Dear Friends and Families of HDC,
We’ve seen a big improvement in students returning on time after lunch this week. Thank you for reinforcing the new lunch routine which has had a positive impact on readiness for learning in the afternoons.
Staffing Updates
Please join me in welcoming Skylar Snow (grade 7 teacher), Man Ho Ching (ACCESS EA), Lori Hartman (ACCESS EA), and Jeff Hutton (Acting AP) to the HDC family. We are fortunate to have such an incredible team of humans taking care of our students each day at school. Please or look for learning updates from each teaching team every other Friday via School Messenger. You can also log into your student’s Google Classroom to keep connected to learning at school. We look forward to welcoming you to our conferences to share information about progress in learning on November 26 and 27.
Online Safety and Cell Phones at School
Please make sure you are actively supervising your students’ online activities and continuing to remind them that it is inappropriate to impersonate others and take or share personal information, photos, videos of others via social media or messaging services. A reminder that it is not illegal (or safe) for youth in Canada to have/operate social media platforms such as Snap Chat, Tik Tok, and Instagram if they are under the age of 13. We have recently reported a number of inappropriate social media accounts using/impersonating the HDC name/logo and encourage all students and families to continue to block/report suspicious social media accounts to providers themselves (or to Calgary Police) when necessary.
We are starting to seek a number of students carrying phones in hallways at school or in their pockets during class time (then checking them during washroom breaks). In alignment with provincial legislation, students are not permitted to carry or use personal mobile devices in the school building. Please remind students to keep personal mobile devices in their lockers at all times during the school day. They are permitted outside the school building at lunch. Moving forwards if devices are seen carried/used in the school during school hours, we will keep them safe in the office until the end of the school day. If this issue recurs, we are happy to make plans to store mobile devices in the school office each day. If you need to communicate with your child during school hours, please call the office and we will be sure to relay your message.
School Store is NOW OPEN!
Our School store is open for students and families to purchase school gear! It will be open for orders until October 30th. Items will be shipped directly to HD Cartwright school the week of November 19th.
Visit the website to check out available items!
https://store.kodiaksports.ca/stores/cartwright-cougars
Physical Education and Health
We are currently finishing up our first round of modules in PE.
Our next round of modules will begin on October 20th with the following classes participating in the following activities.
Volleyball (Indoors)- Burke/Cassidy (703, 705, 802, 904, 905, 906)
Wrestling/Combative Activities (indoors)- Kanary/Cliche (704, 803, 806, 902, 903, ACCESS)
Outdoor Games and Activities (outdoors)- Hall/Browne (701, 702, 801, 804, 805, 901)
Please ensure that students are ready for the wrestling unit by wearing comfortable attire, removing jewelry, long hair tied back, and that they bring a spare pair of socks in case of wet feet throughout the day.
HDC Athletics
HDC Cougar athletes have had a great Fall so far! Please keep looking at the school website for game and practice times in the coming weeks, in order to make arrangements for rides to and from the proper location.
Our soccer teams have had fun building their skills and teamwork throughout the season. The girls team finished up their season yesterday and the boys have their final game next week. Thank you to all staff, students, and families who have been out there supporting them!
Our basketball teams have now played in a couple of league games, and our senior teams played in a feeder tournament at Churchill Highschool. HDC hosted tournaments this week, and all our teams are starting to show great sportsmanship and connection to each other on the court!
Our Wrestling Team started up this week. Please check the calendar for practices and the tournament dates for participation.
H. D. Cartwright Parents — We Need Your Help!
Did you know our school casino fundraiser is our largest fundraising event, earning HD Cartwright approximately $80,000–$90,000 for just two days of volunteering?
These funds go directly back to our school to enrich our students’ junior high experience and provide opportunities that benefit our entire school community.
🎰 Our next casino is November 21–22 at Pure Casino, and we need YOU!
To make this fundraiser happen, we need to fill 36 volunteer spots, plus approximately 12 on-call volunteer spots. With our HD Cartwright families working together, we can make it happen!
Never volunteered at a casino before? No problem!
✔️ No police clearance required
✔️ No experience necessary — training is provided when you arrive for your shift
✔️ Free meals and parking for volunteers
✔️ Sign up with a friend and make it a night out!
Why does your shift matter? If we don’t fill all the required volunteer spots, we risk losing this fundraiser and the $80,000–$90,000 payout that helps support our students. That’s an incredible amount of support and opportunity for our kids that we don’t want to lose!
Please take a look at the available shifts and consider signing up. Grab a friend, choose a shift that works for you, and enjoy a night out while supporting HD Cartwright!
Sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4FA4AA28A2FCC07-65537247-pure#/
Thank you for supporting our students and helping make their junior high experience the best it can be!
Upcoming Dates of Significance
- October 20: Dussehra
- October 22: Take Me Outside Day
- October 31: Halloween
- November: Hindu and Lebanese Heritage Month
Please Mark Your Calendars
- October 19: PD Day (no school for students)
- October 22: School Council Meeting (6pm in person at the school)
- October 30: Halloween Dance (in school)
- November 3: Photo re-takes
As always, please reach out with questions or concerns. Have a fantastic weekend.
Kate Jones
Principal