● February 24: School Council (7-9pm) - LINK ** This School Council Meeting will only be offered online
● February 26: Pink Shirt Day
● February 28: Non Instructional Day (No School)
Oki, Danit'astada, Âba wathtec, Tânisi, Taanishi, Bonjour, Hello Branton Families,
At Branton, we continue to recognize and celebrate the many contributions of Black Canadians. This week, we highlight Carrie Best, who founded The Clarion, the first Black-owned and published newspaper in Nova Scotia. In 1952, she launched The Quiet Corner, a radio show that aired for 12 years across four radio stations in Canada’s Maritime Provinces. Her work played a key role in advocating for equality and amplifying Black voices in Canada.
Pink Shirt Day – February 26
In 2007, two Nova Scotia high school students stood up for a Grade 9 student who was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt. They distributed pink shirts to their classmates as a way to promote kindness and inclusion. What started as a small act of solidarity has grown into Pink Shirt Day, a global movement against bullying.
On Wednesday, February 26, we encourage all students and staff to wear a pink shirt to help spread kindness and create a sense of belonging at Branton!
Promoting inclusion is something that happens every day in our school. Check out some resources to learn more:
- Creating Safe and Caring Schools – CBE
- Bullying Prevention – Actions We Can Take (Government of Alberta)
Parent-Teacher Conferences – March 21, 2025
Our next Parent-Teacher Interviews (by invitation) will take place on March 21, 2025. More details will be shared soon. In the meantime, remember that parents are encouraged to communicate with teachers at any time for questions, concerns, or even positive feedback (we love receiving those!). Parents are essential partners in supporting student success.
I would also like to take a moment to share an important update regarding the upcoming Holy Month of Ramadan. As the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, Ramadan shifts by approximately ten days each year. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on Friday, February 28, or Saturday, March 1, 2025, and end on Sunday, March 30, or Monday, March 31, 2025, depending on the sighting of the moon.
We recognize that this is a significant and sacred time for many members of our school community. If your child requires any accommodations during Ramadan—such as a quiet space during lunch or adjustments to physical activities—please do not hesitate to reach out to our school team. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all students.
Le Mois de la Francophonie & Sugar Shack – March 10
March is Le Mois de la Francophonie, a time to celebrate the richness of the French language and culture across Canada. We are thrilled to announce that Branton will be hosting a Sugar Shack experience on March 10! More details to come soon!
Thank You, Parent Volunteers!
A huge thank you to all of our amazing parent volunteers for your ongoing support. Your time and dedication make a difference in our school community. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us to ensure you have a valid Police Check.
Thank you for your continued support!
Strike Action
During strike action, CBE is prioritizing in-person learning. We are committed to supporting student learning and well-being while maintaining safe and welcoming school environments for students, staff and families. During strike action, all CBE schools and buildings will remain open and classes will continue. Learn more.
Important Notice
Attendance at athletic games will be restricted to parents and guardians of athletes participating in the event. Only the gymnasium will be accessible, while all other areas of the school will remain off-limits.
Students may only attend games if they are the sibling of a participating athlete and are accompanied by a parent or guardian. School administration will be responsible for supervision and monitoring during the event.
Sincerely,
Sébastien Picard - Principal
Cafeteria Update
Branton Cafeteria Update Dear Branton Families,
We wanted to provide an update regarding the Branton Cook position. Interviews have now been scheduled, and we are hopeful to confirm the new employee leading our cafeteria next week. If everything goes as planned, we anticipate reopening the cafeteria during the week of March 3.
This means that our cafeteria will remain closed next week (February 24-28). We appreciate your patience and understanding during this process.
Branton School Council Agenda - February 24, 2025
- Surveys: Insurance, Engagement, Health Check, French Immersion
- 2025/2026 Projections
- CUPE updates
- Cafeteria
- Parent-Teacher Conferences March 21
- Feb. 28 non-instructional day
- Celebrations: Black history month, Mois de la Francophonie, Ramadan
- Sports
- Casino
This meeting is online. Please join via the provided virtual link.
Health Class Information
The Calgary Board of Education is required to provide parents with notice when curriculum being covered deals primarily with Human Sexuality. As all students at Branton school are enrolled in physical education and health programming, the topic of Human Sexuality will be upcoming shortly in health classes. Next week you will receive a detailed parent letter about what types of content will be covered in these classes as well as an exemption form for your child, should it be relevant. Health classes covering Human Sexuality may begin as early as March 10.
Fun Lunch
- March 19, Boardwalk Order Link Order by Friday, March 14 Midnight.
- If you would like to Volunteer Link Please and Thank You.
Upcoming Dates For Fun Lunches
- April 23 - Tim Horton’s
- May 14 - Opa
- June 16 - Booster Juice
Reminder for Lates and Absences
When your student is going to be Absent, please call the Attendance Line: 403 777 7440 ext 5000. If there is going to be an Extended Absence eg: Holiday, Please have your student pick up an Extended Absence form in the front office. May we ask that you do not email the General Mailbox for Branton as that email is not checked before attendance is sent out.
When you know your student is going to be late you can call the Attendance Line for that as well. When your student is late they need to come to the office and 1st sign in on the Yellow Sheet on the clipboard in the office, then fill out a late slip and take it to class. The Yellow sheet is what is used to notify the office that the absence needs to be changed to late. If this is not done, it may result in parents receiving an unnecessary attendance call. In order to sign out. we require a note from home for them to bring to the office when it is time to sign out.
We thank you in advance for your help reinforcing this with your Students.