Dear Families,  

This week we had our first practice fire drill of the school year and students exited the building quickly and quietly. We have 2 remaining fire drills to complete before December 20. Next week in physical education classes students will be introduced to rugby through game-based play provided by Rugby Alberta.  A special thank you again to Ms. Prawdzik for supporting our Grade ½ students while Ms. Moore has been on leave. Welcome back to Ms. Moore who will be back at WDS on Monday!  A reminder that there is no school on September 27 or 30 for students.

Circle Fridays 

We had our first WDS Circle Friday this week.  Students were in groups with others from different grades and classes across the school. In their group, they read the book ‘When We Were Alone’ by David A. Robertson and used the circle protocol to share how each student is unique. Students then worked together to create a paper chain sharing messages showing how each person is special. Our first Circle Friday demonstrates WDS’s commitment to truth and reconciliation and supports the message of Orange Shirt Day that ‘Every Child Matters’.  

Terry Fox 

Wow, WDS has raised $1285 for the Terry Fox Foundation for cancer research: 

• Energetic EES had a goal of $10 – Raised $30 
• Growing Kinders had a goal of $40 –Raised $85 
• Helping Hands Gr. 1/2 had a goal of $70 –Raised $325 
• Never Give Up Gr.3/4 had a goal of $172 –Raised $375 
• Ferocious Foxes Gr. 5/6 had a goal of $100 – Raised $325 

Thank you WDS families for your generous donations.  

Meet the Teacher Conferences 

We will be holding our Meet the Teacher conferences on September 26 (3:00 PM to 7:30 PM) and September 27 (8:00 AM to 12:00 PM). Families will sign up for a 10-minute block of time to meet with their child’s teacher, see the classroom, and share about their child/children. To book a time for Meet the Teacher Conferences, go to the My CBE account.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 

Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We do not have school on September 30 so we will recognize the week from September 23-27 by wearing orange and hosting “Circle Friday” on September 20 with students.  

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family, and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The day honors the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. 

Important Dates  

Have a Great Weekend,

Rhonda Williams, Principal and Keri Glowacki, Assistant Principal