Computer Glitch Woes

A computer glitch is hurting those who hurt the most. Albertans attempting to upgrade their education through the help of a government grant program called Alberta Works are suffering and some may have to drop out of the program due to delays. Ironically Alberta Works newly installed computer program doesn't, and up to 3600 economically challenged would-be students are suffering for it. Click here and here to read more.

Let's Keep our Kids Safe on the School Grounds.

Here's a friendly reminder to parents to please not use the teacher parking lot for dropping off or picking up students. As well, dog owners are kindly asked to not bring their pets on school property.

Thank you for your consideration!

CBE Stick with Teacher Layoffs

We followed this story extensively in the spring - click here to see all the stories on our blog concerning the cuts including some exclusive content from phone and email 'interviews'.

Interesting to note in this update article from the Herald that our trustee - Carol Bazinet, voted against the motion of layoffs and use of reserves stating that this choice was a matter for the trustees not the administration.

"In a report Tuesday to a meeting of Calgary Board of Education trustees, Johnson said the board will use nearly half of its $21 million in reserves this year, even as it sheds 277 full-time workers, including 192 teachers. The report was accepted, although trustees Pat Cochrane and Carol Bazinet voted against the motion." - Calgary Herald

What this means to Haultain has yet to be measured and would be a good question for our principal. You may have that opportunity at the next council meeting - September 30 in the library @ 6:30. See you there.

Booking Parent/Teacher Conferences

Just a reminder that you are now able to book your parent/teacher conferences for this week online - as opposed to phoning to book.

Simply visit our Haultain homepage (http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b362/) and click the conference booking link. This will take you to a secure site at pickatime.com.

Once there, create an account by entering your email address and creating a password. Email addresses will be used to send your conference confirmation only.

Once you have logged in, select the teacher you wish to book with. If you wish a Thursday interview, scroll down and select an available time slot. Should you wish Friday, you should not need to scroll. Simply click the appointment box you desire. Be sure the colour matches the teacher legend.

Now that you have selected the time slot, enter your child's FIRST NAME and LAST INITIAL so it can be recorded on the teacher's schedule. If you would like a reminder email, enter that information as well.

That's it! We hope it's as easy and painless as I described. If you do not have access to a computer (... wait a minute, how could you be reading this?) or if you know someone without access, either help them out by doing it for them OR have them contact the school and Pat or I will set things up.

By the way, let us know what you think of this process. We realise it isn't communicating with a person, but we also hope the convenience, ease, and reduced office stress will balance things out. Comments are welcome!

Key Communiqué

(Our monthly newsletter, from Karen at the CBE.)

School and Parent Communications
For the next year, you will be receiving the Key Communiqué from Karen Drummond. Karen will be handling parent and school communications for the next year while Katie Young is on leave to further her education.

Karen was working as a Communications Advisor in the Office of the Board of Trustees at the CBE prior to taking on this role. She has two children, a boy in Grade One at Fish Creek School and a girl who is three years old. She worked at SAIT Polytechnic and the University of Calgary prior to joining the CBE.

September's School Newsletter

If you haven't already seen it, can be viewed by clicking here.

Schools strive for healthier attitude toward fitness

The 'c-word' sidelined too many students
By Chris Zdeb, Postmedia News

Today’s schoolkids could grow up to be the first generation of adults whose gym classes turned them on to physical activity for life.

Unlike previous generations, they’re less likely to have humiliating memories of being picked last to play baseball, or being ridiculed by jocks for not being able to run fast or not being able to spike the ball over the volleyball net. That’s because the ’c-word’ — competition — is no longer the focus of physical education; inspiring a healthy lifestyle is.

Click here to read the full story.

Every student receives a Kindle and the school ends up saving money.

Is this an idea for future investment by the HMPA? Tell us what you think.

Click here to read the full story.

Why firm parenting is good parenting

(CNN) -- I've been teaching university students for 50 years, and I can tell when one of my students comes from a home in which "good" parenting takes place.

These students -- most often from a middle-class background -- are stunned when they learn that their draft paper is not the cat's meow, indeed must be rewritten from scratch.

They send e-mails, constantly, with their work in progress attached, "just to see if I am on the right track." And if they get a C, they are crushed.

Read the full story here.

Don't Forget!

Haultain is about to enjoy its annual start-of-the-year Ice Cream Social!

Bring your kids - bring your family - and enjoy some free ice cream, courtesy of the Haultain Parent Association. It will be a great opportunity to meet and welcome some of the new parents and students who are attending Haultain for the first time!

Dropsheets, high-pressure washers and warm, wet washcloths are optional.

Andrew Brash - A Story of Inspiration

The following guest entry comes from Susanne Allen:

A Story of Inspiration, Courage and Compassion with Andrew Brash
Deer Park United Church 77 Deerpoint Road SE
September 28, 2010 7:00 pm
Cost: $10.00 (for those who are able)

Andrew is a Calgary climber and teacher who has been chasing his climbing dreams for over 20 years in many of the most impressive mountain environments in the world, including Tibet, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Alaska, Chile and Nepal.

In May of 2006, Calgary teacher Andrew Brash and teammates made international headlines when they stopped 200 meters from the summit of Mt. Everest to assist Australian climber Lincoln Hall. Hall had been declared dead by his own team and left for dead, spending the night alone on the mountain above 8,600 meters. Thankfully Lincoln was able to survive, but Andrew's summit ambitions had to wait.

In the spring of 2008, Andrew returned to Everest, this time forced to the Nepali side of the mountain after Chinese officials closed access to Tibet, fearing Olympic protests on the mountain, sending his return expedition into turmoil, proving that adventure on Everest is not quite dead yet. He is married to Jennifer and is the father of three young daughters; Anna, Jaime, and Alexandra.


Thank you Susanne

A numerical exploration of education in Canada

(An interesting article, found on the CBC website. Your comments are welcome!)

In just a few short weeks, students across the country will be overstuffing their backpacks, staking out their schoolbus seats, and filing into classrooms.

So we've done our homework early and taken a by-the-numbers look at the state of education in Canada, including data on teacher salaries, graduation rates and student loans.

Read the full article here.

Back to SCHOOL!

On behalf of the Haultain Parent Association, welcome to a new school year! I'm sure that most parents spent the last few days rummaging through sale bins in search of a matching shoe, or pushing shopping carts around - laden with foolscap pads, binders, and multi-coloured pens and pencils. Well, here's day one. The payoff.

As in previous years, the Association blog will endeavour to provide information for parents of students who attend Haultain. There's a calendar of events at the bottom of this page that will be updated shortly (Click here to view the school calendar as a .pdf) - and there's a direct email link to the Association itself, at the top right-hand of the page. Please feel free to ask questions, or leave comments using the 'comment' feature, found at the end of each blog entry. We'd love to get your feedback, or have your questions.

Also - if you're unable to attend Association/Council meetings, this site acts as a forum for issues you'd like brought up at meetings. Your submitted question/issue will be discussed at the meeting, with the results being published in the meeting minutes - which then get posted online for all to see. It's a good feeling to see your input being considered - and being engaged in your student's school environment is crucial to their learning.

Finally - welcome to our new friends from Queensland Downs. It'll be great to meet you all - and have your input and involvement in the Parent Association.

Here's to another great year!

Nick Newton
Key Communicator