Stay Informed

Good morning AFS families,

ALIEN INLINE & ANDREA LAU RESIDENCIES

We hope your children have told you all about the fun they are having in Alien Inline skating so far this week. Today you will receive another residency onsite form to complete for Andrea Lau. Andrea is our artist in residence this school year. She will be working with students from the middle of November through till the end of April, approximately 8 times per class. Mark your calendars for April 29, this will be our evening artist showcase family event. We look forward to welcoming all families to share the work that Andrea will be inspiring with each student. Thank you once again to everyone who volunteered their time at our last society casino in 2025, those AGLC funds have paid for the full cost of both these residency opportunities (more than $20,000 combined).

OUR CASINO: SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR ALEX FERGUSON SCHOOL

Our next casino is in February 2027. If you haven’t already signed up to volunteer, please consider signing up now. If we do not get all the positions filled by January 7 we will need to consider giving up the casino as a fundraiser. IF this happens there will no longer be an art residency each year. The phys ed residencies will be reduced to one, at parent’s expense, and field trips will not be subsidized by the parent society resulting in increased costs to all families. We would also have to reduce, eliminate, or charge a fee to parents for any other in school opportunities such as performances, Elders, and Community Connections day. All government funding available will need to be allocated to curriculum supplies for all subject areas (math, music, phys ed, science, literacy, art, learning commons, etc.) as well as sensory and adaptive materials. Alex Ferguson is SO very well supported by all parents and families. Since I have been the principal at Alex Ferguson, for 5 years now, we have had the privilege of being able to offer a large variety of enrichment opportunities for all students each year, funded by the society. Each child in the building this year will benefit from previous parents’ generosity of their time volunteering at the casino. Police clearances are not required to volunteer at the casino. Food is provided. Fun is had. Please recruit your family members, colleagues, friends. If you have any questions please reach out and ask. Over many years I have personally completed every volunteer position at the casino, except countroom. My personal favourite is cashier. However, I have friends who love each position, I have already recruited some of them to support our event. Maybe you’ll meet them when you’re there! Thank you for spending your time supporting Alex Ferguson school.

COUNCIL AND SOCIETY MEETINGS

Tomorrow (Thursday) we have our next council and society meetings. Catch up on all that has been happening with their council and society minutes, and find out what’s in the works by checking out the council and society agendas. We look forward to welcoming all parents into the learning commons at 7pm. If you aren’t able to join us in the school, please join us online. Our grades 3 and 4 teachers, Mrs. Kaban and Mrs. Riegel, will be in attendance and sharing more insight into daily events at AFS.

REMEMBRANCE DAY ASSEMBLY

Families are welcome to attend our school Remembrance Day Assembly on Tuesday November 10 at 10:30am. The front doors will open at 10:20am so families can gather in the gym before the assembly begins.

HONORING OUR FAMILY VETERANS

We are creating a special slideshow for our assembly to recognize veterans connected to our school community. If your family has a veteran who has served, we would love to include them!

If you have a family member who has served, please email the following information to rmtrisevic@cbe.ab.ca:

  • A photo of the veteran
  • The veteran's name and rank/title (if applicable)
  • The student's name or family name
  • The veteran's relationship to the student (e.g., grandfather, aunt, great-grandparent)

We have received some photos and look forward to sharing them during our assembly. If anyone else would like to share please do so by 4pm tomorrow (Thursday November 5).

SELF REGULATION

Thank you to all the parents who made time to join Erin Novak, our CBE OT (occupational therapist) for her presentation on self regulation. We trust you found the presentation insightful and hope you have been able to implement some of the strategies shared. Relationships are very important with regards to self regulation and human connection. We recently were introduced to a parent tip sheet for how we can all practice feeling better and building stronger relationships. Please check it out, for affirmation that you are doing well, and possibly some good tips to try!

Have a great day.

Helen Sharpe
AFS Principal

November Dates to Remember:

2-9 Alien Inline Residency

5 School Council and Parent Society Meetings

10 Remembrance Day Assembly

11- 15 Fall Break, CBE school closed

17 Room 2 Off Site at The Confluence

17 Andrea Lau Residency begins

18 RESCHEDULED class photos, and retakes as needed

19 Grade 3s onsite with Readers and Leaders

23 Grades 4, 5, 6 Onsite Oscar opportunity

24 – 27 Scholastic Book Fair

25 Society Fun Lunch – Edo

26 Student Learning Conferences

27 Student Learning Conferences – no school for students

30 Rooms 4 and 5 Off Site at Heritage Park