Happy New Year DDS Families! 

This week has been a successful re-entry into learning, filled with focused learning time and opportunities for students to set their goals and intentions for the year ahead. As a school, we continue to work on our School Development goal towards improving student achievement and engagement in writing. Across all grades, students are using the SRSD (Self-Regulated Strategy Development) writing approach to communicate their opinions. In kindergarten and grade one, this includes creating jot notes using pictures and some words. In grades two, three, four and five, students are writing multi-paragraph essays. Using the TREE opinion structure (topic, reason, explanation, ending) students practice organizing and expanding on ideas.  

All students will bring home an example of their opinion writing closer to report card time, along with a parent survey to help us monitor progress as a school community. If you are interested in learning more, you are invited to join us at our upcoming School Council meeting on January 21 where we will celebrate students’ learning and showcase progress in writing across grades. 

 Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead! 

DDS Administrative Team 

 Change in mid-year Report Card date: 

Due to labour action, The Calgary Board of Education adjusted the date that report cards will be available for viewing in PowerSchool. You can view and print your child’s report card on February 24^th, 2026. There will be an opportunity for in-person Parent/Teacher conferences on March 19^th and 20^th. 

 2026-2027 Kindergarten Registration Opens January 12, 2026: 

Click on the Kindergarten registration link for information and process.  

Order your 2025-2026 Yearbook: 

The optional fee for a yearbook is now available in your MyCBE Account – School Based Optional Fees. The yearbook includes an individual photograph of each student, classroom snapshots, and a whole school picture. If you wish to order a yearbook, please ensure you pay this fee by April 30^th,, 2026. 

 School Council:

You are invited to our next School Council meeting on January 21^st at 6:00 pm in the school Learning Commons. A link will be sent closer to the date for those who prefer to attend virtually. All parents are welcome to attend! 

 Volunteering: 

If you are interested in volunteering, please click on the link for information and the process.  

  Alberta Education Early Years Assessments: 

Students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 across Alberta will engage in a series of screening assessments between January 16 and February 6. These assessments are administered and scored by the teachers and used for progress monitoring. These assessments are not used for Report Card purposes but assist teachers and parents to identify the next steps in learning literacy and numeracy. Results will be shared with parents at the March Parent/Teacher conferences if the reports are available from Alberta Education by this date. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s classroom teacher. 

 Staffing Update:

We would like to welcome Ms. Karena Davies to Douglasdale School as part of our grade 5 teaching team. Ms. Davies will be teaching Mr. Young’s class until his return. We would also like to wish Ms. Imach best wishes in her new position as School Assistant at another CBE school. Mrs. Imach will be very missed at DDS, but we are excited for her new opportunity. Mrs. Christal Cam has agreed to step in for Mrs. Imach until the position is filled permanently. 

 Upcoming Dates:  

 CBE Days of Significance:  

The CBE is committed to building a culture of appreciation and inclusion, where students and staff can see themselves valued, respected, and celebrated. For more information on key dates, please visit the CBE Dates of Significance webpage.  

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead!  

DDS Administrative Team