JGD Weekly Update Nov. 6-10 | Fall Break, Football Finals, Remembrance Day, School Council, Fundraisers, Parent Sessions, Unique Pathways, Artist Spotlight
Fall Break – November 9-14 – No School
Football City Finals Wednesday, November 8
Remembrance Day
To honour this day, staff and students at John G Diefenbaker will be hosting a Remembrance Day Ceremony on Wednesday, November 8. (modified schedule)
Remembrance Day Service - (Service 60 minutes)
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Period 2 – 9:00-10:10 (70 minutes)
TA – 10:14-11:15 (1 hour)
Remembrance Day Service (whole school)
Attendance, Photos and Poppies Please leave backpacks in classrooms
Homerooms will be called to the gym by Grade
Service begins at 10:25 – 11:15
Period 1 – 11:17-12:17 (60 minutes)
Shortened Lunch – 12:17-12:48 (31 minutes)
Period 4 – 12:48-2:07 (regular classes)
Period 3 – 2:11-3:30 (regular classes)
School Council Meeting
School Council Meeting in person on Tuesday, November 7 at 6:30 pm in the Learning Commons. Please register using this link: School Council Meeting Registration
Lifetouch Retakes
We have Fall Retakes available for online booking in the Calgary studio. Please share with families who would like the opportunity to retake an image and weren't able to do so at your school. Lifetouch retake appointments
November 4 9am - 12 noon November 18 9am - 12 noon
*Afternoons will be available if the demand is there.
JGDMPA Fundraiser
It is that time of year again to start thinking about the Winter Season and all the Festive Holidays that take place. John G. Diefenbaker music students are enjoying their music education and will have fun performing at various concerts and festivals. To support these activities the John G. Diefenbaker Music Parents Association are running two fundraisers this November; Purdy’s Chocolates Winter Fundraiser and Growing Smiles Winter Fundraiser (thru Devry Greenhouse).
Why do we need to fundraise, you ask? Well, due to restructuring of funding for schools the JGD Music Parents Association and the music program now rely more on fundraising to cover expenses for all the activities that our Band and Choir students do throughout the year.
Both of our fundraisers will run at the same time from November 1 - 22. The pick up date for both will be Friday December 8 in the Band room at John G. Diefenbaker. Please follow the following links to access the different fundraisers:
We hope you will support us generously, thank you. John G. Diefenbaker Music Parents Association.
Realities of High School for Parents Information Session
In person in the Learning Commons
Tuesday, November 7th from 6:00 - 6:30 pm with Q&A after
Are you new to Diefenbaker or new to being the parent/guardian of a high school student and have questions about High School and its day-to-day realities? Come to learn about these realities of High School regarding topics such as assessment, attendance, exams and exam breaks, behavior expectations, and communication with the school. You may also learn about some of the common misconceptions or stories students tell parents/guardians that may or may not be factual.
Term 1 Ends on Oct 31
All work to be considered for Term 1 needs to be submitted to their teacher by Nov 8 prior to the fall break. Report cards showing progress for Term 1 will be available for viewing through PowerSchool on Wed, Nov 15. So that teachers can update marks and comments, Viewability of marks will be turned off beginning Oct 27 at 3:00 pm. If you or your student need an up-to-date mark, please contact their teacher.
Congratulations
Mrs. Wright is proud to announce that Hannah L, a Grade 10 Speech student, won gold in Impromptu Speaking at the most recent Speech Tournament at Joanne Cardinal-Schubert High School last Friday. Way to go, Hannah!
Unique Pathways
Unique Pathways opportunities for Semester 2 are now posted. There are a variety of programs available. Dual Credit courses provide high school 30 level CTS credits as well as credit toward post-secondary classes. These courses are the same courses that are offered to post-secondary students. There are also a number of exploratory programs that will introduce students to possible career paths such as trades or recreational leadership. These will give Work Experience credits.
Check out the programs at www.cbe.ab.ca/uniquepathways For more information, see Mrs Jennifer Canu-Budd Mondays, Wednesdays and occasionally Fridays at her desk in the learning commons. Schedule posted at the desk. You can also email questions to jlcanubudd@cbe.ab.ca. Due date is November 20!
Artist Spotlight
Julia L is a Grade 12 student at Diefenbaker. She's a big part of the school’s Drama Community, specializing in Tech Theater (specifically lighting), although she also dabbles in every aspect of Drama. Outside of school, Julia enjoys creating artistic crochet masterpieces.
She likes the freedom, variety, and undefined sensibility of art. For Julia, art has helped her express her creativity and be her true self.
“It’s difficult to describe, but I feel less constricted when I’m doing art. I feel like a pebble drifting down a stream, free to flow as I want.”
Julia finds her inspiration in books and music. They help her create without boundaries, as stated in her own words: “They truly inspire me to think beyond any natural limits and build a world of my making.”
Out of all the Arts Julia is involved in, she most enjoys the Technical Arts. The Technical Arts are restricted in some ways but still allow room for creativity and expressiveness, much of the production is left to the discretion of the technical artist(s). But more than that, the Technical Arts and the school's Drama productions have given Julia a community and a space to be herself and be part of something bigger than herself.
Art has made a difference in Julia's life.
As a student of Diefenbaker’s Art Community, Julia has progressed wonderfully, steadily improving her skills year by year. She began at Diefenbaker as a part of the lighting crew of 2022’s drama production, “She Kills Monsters” and now she’s the Stage Manager of the school’s upcoming production, “Puffs”. All in all, the Art community of Diefenbaker has given Julia and many others a creative outlet and the space to express themselves.
Diefenbaker's arts and artists should continue to be celebrated!
A lot of exciting things happened in the Fine Arts Department recently!
The Choir had the opportunity to attend a workshop at Mount Royal University Conservatory where they participated in sectional instruction, team building activities, rehearsal and a private concert. The students had a great time experiencing some professional expertise, hearing excellent singing, getting to know one another better and some extensive rehearsing.
The LITA students hosted the second Lunchbox Showcase of the year, which took place in the cafeteria and was very well attended.
There was an Art Exhibition by Finn R, a snappy Jazz Band performance and a wonderful animation created by Raymond P. It was a successful showing and entertaining for all who attended. We look forward to next month’s offering on November 30.
The Fine Arts and CTS (FACTS) teachers got into the Halloween Spirit dressing up as happy bees along with their supportive and fearless leader, as the bee keeper.
IB Exam Fees Due
All students who are registered in 30-Level IB courses this year will be writing an IB exam in May. The $200 fee for each exam is payable through MyCBE and is due on December 15. The final drop date for Exam level IB courses is October 31, 2023. Any students registered in courses following this date will be charged for the exams.
IB Program Open House
The IB program is a rigorous, pre-university course of studies taught in Grades 11 and 12. It provides a well-rounded education that meets the needs to highly motivated students by promoting excellence, self-directed learning, responsible citizenship and international understanding. Any parent and/or student who is interested in learning about our IB program is invited to attend one of our information sessions!
IB Certificate and Diploma Pick Up
Graduates who wrote IB exams in 2023 are invited to pick up their certificates and diplomas from 3:00 – 4:00 PM on November 17. If you are unable to attend at that time, arrangements can be made for pick up from the main office. Please RSVP to tjulanicki@cbe.ab.ca so that we have an estimate of how many graduates plan to attend at that time.
Morning Student Drop off
There are two locations for student drop off. If you enter from 4th St (south entrance to the student parking lot), please drop off your student at the front of the school and exit via the north entrance close to McDonald’s (right turns only out of the parking lot).
If you enter from the north entrance (closest to McDonald’s) of 4th St, please head east through the parking lot and drop off your student by the 2 large orange candlestick pylons. Continue east and exit via the north exit towards the Superstore.
If you enter from the north entrance, please head west through the parking lot and drop off your student by the 2 large orange candlestick pylons. Continue West and exit via the north entrance close to McDonald’s (right turns only out of the parking lot).
After School Student Pick up
Please do not park in staff parking. Some parents may arrange and meet their students for a quick drive-by pickup at the front of the school. Stopping and waiting for your student in front of the school should not be permitted. Alternatively, please wait for your student at the Superstore parking lot where there is much more space and more points of exit.
REMINDER: School Engage (Demographic Verification and Annual Authorization required)
Student demographic verification is required each and every school year. If you have not verified your demographic information for the 2023-24 school year, please log in to your SchoolEngage account and verify your student’s information. Technical support/instructions are available here
Annual authorizations requiring parent consent are also required for the 2023-24 school year. These are: CBE Use of Student Information: outlines instances when we would like to share student information publically in our day to day work. Consent for Use of Student Information by News Media and Outside Groups (Third Party): provides information pertaining to including students in media events where images may be recorded and used by the third party.
Attention Football Fans
Admission will now be required for Football Games at Shouldice. Admission fees go directly to paying for on site security at our football games. Admission for football games at Shouldice can be paid at the gate by debit or cash:
- Students with their school ID card present will be charged $2 to gain access to their school’s game only.
- If you are a student attending a game of a rival school and your school is not playing that game, you will be charged $5 for admission.
- All other spectators will be charge $5 for entrance to any football game.
- Children 11 years old and younger will gain entrance free.
- Admission is only for one game and does not transfer between games at Shouldice fields.
Athletics Schedule
|
Area |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
|
Athletics/ FACTS |
|
Jr G VBall |
Remembrance Day Ceremonies (modified schedule) Football Finals |
No school |
No school |
|
Winter Travel 15
Please see Mr. Masikewich in the PE office
3 Credit Course; This course focus on experiential learning and best practices for winter travel in mountain environments with an overarching goal of youth engagement in stewardship
General Winter Travel 15 Course Information
- Winter Travel 15 is a locally developed course offered by Canadian Rockies Public Schools
- Winter Travel 15 is open to students in Grade 10-12.
- This is a 3-credit course with approximately 75 hours of instruction.
- Winter Travel 15 can accommodate up to 40 students.
- No prerequisite courses are necessary but please be aware that it is a prerequisite for this course that students be able to downhill ski or snowboard a green level run.
- Students without prior experience on downhill skis or snowboard should take a lesson(s) prior to the program.
- All students participating in the program will also take a lesson (included) with professional CSIA Ski Instructors on the first day of the program.
- This course involves full days of activity in an outdoor environment so a basic level of physical fitness is also recommended.
- Students are also expected to provide their own outdoor clothing and winter footwear suitable for the winter activities.
- Link: https://olc.crps.ca/programs/winter-travel