DTS Weekly Update – May 02, 2025 

DTS Message de la semaine – le 02 mai, 2025 

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." – Benjamin Franklin 

David Thompson Newsletters are always available on our website! 

Hello Tiger Families, 

Spring is full of energy and growth at David Thompson. As a dual-track school, we continue to see the power of learning in two languages. Whether in French or English, students are setting personal goals, building confidence, supporting each other and a developing a strong sense of community. Ask your child what challenged or inspired them at school this week. These small conversations help learning stick and show your child that what they do at school matters. 

Next week we all need to remember that it is Mental Health Awareness week, and May 7 is Hats on for Mental Health. Wearing a hat is a simple way to help start conversations about wellness and Mental Health. Shout out to our Grade 7s who will go climbing, those Grade 8s who are right now preparing for Quebec and those Grade 9s who are getting ready to sail away to SALTs. All great examples of how real learning happens when students are active, engaged, and a little outside their comfort zones. 

Thanks for being a part of the journey.  

With gratitude, 

The David Thompson School Team 

Items in this update: 

Happenings 

• Attendance  
• Hats On! for Mental Health 
• SALTS Sailing Trip - May 5-9 
• Grade 6s   
• Math 15 Summer School option for Grade 9s  
• Grade 8 Art - Miniature Scenes 
• Student Vote 2025: Federal Election 
• Band students  
• Track and Field Tryouts 
• Library Books overdue 
• Important Dates 
• Dates of Significance 

Attendance 

It is important that you call the school if your child is going to be absent or late. Please report all absences to the Attendance Line at 403-777-7430 ext.1. 

Please make sure to spell the student’s last name and include the date of the absence in the message. 

Alternatively, you can email Ms. Shawna in the main office at: See more on our attendance page: davidthompson.cbe.ab.ca 

Please note that you will automatically be notified of your students' absence, upon the attendance submission, promptly at the beginning of 1^st period.   

If you have already sent your student to school knowingly, please disregard the School Messenger notification. Your student's attendance will be amended. If your student has been marked absent due to error, please leave a message on the attendance line rather than calling the office.  

Hats On! for Mental Health 

"Hats On! For Mental Health" is a campaign to raise awareness about mental health, with a focus on schools and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). The event will take place on May 7, 2025, where students are encouraged to wear a hat to school in support of mental health awareness.  

Erin Hidalgo 
Physical Education and Athletics Learning Leader 

SALTS Sailing Trip - May 5-9 

Grade 9 students and their teacher supervisors are looking forward to their long-awaited trip to Victoria and the Lower Gulf Islands of BC. Families are reminded to be at the domestic departures gate at the Calgary International Airport on May 5 at 6:30am. Travelers expect to return on Friday May 9 at 10:15pm. Thanks to everyone for their support in offering our students these unforgettable learning opportunities. 

Margaret Matheson, B.Sc., B.Ed.   

Grade 6s 

Grade 6 Students will go for a full day activity at Central Library and City Hall on May 21^st 2025. Please contact homeroom teachers for more information or if you want to volunteer. 

June 23-Walking field trip for Tennis 

June 24- Field trip to the Zoo 

Math 15 Summer School option for Grade 9's 

Interested Grade 9 students are able to take a 3 credit online course during the summer through CBe-learn. This class does not take the place of their designated high school's math prep course and is not as in-depth as the 5 credit class they may be already registered for in the fall.  

This summer school class is meant to build confidence for students who are nervous about the transition to high school and will review some key Grade 9 concepts. If a student was recommended for Math 15 Prep and Math 10C, this course will not replace the Math 15 Prep. Math 15 Summer school is optional and is completely online.  

Please contact Mrs. Matheson at mammatheson@cbe.ab.ca if your student is interested in this opportunity.  

Grade 8 Art 

Grade 8 art classes are going to be making miniature scenes, but we need cereal boxes to do it. We would like to ask DT families to please send any empty ones to us instead of recycling them! 

Student Vote 2025: Federal Election 

Students at David Thompson participated in the Student Vote 2025!  

Canada wide students elected a Conservative minority government, with the Liberal Party forming the official opposition. At David Thompson students elected Sunjiv Raval a Liberal representative.  

• The Liberal Party vote count was 116 seats and 35.26% of the vote. 
• The Conservative Party vote count was 106 seats and 32.2% of the vote. 
• The NDP vote count was 75 seats and 22.8% of the vote. 
• The Green Party vote count was 25 seats and 7.6% of the vote. 
• The People’s Party of Canada vote count was 7 seats and 2.13% of the vote. 

Always with kindness, 

Kimberly Collins 

Band Students: 

These are some important dates for band families to note. 

Due to scheduling conflicts and concerns, our Spring Concert has been cancelled. Additionally, there will also be no ‘Feeder School’ concert field trips. Mr. McClary apologizes for the change in plans. 

 ABA Festival Field trip forms will now be accepted at the office. The deadline for forms is Thursday May 15^th. Mr. McClary will have copies of the forms available in the band room. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Mr. McClary. 

The David Thompson School Jazz Band will be performing at the Fine Arts Gala in the evening on Thursday, June 5^th. 

The David Thompson School Year End Band Concert will be on Friday June 6^th, at 7:30 PM, in the main gymnasium. 

Grade 7 ABA Festival Field Trip: Tuesday May 20^th 

Grade 8 & 9 ABA Festival Field Trip: Wednesday May 21^st 

An email will be sent to parents via school messenger before the end of the week. 

Best, 

Mr. Casey McClary 

Band – Music – Guitar – P.E 

Track and Field Tryouts 

The first round of Track and Field Tryouts begins next week for students in grades 6-9. Students attended the information meeting on Tuesday and have signed up for tryouts during PE class. The events for next week are as follows:  

Erin Hidalgo 
Physical Education and Athletics Learning Leader 

Library Books overdue 

Hi, 

Many students have overdue library books, and it would be great to get these books returned to the learning commons so others can enjoy the books before the end of the school year.  If you are still reading the books, please renew your books with Mrs. Lybbert in the learning commons. 

Believe in your-shelf and your ability to return your overdue! Please get these items to the library as quickly as you can. 

Thanks 

Melanie 

Important Dates 

April 29 – Gr 9 Outdoor Ed Climbing Trip 

May 05-May 10 - Grade 8 Quebec Trip  

May 05-May 09- Grade 9 SALTS Trip 

May 07 - Grade 7 Outdoor Ed. Climbing Trip 

May 07- Hats on for Mental Health   

May 13 – Outdoor Ed Parent Meeting 

May 20- Grade 7 ABA Festival Field Trip 

May 21- Central Library and City Hall Grade 6 

May 21- Grade 8 & 9 ABA Festival Field Trip 

May 26 – In-Person School Council Meeting 

Dates of Significance 

“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