École David Thompson Weekly Update
A Community of Excellence | Message de la semaine – jeudi 29 janvier
Our latest David Thompson newsletter is now available on our website! Notre plus récent bulletin d’information de l’École David Thompson est maintenant disponible sur notre site Web.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
Aesop
Hello Tiger Families,
As January comes to a close, it is hard to believe we are already heading into February.
Over the past few weeks, Ms. Bains and Ms. Shields have been welcoming high school guidance teams into our school to meet with prospective students and have coordinated tours of Scarlett and Lord Beaverbrook. This is an important time for our Grade 9 students as they begin imagining themselves in new learning communities. Many high schools are hosting open houses this month, and if you have not yet attended one yet, these events are excellent opportunities to explore options together as a family.
The start of volleyball season has been exciting for both our girls’ and boys’ teams. We are grateful to the teachers and parent volunteers who coach and support our student athletes. Schedules have been shared with players, and upcoming games are listed below.
We are also very excited to share that David Thompson will be hosting a full drama production in the spring! Auditions are underway for A Wrinkle in Time, adapted for the stage by James Sie. A huge thank you to Ms. Woods for leading this work. We are already seeing students step forward with courage, and we are looking forward to performances at the end of May.
February is a meaningful month as we recognize Black History Month, celebrate la Semaine de la francophonie, and February is also often called the month of kindness, with Valentine’s Day and Pink Shirt Day reminding us of the importance of caring for one another. In a world where we often see only snapshots of others’ lives, small acts of kindness help build connection and belonging.
One small reflection we invite families to do together is talk about acts of kindness at home, you might ask:
- What might you do or say if you notice someone who might need a smile or a kind word?
- What is one small, intentional act of kindness you could take at home, at school, or in the community this week?
- Share a kind moment you had this week and share how it felt to give or receive kindness.
These moments, while small, have a powerful impact. They help students build empathy, confidence, and leadership, and they contribute to creating the kind of school we all want to be part of. A reminder that tomorrow, Friday, January 30, 2026, is a Non-Instructional Day and there is no school for students.
Sending some kindness your way as we head into the weekend.
Merci de votre collaboration.
With gratitude,
The David Thompson School Team
Items in this update:
- Happenings
- Ajay Musodi: Artist Residency
- It's Francophonie week! C'est le temps pour la semaine de la francophonie!
- Yoga
- Castel Rock Study Guide Sale
- University of Calgary's Stars for Scholarly Youth Club
- Yearbooks are on sale!
- Lord Beaverbrook High School open house
- High School Transitions and Student tours
- Transition to High School workshop by CBFY Feb 2 & 7
- Important Dates
- Dates of Significance
Happenings
Ajay Musodi: Artist Residency
DTS is thrilled to welcome Ajay Musodi to our school next week. Ajay will be working with all students in Grades 5,7 & 9 through Physical Education classes. Ajay offers a fully interactive and immersive cultural dance experience for our school community. He involves not only the students but also the staff. Together, we dive into the electrifying world of dance through the lens of the African diaspora, which encompasses many cultural backgrounds and languages. This allows participants to stay active through fun locomotor and non-locomotor movements and connect to music from various backgrounds.
It's Francophonie week! C'est le temps pour la semaine de la francophonie!
The DTS semaine de la Francophonie is February 9-11th, 2026. Students will have an assembly on February 6th and activities will be held throughout the week to promote connection to the French language . Students will also receive a maple candy on Monday to celebrate. We look forward to celebrating our French Language heritage and joy. Part of DTS tradition is la cabane à sucre! On Friday, February 6th, all students will have the opportunity to experience a tire à l'érable (maple taffy on snow)! Crêpes will be available on February 11th Be sure to order yours via Healthy Hunger before the deadline. See Healthy Hunger for costs, options and deadlines.
Yoga
Mme Kim will be starting Yoga classes again on Tuesday, February 10th, 2026. New students are welcome to join. Students meet in room 40 at 2:45 and start in the Drama room at 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Teaching focusses on foundational yoga and social-emotional learning through movement, with a different fun theme/focus each week. Students are welcome to bring their own mat, strap, and/or blocks. School-provided mats are also available. Students who participated in term one are welcome back. New students should return the required forms to room 40 before February 10.
Castle Rock Study Guide Sale
As we start the new semester, we’re excited to share that Castle Rock Research study guide sales are now open through February 11. EducationMatters has partnered with Castle Rock Research to offer high-quality study materials at a significant discount for CBE students. These supplementary resources are a great way to support learning and build confidence throughout the semester. Place your order through our school link on the sales page: https://castlerockresearch.com/cbe-site-sale. Best of all, every purchase helps raise funds for EducationMatters, supporting programs that help CBE students thrive.
University of Calgary's Stars for Scholarly Youth Club
This club is committed to supporting students in grades 5 to 12 by offering educational opportunities, including one-on-one tutoring and mentoring. Every year, through their partnership with the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program. They’re thrilled to continue our mentorship initiative, connecting high school students with University of Calgary mentors.
Yearbooks are on sale!
Yearbooks are on sale and selling fast! Make sure to order yours before it’s too late. Yearbooks can be purchased at www.jostens.com. The last day to order yearbooks is February 28th! Please contact Mme. Andrews at NaAndrews@cbe.ab.ca with any questions.
Lord Beaverbrook High School open house
High School Transitions, Student Tours
Wondering when Open Houses are? Be sure to check out the following website for the most up-to-date information: Open House Sessions
Transition to High School workshop by CBFY
David Thompson Families are invited to participate in a “Transition to High School workshop,” which will be held in English and Spanish and is aimed at 9th-grade students and their parents. This workshop will provide important information about the high school system in Alberta, expectations and academic requirements, and how to adequately prepare for a successful transition to high school. Please register using the following link or by directly scanning the QR code on the CBFY Poster (linked):
OPTION 1
Date: Monday, February 2, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Seton Library – Adult Program Room 4995 Market St SE, Calgary, AB T3M 2P9
Language: English
OPTION 2
Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Seton Library – Adult Program Room 4995 Market St SE, Calgary, AB T3M 2P9
Language: Spanish
Important Dates
Jan 30 - Non-Instructional Day - Language Symposium System Professional Learning
Feb 02 - Feb 06 - Ajay Musodi Congolese Dance Artist Residency Grade 5,7 & 9
Feb 04 - Band-MRU Conservatory Field Trip 8:15-2:15
Feb 04 - Jazz on Canterbury 6:30-7:30
Feb 05 - David Thompson School Open House 6:30-8:00
Feb 06 - Francophonie Assembly 8:15-10:00
Feb 09 - Mme. Vicky- TELUS Spark 9:00-2:00
Feb 09 -11 – La semaine de la francophonie
Feb 10 - M. Hadder et Mme. Sarah- TELUS Spark 9:00-2:00
Feb 10 - TELUS Spark Centre - Gr. 7 9:00-1:00
Feb 11 - Valentine’s Dance 1:00-2:30
Feb 12 – 13 Non- Instructional Days
Feb 16 – Family Day – No School
“Go Tigers!”
École David Thompson School
9320 Arbour Crescent SE, Calgary, AB T2J 0X8 Calgary Board of Education | cbe.ab.ca t | 403-777-7470