice traditions. They created stories using symbols, shared them with classmates, and built confidence through imagination and collaboration.

·         Winter Solstice Round Dance
Our school welcomed Skip Wolfleg Jr. and Blackfoot drummers for a Winter Solstice gathering with round dance, singing, drumming, and connection. Indigenous families were also invited to gather, share food, and spend time together.

·         CHS Art Contest
Our school art contest brought in 164 student submissions. Students demonstrated creativity, bravery, vulnerability, and pride in sharing their work, while learning about goal setting, feedback, and healthy competition.

·         Black History Month Student Leadership
Students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 helped lead Black History Month learning by researching and sharing stories of Black leaders, artists, scientists, athletes, activists, and everyday heroes during announcements.

·         Black History Month Assembly and Buddy Day
Students participated in learning connected to Black History Month, including Buddy Day activities focused on Black artists and musicians. These experiences helped build awareness, creativity, empathy, and belonging.

·         Family STEAM Night
Families came together on a cold evening for a hands-on STEAM challenge where they designed and built swings for rubber ducks. The evening was full of laughter, creativity, testing, redesigning, and problem-solving.

·         Pink Shirt Day
Our Grade 6 students led a Pink Shirt Day assembly focused on bullying prevention, courage, and how to respond when someone needs support. Their leadership helped guide important conversations across the school.

·         At the Iftar Table: Student-Led Ramadan Cultural Sharing
This spring, students presented and performed a student-led play titled At the Iftar Table, helping our school community learn about Ramadan through stories of fasting, family traditions, reflection, and the experience of gathering to break the fast. Experiences like this create meaningful opportunities for students to share their identities and for others to learn with curiosity, respect, and understanding.

·         Fresh Fruit Initiative
Through provincial grant funding, students enjoyed fresh fruit at school, including apples, oranges, kiwi, and even cherry tomatoes. This supported healthy eating, well-being, and trying new things.

·         Teachers vs. Grade 6 Students Basketball Game
Our Grade 6 students and staff faced off in the second annual Teachers vs. Students Basketball Game at Alberta Bible College. The game was full of energy, laughter, school spirit, and friendly competition.

·         Tri-School Basketball Tournament
Our Grade 6 basketball team competed against Beddington Heights School and Captain John Palliser School. Students represented Cambrian Heights with sportsmanship, teamwork, confidence, and pride.

·         Spring Equinox Assembly and Buddy Day
This spring, students and staff gathered to recognize the Spring Equinox through teachings, reflection, and Buddy Day activities focused on connection and seasonal change. We were grateful to welcome Dee Cowston and Laura Diaz, who shared teachings from a Plains Cree perspective, helping students learn about gratitude, renewal, and our relationship with the land. Experiences like these continue to create opportunities for students to learn from one another and deepen our understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing.

·         Grade 2/3 Sharing Assembly
Grade 2/3 students showcased learning connected to Canada’s physical regions, natural resources, Alberta, poetry, descriptive writing, song, and drama. Families were able to see how classroom learning came to life through performance and presentation.

·         Women’s World Curling Championship Field Trip
Grade 4 students visited WinSport to watch Team Canada compete at the Women’s World Curling Championship. This gave students a chance to see teamwork, focus, and high-level competition up close.

·         New 3D Printer
Thanks to School Council, Cambrian Heights received a new 3D printer. Students began using 3D-printed tools connected to our core values and will continue exploring design thinking, problem-solving, and hands-on creation.

·         Sir John Franklin Performing Arts Visit
Students enjoyed a visit from Sir John Franklin School’s arts program, including live band, dance, visual art, and musical theatre performances. This gave students a glimpse into junior high opportunities and the power of the performing arts.

·         Grade 6 Culture Day
Grade 6 students participated in a Culture Day celebration where they shared aspects of their cultures, traditions, and identities. Dr. Joshua Hill also supported learning connected to land acknowledgement and Indigenous language.

·         Aggie Days Field Trip
Grade 2/3 students visited Aggie Days at the Nutrien Western Event Centre, connecting classroom learning to agriculture, interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and real-world experiences.

·         Kindergarten and Grade 1 Sharing Assembly
Kindergarten and Grade 1 students proudly shared learning through poems, songs, animal research, journal writing, and performance. These assemblies help build confidence and give families a meaningful window into classroom learning.

·         Colonel Irvine Band Concert Visit
Grade 6 students visited Colonel Irvine School for a band concert, helping them learn more about junior high and the many opportunities ahead as they prepare for Grade 7.

·         Mr. Dang’s Class at the Calgary Flames Game
Through the CGY Champs program, Mr. Dang’s class earned a special trip to a Calgary Flames game. Students learned about health, wellness, goal setting, and teamwork, then celebrated their efforts with a memorable community experience.

·         Dental Hygiene and Oral Health Presentations
Students across the school participated in dental hygiene and oral health presentations, supporting wellness learning and healthy habits.

·         Maatoomsii’Pookaiks Professional Learning Day
Staff participated in Maatoomsii’Pookaiks professional learning, continuing our commitment to Indigenous learning, student well-being, and thoughtful professional growth.

·         Manie Musicale French Assembly
Our Grade 4–6 French classes hosted a Manie Musicale assembly, performing Francophone songs from around the world. Students demonstrated courage, enthusiasm, and joy while celebrating French language learning.

·         French Learning Through OLEP
Through the Official Languages in Education Program grant, Cambrian Heights was able to provide specialist support for French instruction in Grades 4–6, strengthening language learning across the school.

·         Recycling Mission
Students took on a recycling initiative through Staples Canada and TerraCycle, collecting used writing instruments to keep them out of landfills. This helped students see how small actions can support environmental responsibility.

·         School Council: Showing Up for Students
Throughout the year, families joined us through our monthly School Council meetings, offered both in person and online to help make participation more accessible. These conversations helped strengthen partnership, shape decisions, and support opportunities for students across our school. Thank you to all of our parents and School Council members who gave their time, ideas, and energy to helping make Cambrian Heights such a special place to learn.

·         Hats On for Mental Health
Students participated in Hats On for Mental Health, helping raise awareness about mental health and reminding students that well-being matters.

·         School-Wide Dance-Off
Our Dance-Off competition brought classes together for friendly competition, creativity, movement, and school spirit. The finals assembly was a joyful celebration of confidence, fun, and community.

·         Fresh Paint, Fresh Play
After students in Mr. Dang’s class wrote persuasive letters, our outdoor play spaces were refreshed with new basketball markings, Around the World shooting spots, Four Square courts, Bean Bag Toss, and Hopscotch repainting. This was a wonderful example of student voice leading to positive change.

·         Gardening Club and Naturalization Space
Ms. Nacinovic launched a Gardening Club initiative that helped refresh our naturalization space. Students helped plant, care for, and learn from an outdoor space that continues to grow into a place of beauty and connection.

·         Grade 6 Outdoor School at Camp Chief Hector
Grade 6 students spent four days at Camp Chief Hector YMCA, building independence, resilience, leadership, teamwork, and confidence through outdoor learning. This has quickly become an important Cambrian Heights tradition.

·         Soccer Residency
Students participated in a school-wide soccer residency that helped build movement skills, teamwork, confidence, and a love for the game. The week brought incredible energy to our school and included a special visit from Sarge, the mascot from Cavalry FC, who joined students and helped make the experience even more memorable. The residency built excitement for our soccer season and created opportunities for students to stay active, connect with peers, and experience the joy of sport.

·         Grade 5 Sharing Assembly
Grade 5 students shared learning through shadow play, Readers Theatre, Science presentations, French animal charades, and ukulele performance. Their assembly highlighted creativity, confidence, and collaboration.

·         Cougars Invitational Soccer Match
Cambrian Heights hosted the first-ever Cougars Invitational Soccer Match against Beddington Heights School. Our team earned a convincing victory and, more importantly, demonstrated sportsmanship, humility, and character.

·         Kindergarten Orientation
We welcomed our future Kindergarten students and families for an orientation evening, helping our newest Cougars feel comfortable and excited about beginning school next year.

·         Volunteer Appreciation Tea
We celebrated the many parents, family members, and community volunteers who support Cambrian Heights. The event included student performances and a special reminder that many opportunities simply would not happen without volunteer support.

·         Handbell Choir
Our Handbell Choir performed for the Volunteer Tea, showcasing the growth of our music program. Thanks to School Council, an additional octave of handbells was purchased so more students can participate in handbell learning in the future.

·         Special Recognition Assembly
Students gathered to celebrate school spirit, including our soccer team’s Cougars Invitational win, the Dance-Off champions, and highlights from Grade 6 Outdoor School. It was a joyful celebration of student achievement and school pride.

·         Butterfly Beginnings
Grade 2/3 students raised Painted Lady caterpillars, observed the butterfly life cycle, and released the butterflies into our naturalization space. This was hands-on Science learning filled with curiosity, wonder, and environmental stewardship.

·         340 Flowers Planted
Organized by our amazing Admin Secretary, Ms. Boyce, students and staff helped plant 340 flowers in our revitalized garden space. This whole-school effort helped create a beautiful outdoor learning environment and strengthened pride in our shared spaces.

·         Swimming Lessons for Grades 4–6
Students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 participated in five days of swimming lessons at Highwood Pool. Students built water safety skills, confidence, perseverance, and independence.

·         Swimming Lessons for Grades 1–3
Students in Grades 1, 2, and 3 also completed a full week of swimming lessons. Over two weeks, students walked to and from the pool, faced changing weather, tried hard things, and showed tremendous bravery and growth.

·         School Council Support for Swimming
School Council contributed more than $10,000 to significantly reduce the cost of swimming lessons for families. This support helped make an important life-safety experience more accessible for students.

·          Fun Lunch Fridays
A big thank you to our School Council and parent volunteers for organizing another successful year of Fun Lunches. Throughout the year, students looked forward to special lunches from Panago Pizza, Mr. Pretzels, Edo, Quesada, and Subway…moments that brought excitement to the school day while also helping support opportunities that benefit students across our school community.

·         Grade 4 Living Systems: From Egg to Hatchling
Grade 4 students raised and observed chicks, ducks, and quail as part of their Living Systems unit. Students became scientists, researchers, writers, and artists as they observed life cycles firsthand.

·         Safety Patrol Appreciation Swim and Popcorn Party
Our School Safety Patrol students were celebrated with an appreciation swim and popcorn party. These students showed leadership, responsibility, and commitment throughout the year by helping keep our community safe.

·         Grade 6 Graduation Assembly
We celebrated our Grade 6 students as they prepared to move on to junior high. Their leadership, growth, and contributions to Cambrian Heights have left a meaningful mark on our school.

·         Winning House Team Movie Celebration
Our winning House Team enjoyed a movie celebration, adding another fun layer to our growing house team traditions and school spirit.

·         Final Soccer Club Game
Soccer Club wrapped up with a final Grade 5 vs. Grade 6 game, closing out a year of lunchtime soccer, teamwork, competition, and fun.

·         Year-End Activity Day & Grade Team Races
We wrapped up the school year with one of our favourite Cambrian Heights traditions…Activity Day and our Grade Team Races. Students spent the morning moving, laughing, competing, and celebrating together through activities that built teamwork, perseverance, and school spirit. One of the highlights was watching grade teams come together to cheer one another on during the races and celebrate the excitement of crossing the finish line. A special thank you to our parent volunteers whose time and support helped make the day such a memorable way to end another incredible year together.

·         Field Trips and Experiential Learning – Division 1
Our Division 1 students experienced learning beyond the classroom through Mad Science, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Nose Hill Park, TELUS Spark, and Aggie Days. These experiences helped students build curiosity, confidence, environmental awareness, and real-world connections to their learning.

·         Field Trips and Experiential Learning – Division 2
Our Division 2 students participated in rich learning experiences at Jack Singer Concert Hall, Arts Commons, Calgary Zoo, The Hangar Museum, The Confluence, WinSport, Camp Chief Hector YMCA, and Highwood Pool. These opportunities built leadership, independence, creativity, teamwork, and brought classroom learning to life.

As I reflect on this list, I’m reminded that experiences like these happen because of the people who make up this community. Thank you to our incredible staff for the care, creativity, and energy they bring each day; to our families for your partnership and trust; to our volunteers and School Council for the countless hours spent supporting students; and to our students for embracing each opportunity with curiosity, courage, and enthusiasm. Together, you made this another unforgettable year at Cambrian Heights.

As we head into summer, thank you for every lunch packed, form signed, encouraging word, volunteer hour, and helping hand. Our students are stronger, kinder, braver, and more curious because of the community surrounding them.

I hope your family has a joyful, restful, and adventure-filled summer, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in the fall for another incredible year at Cambrian Heights School.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Todd Webber
Principal, Cambrian Heights School

tjwebber@cbe.ab.ca