Important Information

• See our School Calendar for our upcoming dates and events.
• See SchoolMessenger to see the steps you can take to stay informed and receive all of our SchoolMessenger emails.

Hello Rideau Families!

October is officially here!

As much as I want to resist the end of summer, we are experiencing a truly beautiful fall in Calgary. I was joking with a friend the other day that there appears to be a hierarchy of fall colours when talking about this season. Apparently red is best and yellow is not. I stand to disagree! There is nothing more gorgeous than the glowing yellow and orange leaves of our local aspens and poplars. If you are lucky enough to spend time with larches, the soft golden needles dressing those rugged branches along our alpine slopes are incredible to witness. I have included here some photos of my own garden where I enjoy these trees in our Foothills environment west of Calgary. Why am I sharing this? Noticing, observing, looking closely – however you wish to describe this – is an important cognitive skill. Slowing down and paying attention to details is a critical skill for solving problems, activating creative thinking and developing rich language. I encourage this type of work with our teachers and often suggest the provocation of taking learning outside.

This week, our grade 8 and kindergarten buddies shared time together in their sit spots. Extended periods of sitting still, remaining quiet and observing is a skill! Our grade 1-2’s also engaged in a fabulous field trip at The Weaselhead where they used their senses to observe and document the natural environment. Plans are shaping up for a return visit in the spring for some comparative analysis! Learning together outside also can bridge differences in learning. Students that might struggle with traditional tasks inside can thrive when given the opportunity to show their learning in alternate ways. I know that some of our grade 3-4 students took time outside to reflect on what it means to belong and feel safe while at school.

These approaches reflect the messaging shared with us during our Orange Shirt Day assembly on September 29. Our K-2 students did a fantastic job of leading learning and encouraging all students to ensure that everyone feels like they belong at school. These approaches also reinforce our Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action for the 2026-2027 school year. You can read more about our Calls to Action on our website at https://rideaupark.cbe.ab.ca/school.

Reminder - We are a safe, caring and welcoming community…

To maintain a consistent and supportive environment that fosters high expectations for all students, it is important to ensure that families and students are familiar with some key policies and procedures that are in place across the Calgary Board of Education. Namely, please take time to review the following items available on our website:

• Student Code of Conduct and Progressive Discipline https://rideaupark.cbe.ab.ca/conduct
• Personal Mobile Devices- Away for the Day  https://rideaupark.cbe.ab.ca/student-personal-mobile-devices-k-9
• Scent-Free  Environment   https://rideaupark.cbe.ab.ca/health-wellness

Winter Concert Decoration Donations

As we prepare for our upcoming Winter Concert, we are hoping to create a beautiful and festive winter atmosphere for our students and families!

We are looking for donated or gently used winter-themed decorations that we can use to decorate the stage and music spaces. We are especially interested in items such as:

•  Snowmen or snowmen decorations (like pictured, NOT inflatable décor)
• Large decorative snowflakes
• White or clear twinkle/fairy lights
• Winter greenery or frosted branches
• White, silver, or winter-themed decorations
• Hanging decorations or ornaments with a winter theme
• Other decorations that help create a magical winter atmosphere

We are hoping to keep the decorations winter-themed rather than specifically Christmas-themed, so that our concert environment feels welcoming and inclusive for all of our students and families.

If you have any decorations that you would be willing to donate or lend to the school, please contact Ms. Koshynsky at KaKoshynsky@cbe.ab.ca. Donations can be sent to or dropped off at the school.

Thank you for helping us make this year's Winter Concert a special experience for our students!

Reminder - Gym Strip and Spirit Wear – Summarized Designs

All students in Grades 7 to 9 are required to change into a gym strip for PE classes. We suggest the following for a Junior High gym strip:

• Summarized Designs will be our supplier for our Rideau Park School spirit wear again this year and for any replenishments to your student’s PE “wardrobe”. This new vendor complements our fall offering of gym strip by making Rideau Park “R” logo t-shirts and other active wear gearavailable throughout the year.

Secure online ordering and payment are available at: https://www.myschoolzone.ca/rideaupark

An overview of all our gym strip and spirit wear options are available on our website: https://rideaupark.cbe.ab.ca/merchandise

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Rideau Park Parents Association – School Council Update

Thank you to our School Council and Rideau Park Parents Association (RPPA) for working tirelessly to enrich the learning environment at Rideau Park School for all students.

We look forward to welcoming returning and new attendees to our School Council & RPPA meetings. Our next meeting will be VIRTUAL and will take place at 1:45pm on Oct 21. The meeting link will be shared closer to the date.

2026-2027 Meeting Schedule

Oct. 21 (Virtual): 1:45pm                                                                        Jan. 20 (Virtual): 1:45pm

Nov. 18 – In person, 6:00pm                                                                  Feb. 24 – In person, 6:00pm

Apr. 21 (Virtual): 1:45pm                                                                         May 19 – In person, 6:00pm (AGM)

Save the Date! October 20: Mindfulness Tools for Families

Join us for a special Parent Council presentation with Amber Pavey of Present Possibilities.

This workshop is designed to help families and school communities strengthen connection and improve well-being. Parents will explore practical, evidence-based mindfulness tools to enhance resilience and social-emotional awareness, address anxiety and overwhelm, and navigate perfectionism. You can learn more about Amber at https://www.presentpossibilities.ca/about-amber-pavey-wellness-educator

• When: Tuesday, October 20 at 7 p.m.
• Where: School Learning Commons

Snacks, beverages and time to mingle with other parents will follow. All parents are welcome!

During the week of October 19, Amber will also be exploring these themes with students in age-appropriate ways. The parent presentation will help you understand what your child is learning and give your family shared tools and language to continue the conversation at home.

Hot Lunch Returns for 2026-2027 - Healthy Hunger is Back!

Parents, do you want to support Rideau Park School AND pack one less lunch every other week?

Healthy Hunger, hosted by the Rideau Park School Council and Parent Association,

offers delivery of lunches to the classroom every other Thursday!

Our next Fun Lunch will be held Thursday, October 8, 2026.

• Orders must be submitted on the Saturday BEFORE the lunch
• Order lunch by lunch, or multiple dates in advance

Visit www.healthyhunger.ca to order your student’s lunch and support our school! Volunteers Needed!

We need parent volunteers to help organize lunches and deliver them to classrooms. It’s easy, anyone can help, and the time commitment is usually just 30 minutes!

Sign up to help here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044FA4AD2FA3F9C25-65125505-healthy

Lunches Coming Up: Oct 8 - Edo Japan

Oct 22 – Little Caesar’s Pizza Nov 5 - Mary Brown's Chicken Nov 19 – Mucho Burrito

Save the DATE – Casino Fundraiser, November 5-6, 2026

This is a critical fundraising event for Rideau Park School and our turn has come up once again to infuse much needed dollars to enrich and enhance programming/resources for our students.

• Where: Elbow River Casino
• Hosted by: Rideau Park Parents Association
• Dates: Thursday November 5 and Friday November 6, 2026.

Link to sign up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4DA4A72AA4FF2-64600096-elbow 

No experience is needed, everyone gets trained on site and meals are provided. Please consider signing up to contribute to our biggest fundraiser of the year.

We appreciate you and your support! Sincerely,