École David Thompson Weekly Update | A Community of Excellence
Weekly Update – October 09| Message de la semaine – le 09 octobre
"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”
« On ne peut pas diriger le vent, mais on peut bien ajuster les voiles. » Dolly Parton
Bonjour Tiger Families!
The leaves are crunching underfoot, the mornings have that crisp October bite, and our hallways have been full of Tiger spirit!
We kicked off the week celebrating World Teachers’ Day and the tireless educators who make David Thompson such a wonderful place to learn. A special thank you to our Grade 8 Leadership students, who shared thoughtful messages of appreciation with teachers on Monday. What a lovely reminder of the relationships that make our school community so special!
It was a fantastic week for Tiger athletics! Our girls’ and boys' basketball teams celebrated early-season wins, and both our boys’ and girls’ soccer teams enjoyed success on the field. Congratulations to all our athletes for their teamwork, determination and Tiger pride!
Learning also took us beyond the classroom this week. Our Grade 5 students explored Carburn Park, while our Late French Immersion grade 7 students headed to Kananaskis for an overnight camping adventure. These experiences build independence, confidence and friendships while reminding us that some of the best learning happens when we explore the world together. Thank you to the many parent volunteers who make these opportunities possible.
A couple of reminders for families:
IPPs were sent home this week for parent/guardian signatures. If your child has an IPP and you haven't received it, please connect with their teacher.
Homework Club is available every school day in the computer lab! It's a great opportunity for students to get some extra support, catch up on assignments or build good study habits.
Did you know... every day brings opportunities to learn and connect?
With 188 instructional days in our school year, each day offers something valuable, whether it's a new discovery, time with friends or an opportunity to build confidence and independence. Even a few missed days can add up, with five days representing a full week of learning. We know family life is busy and that illnesses and important commitments happen. We simply encourage families to make regular attendance a priority whenever possible, including Fridays, when meaningful learning continues right up to dismissal. Thank you for helping our Tigers make the most of their time together!
As we head into the Thanksgiving long weekend, we have so much to be grateful for: dedicated teachers, enthusiastic students and families who continue to support our school community.
Merci et bon week-end!
Warmly,
The David Thompson School Team
Happenings
Bussing
CBE Transportation will no longer give students permission to ride an alternate bus.
Families will be responsible for organizing transportation in these circumstances.
Attendance
If your student is going to be absent from school for any reason, please send an email, to our general mailbox with the following information,davidthompsom@cbe.ab.ca. Please, notify the school of their child’s absence prior to the start of the school day.
Student’s Full Name (spelling the last name)
Date(s) of absences and reason for the absence
Lost & Found area is officially full!
We have accumulated a massive collection of jackets, sweatshirts, water bottles, lunchboxes, and other personal items.
Please encourage your child to check the Lost & Found bin this week. You are also more than welcome to drop by the school front office to take a look yourself.
Pro-tip: Writing your child’s name clearly on the tags of their belongings helps us return lost items directly to them
The last day to collect your items will be Friday, October 16th. If your items are not collected, they will be donated.
Before and After-School Safety
With 750 students arriving and leaving at the same time, everyone needs to take extra care around buses, cars and pedestrians. Remind students riding bikes or scooters to please put their phones away, stay alert and follow traffic rules. After dismissal, please remind students to head home promptly and walk bikes and scooters off school property before riding. Students who want to stay on the school property should move to the back of the school away from the busses and pick up zones. Thank you for helping keep everyone safe.
Upcoming CBE Well-Being Student Survey
This month, students at DTS will be taking a voluntary CBE Well-Being Student Survey, which offers a valuable opportunity to share feedback on belonging, safety, relationships, and well-being at our school. Results are used for school and system planning and are never used to make decisions about individual students. Consent was collected through the Annual Authorization Forms in SchoolEngage (via your MyCBE account). If you have not yet completed them, please do so by Friday, October 16, or contact the school for help, as consent will be assumed after that date.
SALTS Sailing Trip
Thank you very much for attending the parent meeting Tuesday night and showing your interest in this opportunity. It was a delight to see so many families expressing interest in the 2027 SALTS sailing trip. We are very excited for this year’s adventures!
A reminder that the Financial Commitment and Student Application are due back by October 20th. We will contact the families of students participating shortly thereafter.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Matheson, Teacher in Charge: Mammatheson@cbe.ab.ca
Basketball Season Reminder
As basketball season gets underway, please remember that if students are staying to watch games at DTS or attending games at another school, they must have a parent/guardian supervisor sitting with them in the gym at all times.
Students who do not have a parent/guardian supervisor will be asked to leave after the first game. We also expect all students and spectators to demonstrate positive sportsmanship by encouraging both teams, respecting players, coaches, officials, and other spectators, and representing DTS in a positive way. Thank you for helping us create a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for everyone! GO TIGERS!
Foundational Yoga — All Levels Welcome!
Join us for a welcoming, beginner-friendly yoga class running from October 27 to December 8. No previous yoga experience is required! Led by a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and SEL Facilitator (Mme Kim), classes will explore foundational movement, alignment, self-care, and gentle strength-building poses. Come move, breathe, and build confidence in a supportive, accessible environment. All levels are welcome! Sign-up: Students can sign up outside Room 40, or parents can email kncollins@cbe.ab.ca
Clothing Store
Our clothing store is now open! You can get t-shirts for Athletics teams, D&D shirts, and various DTS Spirit Shirts, Pants, Hoodies, and Toques for all students who want to show DTS pride!
Online Store Deadline: Sunday, October 18, 2026
Please know that all sale are final exchanges cannot be made, as it is a third party distributer.
Scan the QR code below or go online to
https://dtssportsapparel.itemorder.com/
Yearbooks
The 2026-2027 yearbooks are on sale now, and we are offering an exclusive back to school offer! Save money on your school yearbook if you order by October 23rd! In addition to this EARLY BIRD OFFER, with the purchase of a personalization on your yearbook, students can get FREE ICONS added on their yearbook if you order by October 23rd!
Students can order their yearbooks here: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09700295
Band
Band Parents Society Meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of every Month from (TBD-will tell you tomorrow) via Microsoft Teams. Here is the link:
Students interested in Jazz Band should sign up on the list on the band room door. Jazz Band will be Wednesday's after school from 3:00-4:30. The first rehearsal will be Wednesday October 21st.
Grade 8 & 9 Band Fall Clinic: Wednesday October 14th
Grade 7 Fall Clinic: Thursday October 15th
Here is the link, to the document for all band information for this year
We Scare Hunger
Become a hunger hero today. DTS is doing the WE scare hunger food drive for the first year! Do your part and bring in some non-perishable food items. Simply bring them in and put them on your house table in the front hallway. Each item you bring in is worth a tiger point! So, help scare the hunger pains in your community this Halloween and get points for your team too!
Attention all students in Grade 7, 8 and 9s!
We are excited to announce the City of Calgary's Leadership program, LEAD, starting September 22nd. The LEAD program will be run Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the school year from 2:30pm – 4:30pm in the Aux Gym. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop leadership skills and make a positive impact in your community and have some fun!
In the LEAD program, youth will participate in various activities and games that focus on:
Leadership styles
Communication
Teamwork
Time management
Personal wellness
Problem solving
Leisure Education
Diversity
Conflict management
Participants will also volunteer in the community for 20hr. Upon the completion of the program the participants will receive a highly revised LEAD certificate.
If you have any questions, please email Steven Kapteyn at steven.kapteyn@calgary.ca or pick up a registration form at the school office.
Homework Club
Stuck on a challenging concept, need extra time to finish an assignment, or looking for a quiet place to make up a quiz? Homework Club is here to help!
Students are welcome to drop in every day during lunch from 11:30 a.m.–12:00 pm in the computer lab (room 32) room 20 for help with assignments, extra work time, or a quiet place to catch up.
Teachers and parents may recommend attendance, but students are also welcome to attend whenever they need extra support.
Halloween Dress Up Day
Halloween is just around the corner, and we’re looking forward to celebrating at David Thompson on Friday, October 30. Students are welcome to come to school in a costume, an orange and black outfit, their pyjamas, or their regular clothing. To keep the day safe, comfortable and inclusive for everyone, we ask that students and families keep the following in mind:
- No excessive gore
- No weapons of any kind, including toy or costume weapons
- No masks
- Use discretion when choosing attire, remembering that our school includes students with a range of sensitivities
- Choose costumes that are bathroom friendly and easy to get in and out of
- Make sure costumes allow for safe, easy movement and won’t get in the way of regular class work or gym class
Thank you for helping make this a fun and welcoming day for all of our Tigers!
Important Dates
Soccer Schedule 2026
Girls:
Currently, a tentative schedule is available, as several schools don't have enough players for full girls' teams. If any changes to the schedule are to be made, your students coach will communicate the change with you and your student.
Boys:
Important Dates
Oct 12 - NID - Thanksgiving
Oct 13 - Grade 7, Cobbs Adventure Park, 930-2:15pm
Oct 14 - Picture Retakes
Oct 14 - Grade 8&9, Fall Band Clinic, 3:00-4:30pm
Oct 15 - Grade 7, Fall Band Clinic, 3:00-4:30pm
Oct 19 - NID – No School
Oct 20 - Grade 9, Riverwatch
Oct 21 - Grade 9, Riverwatch
Oct 26 – Grade 6 Vaccination
“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