The PAW Print
Friday, September 4, 2026
Welcome back! It has been a wonderful first week seeing so many familiar faces and meeting all of our new students and families. Our school has been filled with great energy, and we are already jumping right into action for an exciting school year ahead!
There are many upcoming events and important updates to check out in this edition of the newsletter, including opportunities to get involved in SAM Chorus, Cross Country Running, and (new this year) Flag Football! Be sure to mark your calendars for our Welcome Back BBQ and Meet the Staff on Thursday, September 10th—we can't wait to see you there!
Week of Sept 8 - 11
- Mon, Sept 7 - NO SCHOOL (Labour Day)
- Tues, Sept 8 - Cross Country Running Practice (Grades 4, 5, 6 at Lunch Recess)
- Wed, Sept 9 - Cross-Country Fun Run at SAM (Grades 4, 5, 6)
- Thurs, Sept 10 - Cross Country Running Practice (Grades 1, 2, 3 at Lunch Recess)
- Thurs, Sept 10 - Welcome Back BBQ (5:30pm - 6:30pm)
- Fri, Sept 11 - Picture Day
Join us for our annual Welcome Back Family BBQ on Thursday, September 10th at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy complimentary hotdogs, reconnect with other families, and help us celebrate the start of another great school year! There will be vegetarian and gluten free options available.
We look forward to seeing everyone there to kick off the new year together!
Event Schedule:
5:30 p.m. – Outdoor BBQ & Visiting: Grab a hotdog, catch up with friends, and meet school staff outside.
6:00 p.m. – Visit the Classrooms: Head inside for your child to show you around their classroom and introduce you to their teacher.
SAM School has been doing an amazing job of fundraising to support cancer research through the Terry Fox Foundation. This year our school's goal is to raise $5750 to support cancer research!!! Great work, SAM! Click here to donate to the Terry Fox Foundation! We will be accepting donations until October 2nd.
This year, our annual school Terry Fox Run will be hosted in the afternoon of Thursday, September 17th. Parents and families are very welcome to come cheer on our students as they run to support cancer research:
SAM Terry Fox Run Times
- Kinder AM : Run at 11:05 a.m.
- Kinder PM & DIV 1: Start at 2:10pm by grade
- DIV 2: Start when DIV 1 Runners are completed (approx. 2:45pm)
Cross-country running is officially up and running! Division 2 students were invited to an information meeting this week and are bringing home permission forms to be signed over the weekend. Come on out and cheer on our athletes!
Key Details:
Permission Forms: Due back to Mr. Beauchamp by Tuesday, September 8.
Division 2 Practice: Tuesdays during recess.
Division 1 Practice: Thursdays during recess.
First Division 2 Fun Run: Wednesday, September 9, after school at SAM.
We are ready to start a new season of SAM Chorus. All Grade 4, 5 and 6 students who love to sing are welcome to attend. The Chorus will rehearse every Wednesday morning in the music room from 8:00 - 8:40 am, beginning on Wednesday, September 16th. Registration forms will be available for students next week.
**Please note: There will be no rehearsal on Wednesday, September 30th.
Our amazing SAM Fundraising Society is once again organizing a Hot Lunch program for our SAM students this year. All proceeds made from Hot Lunch go to support many wonderful opportunities for our SAM students. Our first Hot Lunch will be Friday, Sept. 18th (Subway/Booster Juice) and our first Pizza Day will be Tuesday, Sept 22nd (Panago Pizza). Orders for hot lunch close five days prior to the lunch date.
For more information, or to sign-up for Hot Lunch, please visit our website at: Hot Lunch Orders
Join an amazing group of parent volunteers for the SAM Fundraising Society’s Annual General Meeting! Our dedicated team organizes fun events throughout the year, with all proceeds directly funding incredible opportunities for SAM students. Thanks to parent support, we’ve previously funded new playground equipment, swimming lessons, cross-country skiing, school jerseys, and STEAM Lab gear.
We always appreciate extra hands, and there are plenty of low-commitment ways to get involved. Just a few hours of your time goes a long way in supporting student learning and building a great school community.
First Meeting Details:
Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: SAM School Library
We invite all parents interested in joining the SAM School Council for the 2026/27 school year to attend our Annual General Meeting.
Meeting Details:
Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: 7:00 PM
AGM Agenda Highlights:
Reviewing School Council roles and responsibilities
Electing executive board members (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, CASC Rep)
Beginning community feedback collection for the 2026 SAM Education Plan
To learn more about the role of School Councils in Alberta, please review the Alberta School Councils' Association Resource Guide.
According to Ministerial Order #014/2024, the use of personal mobile devices in schools can be a source of distraction that can negatively impact students’ mental health, engagement, and learning. As such, the government has directed every school authority to, at a minimum, limit the use of personal mobile devices and restrict access to social media as follows:
- Children and students may not use personal mobile devices during instructional time.
- Children and students may not access social media on school networks or on school devices.
In addition, each school authority may further limit the use of personal mobile devices and social media according to the Ministerial Order. St. Albert Public Schools, with consultation with the community, has outlined the division policy regarding the Use of Personal Mobile Devices and Social Media in Schools.
At SAM School, it is important to us to create an environment conducive to optimal learning; as such, personal cell phones/smart watches are not permitted to be used on SAM School property (or on school outings) unless approved as a medical exemption. If a student needs to bring a cell phone/smart watch to school, they will need to turn it off and keep it locked securely in their locker. We ask that students and parents contact each other through the school phone.