Dear Friends and Families of Colonel Walker School,

It has been fantastic to reconnect with staff, students and families over the first few days of school. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to establish daily routines to ensure all students are ready to learn each day at school. Please see below for some important information about changes to our entrance routine.

Connect Time

In order to ensure a calm and welcoming entry for all students each day, we have transitioned to a soft entry for all students. This approach minimizes line ups and congested hallways in the mornings which are stressful for many students. The purpose of this time is to give teachers time at the beginning of the day to connect with their students. For these reasons, we are calling this entry routine "Connect Time". 

“Connect Time” looks like:

  • Our school doors open for students beginning at 8:25am each day. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE 8:25 AM. In order to keep our school building secure, the only doors for entry in the morning will be the ones in the North East corner of the compound.  
  • When students arrive on school grounds, they should enter the building right away and head to their classroom to meet their teacher. There is NO OUTDOOR SUPERVISION in the mornings as all staff will be greeting students inside.
  • An outdoor bell will ring at 8:35 AM - this bell is a cue to all students and families that instruction will soon begin in classrooms.
  • Please only have students use the front doors if they arrive later than 8:40 AM (the door on the compound will be closed at this time).
  • As before, only students may enter the building; adults will need to remain outside or sign into the school via the main office. 
  • Each family is responsible for supervising their own child outside before and after school hours. If you are unable to provide supervision, please ensure your child enters the building immediately at 8:25 AM upon drop off. 

Teachers have reviewed this new routine and the expectations with their students. With your support, we hope that this approach to our morning entry will support the well-being of all members of our incredible learning community.

Demographic Forms

Tomorrow your child will come home with some “homework” for you to complete. This information is a critical part of our school start up, and ensures we have the most up to date information about your child in the event of an emergency. Thank you for taking time to review and return the necessary paperwork (some online, some in hard copy) by the end of this week. Your prompt attention to this matter supports Ms. Tammy in the main office at this very busy time of year.

Roots of Empathy

This year our school will be participating in the Roots of Empathy program. If you are interested in learning more or if you or someone you know would be interested in volunteering, please see more information about this program attached below: 

The charity Roots of Empathy provides an award-winning program for elementary school children that independent research shows increases empathy reduces aggression and bullying, and increases caring, kindness and inclusiveness. "Change the world, child by child" by becoming a Volunteer Family The Program is centred around you and your baby's loving relationship, with a Roots of Empathy Instructor guiding a discussion with children, encouraging them to read your baby's emotional cues and take your baby's perspective. Your baby is the "Tiny Teacher". The children learn to identify and name your baby’s feelings, reflect on and understand their own feelings, then bridge to understand the feelings of others. The development of emotional literacy helps children understand how their behaviour or words can hurt others, and enables children to make friends and build positive relationships.

What's involved in being a Roots of Empathy Family: Nine times over the school year, you and your baby will visit a classroom with the Roots of Empathy Instructor and join the children around the “Green Blanket”. You will help the children learn all about your baby and in turn they will learn about themselves, their feelings, and their temperament traits. The children will celebrate your baby's milestones such as rolling over, clapping, sitting and more, which are captured in a photo book for you and your baby. The children show their love of the baby at the end of the program with wishes for the baby's future. For more information on what is involved and to apply, please see below *Babies must be between 2 and 4 months old in October.

For more information and to apply, contact: Cheryl Ashworth, Southern Alberta Coordinator, cashworth@rootsofempathy.org or visit https://rootsofempathy.org/family

As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have. I look forward to connecting with each of you in the days and weeks ahead.

Warm regards,

Kate Jones

Principal