Welcome!

We hope that our students and families have been able to spend some time with friends and family this summer enjoying the activities and places you love.  Our hope is that the transition back to school is a great beginning to a wonderful and productive school year together.  Staff at Woodlands share the feelings of excitement and nervousness that come with starting something new.  Our goal is to help every student feel a sense of belonging in their classroom and school, and we will make this our focus during the first few days and throughout the school year.  To support a smooth transition back to school, please see the information below: 

By Wednesday, August 27, you will receive a letter from your child’s teacher via email welcoming them to their classroom, introducing themselves and sharing some classroom specific information regarding school start-up.  If you have any questions regarding these plans, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher.  

A weekly email message is sent to families to check our website homepage for school information and important dates which are posted each Wednesday.  In the event you do not receive the email, please check with the office to confirm that your email is correct.    

Tuesday, September 2 – First Day of school for all students in Grades K-6.  

Kindergarten Staggered Start to School Year:

Staggered entry allows us to create smaller groups of kindergarten students entering the school to help students familiarize themselves with the classroom, their teacher and classmates. 

Staggered entry September 2 for Kindergarten is as follows:

  • September 2 – Students in AM Kindergarten with surnames A-L will attend from 8:35 AM – 9:35 AM.
  • September 2 – Students in AM Kindergarten with surnames M-Z will attend from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM.
  • September 2 – Students in PM Kindergarten with surnames A-L will attend from 12:16 PM – 1:16 PM.
  • September 2 – Students in PM Kindergarten with surnames M-Z will attend from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

September 3 and 4 – regular kindergarten hours:

  • AM kindergarten 8:35 AM – 11:26 AM ; PM kindergarten 12:16 PM – 3:07 PM

September 5

  • AM Kindergarten students will attend from 8:35 AM – 12:40 PM
  • No school for PM Kindergarten 

Student Arrival and Dismissal for First Day - September 2

Students will meet their teachers and be dismissed from their designated doors on September 2. Designated door locations and meeting spots will be communicated to families in the introductory email from the teacher.

  • Families can drop off their student at the designated meeting spot between 8:25 AM and 8:35 AM.
  • Once the student has connected with the classroom teacher, please stay with the teacher. 
  • Parents, please inform your child’s teacher about how your child will travel to and from school on the 1st day and going forward.  You can also provide this information by email. 
  • When the bell rings for entry, teachers will enter the classroom with students, take attendance and begin the learning day. 
  • Thanks to families for remaining outside at the entry bell, allowing students to enter with their teacher. 
  • At the end of the day, students will be dismissed through their designated doors.  Please arrange a meeting spot for you to connect with your child at the end of the day.  Students expecting to meet a parent and who cannot locate their parent should come to the main doors and visit the office for help. 

Student Arrival and Dismissal for 2025-26 School Year

  • Families can drop off their student at their designated entry door between 8:20 AM and 8:35 AM. Supervision by school staff will be provided daily at this time.  Students should not arrive earlier than 8:20 AM as there is no adult supervision provided.   
  • When the bell rings at 8:35 AM for entry, students will be greeted at their designated door by a staff member and be invited to enter the building to begin the learning day. Students are not to enter the school before 8:35 AM.
  • Students who arrive after their entry doors have closed should enter through the main doors and go directly to the main office for check-in. 
  • At the end of the day, 3:07 PM, students will be dismissed through their designated doors.  Please arrange a meeting spot for you to connect with your child at the end of the day.  Students expecting to meet a parent and are not able to locate their parent should come to the main doors and visit the office for help. Friday dismissal is at 12:40 PM.
  • Once dismissed, students are in the care of their parent/guardian as there is no supervision by school staff after school.  Students on the school grounds after school who are not supervised by a parent/guardian will be asked to head home. 

What to Bring the First Day

  • Indoor shoes that are appropriate for gym class, labelled with the student’s name, and can be left at school daily. Outdoor shoes are stored on the designated racks for each class.      
  • A backpack that is large enough to hold a large picture book.
  • A water bottle that will go home to be cleaned and refilled each day.
  • A healthy snack. Students who will be staying for lunch will need a lunch kit for their lunch and are being asked to take portable garbage from their lunch home to reduce waste within the lunch space. 

School Supplies

  • Schools will provide students with necessary educational supplies e.g., pencils, erasers, paper, writing books, etc.
  • Students will be provided with subject specific materials to be used within their desk space.
  • Please leave non-essential personal items at home, such as toys, games or special personal items.
  • Water bottles: Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles to fill and have available over lunch and at their desks during the day. 

School Day Set-Up

  • Recess: Students will have a flexibly scheduled outdoor recess time with their class daily. 
  • Nutritional Break:  Snack times will be provided during the day.   
  • Lunch:  
    ·   Grades 1, 2 and 3 Lunch:  11:45 AM – 12:24 PM.  Students will have 19 minutes of outside play time, followed by 20 minutes of indoor time to eat lunch. 
    ·   Grades 4, 5, 6 Lunch:  12:30 PM – 1:09 PM.  Students will have 20 minutes of indoor time to eat followed by 19 minutes of outside play. 
    ·   Lunchroom spaces will be in the gym. 
    ·   Lunch time is supervised by Lunchroom Supervisors.  

Safety

  • If students are arriving late for school, they are to enter the school through the main front doors and check in at the office before proceeding to their classroom space.
  • In order to establish safety and security, families/parents are asked only to enter the school through the main doors, checking in with the office.
  • All visitors including parents/guardians must check-in at the main office.
  • Families are asked to adhere to all parking signs and may use the street parking in front of the school.  Please ensure that you are not parking in the bus zone, as this space is reserved for CBE transportation and daycare providers. We will have several busses delivering students to the school this year. 
  • Families are asked to not use the school parking lot as a drop off location, as this creates an unsafe situation for students as they enter our school grounds.
  • Part of being a responsible dog owner is complying with Calgary’s bylaws related to dogs. City of Calgary bylaws state that dogs are not permitted on school playgrounds and sports fields.
  • If students are going to be away from school for any reason, please call the attendance line at 403-777-8640 ext. 1. 

If you have any questions about school start-up, please connect with your child’s teacher.  

 

Sincerely, 

The Admin Team and Staff at Woodlands School