SAM Explorer

Thank you to all the students and families who showed up last week to our Meet the Staff evening! It was so lovely to connect again with our SAM Families after a summer apart. Our staff was energized by your enthusiasm for the event and it was such a great way to start our school year together. If you were not able to attend this evening, please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher at any time and they would be happy to chat with you.

Please mark your calendars to attend our next community event - SAM Loves to Read! - on Thursday, September 28th from 5-6pm. We are very excited to host two local authors for a book reading, as well as provide students with the opportunity to ask questions and get their books/bookmarks signed. Also, that evening, please stop by our 'SAM Used Bookshop' - it's a great way to pick up a few extra books to read at home. Thank you to all the families who have already donated books! If you are interested in donating some of your used books for this event, you can either drop-off the books at the school office or your children can bring them to their classrooms.

We wish you all a fantastic weekend!

Dawn & Cam

Week of September 18 - 22

• SAM School Council AGM - Tuesday, September 19th 6-7pm
• SAM Fundraising Society - Tuesday, September 19th 7-8pm
• Dallas Arcand Hoop Dancing Performance - Wednesday, September 20th 1:15pm
• Joseph M Demko Cross Country Run - Wednesday, September 20th 4pm
• Terry Fox Run - Thursday, September 21st

Week of September 25 - 29 - Truth & Reconciliation Week

• Grade 6 Day Camp - Monday, September 25th
• Bravo Band Academy - Info Night - Monday, Sept 25 at 5pm (WD Cuts)
• Hillgrove Cross Country Fun Run - Monday, September 25th
• SAM Chorus - Tuesday, September 26th 8:00am - 8:45am (Music Room)
• X-Country Districts at Hillgrove - Tuesday, September 26th
• SAM Loves to Read! - Thursday, September 28th 5-6pm
• REMINDER: No School on Monday, October 2nd.

Thank you to all the families who have already donated books! Keep them coming!

On Thursday, September 28th, we invite you attend our SAM Loves to Read event from 5-6pm. Come listen to two local authors read their stories, pick-up some great tips and tricks about reading at home with your children, and come explore our 'SAM Book Shop' where we will be selling gently used donated books. Our local authors, Kathy Kelley and Richard Bird, will also have tables set up so they can meet the kids and sign their books/bookmarks!

For more information about our featured authors, please visit our SAM Website.

If you are interested in donating any gently used children and young adult books, please bring them to your child's classroom by Thursday, September 21st.

*Pre-dinner light snacks and coffee will be available.

SAM Chorus is back for a new year! Any grades 4, 5, or 6 students are welcome to join this wonderful extracurricular opportunity. Students can go so Mrs. Moran for a registration package and the first rehearsal is on Tuesday, September 26th from 8:00am - 8:45am. Rehearsals run every Tuesday morning until Winter Break.

This year, SAM School has made some significant changes to the structure of our support systems for our students, families, and school. To compliment our Administrative Team, we have also added a Learning Support Facilitator and a Health Recovery Facilitator to our School Support Team.

If you are interested in learning more about our School Support Team and our plan for this year, please consider attending this month's School Council meeting on Tuesday, September 19th at 6pm in the SAM Library.

Mrs. Lise Classen - Learning Support Facilitator (LSF)

My name is Lise Classen and I have been a teacher at SAM School for 18 years in various grades. This year I have the pleasure of teaching part-time in grade 6, as well as being the Learning Support Facilitator. In my LSF role, I will provide support and assistance to both teacher and students. I will work along side teachers to plan, adapt and modify programs to help meet individual needs. I will also help coordination support from Division Specialist when needed. My door is always open and I hope to provide a safe space for students with an open ear and heart.

Ms. Sara Gossa - Health Recovery Facilitator (HRF)

My name is Sara Gossa - your children may already know me as Ms. Sara (or "from SIGIS" as I hear the kids say). I have been a part of St. Albert Public Schools for a few years and I am beyond excited to be a part of the SAM-ily. As a Health Recovery Facilitator, my role is to help support the overall needs of your children and assist families in connecting with community resources. As part of the SAM School Support Team, I work alongside the Educational Assistants to incorporate inclusive learning strategies and build student independence. I run 'Recess Club' every day and welcome students in all grades to join. It is a fun, safe place to make friends and build healthy connections.

To connect with our School Support Team, please email us at samsupportteam@spschools.org.

Once again, SAM School is participating in the annual Terry Fox Run and raising money to support cancer research through the Terry Fox Foundation. Terry had a dream of a world without cancer. Please support our school's fundraising efforts by clicking here to DONATE today. This year, our goal is to raise $1500 as a school!

Please come by the school on Thursday, September 21st from 1:45pm - 3:00pm to watch our students participate in this annual event!

Reminder that our first SAM School Council will take place on Tuesday, September 19th at 6pm. As this meeting with serve as our Annual General Meeting, the agenda will include:

• School Council elections
• Decisions regarding School Council model of governance
• Review of roles and responsibilities of school councils
• Reviewing our School Council purpose statement
• Discussing various ways School Council can collect the voices of the community.
• Meet our School Support Team.

This is a great meeting to come to if you're interested in taking part in many conversations regarding our school community.

Our amazing SAM Fundraising Society is once again starting to plan an amazing line up of fundraisers and activities for our SAM students and families this year. All proceeds made from SAM Parent Fundraising activities go to support many wonderful opportunities for our SAM students. Last year, our SAM Fundraising Society donated $20,000 to purchase equipment to help start-up our STEAM Lab. This year, our Fundraising Team is providing swim lessons at Fountain Park Pool for all our students from K-6 this year! Consider joining us for our first meeting on Tuesday, September 19th at 7pm in the SAM Library. All are welcome!

Our SAM Parent Fundraising Society is now registered on Skip The Depot! Consider donating your recyclable bottles to benefit SAM students using Skip The Depot. Click here to schedule a pick up!

SAM CODE: 4WHB

Reminder to place your order by Sunday, September 17th by midnight for the Booster Juice & Subway Hot Lunch next Friday!

Click here for more information or to place your order: SAM Hot Lunch

We are so thrilled to welcome Dallas Arcand to SAM School on Wednesday, September 20th at 1:15pm. Please come join our school for this incredible speaker and performer!

Dallas Arcand is an Indigenous entertainer from Edmonton, Alberta, as well as a registered member of the Alexander First Nation, Alberta. His passion for arts and culture have always been prominent in his upbringing, empowering him to become a three-time world champion hoop dancer. Throughout his 25 year career of performing, Arcand's singing, dancing and traditional flute skills have earned him numerous accolades. In 2010, Dallas was featured in the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics, and in 2012 he also performed at the Olympics in London. Dallas is a graduate of the Mount Royal University transfer program majoring in Behavioral Sciences and Indigenous History. He is also a graduate of the National Indigenous Professional Artist Program (NIPAT), and since 2020 has been an instructor at the NIPAT program teaching and mentoring Indigenous artists.

Your 2023-2024 school fees have now been added to our families PowerSchool accounts. Online payment can be made through the PowerSchool Parent Portal found here: Pay SAM Fees. Please note that payments cannot be made in the Power School App. If you do not have an access ID and password for Power School, please contact the school at 780-459-4467.

• Exact cash and cheque payments are also accepted in our school office.
• Cheques should be made payable to St Albert Public Schools.

The Bravo Music Academy is available to St. Albert Public Schools students in grades 6-9 who are interested in participating in an after-school band or choral program. There is an information evening coming up on Monday, September 25 at 5pm at WD Cuts for any families who may be interested in learning more about the Bravo Band Academy.

For more information, click here: Bravo Music Academy.

At this time of year, students are out and about more - walking, biking, skateboarding - and we would like to remind everyone to be extra diligent around the city's schools and playgrounds.

Please review the following School-Zone Safety information with your children and family.

Here are a few important reminders to review with your family which helps get our students to and from school safely. We understand that drop-off and pick-up can be challenging with many vehicles moving through limited spaces in a brief window of time. For the safety of our children, please only use the designated areas for vehicle traffic.

Safer Schools together and the International Center or Digital Threat Assessment have designed a guide to introduce parents and caregivers to leading social media platforms, video games, and relevant trends that are either being used already or have the potential to be used by their children. This guide is full to tips, how-to's and definitions for the most widely used apps including TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and more. Best of all - it's complimentary and can be shared with every parent in our community.

Click here to access your complimentary download of Raising Digitally Responsible Youth - A Parent's Guide.