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 here to view the web versions of these messages on our website using the Google Translate tab at the top.
Hello / Nǐ hǎo Marion Carson School Families,
Another great week of learning has gone by. Many classrooms have been outdoors for learning throughout parts of the day utilizing our beautiful natural spaces. Thank you very much to all families who are focusing on safety over convenience when dropping off and picking up their children each day. Families and staff have commented on how drivers are using the Hug and Go correctly to start the school year, ensuring that they drop their children off from the car, give a hug and kiss and right away get back in their car to drive away, opening up a space for other cars. This has led to our soft entry time having plenty of room for all families to drop off their children in this location, and much greater flow of traffic along Varsity Drive. Thank you families.
In this message…
- Terry Fox Run
- Backpacks for Kids
- Brown Bag Lunch Program
- School Conferences (1-6) / Meet the Teacher (K)
- Forms Due
- School Council and Parent Association Meeting
Some items of note…
1. Terry Fox Run – Sept 19, 2025
We will have our Terry Fox Run in the school field on Friday, September 19, 2025, starting at 9:40am and continuing until approximately 10:10am. Parents, guardians and family members are welcome to participate. We’ve also invited our neighbours at FE Osborne School to join if possible. Please wait outside at the school field for the event to begin. For families wishing to donate to the Terry Fox Foundation, we have setup our online Marion Carson Terry Fox Fundraising Page. Student leaders will also be visiting classrooms on our Terry Fox Run day collecting cash donations. Please consider donating a Toonie for Terry if able.
This year, our School Council and Parent Association are having a Welcome Back Mix and Mingle right before the morning bell and leading up to the Terry Fox Run. From 8:50am to 9:05am, on September 19th, parents are encouraged to come with their children before school starts (at 8:50am) and spend 15 minutes mingling with teachers, parents, and the children before the bell rings and soft entry starts. Parents should stay with their children until the soft entry bell rings. Student with parents can enjoy a snack and juice box. We ask that parents stay with their children to monitor the snack items being offered to their children and to ensure their children are supervised. Students will enter the building for soft entry as per normal from 9:05am to 9:13am. Teachers and students will go in for soft entry with teachers supervising the students in their classrooms and taking attendance. Parents are welcome to leave at this point once their child enters the school doors, or if choosing to stay for the Terry Fox Run, they can stay in the school field waiting for the Terry Fox Run to start, while mingling with other parents. Parents are asked to remain outside. The Terry Fox Run is expected to occur to 9:40 to ~10:10am.
2. Backpacks for Kids
The Backpacks for Kids campaign by Education Matters provides families with backpacks and learning essentials (supplies) to students in need across Calgary. We have about 20 backpacks to provide to students who could use a new backpack and some supplies. Please see the CBE news story here for more information and contact your child’s teacher or our school office should you be interested in the support.
3. Brown Bag Lunch Program
Should your family be suffering from food insecurities and could benefit from some support with your child(ren)’s lunches, please contact your child’s teacher or the school office. Brown Bag Lunch program provides daily healthy lunches for students in need delivered right to the school each day. The school needs to sign-up children for this program with parent permission. If your child is in need, please don’t hesitate to ask. We want them to be well fed, so that they can focus on their learning each and every day.
4. School Photo Day
Get your smile ready! Our school individual and class photo day is Wednesday September 17 for most students in Kindergarten through grade 6. Mandarin Bilingual Kindergarten students in the Tuesday/Thursday class will have their photos on the morning of Thursday, September 18, 2025.
5. School Conferences / Meet the Teacher
Grade 1-6 Students
For grade 1-6 students, September 25 in the evening will be a Meet the Teacher event for families. The evening will run from 4:30pm – 7:30pm and be separated into 30 minute bookings where up to 6 families at a time are able to book with their homeroom teacher. Each time slot will start with a presentation by the teacher about classroom routines, process, and expectations, followed by time for children to show their parents the classroom, meet the teacher, and ask any general questions (see booking information below). Please note that specific questions about your child’s learning should be communicated through email, or if needed as a separate phone call or meeting with the teacher. Please also be sure to come as a family to visit the music room with Ms. Seto, and the gymnasium with Ms. Collins. Parent supervision is required in these spaces.
*Mandarin Bilingual program families, we ask that you book your 30 minute timeslot with your homeroom teacher. Both the Mandarin and English Teachers will present together, and will be providing time within the 30 minutes to visit both classroom spaces.
Reminder that grade 1-6 students have school on Friday, September 26, 2025, but Kindergarten students do not.
Kindergarten Students
For Kindergarten students, September 25 (evening) and September 26 (day) will be Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences where families will have a dedicated time to meet with the teacher individually to set up their elementary school journey (see booking information below). *Please note the following:
- Community English Program
o has their regularly scheduled programming on Thursday, September 25, 2025 (9:13am – 12:02pm).
o do not have school on Friday, September 26, due to Parent Student Teacher Conferences.
- Mandarin Bilingual Program
o Tuesday / Thursday class has an early dismissal day (9:13am to 1:20pm) on September 25th, 2025 due to Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences.
o Tuesday / Thursday class students who ride the bus do not have transportation home on this day and must be picked up by their parent / guardian at 1:20pm.
o Has no school on Friday, September 26, due to Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences.
How to book your Meet the Teacher (1-6) / School Conferences (K) time slot
The booking window to secure your Meet the Teacher (grades 1-6) or parent-student-teacher conference (Kindergarten students only) with your child’s homeroom teacher will open Saturday, September 20, at 10am, and close Thursday, September 25 at 1pm. Bookings are completed through your MyCBE account by clicking on the Book and Manage Meeting Times tab. Please be sure to book your conference / Meet the Teacher time slot for this important initial conversation with your child’s teacher to help set the stage for the year, and support their daily learning moving forward.
Forms Due
A reminder that all forms (online and printed/signed) found in the September weekly message are due this Monday, September 15, 2025. Thank you to all families for completing these forms to support student safety and school organization.
A Message on Behalf of School Council / Parent Association
School Council and Parent Association Meeting
Our first School Council / Parent Association meeting of the year is this Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 6:30pm. Meeting minutes and upcoming agendas are posted to our school website here once finalized. All parents are automatically member. We hope you consider joining us at next these meetings throughout the year.
Various Fundraisers and Events upcoming (see Message from School Council sent Thursday, September 11, 2025)
Casino Fundraiser:
- Our biggest fundraiser for the school that comes around ~ every 2 years.
- October 26 and 27th. Sign up here to volunteer.
Welcome Back Mix and Mingle:
- Come join us as a family from 8:50am to 9:05am on Friday, September 19 for a morning snack and time to get to know other families in the school.
Davison Orchard Apples:
- Order your apples NOW until October 1st here. Pick up day is October 21.
Fun Lunch
- First Fun Lunch is October 3. Order your child’s fun lunch at www.healthyhunger.ca.
Sincerely,
Mr. Dustin Turner
Principal, Marion Carson School
Important Dates:
Sept. 16: School Council and Parent Association Meeting (6:30pm)
Sept. 17: Class/Individual Photos (K-6)
Sept. 18: Class/Individual Photos (MB Kindergarten Tu/Th Group)
Sept. 19: Welcome Back Mix and Mingle – 8:50am to 9:05am in school field
Sept. 19: Terry Fox Run (starts at 9:40am)
Sept. 19: School Council Welcome Back Mix and Mingle (from 8:50 – 9:05am)
Sept. 20: Conference / Meet the Teacher Booking System Opens at 10am – book at MyCBE
Sept. 25: Conference / Meet the Teacher Booking System Closes at 1pm – book at MyCBE
Sept. 25: Meet the Teacher Evening for Grades 1-6 (4:30pm – 7:30pm)
Sept. 25: Parent- Student-Teacher Conferences for Kindergarten class
- Community English Kindergarten from 4:30pm – 7:30pm
- Mandarin Bilingual Kindergarten from 2:00pm to 7:30pm
Sept. 25: Early 1:15pm dismissal day for T/Th MB Kindergarten (Mandarin Bilingual parents must pick-up their children at 1:20pm *no 1:20pm bussing for K students on this date)
Sept. 26: No School for Kindergarten Students due to conferences (gr. 1-6 school is in session)
Sept. 26: Orange Shirt Day
Sept. 29: Non-Instructional Day – No School for Students
Sept. 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – No School
Oct. 1: Deadline to order Davison Orchard Apples – place your order here
Oct. 3: Fun Lunch (Papa Johns) – order at www.healthyhunger.ca
Oct. 26/27: Casino Fundraiser October 26 and 27th. Sign up here to volunteer.