Good afternoon Balmoral families

Happy New Year to all of our wonderful students and families. The new year brings excitement, determination, and perseverance as we wrap up our first semester of school and get ready for the second semester. Please keep a close eye on your emails for upcoming information regarding report cards, celebration of learning, option choices for next year, and other important events!

Please read the newsletter carefully as it contains important information that impacts all students.

Indoor Shoes are Required

A reminder that all students MUST have indoor shoes for school. We recommend BLACK running shoes so they meet uniform requirements and students can wear them for Physical Education classes. Winter boots are NOT acceptable to wear for Physical Education in the gym.

Lottery and Registration Process begins on Monday, January 13

New families to Balmoral School must apply for a placement through the lottery process. Grade 4 students at Colonel Sanders School (our feeder school) are automatically registered at Balmoral for the 2025-26 school year.

Please share this information with your friends and families who are interested in the TLC program. Families must reside in our designated attendance area to apply for a placement at Balmoral School. Please forward the link below to families who are interested in applying. Interested families can contact our school office with any questions.

https://www.cbe.ab.ca/registration/registration/Pages/alternative-programs.aspx

TLC Open House – January 16, 2025

We are holding our annual TLC open house for all NEW families interested in the TLC program for the 2025-26 school year. Families of students (who live in our attendance area) who wish to attend Thorncliffe School (TLC Kindergarten), Colonel Sanders School (Grades 1-4), or Balmoral School (Grades 5-9), should attend this open house to learn about the TLC program and decide if it is the right fit for their child. Administration from all three schools will be present at this open house event. Please forward this information to your family and friends who are interested in the TLC program.

Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025

Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Location: Balmoral School (220 16 Avenue NW)

We will be sharing lottery information and deadlines during the presentation. If families have questions about this event, please contact the relevant school they are interested in.

Band/Option forms due January 17 for Grades 6/7/8 students

Forms have been distributed to all Grades 6, 7, and 8 students to begin determining which complementary courses will be offered at Balmoral next year. Please take the time to fill this form out with your child and make this important decision together. Complementary course offerings will be based on student interest and teacher availability.

Please note that if students do not take Band in Grade 7, they will not be permitted to take Band in Grades 8 or 9, as this is a progressive subject and requires pre-requisite skills in order to continue in the sequence.

Forms are due back to the homeroom teacher by January 17. If you have any questions regarding complementary courses at school, please contact the school office.

Update from Southland Busing

We would ask that all families please be reminded of the safety tips in and around busses, students should never be dropped off on route when a bus is pulling away as this can cause a serious safety concern, the driver may not see the students in the blind spots beside the bus.

Additionally, families are asked not to block the bus in as the bus is required to adhere to the posted route scheduled.  Understanding that students may be late, families are responsible for meeting the bus at the next stop and safely dropping their students away from the bus stopping zone if they know the bus stop path or continuing to transport the students to school to help keep all parties safe.

Upcoming Celebration of Learning – February 5

We will be holding our annual Celebration of Learning on February 5 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. This evening is an opportunity for families to see what their children have been working on so far in the school year. Classrooms will be open with student work on display and there will be interactive activities to do with your child as well. There will also be short music and band performances in the gym so that you can listen to the lovely melodies we have been enjoying at school!

Grades 5/6 Performance starts at 6:10pm (until 6:45pm)

**Grades 5/6 classrooms will be CLOSED during the above performance time. Grades 5/6 students report directly to the cafeteria at 5:50pm to line up for performances. Grades 7/8/9 classrooms open for viewing during this time.

Grades 7/8/9 Performance starts at 7:10pm (until 8:00pm)

**Grades 7/8/9 classrooms will be CLOSED during the above performance time. Grades 7-9 students report to cafeteria at 6:50pm to line up for performances. Grades 5/6 classrooms open for viewing during this time.

Next Fun Lunch Dates

Our next fun lunches are on the dates below and the restaurant is Little Caesars Pizza! Deadlines to order are always 5 days before the date of the fun lunch.

Tuesday, February 4 – Grades 5/6

Wednesday, February 5 – Grades 7/8/9

Art Club for Grades 5/6 Students

Any grade 5 and 6 students who are interested in attending the Art Club, please come to the Learning Commons on Monday, January 13 at 12:00 pm for our first day.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Gelly (algelly@cbe.ab.ca) and Mrs. Piorno (irpiorno@cbe.ab.ca).

The Pickle Jar Menu

Students may purchase food Monday – Thursday during the lunch break. The cafeteria is CASH only, and most meals are $6.

Important Dates

  • January 13 – 2025-26 Registration opens through MyCBE/School Engage
  • January 16 – TLC Open House (hosted at Balmoral School)
  • January 17 – Band/option forms due for Grades 6/7/8 students
  • January 27 – Report cards available for viewing online
  • January 31 – Non-Instruction Day (no school for students)
  • February 5 – Celebration of Learning (6pm – 8pm)
  • February 6 – School Council Meeting (6:30pm at Balmoral School)
  • February 12 – Lottery Draw date
  • February 13 and 14 – Teachers' Convention (no school for students)
  • February 17 – Family Day (no school)


If you have any questions or concerns, please call the school office.


Regards,

Balmoral Administration