Rider's Digest
September 26 - Weekly Newsletter for Landing Trail School
Welcome back to a new school year!
Welcome to our weekly newsletter, designed to keep
parents informed with a convenient week-at-a-glance overview.
Find all the links to school-related resources at the end of this newsletter.
Dear Landing Trail Families,
What an incredible week at Landing Trail! Thank you to all the families who joined us for our Terry Fox assembly and run. On the 45th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope, it was inspiring to see our students demonstrate courage, determination, and community spirit.
We also marked Truth and Reconciliation Week, welcoming Elder Maxine Hildebrandt, who offered blessings and helped us begin smudging at Landing Trail. Many families have already chosen to have their children participate in this meaningful practice, a reflection of the sense of belonging we are building together. This is optional, and you can find more information in the sections that follow in this newsletter.
You’ll also find information in this newsletter about Unplugged Canada. In The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt reminds us that when children spend less time on screens and more time in play, connection, and exploration, they grow into more resilient and confident learners. By working together (at home and at school), we can support our kids in finding the right balance with technology while helping them thrive in their learning and in life.
By working together, families and staff demonstrate to our students that they are valued, supported, and expected to grow into resilient, respectful, and future-ready learners, because at Landing Trail, #webelong.
With gratitude,
Louise Loh, Principal
The first month of school has already flown by, and what an excellent start it has been! As we settle into routines and continue building our school community, we are reminded of the importance of the values that guide us each day. Respect is a value we hold close at Landing Trail. We will continue to focus on it throughout the coming weeks. By practicing respect in all areas of our lives—toward ourselves, others, our environment, and our differences—we help create a safe, caring, and positive place for everyone to learn and grow.
Value of the month: Respect
This week at Landing Trail, our focus is on Respect Every Day. Respect is something we can show in every part of our lives—at school, at home, and in our community. When we listen carefully, use kind words, take responsibility for our actions, and care for the spaces and people around us, we make respect a daily habit. By choosing respect each day, we help create a school where everyone feels safe, valued, and ready to learn.
Next Week’s Focus: Respect for Differences
Focus: Valuing and celebrating the unique qualities, strengths, and perspectives of others.
Teaching: Respect for differences means showing kindness, understanding, and acceptance even when people look, think, or act differently than we do. When we appreciate diversity, we foster a welcoming community where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
Activities:
Family Story Share: At home, share a story about a family tradition, celebration, or experience that makes your family unique. Discuss how respecting differences makes communities stronger.
Celebrating Differences at Home: As a family, list three ways you are different from one another (likes, talents, habits) and three ways you are the same. Discuss why it’s important to value both similarities and differences.
As we move forward together, let’s continue to make respect part of our daily lives at school, at home, and in our community. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping our students learn the importance of kindness, responsibility, and care for others. With your partnership, we know this will be a year filled with growth, connection, and success.
Next week, we are excited to welcome members of the local fire department, who will be visiting our school to teach students about fire safety and prevention. Their presentations are always a highlight for our students, providing them with practical tips on how to stay safe at home and in the community. Additionally, our school will participate in a full response fire drill on October 3rd. Practicing these drills ensures that staff and students are prepared and know exactly what to do in case of an emergency.
We look forward to a week of learning, safety, and community partnership.
Have a wonderful day,
Sturgeon Public Schools is proud to be the first school division in Alberta to partner with Unplugged Canada, a parent-led movement that encourages families to delay giving children personal smartphones until at least the age of 14. Research indicates that waiting can have a positive impact on children’s mental health, relationships, and overall well-being. While technology is an integral part of learning in our classrooms, the use of personal smartphones and social media presents distinct challenges. By sharing the Unplugged Canada Pledge, we aim to foster open conversations at home and connect families with the resources they need to make informed choices for their children. Participation is entirely voluntary learn more and sign the pledge here.
We are so encouraged by the positive response to our smudging opportunity! With such strong interest from students, we will now be dividing into two groups to accommodate the large numbers. We began on Monday, September 22nd. Students will have the opportunity to participate in optional smudging at the end of the day (around 2:45 pm) on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Smudging is a traditional Indigenous practice that uses the smoke of sacred medicines (such as sage, cedar, sweetgrass, or tobacco) for purification and reflection. Participation is always voluntary: families may choose to have their children participate, observe respectfully, or not take part at all.
This practice supports our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, helping students grow in respect, understanding, and a strong sense of belonging.
Parental permission is required for a child to participate (Click this link to give consent).
Students are exploring Art and games with Cosmic Radiance during PLACE.
Art
Students explore Fine Arts outcomes through drawing, painting, and design, expressing ideas using a variety of media. Cross-curricular connections include Language Arts (communicating stories and concepts) and Social Studies (understanding culture through artistic expression). These experiences foster creativity, problem-solving, and self-expression, supporting Empowered Learning and building the confidence and innovation skills needed for Future Readiness.
Games with Cosmic Radiance
Through the fun and engaging process of learning and playing new board games, students apply Math outcomes such as patterns, strategy, and logical reasoning. They also strengthen Language Arts skills by reading instructions, explaining rules, and engaging in discussions. Health outcomes are addressed as students practice cooperation, persistence, and fair play. These experiences nurture Healthy Communities through teamwork and respect, while also building Empowered Learning by growing confidence in problem-solving and communication.
PowerSchool App
You will require a District Code to access your child's profile on the PS App.
District Code: JDQX
Find the PS App for Google here.
Find the PS App for Apple here.
Looking for more information on Outcomes-Based Reporting? Click this link to find out more.
Logos Steering Committee
NEXT MEETING: November 19 @ 3:15 pm (Landing Trail School)
If you are interested in helping with planning or volunteering, please e-mail: logoscommittee@gmail.com
Get your LANDING TRAIL SPIRIT WEAR! The online store is open with a great variety of clothing and accessories to be purchased.
Register at the following website and start shopping NOW!
https://landingtrailschool.entripyshops.com/
- Shoppers will be able to place orders year-round.
- There is no cut-off for orders. Entripy will process all orders that it receives in a timely fashion.
- Each time an order is placed, you will input a shipping address. Entripy will ship the order to the address that you have specified.
- Entripy accepts credit and debit payments using Visa and MasterCard.
- Note: All sales are final
- NO Sizing Kit is available.
