Cougars Corner Weekly Update

June 1 - 5, 2026

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School Update:

Celebrating Our Volunteers

This week, we had the pleasure of hosting our annual Volunteer Appreciation Tea, a special opportunity to celebrate and thank the many parents, family members, and community volunteers who have supported Cambrian Heights School throughout the year.

Quite simply, our school would not be the same without you. Whether helping in classrooms, supporting special events, accompanying field trips, volunteering with School Council, or lending a hand behind the scenes, your generosity of time and energy has enriched the educational experience of our students in countless ways. In fact, many of the field trip opportunities our students enjoy each year would simply not be possible without volunteer support.

As part of the celebration, guests enjoyed refreshments while being treated to performances from every grade level. Students were excited to showcase their talents, and the event concluded with a special performance from our Handbell Choir.

That performance was also a wonderful reminder of the strength of our music program under the leadership of Ms. Andrews. In addition to providing engaging music instruction for all students, Ms. Andrews generously dedicated extra time to running the Handbell Choir, creating a unique opportunity for students to develop their musical skills and perform for our community.

We are also excited to share that, through the support of our School Council, an additional octave of handbells has been purchased for the school. This expansion will allow Ms. Andrews to bring handbell experiences to entire classes in the future, rather than limiting participation to a smaller club.

To all of our volunteers: thank you. Your partnership, commitment, and care make Cambrian Heights a stronger school and a richer learning community for every student. We are deeply grateful for all that you do.

Welcoming Our Future Kindergarten Families

Thank you to all of the families who joined us for our Kindergarten Orientation evening this week. It was wonderful to meet so many of our newest Cougars and their families as we begin preparing for the 2026–27 school year.

Families had an opportunity to meet our Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Harich, connect with school administration, and explore the engaging play-based learning centres that are such an important part of the Kindergarten experience. Students enjoyed interacting with classroom materials while parents learned more about what a typical day in Kindergarten looks like at Cambrian Heights.

One of the practical topics we discussed was how families can help prepare children for a successful start to school. Here are five simple ways to support school readiness:

• Practice independence skills such as putting on shoes, managing jackets, and opening snack containers.

• Develop communication skills by encouraging children to express their wants, needs, and feelings using words.

• Read together regularly to build vocabulary, listening skills, and a love of books.

• Learn important personal information such as first and last names and a parent or guardian's phone number.
• Establish routines around sleep, mornings, and transitions to help children feel confident and prepared for the school day.

We are excited to welcome our newest learners to Cambrian Heights this fall and look forward to partnering with families as their children begin this exciting educational journey.

Celebrating Cougar Pride, School Spirit, and Outdoor Adventure

This week's Special Recognition Assembly was a wonderful celebration of student achievement, school spirit, and some of the traditions that make Cambrian Heights such a special place to learn.

We began by recognizing our Grade 6 Cambrian Heights Cougars soccer team, who recently defeated Beddington Heights School in the first-ever Cambrian Invitational Soccer Match. The team surprised the entire school when they stood up and removed their jackets and hoodies to reveal the new soccer jerseys they wore during the championship game. As they proudly displayed their trophy, they were met with thunderous applause from students and staff alike.

While we were certainly proud of the victory, we were equally proud of the sportsmanship our students demonstrated throughout the event. The team took time to reflect on the importance of winning with grace, showing humility, and demonstrating respect for their opponents regardless of the score. Those lessons are every bit as important as the result on the scoreboard and reflect the character we strive to build in our students.

Next came the final showdown in our school-wide Dance-Off Competition. After weeks of spirited competition, our two finalist classes faced off in front of the entire school. In the end, Mr. Dang's Grade 5 class danced their way to victory and earned the coveted championship trophy…a one-of-a-kind retro vinyl record proudly inscribed with their class name. The trophy will hold a place of honour in their classroom until next year's champions are crowned!

The assembly concluded with a celebration of our Grade 6 Outdoor School experience. Students shared photos from their three-night adventure and performed several of the camp skits that had everyone laughing around the campfire. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and it was clear they wanted younger students to experience some of the same excitement and memories they created together.

Outdoor School has quickly become a treasured tradition at Cambrian Heights. Next year will mark our third year attending, and many of our current Grade 5 students are already counting down the days until it is their turn. The experience provides students with opportunities to build independence, strengthen friendships, challenge themselves in new ways, and create memories that often last long after elementary school has ended.

As we watched our Grade 6 students share their stories and celebrate their experiences, it was a wonderful reminder that some of the most meaningful learning happens beyond the classroom walls. We look forward to continuing this growing tradition and creating many more Outdoor School memories in the years ahead.

Supporting Student Regulation Through Community Partnership

This year, Cambrian Heights School partnered with the Neuroconnections Project, a Calgary-based youth-led non-profit organization dedicated to supporting neurodivergent students and creating more inclusive learning environments. Through this partnership, the school received approximately $500 worth of sensory and regulation tools for student use.

These resources will help support students throughout the school who benefit from sensory input, movement, or focus tools as part of their self-regulation strategies. Access to appropriate regulation supports can play an important role in helping students remain engaged, manage emotions, and participate successfully in learning.

We are grateful to the Neuroconnections Project for investing in our students and helping us expand the supports available to learners across our school. Their generosity will have a meaningful impact on students for years to come.

Have a fantastic weekend,

Sincerely,

Todd Webber

Principal, Cambrian Heights School

Cambrian Heights Parent Association Update:

Next Meeting: September 2026 (date to be announced)

Email: Cambrian.schoolcouncil@gmail.com

A special thank you to our School Council Chair, Michelle Naundorf, for joining us at our Kindergarten Orientation evening. Michelle took time to introduce herself to new families and share some of the many ways our School Council supports students and staff at Cambrian Heights School.

From funding learning resources and school enhancements to supporting special projects and events, School Council plays an important role in helping enrich the educational experience of our students. Just as importantly, it provides families with an opportunity to learn about what is happening in the school, hear updates from administration, share feedback, and help shape decisions that support our school community.

School Council meets once per month, and we offer a hybrid format so families can participate either in person or online. Whether you are a longtime member of our school community or joining us for the first time, we encourage you to consider getting involved. There is no requirement to take on a formal role. Simply attending meetings, sharing perspectives, and learning more about the school are valuable contributions.

As we begin looking ahead to the 2026–27 school year, we look forward to welcoming new voices and continuing the strong partnership between families and the school. Together, we can help make Cambrian Heights an even better place for students to learn, grow, and thrive.