I have noticed upon waking up and getting to work, the mornings are getting a little chilly. As the weather changes and we move into winter it is important that students are dressed so that they are warm and dry while outside. Ted Harrison students walk or take transit to school, they participate in daily physical education which occurs outside for many classes, as well as students, particularly in grades 5 and 6 go outside for lunch. Please make sure students are dressed so that they remain safe and comfortable. All students have lockers. It is important to remind students that their outdoor clothing should be stored in lockers and not in classrooms. Students will be asked to remove heavy outdoor coats and boots and place these in their locker before attending class. Please ensure your child has indoor shoes that are dry to wear in the classrooms.

We have a desire to support our students to be healthy. Healthy snacks and lunches are important parts of a students’ ability to focus in class and do their best each day. Please pack enough healthy food for your student. You might be aware that large bags of chips, large bags of candy and pop, slushies and Tim Horton’s drinks are not appropriate for consumption at school. Not only are they not healthy due to the volume and the containers they come in and these drinks tend to be very messy. The school policy is that these drinks do not enter the school. They will be taken at the office and NOT allowed in classrooms.

We are excited that Halloween is just around the corner. Students can wear costumes if they choose. Costumes must not cover their face, must not contain weapons and must be respectful of all community members at Ted Harrison. It is important to note that October 31 is a regular school day and costumes cannot interfere with a student’s ability to participate in school including Physical Education. Please check with your student’s teacher regarding Halloween Treats for classmates. This certainly will be optional; however, allergies must be considered when deciding on an appropriate treat. It would be expected that if a student chooses to bring treats for classmates there are enough to distribute to all members of the student’s class.

I hope that your student has come home and expressed their excitement in regard to sports teams, music, band, option classes, clubs, etc. We have added teachers and programs to enhance opportunities for our students. Unfortunately, these programs are not funded through government funding for education. These programs require that fees are paid by families. Please be aware of the opportunities your student is engaging in and pay all fees associated with this opportunity. Should you want to discuss paying fees please communicate with the teacher in charge of the opportunity or the school administration.    

An important support of Ted Harrison School is the support of the Parent Association and School Council. These two volunteer committees support school administration in making decisions and contribute to the school’s finances and programming through the organization of a casino. We are in search of parent volunteer members for these two committees. There is no great skill requirement and the time requirement is pretty minimal (5-7) evenings a year. On Tuesday, October 29 we will hold a meeting in the Learning Commons starting at 6:00 pm. Please come out and support your student, Ted Harrison School and the community of Taradale through participation on the Parent Association and/or School Council.

I want to thank students, staff, families and the community for your support of Ted Harrison School. Please do not hesitate to reach out and connect with comments or questions that you might have.

Sincerely,

Dr. Don Barbor

Principal, Ted Harrison School

tedharrison@cbe.ab.ca