June Newsletter

As the school year winds down, we have been reflecting with deep pride and gratitude on what has been an extraordinary year at Heritage Heights School. As new members of this amazing community, we are so thankful for the warm welcome and support from students, staff, and families. It had been a joy to become part of the Husky family!

Over the past ten months, we have seen incredible growth in our students—not just in height (we know some of you have outgrown your shoes!), but in confidence, academics, resilience, and character. We are so proud of the kind, curious, and capable learners they have become.

June has been filled with celebration and school spirit—from Divisional and Zone Track and Field, Badminton Zones, and the Young Authors Conference to our inspiring Student Matters presentation and Bus Driver Appreciation Day. We also celebrated the arts with our band’s standout performance at Bandextravaganza and the unforgettable Grade 5 and 6 play, Captain Starblaster.

We are thrilled to share that thanks to our amazing School Council and community, we’re nearing our $75,000 playground goal. Construction begins this summer and will bring lasting benefits to our students and the wider community. May brought even more Husky pride with a spirited in-school Canada Day and the joyful welcome of our incoming Kindergarten students.

As we wrap up the 2024–2025 school year, we’re focused on finishing strong and are already looking ahead with excitement to 2025–2026. Thank you for walking beside us this year. We are honoured to serve this remarkable community and proud to be Huskies—together.

With appreciation,
Ms. Rita Marie Rahn (Principal)
Mrs. Shanda Dupras (Vice Principal)

June 6

• Zoo Field Trip Gr. 7
• Rowan House Gr. 4

June 11

• 🎽 LAST Spirit Day: "Sports Day Theme Attire
• ☕ Volunteer Tea (more information to come!)

June 12

• Grade 6 PAT (ELA Part B)

• Grade 9 PAT (ELA Part B)

June 13

• Grade 6 PAT (Math Part A)

• Grade 9 PAT (Math Part A)

June 15

• Father's Day

June 16

• Jr. High Field trip
• 🎓"Moving UP" Celebration - Husky Hour @ 1:00 pm
• Please see information below

June 17:

• Grade 6 PAT (Math Part B)

• Grade 9 PAT (Math Part B)

June 18:

• Grade 6 PAT (Social Studies)

• Grade 9 PAT (Social Studies)
• Jr. High Field trip

June 19

• Grade 9 Science PAT

• Professional Learning Day - NO STUDENTS
• Grade 9 Farewell (evening)

June 23

• School Council Meeting 3:30 pm

June 26

• 🏃 Sports Day

June 27

• Last Day of School for Students
• 🎈 2024-2025 Celebration Assembly (time TBD)

June 30

• Operations Day (no students)

Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) are scheduled for the morning. The remainder of the day will be regular instructional time, and teachers will have planned curriculum-based learning activities for students.

If your child has an appointment or becomes ill, please ensure they are signed out following our standard school procedures. If you choose to pick up your child in the afternoon for any reason, you must come into the school to sign them out in person.

If someone else is picking up your child, they must be listed as an emergency contact in our system.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support!

🐾Spirit Day: Wednesday, June 11th

We will be having our LAST Spirit Day of the year, "Sports Day." Thank you, KINDER, for selecting the last theme. Students are encouraged to wear 'sports' type outfits. For example, a jersey, dance uniform, etc.

'🎓Moving UP' Celebration: Monday, June 16th -- Invitation Below!

During Husky Hour, we will be celebrating our Kindergarten, grade 6, grade 8, and grade 9 students at our 2nd annual 'Moving UP' assembly.

🎈2024-2025 Celebration Assembly: Friday, June 27th- Time TBD

This assembly celebrates our year together and all that we have accomplished as HUSKIES! It will feature a longer photo slideshow of our year together, a goodbye video from teachers/ staff, awards, final remarks from Ms. Rahn/ Mrs. Dupras, memories, celebrations, and a student goodbye to staff who are leaving.

• Students who turn 5 on or before December 31, 2025 are eligible for Kindergarten, while students who turn 4 on or before December 31, 2025 are eligible for Junior Kindergarten.
• All registrations are completed online through Edsembli.
• Families new to FSD will need to create an Edsembli Account and current families can add your child to your Family Portal! Please use the QR code or access the registration at Bit.ly/FSDNewStudent

More students are now eligible to ride the bus next fall. Students qualify for transportation based on the following conditions:

• Students registered in Foothills School Division (FSD) and attending a school within their designated attendance boundary; or

• Students directed to a school outside their attendance boundary school for FSD some regional programs (these include French Immersion, and inclusive learning programs); and

• Students whose residence (home address) is:

· 1.6 km* or more from their designated school for students in Kindergarten to grade 6

· 2.0 km* or more from their designated school for students in grades 7 to 12

Applying for Transportation

• For returning students, registration is now open until May 31, 2025.

• The student address on the application must match what is on file in Edsembli

· If your address has changed, please update your student’s information via the Student Verification form on the Edsembli Family Portal before submitting the application

• Apply for Transportation today

Transportation Fees

To meet increasing costs in Transportation, a nominal fee will be applied to approved bus riders:

• $100 per rider

• Maximum $250 fee per household

• The fee will be applied to student accounts on Edsembli in June after approval.

· Fees are to be paid before a rider is assigned to a route

· Payment of fees are required by June 30, 2025

New to FSD? Please apply for transportation after you have successfully enrolled with the school. Fees will be applied after your application is approved.

For details and registration visit our website: https://www.foothillsschooldivision.ca/page/198/apply-for-transportation

We kindly ask all parents/guardians (JK - Grade 8), to take a few moments to complete this important Parent Planning Survey for the upcoming school year. This valuable information helps us better understand your child’s learning needs, interests, and any specific supports that may be required. Your input plays a vital role in our planning process, including class placements and ensuring we create the best possible learning environment for each student. Thank you for your time and partnership!

Due Date: June 4, 2025

Quick Survey Link: https://forms.office.com/r/MVJXAUGTGx

It is the professional responsibility of administrators and teachers to create class configurations each year that balance students' needs and available resources. When making decisions for class placement, a great deal of time and thought is spent creating classes where students will successfully learn together. In order to create balanced, equitable and productive classroom environments.

We do not accept requests for specific teachers but do accept letters of parental concern regarding your child's academic and/or social emotional needs. Please submit requests, with the title Placement 2025-2026, to heritage@fsd38.ab.ca

All school divisions in Alberta create a plan for improvement. Schools then set goals that align with this plan. In Foothills School Division and at Heritage Heights, we are working on Support, Success, and Engagement for all learners. The following sections reflect our work within the school and community.

Summer is almost here, and the excitement for the upcoming break can be felt throughout the school!

While this time offers a well-deserved rest and opportunities for family fun, it also means a pause in the daily learning routines that support academic growth. Without regular reading and skill-building activities, many children can lose some of the progress they made during the school year — a challenge often referred to as the "summer slide."

The good news is that families can make a big difference. Simple, consistent literacy and learning activities at home can help children maintain their skills and return to school confident and ready to learn.

Here are some practical strategies:

• Daily Reading: Encourage your child to read for at least 15 minutes each day. This consistent practice helps maintain and improve reading skills.
• Engaging Activities: Incorporate literacy into everyday tasks. Activities like cooking (reading recipes), grocery shopping (reading labels), or playing word games can make learning fun and relevant.
• Library Visits: Regular trips to the library can provide access to a variety of books and reading programs, fostering a love for reading.
• Writing Exercises: Encourage your child to keep a journal, write letters, or create stories. Writing reinforces reading skills and enhances creativity.
• Use of Technology: Educational apps and online resources can offer interactive ways to practice literacy skills.

By integrating these activities into daily routines, parents can play a pivotal role in supporting their children's literacy development throughout the summer.

Summer is just around the corner! While it is a well-deserved time for rest and relaxation—for both students and parents—it is also a great opportunity to keep young minds active. A little bit of learning over the summer can go a long way in helping students return to school feeling confident and ready to succeed.

The good news? With a bit of creativity, learning can feel like play! Here are a few simple ways to keep your child engaged this summer:

• Make it a Game Night: Host a weekly family game night to build critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Build and Create: Encourage innovation with building toys like LEGO, Magna-Tiles, or ZOOBs.

• Get Growing: Start a small garden and involve your child in planting, watering, and harvesting fruits or vegetables.

• Capture the Memories: Inspire creativity by having your child make a scrapbook of summer adventures.

• Stick to a Routine: Keeping regular bedtime hours and limiting screen time can ease the back-to-school transition.

• Stay Active: Go for bike rides, nature walks, hikes, or enjoy time at the pool—movement fuels learning!

• Read Together: Make reading a daily habit. Libraries often have summer reading programs for kids of all ages.

• Most importantly—Have Fun! Summer flies by, so make the most of every moment.

Looking for more ideas or structured activities? Check out these great local resources:

• McMan Family Resource Network

• Greater Foothills Family Centre

• Okotoks Public Library

Additional Supports:

If you have questions or are looking for additional supports, feel free to reach out. I’ll be available until June 27 and am happy to help.

Madison Darel
Family School Liaison Counsellor
darelm@fsd38.ab.ca

Our Grade 5 and 6 students took us to the stars with their incredible performance of Captain Starblaster! With dazzling costumes, witty dialogue, and out-of-this-world acting, the show was nothing short of spectacular. The talent, confidence, and teamwork on display had the audience laughing, cheering, and wondering if Broadway might be calling! A special shoutout goes to the phenomenal directing duo—Mr. Berrigan and Ms. Leahman—whose dedication, creativity, and countless hours (during school, after hours, and even weekends!) made this production a stellar success. Thank you for making Captain Starblaster a shining highlight of our school year!

We are so proud of our 68 student-athletes from Grades 6–9 who represented Heritage Heights at the Divisional Track and Field Meet this year! Despite the chilly weather, our students, staff, and amazing volunteers showed determination, grit, and school spirit throughout the day.

A special congratulations to the three athletes who qualified for Zones – Victoria, Greyson, and Jackson – who all placed in the single digits! Victoria had an especially outstanding performance, finishing first place in all of her running events!

We also want to extend a huge thank you to Miss Steier, Mr. Reeve, and all the dedicated teachers who helped organize and run our school Track and Field events. Your energy, encouragement, and behind-the-scenes work helped make this season such a success for our athletes.

Way to go, Huskies! Congratulations to all our athletes on an incredible 2025 track and field season – your hard work and dedication have made us all proud! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏅

We are incredibly proud of our talented Husky Band students, who recently participated in a fantastic afternoon of music, learning, and collaboration at Meadow Ridge School! On Wednesday, May 21, our musicians boarded the bus after lunch, instruments in hand and ready for an unforgettable experience. From 1:30–3:30 p.m., they worked with a guest conductor and broke into smaller sectionals to refine their skills and elevate their sound.

Following a well-earned pizza party, our students took the stage for a dynamic joint concert, performing both as the Heritage Heights Husky Ensemble and in a powerful mass band with their Meadow Ridge peers. It was a wonderful showcase of growth, teamwork, and musical excellence.

A special thank you goes to Ms. Lehmann, our dedicated school band teacher, whose leadership, passion, and countless hours of preparation made this experience possible for our young musicians.

We are so proud of our Huskies for representing Heritage Heights with such talent and enthusiasm, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to all the families who came out to support these incredible performers! 🎷🥁🎺

We are incredibly proud to share that Heritage Heights School raised the most money in the entire division for this year’s Terry Fox School Run! This remarkable achievement is a testament to the compassion, generosity, and community spirit of our students, families, and staff.

Together, we walked, ran, and raised funds in honour of Terry Fox’s legacy, showing what is possible when we unite for a cause. A special shout-out to our kindergarten classrooms who were recognized during our Spring Pep Rally for raising the most for the The Terry Fox Foundation within our school community.

Thank you to everyone who supported this important cause — you have made a meaningful difference, and we couldn’t be prouder to be Huskies!

💲25,000 Away from Goal 💲

Playground Project Need List

• We currently have a $25k shortfall for project funding.
• Any industry contacts, family and friends you can reach out to/put us in touch with would be a great help!

· Donation of 16m3 of concrete (and use of a concrete pump during pours).

· Donation of 70 cubic yards of ¾” road crush.

· Volunteers during Summer 2025 Installation

Please reach out to us at playground.hhsc@gmail.com with any questions!

Together we can do this, Huskies!!

On Monday, May 26th, the entire school came together during Husky Hour for our Spring Pep Rally, and what a celebration it was! It was an incredible opportunity to recognize the amazing talent, teamwork, and dedication shown by our students and staff across a variety of activities this season.

We proudly celebrated the following teams and clubs:
🏸 Badminton – Coach McKellar
🏃‍♂️ Track and Field – Coaches Reeves & Steier
🎭 Drama Club – Mr. Berrigan
🐾 Student Matters Leadership Team – Mrs. Dupras
⚖ Debate Team – Mrs. Hanson

Following our shout outs, the energy continued with the return of our annual Husky Races! Each class brought the spirit, the speed, and the laughter as students competed in fun, fast-paced relays to cap off our school-wide celebration.

A huge thank you to Mrs. Brown, her leadership students and all our staff for bringing the Husky spirit—and the Husky colours!—to life. Congratulations to all our teams and groups for an incredible spring season. Go Huskies!

We were thrilled to welcome our newest Huskies this past week as future kindergarten students visited Heritage Heights for their very first school tour! These bright-eyed learners had the chance to explore classrooms, meet some friendly faces, and even hop aboard a school bus for their first-ever ride—a big milestone and an even bigger adventure! It was a joy to see their excitement and curiosity as they took their first steps into our school community. We can not wait to officially welcome them into the Husky family this fall! 🐾

Foothills School Calendar 2024-2025: https://bit.ly/3ZtNCgR

Heritage Heights Website: https://bit.ly/3ZaVWR7

Report Student Absence: heritage@fsd38.ab.ca

Edsembli Parent Login: https://bit.ly/3VggqGX

Our bus drivers are seeing an influx of students wanting to carry large items on our buses that are not allowed in accordance with our school bus legislation. (Example: Skateboards) 🛹

Please review this document: https://www.foothillsschooldivision.ca/page/173/rules-responsibilities

The attendance line seems to be working well!

Please continue to:

• call if your child will be absent or late.
• use the student agendas and let your child know when they will be picked up early
• use the sign in/out sheet on the table inside the front door

Thanks for your assistance!