Parent-Teacher Conferences 

If you haven’t already done so, please go into your MyCBE account to book interviews with your child’s teachers.  The booking system closes on Wednesday and we really want to see you!!  We will be here Wednesday/Thursday night and Friday morning.   And while you’re in your account, you will also see your updated fees, including the Yearbook which is available for pre-order.  Please pay all fees as soon as you are able; if it is helpful, you can set up installments to spread the cost over the year.  Thank you for your support. 

School Improvement Results Report (2023-24) 

For those of you who could not attend the Parent Council meeting this week, you missed a few moments of celebration, so I wanted to include them here!  Our school results from last year are in, and beyond growth in academic areas, SJF showed some significant improvement in a number of areas that are worth highlighting.   

The OurSchool survey that students complete every spring and fall indicated that in the past year, students have reported a 10% increase in Sense of Belonging and a 3% increase in Positive Relationships.  Furthermore, the CBE Student Survey indicated the following changes in our schools’ target area: 

“There is at least one adult at school who I really connect with” 

This continues to be one of the largest areas of improvement at SJF.  Additionally, parent satisfaction with the overall quality of education at Sir John Franklin has increased from 61% to 93% in the last 3 years, including an increase of almost 10% of parents agreeing that students have access to the supports and services they need at school. 

For more information, you can find our full School Improvement Results Report and School Development Plan posted to our website on November 30. Thank you for partnering with us to help your kids be the best they can be! 

Clothing Donations 

I know I have included this in the past two weeks' message, but I wanted to share that we have SO APPRECIATED the items that have been brought in and were able to provide them to students in need immediately. We would continue to benefit from any winter items you might be able to donate.  If you have winter coats, pants, boots, mittens, hats, and scarves that are in good condition and perhaps no longer fit your child and would be willing to donate them to a student in need, our school community would be grateful.  Please ensure they are clean and in good repair and in a bag with sizes clearly labeled to allow for easier distribution. Additionally, if your child(ren) would benefit from this support, please reach out to me or their homeroom teacher directly and we will do our best to help. 

Week at a Glance

*Please note: all athletics practices/games are listed below  

Upcoming Dates  

• Dec 5: Art installation – more details coming soon!  
• Dec 12: Band Winter Concert 
• Dec 23 - Jan 3: Winter break – no school! 
• Jan 30: Screenagers: The Next Chapter 

Play Rehearsals

Play rehearsal scheduling is now transitioning over to the calendar on the Play Google Classroom. If your child is a member of the cast and is not yet enrolled in the Classroom, please remind them to talk to Ms. Roberts or email viroberts@cbe.ab.ca for access.  

Athletics

Resources

• Families with questions/feedback about bussing, can reach out directly to Southland 403-726-5966 and/or reach out to CBE Transportation here: 

t | 1-403-817-7433 

e | transportation@cbe.ab.ca 

• The CBE Community Resource Guide contains a great list of community resources 
• How to be an Ethical Online Citizen 
• Mental Health Resources -Please reach out if you need help: 
• Call the Distress Centre at 403-266-HELP (4357). 
• Call the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868. 
• Call the Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642 or the addiction line at 1-866-332-2322. 
• MyCBE Account (Grades, Attendance, Fees, Transportation, Booking Interviews, etc). 

Screenagers: Tech Talk Tuesday - How Phone Bans Improve School Safety (by Dr. Delaney) 

Is it safer for students to have access to their phones during a school lockdown or not?  
I just released a podcast episode that addresses this question, and coincidentally just last week, I hosted some girlfriends, one of whom serves on our school board, who shared with me that a mother had recently reached out with concerns about phone access during potential school emergencies. The mother expressed that she wanted her child to have a way to contact her directly. 

My school board friend, who incidentally advocates for phones away for the day at school, asked me to explain why not allowing them might actually enhance safety. 

As I started to tell her the many reasons, I could feel my heart start pounding because this is such an emotional topic for me. I feel the importance so deeply. School safety is critical, along with all the other reasons that phones need to be locked away during school hours. 

In today’s blog, I share some quotes from my conversations that are featured in yesterday’s 20-minute Screenagers Podcast, Why School Safety Experts Want Phone Bans.  
This includes a police officer, an elementary school principal, a superintendent, and a school safety expert who consults with schools across the country.  

Read The Blog

The Screenagers Podcast - Episode 47: Why School Safety Experts Want Phone Bans 

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Delaney dives into this question that sparks debate among educators, parents, and safety experts.  
To tackle this complex topic, among others, Dr. Delaney speaks with Clayton Cranford, who works with schools across the country to improve safety protocols, bringing a wealth of real-world experience to the conversation. 
Listen Now 
Screenagers Website > // Apple Podcasts >  
Spotify > // YouTube >