Learning Together, Friends Forever. 同窗四季，挚友一生

 

*If you would like to have a translated version of this message, please click the Google Translate tab at the top.

 

Hello / Nǐ hǎo Marion Carson School Families,


We would like to thank SoundKreations for a great learning experience through their dance residency this past 2 weeks, and for leading our students towards two great final performances earlier today. Great job students in showing off your new dance moves! It took a lot of bravery and preparation for your performance. What a talented group of students we have.

Next week we have many different activities planned. Please be sure to mark them all in your calendars or print this message and put it on your fridge so that your child will be prepared for each day’s events.

 

In this message…

 

-          Winter Festival Week

-          A Message from School Council and Parent Association

 

Some items of note…

 

1.    Winter Festival – December 15 - 19, 2025        

Today’s whole school dance residency connection was a great way to kick-off our weeklong holiday season celebrations. Next week is filled with many community building and citizenship-based initiatives, with various activities that build connection and student learning in a welcome, safe and caring environment for all.

We also focus this week on the spirit of giving, both to each other within the Marion Carson School community and to the citizens of Calgary as a whole. Listed below are the upcoming school-wide activities during the Winter Festival Week of December 15 to 19, 2025. Please mark your calendars and join in on the fun!

*If you are a family in need who could be supported by any of the school citizenship fundraisers/initiatives below, please be sure to connect with your child’s teacher, or the school office before the end of the day Tuesday, so that we can support our in-house family needs before sharing our school’s generosity with the greater Calgary community.

 

The Winter Festival Week’s Events…


Monday Dec. 15, 2025

  • Spirit Day Theme: Fun Sock Day (wear your fun and silly socks)
  • Whole School Activity:
    • Community Winter Walk to Bowmont Park (upper level where 53rd St NW meets 40th Ave NW
    • This event will focus on the changing of the seasons and an exploration of the sights and sounds of the community of Varsity and city of Calgary
    • Specific hazards include but are not limited to animal encounters, slips, trips, falls, inclement weather
    • Classrooms will be going on the walk with their teachers and with our PE&W Learning Leader Ms. Collins.
    • Parents are welcome to join (please wait along Varsity Drive should you like to join in on the walk)
    • Schedule:
      • 9:30am – 10:30am: Kindergarten, Grade 1 and 2
      • 11:30am – 12:30pm: Grade 3 and 4
      • 1:30pm – 2:30pm: Grade 5 and 6
  • Week of Giving Donation Theme:


Tuesday, December 16, 2025

  • Spirit Day Theme: Holiday Sweater Day (wear your fun holiday sweaters and colours)
  • Whole School Activity:
    • 10:30-11:00am: Musical Performance by a University of Calgary String Quartet (students and staff only)
    • Whole School Door Decorating contest
  • Week of Giving Donation Theme:


Wednesday, December 17, 2025

  • Spirit Day Theme: Marion Carson Apparel (wear Marion Carson Apparel / blue, gold or yellow clothing)
  • Whole School Activity:
    • Caroling from 9:30am – 10:00am
      • Organized by Grade 1, 2, 5, and 6
      • Parents are welcome to join
    • Gr 4 Celebration of Learning Gallery Walk from 2:15pm – 3:45pm (parents of grade 4 students are welcome to join from 3:15 – 3:45pm)
  • Week of Giving Donation Theme:
    • Accepting Donations of Toiletries such as toilet paper, hand soap, lotion, female hygiene products, male hygiene products, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, Kleenex, etc.

Thursday, December 18, 2025

  • Spirit Day Theme: Festive Hat / Hair Day (wear your best holiday hat, or add some festivus to your hair for the rest of us)
  • Whole School Activity:
    • Caroling from 10:30am – 11:00am
      • Organized by Grade K, 3, and 4
      • Grade 6 students from FE Osborne School joining
      • Parents are welcome to join
  • Movie Night
    • Organized by Parent Association (buy tickets here)
    • 2024 family film “IF”, starring John Krasinski, Ryan Reynolds, and Steve Carell
    • Parents must stay in attendance supervising their child(ren)
    • Starts at 6pm
  • Week of Giving Donation Theme:

 

Friday, December 19, 2025

  • Spirit Day Theme: Pajama Day (Come to school cozy in your nice warm pajamas, slippers and more. If coming with a stuffed animal, slippers, or more please be sure they are labelled)
  • Whole School Activity:
    • Outdoor Ed Connect with Winter Sports Stations (please dress for the weather and for outdoor play)
    • Treat provided by School Council (Warm Apple Cider and a Candy Cane
      • *If you would not like your child to have either of these provided treats, please email your child’s teacher
  • Week of Giving Donation Theme:
    • Accepting cash and online donations for the accessible creative playground project as we work with School Council towards building a new playground.
    • Cash donations: student leaders will come to each class asking for donations
    • Online donations: Visit Variety Alberta’s website at https://varietyalberta.ca/give/. Under the “Donate To” button, select “Marion Carson School Inclusive Playground (Calgary)”
    • School Council/Parent Association – Informal sledding community gathering
      • Sledding at Varsity Ravine Park off 53rd Street NW.
      • Come with your family, bring your sleds, a thermos with a hot beverage for your family to share and slide down the hills with your friends from school.
      • Helmets are recommended. 
      • Come anytime after school’s early dismissal and stay as long as your heart’s content. This is an informal event, so please ensure students remain with their supervising adult at all times (please do not drop off children on their own)

 

2.    A Message from School Council and Parent Association

 

Movie Night – December 18, 2025:

Movie night tickets are available online! $5 each. Online orders get 1st priority for entrance and seating. https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/movie-night-if. Cash concessions will be available in the gym (drinks, popcorn, candy)

Movie Night volunteers needed! We need a few parents to help out with tickets, concessions and cleanup IF they can (get it?) Signup here: Marion Carson Parent Association: Movie Night Volunteers

 

MC Staff Appreciation Potluck:

We want to show our appreciation to the staff at Marion Carson (MC) by providing them a great holiday lunch on December 17th. Please drop off items that morning to the staff room. You can sign up for donation here: Marion Carson Parent Association: MC Staff Appreciation Christmas Potluck

 

Marion Carson School Apparel:

Do you need apparel for December 17th "MC Apparel Day"? We have some items in stock. Or do you need a new piece of clothing? Check out our Zeffy store for school spirit wear and see if you need any stocking stuffers! https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/marion-carson-parent-associations-spirit-wear-shop

 

Upcoming Events

Dec. 15-19: Winter Festival Week

Dec. 18: Parent Association Movie Night (buy tickets here)

Dec. 19: Fun Lunch (Papa John’s) - Order at www.healthyhunger.ca

Dec. 20-Jan. 4: Winter Break – No School

Jan. 5: Classes Resume

Jan. 8: Fun Lunch (Subway) - Order at www.healthyhunger.ca

Jan. 8: Mandarin Bilingual Program Open House (for prospective families)

Jan. 15: School Snow Glow Dance (buy tickets here)

Jan. 16: Parent Association Bottle Drive (8:30am – 9:45am)

Jan. 19-23: Lunar New Year Residency (Trickster)

Jan. 23: Lunar New Year Final Performance (details TBC)

 

Sincerely,

Mr. Dustin Turner

Principal, Marion Carson School