Dear Parents/Guardians of HDC Students,

The “HDC Weekly Message” will be sent out to families every week throughout the school year. We hope that you find the information helpful and informative.  We promise that they won't always be so long (maybe just for the first couple of weeks!)

We had a great first couple of days with students on Thursday and Friday. Students spent time meeting their teachers and classmates and learned about some of the amazing things that HDC has to offer. On Thursday we had an assembly with each grade group to talk about life at HDC.  We strive to be a place where all students feel welcome and where they belong. We want to provide opportunities for them to explore their interests and passions, develop positive relationships, learn and grow, and have some fun along the way. We finished off the day on Friday with a BBQ and lawn games.  It was an awesome community event. 

We currently have more than 470 students enrolled, and we are expecting more families to join our HDC family over the next few weeks. We are watching our enrollment numbers carefully and if any organizational changes need to be considered we will communicate with families as soon as possible. 

There are a few changes in terms of expectations for students at HDC this year. The biggest one being the Personal Mobile Device "Away for the Day" policy. A reminder that students are not able to use personal mobile devices (cell phones, tablets, gaming devices, laptops, smart watches, Bluetooth speakers/headphones or any electronic device that can be used to communicate with or access the internet) inside the school buildings at any time during the day. Pleae refer to the email sent out on August 28 or our school website for specific details. 

The second one is we will be asking students to keep their backpacks in their lockers and not bring them to class. This is a standard practice in schools. With our classes full (each HR over 30 students) having backpacks in the classroom make it very cramped and difficult to move in the rooms and hallway.

As always, please feel free to reach out to us with any questions. Thank you for the continued support - we are looking forward to a fantastic 2024-25 school year!

Jim & Brandie 

Important Upcoming Dates 

  • September 13: Fall Field Day 
  • September 19: Meet the Staff / Program Evening 6:00 – 7:30 PM 
  • September 24 Grade 7 Walking Trip to Nose Hill  
  • September 26: Terry Fox Run  
  • September 27: Non Instructional Day – NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS 

Dates of Significance 

  • September 7: Ukrainian Canadian Heritage Day  
  • September 8: International Literacy Day  
  • September 11: Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year) 

UPDATE - Options / CTF Classes 

Options / CTF classes will begin on Thursday, September 5th. We are still working to enroll students in classes and will be making some changes in course offerings – particularly in Term 2. What students see in PowerSchool as far as their option/CTF courses is not completely accurate and likely to change. We will provide students with a paper copy of their finalized timetable on September 5. 

Some courses that were offered as part of the selection process in June will not be offered due to low interest levels from students, staffing changes, or space constraints. These courses include Grades 7 & 8 French, Grade 8 Board Game Design, and Grade 9 Enterprise & Innovation  

We are pleased to offer some additional option/CTF choices for students to select. We will be speaking with students on Tuesday, September 3 to gather interest. 

Grade 7 Guitar - guitar provides an opportunity for students to learn how to play an acoustic guitar together (in ensemble) and individually. Students will learn practical skills including basic strumming patterns, chords and melodies.  Along with the practical skills, students will receive some basic music theory instruction. No experience is required. 

Grade 7, 8, & 9 Design Studies (STEAM) - students will collaborate with classmates to problem solve and complete several short-term challenges that require solutions that use the design process, hands on building, and testing. STEAM is Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math all rolled into one exciting course   

Grade 8 Cosmetology - this option will introduce students to skills related to various aspects of cosmetology such as makeup application, techniques for caring for and doing your hair and nails, and skin types and related skin care products. Once you have learned these basics, you will navigate challenges that require you to work with others to plan and bring your visions to life. Careers related to cosmetology will also be explored throughout the course of the term.   

HDC Welcome Activity with Students - What’s in a Name? 

Welcome to HDC! As part of the Calgary Board of Education, our school aims to be a welcoming, safe, caring and respectful place to be  and learn. To do this, our Wellness team works hard to provide weekly activities and conversations that celebrate the rich diversity of our school and build connections. Throughout September, we will focus on Identity and what makes us each unique. Our first activity will be to think about the story behind each of our names. When we invite students to think about their names, the meaning and significance of their name, we offer the opportunity to listen to each other’s story and celebrate the rich diversity in our building. 

Please take some time this weekend to talk with your child about their names so they can choose to share their story with their classmates.  

  • Where did their name come from? 
  • Were they named after someone? 
  • Does their name have a meaning? 

We look forward to using this activity as a meaningful way to connect with each other as we begin our learning journey this year.

School / Community Center Parking Lot – NO Student Drop Off & Pick Up  

If you are driving your students to HDC, please do not drop off or pick up students in the school / community center parking lot. This is important to ensure student safety as well as minimizing congestion. We have 2 small school buses that need entry and exit pathways, and there are often community members needing access to the community center. We appreciate your help with this. 

Cougar Athletics Update  

We are extremely excited to get our Cougar Athletic teams up and running this year. Our Cross Country, Soccer, and Basketball teams will be beginning tryouts and practices this upcoming week. Students can find the schedule posted outside the PE office, on the school website and in our daily announcements slides in the homeroom period. Students who wish to tryout will need to make sure that they have returned the “Annual Authorization for Athletic Tryout” form which was distributed in homerooms today. GO COUGARS! 

HDC Physical Education 

Our Physical Education programs will be up and running right away, and we would like to remind families of the importance of proper footwear in PE. We are happy to provide PE to all students daily (Monday to Friday) so it is important that students have a pair of running/athletic shoes at school every day. Gym Lockers are available for students who need to store their shoes or extra clothing. Students who forget shoes will be required to borrow shoes from our set of extras, and families will be notified if compliance with this expectation becomes an issue. Crocs, Slides, Boots will not be permitted for use in PE activities. Thank you for your support in this matter of safety. 

Off-Campus Trips Within Walking Distance of HDC 

As part of our Physical Education program and other programs of study, there will be times when our staff will work with students off school property in the community.   

Field trips close to our school can complement classroom learning by giving students opportunities to explore the community around their school. As parents/guardians, you will no longer need to fill out a consent form for your child to go on a class trip that is walking distance from the school, e.g. to a local park. Appropriate walking distance is determined by the Principal and may vary, depending on the age of the students.  

Examples of possible walking distance locations include: 

  • Parks and greenspaces in Dalhousie and/or Ranchlands 
  • Path and walkways in and around Dalhousie 
  • Nose Hill Park 

As with any field trip, there are some common hazards involved with walking trips to various locations in and around the community. Please note this list may not include all of the hazards for a given trip:  

  • Slips, trips and falls;  
  • Getting separated from the group;  
  • Street crossings;  
  • Pre-existing medical conditions and/or allergies 

Other than regular Physical Education activities, teachers will send home information about trips planned to local sites. This will be communicated via School Messenger.  

If you have any questions regarding field trips within walking distance of the school, please feel free to contact the school.  

Volunteering at HDC 

We welcome volunteers in the classroom, on field trips, and with certain tasks at school. Certain activities or field trips would not be possible without the active participation of our volunteers. As a CBE volunteer, you are placed in a position of trust with students, staff or property.  All adult volunteers require a valid security clearance - no exceptions. 

Guest speakers or visitors to the school, and parents assisting their child, are not considered volunteers and do not require a security clearance. 

Volunteer Security Clearance Process 

Step 1: Prospective volunteers must first register as a volunteer at the school office where you plan on volunteering. School administrators will verify your identity and register you in the CBE volunteer database. The school office will provide you with a letter enabling you to obtain a police information check from the Calgary Police Service (CPS). Volunteers can request this letter through their MyCBE account using the form available in the School Engage tab. 

Please note, prospective volunteers must reside in Canada for a full year before registering. Police clearances from countries other than Canada are not accepted. 

Step 2: Visit the CPS online system, electronic Police Information Check (ePIC), to obtain your police check using your CBE volunteer letter. 

Volunteers should wait to submit their request until they receive an email from Calgary Police Service – Record Check inviting them to apply for their Police Information Check with VS for Volunteer. This will ensure the voucher is ready to be redeemed by the volunteer. 

Voucher costs are covered for online applications only. If a volunteer applies to Calgary Police Service in-person with the e-Pic letter given them from their school, the $21.25 application fee will apply.  

If a volunteer submits their own payment, there is no option for a refund. There is no refund option for volunteers who have previously submitted applications.  
If you are unable to complete the process online, you may visit a police information check location instead. 

Step 3: Once you receive your clearance document from CPS you will need to share it with the school. This can be done through School Engage, in-person or by email. 

Annual Volunteer Registration 

Each school year you must complete the CBE volunteer registration form. By completing the form, you agree to abide by the conditions that protect the safety, confidentiality and working environment of our schools. You also make a signed declaration with regard to criminal charges. 

Subscribe for School Messages 

Don’t Miss Out on School messages! Due to Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation, parents and guardians need to subscribe online to receive some school messages on topics like student fees, picture days, field trip costs, yearbooks, fun lunches and more. Subscribe online at www.cbe.ab.ca/subscribe.  

In addition, to receive any text messages from our school or the Calgary Board of Education, please opt in for texts. Use the cell phone on file with the school to text the word YES to the six-digit number 978338. 

There is no extra cost to receive SMS messages from CBE, but standard message rates and data charges from your carrier apply when you receive messages from us. See all terms and conditions at www.cbe.ab.ca/SMS. 

For more information, visit www.cbe.ab.ca/subscribe or view Questions and Answers.