Hi Cappy families, 

Only a few days until the first day of school! Our office is open tomorrow and our teachers return.  Our teachers will be calling their homerooms on Tuesday and Wednesday, so if you see the school calling (or a private number, if the teacher is calling from their cell phone) be sure to answer it! 

Please remember that EVERY ADULT at Cappy is your child's teacher. Our teams work closely together to build the best learning programs for students. It is possible that homeroom assignments can change at any time, especially before Sept. 30. Remind your student that they will get to work with the whole teaching team, not just their homeroom teacher.  

Some tips to Get Students Ready for Back to School! 

• Begin by leading positive conversations about going back to school.
• Encourage independence, particularly in younger children, to minimize separation anxiety. Have them practice filling their bag, putting on their shoes, zipping their coats, etc.! 
• Drive by the school. Have some fun at the playground – you may meet other students there! 
• Read some books that will actively engage your child. There are so many stories about the first day of school, and reading with your child is a great way to lead the back-to-school discussion. 
• Talk about lunch. Talk about their favourite foods and make sure some of them are on hand, particularly for the first few days. 
• Discuss routines at school, when school starts and ends, and rules regarding behavior. 
• Have a discussion about what to wear, and make sure those items are ready for the first day. 
• Make an adventure of shopping for required items, such as a new bookbag, lunch kit, indoor shoes or water bottle. Students do NOT need to purchase school supplies – they will be given by the school.  
• Practice crossing the road safely. DO NOT jay walk, and go to the crosswalks.  
• Establish the back-to-school routine a few days before school begins. This includes sleeping schedules and nighttime and morning routines. 
• Remind them that they belong at Cappy Smart School and their teachers are so excited to see them soon!

Staffing Updates: 

This school  year we have had some new staff join us.

Welcome to: 

• Mr. Francis Thomson – Mr. Thomson comes with many years of experience in Ontario. He joined the CBE last year after moving to Calgary. Welcome Mr. T! Mr. T. will be teaching a 5/6 Homeroom.  
• Ms. Elizabeth Hornseth – Ms. Hornseth also comes to us with experience, having taught at Kenneth D. Taylor, Monterey Park, McKenzie Towne and Chaparral Schools. We can't wait to see the amazing music programming our students are participating in this year!  Ms. Hornseth will be teaching music and supporting literacy and writing. 
• Ms. Marta Cartro – Ms. C will be joining our EES and Inclusion team. Ms. C has moved to Calgary from Spain, and has many experiences teaching in specialized setting. Her joy and play-based learning background will make her an excellent addition to our team! 
• Ms. Bolanle Abdulkadir – Ms. A is an educational assistant joining our EES team. We look forward to having her on the team and we know she is also excited to join the Cappy Staff.  

Key Reminders: 

• If you have moved during the summer or will no longer have your student attending Cappy Smart School, email our main school office to let us know. It is critical that we know who will be attending in the fall.  
• School starts for our grade 1-6 students on Aug 29. Teachers will call prior to start up to introduce themselves to you and your student(s). 
• Kindergarten families, you will receive, before end of day Aug 27th,  a separate email with information about the days your child will be attending school. We do NOT have all K students attend the first days, as they need time to learn routine and will be attending in small groups.  
• We will have shortened days for our general population K-6 students on the 29th and 30th. This means they will be finished school at 11:20 both Thursday and Friday.  
• Our EES students will have staggered entry, which means, student attending on the 29th will have a full day, students attending on the 30th will have a typical Friday schedule.  
• We have changed our school schedule. PLEASE ENSURE your daycares are informed. 

Next School Year - Bell Time Changes 2024-2025  

All the best Cappy families, I am looking forward to seeing you and your student(s) soon!

Rachel MacDonald, Principal

Be kind. Be courageous. Be Cappy Smart!