Happy Friday Citizens of Nellie!
Happy New Year and welcome back to school for the start of 2026! We hope your winter break was restful and filled with joy. As we kick off the second half of the school year, we are excited to see our students return with fresh energy and "New Year, New Goals" mindsets. This term promises to be full of growth, discovery, and community building.
To help your family stay organized this month, please check our Nellie McClung school website and updated school calendar for key dates, and feel free to reach out to our staff with any questions as we settle back into our routines. Let’s make the rest of 2026 our best chapters yet!
WEEK IN REVIEW
It has been a joy to welcome our students back to the classroom this week as we kick off 2026! Our first few days have focused on reconnecting with friends and settling back into our essential school routines. We are spending time revisiting our classroom expectations to ensure a focused and respectful learning environment for everyone.
This week, students have begun setting personal and academic goals for the remainder of the school year, looking ahead with excitement at the progress yet to come. We are energized by the positive atmosphere in the halls and are ready for a productive and inspiring winter term! You can see highlights of some grade 2/3 goal setting grade 1 positive mindset work on our school Instagram: NellieSparks
This Friday Grade 2 and 3 students explored early settler artifacts brought in by Ms. Milligan to help them better understand how people in the past lived, worked, and met their needs. In Grade 2, this learning connects to Social Studies outcomes focused on Canada’s diverse communities—including First Nations, Métis, Francophone, and settler groups—and how traditions, resources, trade, and connections to the land shaped daily life. In Grade 3, artifacts support learning about early settlers in Alberta and the many cultural groups who contributed to the province’s history, helping students see how tools, objects, and symbols reflect ways of life, challenges, and change over time. Studying artifacts allows students to think historically and develop a deeper appreciation for Alberta’s diverse heritage. See photos of this event and more on our school Instagram: NellieSparks
Grade 4 students are bringing back Nellie's Naturalists - Enviro Club! Working alongside Mr. Rodger, students will be helping with paper and mixed recycling, refundables and paper towel collection each week. Small groups and have been presenting and teaching each class about this program. In Grade 4, students help with recycling around the school to put their learning about Waste in Our World into action. This Alberta curriculum topic focuses on understanding where waste comes from, how it affects the environment, and how individuals can make responsible choices. By helping with recycling, students learn that their everyday actions matter, develop a sense of responsibility for their community, and practice being environmental stewards. This hands-on experience helps them connect classroom learning to real-world solutions in a meaningful and age-appropriate way. See their presentation here: Eviro Club Presentation
You can see highlight photos, videos and reels of the above events and more on our school Instagram: NellieSparks
NEWS ITEMS:
- Please check your MyCBE account to stay on top of new fees covering our upcoming Netball and Curling residencies this month and other grade specific enhanced learning opportunities.
We are currently carrying a deficit of $5,664 in unpaid student fees that were due before the Winter Break. - Kindergarten registration for the 2026-2027 school year opens on Monday January 12.
- Report cards & IPPs Due to the loss of instructional time during the October labour action, assessment time has been extended for mid-year IPPs and report cards. Report cards will be available for viewing by parents/legal guardians on their MyCBE account on Tues. Feb. 24.
More information on Learning, Assessment and Reporting in CBE can be found here: Link: Assessment and Reporting
THE WEEK AHEAD:
- Jan. 12-16 Netball phys. ed. Residency
- Tues. Jan. 13 Maghi Sikh festival
- Wed. Jan. 14 Orthodox New Year
- Thurs. Jan. 15 Fun lunch: Subway;
Lailat al-Mi’raj Islamic Night of the Ascension - Fri. Jan. 16 8am-9am Bottle Drive
COMING UP:
- Tues. Jan. 20 Woodman Jr. High presentation to grade 6s
- Wed. Jan. 21 Bell Lets Talk mental health day
- Thurs. Jan. 22 Grade 5 Seven Sacred Teachings Assembly: Humility
- 6:30pm School Council, Please join us to find out what exciting events are being planned! - Jan. 26-Feb.5 Rocks & Rings Curling phys. ed. residency
- Tues. Jan. 27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day
- 6:00pm Grade 6 parent meeting for YMCA Camp Chief Hector overnight camp - Jan. 26-29 Grade 6 Telus Spark in-school fieldtrip: Ready, Set, Robot
- Wed. Jan. 28 9:30-11:30am Nellie Science Fair
- Thurs. Jan. 29 National Day of Remembrance and Action against Islamophobia
- Fri. Jan. 30 CBE PD Day- No School for Students
- Feb. 12-13 Teachers Convention- No school for students
- Mon. Feb. 16 Family Day Holiday- School closed
- Tues. Feb. 24 Report Cards available for viewing by parents on MyCBE accounts
Stay on top of everything going on by visiting our school calendar and link it to your phone.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
- Next School Council meeting: Thurs. Jan. 22. Everyone welcome! Receive updates from the Principal, hear about plans for Spring family dance, fundraisers, other events and provide your input. No need to take on a role. We are a friendly and relaxed group, committed to supporting our kids - please join us to see what we are involved in!
- School Council minutes are always posted on the Nellie McClung school website
- Fun Lunch dates are listed here: Healthy Hunger
- We need help delivering Fun Lunches to each class! Please sign up to be a Fun Lunch Volunteer
- Please sign up to help out with our next Bottle Drive: Bottle Drive Volunteer
- Be friends with our Nellie School Council on Facebook Nellie McClung Community
VOLUNTEERS
- We have some exciting field trips and fun opportunities coming up this year! If you would like to volunteer with your child's class, please ensure:
- You have a current, valid police information clearance including vulnerable sector search
- Your name is current in our CBE Security Clearance database.
- You have filled out the Annual Volunteer Registration Form for the 2025-2026 school year.
- If you are not yet registered to volunteer, follow the steps outlined here: CBE Volunteer Clearance Process
NEWS STORIES AND PHOTOS
- Please see the Nellie McClung School Website for all of the latest news.
- For pictures and videos from the week, follow Nellie on Instagram: NellieSparks
- Be friends with Nellie School Council on Facebook Nellie McClung Community
Kindest regards,
Aleta