Happy Friday Citizens of Nellie!
It was a great week filled with opportunities to reflect, grow and learn about ourselves and our world beyond Nellie!
The Week in Review
Monday was National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, also known as Red Dress Day. CBE staff and students were encouraged to wear red to honour and remember the lives of thousands of Indigenous women and girls, and to take time to learn, reflect and act. Red Dress Day was inspired in 2010 by Metis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project installation, in which she hung hundreds of empty, red dresses to represent the missing and murdered women. Red dresses have become symbolic of the crisis as a result of her installation. Red was chosen for the dresses because it is powerful and eye-catching, and represents both vitality and violence. It was also chosen after Black learned from an Indigenous friend that red is the only colour that spirits can see, and which can be used to call the spirits of the lost back to reconnect with their loved ones.
This week was Mental Health Week. Every year Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) dedicates a week in May to raise awareness of Mental Health. . This year’s theme, “Unmasking Mental Health,” invited us to imagine what it would feel like to speak openly about our struggles without fear or shame. Many young people hide their emotions behind a mask to protect themselves from judgment. The Community Education Services team in partnership with Recovery Alberta is hosting nine sessions throughout the month of May to highlight and help provide more information for parents and other caregivers on various topics related to mental health awareness. To see all the sessions offered, dates and times please click here.
Hats On! For Mental Health day took place this week on Wednesday. Albertans were invited to wear a hat on Wednesday May 7th to raise awareness of the importance of good mental health, and CBE encouraged students and teachers to build understanding by wearing hats to school. Students also participated in a coordinated lesson from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) on understanding mental health and the importance of removing the stigma associated with mental illnesses. See photos our students in their confident caps and chic chapeaus in our weekly pics link below.
Ms. Richard's grade 1 class attended Stampede School all this week. The other two grade 1 classes are attending later this month. Stampede School is an immersive educational experience for students in grades 1 to 12 that relocates their classroom to Stampede Park. In their new setting, students and teachers experience deep and innovative learning and make connections to history, agriculture, Indigenous traditions and cultures, and western heritage and values. Students are surrounded by western artifacts, unique cultures, equine classmates, and intriguing guest speakers. Stampede School, a Campus Calgary site, is inquiry-based, innovative, and focused on hands-on experiences. Each class’ week-long experience is customized to fit their particular curriculum and individual needs.
Nellie's annual Division II Musical took place this Thursday! Being a part of a school theatrical production is fun and rewarding. Students get to make new friends, try new things, maybe even learn to dance. But there’s more! During the rehearsal and performance process, they learn to refine the skills needed to be successful in everyday life, such as literacy, teamwork, problem-solving, and time-management. And did you know that the skills kids learn from being in a play will make them a more attractive candidate for colleges and employers in the future? A few years ago, the National Education Association interviewed leaders from various industries to determine what skills are most important for students in the 21st century. They came away with what are called the Four C’s: Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication, and Creativity. You could see these skills in development over the past month of rehearsals and this week's final performance! Students come out of the process with a real sense of achievement. See pics of this year's musical "No Humans Left Behind" in this week's Nellie On The Go photos link at the bottom of this email!
The Week Ahead
- Tues. May 13- Gaga ball pit delivery and parent assembling teams
- Fri. May 16- No School- CBE Professional Learning Day
- Mon. May 19- School closed- Victoria Day Holiday
Volunteering
We have some exciting field trips coming up this spring! If you would like to volunteer with your child's class, please ensure you have valid police information clearance and that your name is current in our CBE Security Clearance database. If you are not registered to volunteer yet, follow the steps outlined here: CBE Volunteer Clearance Process
Coming Up
- May 20-23 Ms. Acott’s class away at Stampede school all week
- Thurs. May 22 6:30pm School Council- grade 6 & Music presenting
- May 26-May 31 National AccessAbility Week
- May 26-30 Ms. Child’s class away at Stampede school all week
- Wed. May 28 gr.6 Alberta-wide Provincial Achievement Test - Writing
- Thurs. May 29 Fun Lunch- Edo
- Fri. May 30 Kindergarten field trip to South Glenmore
- Fri. June 6 No Kindergarten
- - 9:00am-10am: Next year Kindergarten Orientation
- Thurs. June 12- 11:00 am Volunteer Appreciation Assembly
- Stay on top of everything going on by visiting our school calendar and link it to your phone.
School Council News
- Next meeting: May 22. Everyone welcome! Receive updates 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!
- All Fun Lunch dates can be found here! Nellie Fun Lunches
News Stories
Please see the website for all of the latest stories. Our stories are filled with pictures from the week, adventures and experiences the students are participating in and all of the important happenings in and around the school.
Check out our grade blogs for insights and pictures from your child’s classroom: Nellie McClung Teacher Blogs
New - Nellie Weekly Pics – Many awesome Nellie on the Go pictures
Stay Informed by linking to our Calendar
Follow Nellie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nelliemcclungschool/
Be friends with our School Council on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/2057242994549323