École Good Shepherd School

The Sweet Drop and Go: Helping Your Child Thrive at School

While it’s naturally tempting to linger nearby on the school grounds, offer one last hug, or watch from the doors to make sure your child is okay, a quick and confident departure is actually one of the best gifts you can give them each school morning!

When you give a warm, confident goodbye at drop-off, you send an empowering message: "You are safe, you are capable, and you will be okay."

Here is how you can help your child master "The Sweet Drop and Go":

• Keep It Swift & Sweet: Walk them to the school doors, give them a hug, a smile, and a wave.
• Offer Encouraging Words: Remind them how strong and brave they are. A quick "Have a great school day! I'm proud of you!" sets a positive tone.
• Trust the School Team: A swift transition helps children settle into the classroom quickly, feel safe, and build inner confidence. Trust that our teachers and school staff are right there to welcome, guide, and support them from the moment they step inside.

Thank you for helping us make morning school drop-offs smooth and reassuring for all our learners. Remember: Small Goodbyes, Bright Futures!

Every day at school, we see wonderful moments of connection, learning, and play. Lately, however, we’ve seen a growing number of special items—favorite plushies, squishies, trading cards, and action figures—making their way into classrooms and onto the playground.

While we love seeing what makes your child happy, we kindly ask that all personal toys and trinkets stay safely at home. Here is why keeping these treasures at home helps keep our school day running smoothly:

• Preventing Heartbreak: Loved items can easily get lost, broken, or accidentally traded. We want to spare your child the sorrow of losing something special.

• Focusing on Learning & Play: Toys brought from home often create distractions during instruction time and can lead to misunderstandings or hurt feelings on the playground during recess.

• Encouraging Shared Play: Leaving personal items at home encourages children to share school recess equipment and engage in creative, collaborative games with all their peers.

An Exception for Comfort & Needs: We recognize that some students use specific sensory tools or comfort items to support their emotional regulation throughout the day. If your child requires a supportive item as part of an accommodation or learning plan, please reach out directly to your child's teacher so we can coordinate together. We’ve included a handy guide to fidgets in the classroom below!

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our focus on learning, friendships, and keeping your child's favorite belongings safe where they belong—at home!

• October 1 - Popcorn Day (ALL GRADES) **Orders on School Cash Online ONLY**
• October 7 - Good Shepherd Cross Country Race Gr. 1-6 @ 3:45pm **Permission Form must be signed on School Cash Online**
• October 8 - Thanksgiving Liturgy @ 9:15am (GYM)
• October 9 - Turkey Trot @ 11:30 (GYM)
• October 12 - Thanksgiving Day (NO SCHOOL)
• October 13 - PD Day (NO SCHOOL)
• October 15 - Gr. 4 Mass and Bible Blessing @ 10am (St. James Church)
• October 19 - Adoration for all Grades (Library)
• October 20 - Face to Face Retreat/School Council Meeting @ 7pm (Library)
• October 22 - Wear Blue in Support of Catholic Education
• October 23 - Halloween Dance 6-9pm
• October 27 - Popcorn Day (ALL GRADES) **Orders on School Cash Online ONLY**
• October 29 - Picture Retake Day and Kindergarten Tues/Thurs
• October 30 - Halloween Dress Up Day/GSLIM Assembly @ 11:30am (GYM)

Whether you're volunteering for a school event or just stopping by to drop something off, we appreciate your presence in our school community! To ensure a safe and secure environment for all of our students, we have a few simple guidelines for volunteers and visitors.

For Our First Time Volunteers

You MUST fill out our volunteer form before you can help in a classroom/field trip. These are provided at the office and are kept confidential.

Your dedication helps make our school a vibrant and supportive place for our students. To keep everyone safe and organized, please remember these key steps when you come to volunteer:

• Sign In: All volunteers must sign in at the school office at the beginning of each day you are helping out. This helps us keep an accurate record of who is in the building.
• Follow Directions: Please follow the guidance of our school staff, especially the principal. The principal is in charge and may delegate tasks to other staff members.

For Our Parents and Visitors

If you are not volunteering but need to come into the building during the school day, please follow these guidelines:

• Always Check In: Parents and visitors must sign in at the front office first.
• No Unannounced Visits: Please do not go directly to the playground or into classrooms without first checking in at the office. This helps us make sure we know who is in the building and that student learning is not interrupted.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school a safe and welcoming place for everyone. We look forward to seeing you soon!

The safety of our students is paramount! Please take a moment to review and follow these important safety guidelines for student drop-off and pick-up.

To help keep our morning arrival running smoothly and safely for all students, we kindly ask parents to practice a "drop and go" routine each day. Keep It Quick: Please say your quick goodbyes before reaching the unloading area.

Use Drop-Off Zones and Crosswalks: Please use the designated drop-off zones to let your child out of the car. On the map below, drop off zones on our side of the street are highlighted in green. You can also access our school via walking paths on Waldron Avenue. If you are choosing to park your car on another residential street near the school, please be respectful of our neighbours along Robinson Drive and the surrounding streets by never blocking their driveways. If you are crossing the street for drop-off or pickup, please only cross the street in a designated crosswalk. This helps keep traffic moving and reduces congestion around the school entrance.

Parking Lots: On the map below, parking lots are highlighted in Red. The staff parking lot on the east side of the school is accessed through a private residential lot, where all spaces are reserved for residents of the apartment complex. This is not a student drop-off location, as the sign at the entrance indicates. There are also signs indicating that no stopping is permitted in this lot as it is a Fire Lane.

Fire Lane: We regularly notice people waiting in this Fire Lane to drop off and pick up students, and we remind you that this is not a location for student drop off or pickup.

The staff parking lot at the front of the school is not a drop-off zone for students, as the sign at the entrances indicates. We place pylons in the loop in the front parking lot to prevent cars from driving though as students exiting the bus walk across this parking lot to their entry door.

Bus Lanes: The bus lane is also highlighted in red. Never block the bus lanes at the front of the school by stopping or parking in the lane. Buses need these lanes to safely load and unload students. Buses can be delayed for a variety of reasons, and we need the bus lane to be clear at all times during the designated hours on the signs in the bus loop.

Respect Parking Signs: Please do not park in areas marked with no-parking signs as these areas are designated to keep traffic flowing smoothly and ensure safety for our students.

No U-Turns: For the safety of everyone, please avoid making U-turns in front of the school, as the no U-turn sign directs. This can be dangerous to pedestrians using the crosswalk and disrupt the flow of traffic.

By following these guidelines, we can help ensure that all students arrive and depart safely. Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school a safe place for everyone.

For the 2026–2027 school year, CTR Catholic is reemphasizing the significance of daily attendance, which is critical for student success. Making up for missed class time at home (for example, by completing homework or accessing material on Google Classroom) cannot replace the interactive and engaging teaching and learning our teachers provide in our classrooms. Since our classroom teaching in all grades is based on a model of direct instruction, students need to attend class to receive this quality learning, which cannot be replaced through independent study. Please click here for a LETTER from CTR Catholic’s Attendance Officer.

As directed by the Ministerial Order from the Government of Alberta, students may not use cell phones or smartwatches anywhere on school grounds.

Last year, CTR Catholic updated school policies related to personal mobile devices and social media in accordance with a recent Ministerial Order from the provincial government. Student learning and wellness will continue to remain prioritized by ensuring that devices are silenced and out of sight during class unless used for educational purposes. Social media access is prohibited on school networks and devices. To see a letter from Superintendent Dr. Andrea Holowka, click here.

Permission forms for extracurricular activities are uploaded to School Cash Online well in advance to allow ample time for completion. Please ensure all forms are signed promptly, as students with outstanding forms will not be permitted to participate in the activity. Please note that students will not be allowed to call home on the day of the event to obtain missing signatures, and exceptions cannot be made. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us manage these deadlines efficiently.

The Student Information Update form is now available through your School Engage account. If you have not updated this form for your child, please log into Power School and complete the form in your School Engage account asap. We do require the most up to date information for each child for school communication/emergency/medical updates.

Click here to access your School Engage account.

This year will remain the same with our school being unable to provide plastic utensils for students. Please make sure your child(ren) has the proper items for their snacks/lunches as none will be provided.

Please click here for Parent Council News and Minutes

Click here to view bus route status

Click here for more information regarding bus requests/changes

**If your child will not be riding the bus in the afternoon, please let the office know by 2:00pm.**

If your child requires a certain bus schedule such as days riding vs not or set days off, please email Jodi Clisdell @ jclisdell@redeemer.ab.ca

Please click on the Healthy Hunger logo for our Hot Lunch Program.

**If your child is away, please consider donating their hot lunch. If you wish to pick up, please do so at 12:00pm. Any lunches not picked up at this time will be donated to a student in need. ** WE DO NOT STORE LUNCHES FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY.** Thank you for your cooperation with this.

Please click here to submit ATTENDANCE

Please click here for SCHOOL CALENDAR

Please click here for BELL SCHEDULE

Catholic Education Sunday

Celebrate Catholic Education Sunday on October 18! We invite families to pray for our students, staff and schools and to give generously to the Catholic Education Sunday Collection. This year, the Diocese of Calgary will provide a special matching contribution, helping your support for Catholic education go even further. You can also give online through the Diocese of Calgary Giving Page

Catholic Education Week

Celebrate Catholic Education Week, October 17–23! Join us in celebrating the gift of Catholic education by praying for our schools, sharing what Catholic education means to your family and wearing blue on Thursday, October 22. Follow @ctrcatholic and our social media throughout the week to see faith and learning in action.

An information “Nicodemus Night” will be held Wednesday, September 2 at 6:30 in the parish hall.

For schedules and to register, visit:

• https://www.stjamesparishokotoks.ca/first-communion
• https://www.stjamesparishokotoks.ca/confirmation
• https://www.stjamesparishokotoks.ca/becoming-catholic

Principal: Mme Melissa Baxter

Vice Principal: Mr. Paul Lavery

Vice Principal: Mrs. Jessica Peraino

Email: GSS-Attendance@redeemer.ab.ca
Website: goodshepherdschool.ca
Location: 52 Robinson Drive, Okotoks, AB, Canada
Phone: 403-938-4318