Friday, October 27 is the last day to order yearbooks at a discounted price of $45.00 with free icons and discounted personalization.

Halloween Dress Up Day and Expectations

Hallowe’en is always a fun day at schools. There will be activities to celebrate the season and day including pumpkin carving, door decorating and costume contests. Please remember that we are a school and costumes and accessories need to be school appropriate. Accessories such as replica knives, swords, scythes or guns will not be allowed and will be confiscated to be returned at the end of the school day. While some students may wear fake blood, please no spreading or spraying of fake blood or other liquids. The day after when students tend to bring their haul from trick or treating, we ask that students throw their wrappers in garbage cans to keep our school clean. Happy and safe Hallowe’en!! Please Note: We will follow a Wednesday schedule on October 31, Tuesday.

Schedule for October 31 Tuesday is P1, TA, P2, lunch, P4, P3 (Wednesday schedule) Schedule for November 1st Wednesday is P2, P1, lunch, P4, P3 (Tuesday schedule)

Spirit Wear Pick Up  

If you purchased Diefenbaker Spirit Wear online, you can come and pick up your order in the Phys. Ed. Office at lunch or after school.

Upcoming Remembrance Day Request

November 11th marks an important day for us to remember and honour all those who have served and are currently serving in our armed forces. In the coming weeks, our staff and students will engage in discussions about the importance of this day and how we can best honour these brave people and their contributions to this peaceful country of Canada. To honour this day, staff and students at John G Diefenbaker will be hosting a Remembrance Day Ceremony on Wednesday, November 8.

This year, we will be creating a video/slide show featuring photos of students' relatives who have or are currently serving in the armed forces as part of our Remembrance Day Ceremony. We are asking for families to send in photos of relatives to include in our presentation. When sending in photos, please include information about the individual pictured (person's name, where/when individual served).

Please send digital photos or send the photo in with your child to Mr. Graham Cox at gecox@cbe.ab.ca by November 4.

Term 1 Ends on Tuesday, Oct 31

All work to be considered for Term 1 needs to be submitted to their teacher by November 8, prior to the fall break. Report cards showing progress for Term 1 will be available for viewing through MyCBE on Wednesday, October 15. In order for teachers to update marks and comments, viewability of marks will be turned off beginning Oct 27 at 3:00 pm. If you or your student needs an up-to-date mark, please contact their teacher.

Artist Spotlight

Aysha Z is a student in Grade 12 who has demonstrated vast commitment to various art programs. She is an artist, musician, and part of the tech crew for the school play. Aysha began drawing at the young age of 5. Since then, she has experimented with various mediums. Her recent media consists of both traditional and digital art. However, she has recently dedicated her time and talent to honing her digital media skills. Aysha is trying the new art forms of digital 2D and 3D animation. She utilizes her animation and art skills to create backdrops and animations for Dief theatre productions. Her commitment to the arts also shows through her great passion for music. Aysha has been playing the flute since she was 10, having experience in various genres of music. She is currently an active member of the Diefenbaker Symphonic Band. Aysha combines her passions for art and music by using songs as her artistic muse. The feelings conveyed through music inspire her creations.

She looks towards other artists for further inspiration and enhancement of her creative abilities.

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 date to drop any 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!

Date: November 21 and 22 *These are repeat sessions. You do not need to attend both.
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 (Presentation starts promptly at 6:30) Location: John G. Diefenbaker Learning Commons

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 17th. 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.

JGD Casino Fundraiser  

Thank you so much to those that signed up already!!

We still have 15 spots open. If you are able to, please consider signing up here for one of the remaining fundraising spots. Nov. 21 and Nov. 22 at Ace Casino. No experience is necessary for the roles. You will learn when you get there. Once you sign up more info will be given to you before the dates. You must stay for the whole shift. Free meal given when volunteering. You can work more than one shift but only one position. Thanks. Any questions please e-mail.

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 Events	Jr G VBall @ Home V St M de P 5:00 Sr G VBall @ Home V St Tim’s 6:30	Term 1 Ends Sr B VBall @ Home V RTHS 5:00 Jr B VBall @ home V RTHS 6:30 Soccer ¼’s @ CSC 4:30 v St Gabriel	Term 2 Begins Jostens Rings @ lunch	Football Semis @ SAP TBD 7:30 – 9:30	Canmore band trip	Canmore band trip

Graduation Jewelry

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