École David Thompson Weekly Update | A Community of Excellence
Weekly Update – September 11, 2026| Message de la semaine – le vendredi, 11 septembre, 2026
Quote: “Dreams are made possible if you try.”
“ Les rêves deviennent possibles si vous essayez.”
- Terry Fox
Bonjour, Tiger Families,
Thank you for your support as we've settled into the rhythm of a new school year. As we move into our second week, it's wonderful to see students becoming more comfortable with their new learning spaces and building stronger connections with one another.
This week, our Grade 7 students have been exploring the power of language with Wakefield Brewster, discovering how words shape our understanding and open new possibilities in how we see the world in, they are creating projects in both French and English. As one educator once said, knowing one language opens a corridor, but knowing two opens every door along the way. That spirit of possibility through communication is something we want to nurture across our entire school community.
We're also excited to see our fall sports teams in action. Basketball, soccer, and cross country have started, and it's been great to watch students embrace the opportunity to stay active and support their teammates. We're incredibly grateful to the staff and volunteers supporting these opportunities.
As the school year picks up pace, we'd love your support in helping students establish good studying habits at home. A quiet space, consistent routines, and regular check-ins can make all the difference in building confidence and momentum in their learning.
Thank you again for being part of what makes David Thompson special.
Warmly,
The David Thompson School Team
Items in this update:
- Happenings
- School Drop-Off Reminder
- New rules, Bus
- Staffing Message
- Terry Fox Run
- Healthy Hunger
- Cross-Country
- Soccer Schedule 2026
- School Council Meetings
- Book Fair
- Running Shoe Donation Request
- Tiger-Dog! Meet the Teacher
- Orange Shirt Day – Fish Creek Provincial Park
- Family and Caregiver Communication
- Alberta Education Grade 5 Literacy and Numeracy Screeners
- Wakefield Brewster Residency
- Dungeons and Dragons club
- Eastern Canada Trip, Parent Information Meeting
- Yearbooks
- Important Dates
- Dates of Significance
Happenings
School Drop-Off Reminder
To help reduce congestion and keep students safe, families are asked not to drop students off directly in front of the school during, before, and after school drop-off and pick-up. Community has also asked that we encourage families not to be in the ally. Please use Atlanta Crescent, Armstrong Crescent, or 5 Street behind the school instead. Atlanta Crescent has an entrance to the school yard and you can see the door from the road. We appreciate families supporting us by keeping the front of the school clear.
New Rules, Bus
CBE Transportation will no longer give students permission to ride an alternate bus.
Families will be responsible for organizing transportation in these circumstances.
Staffing Message
This fall, the CBE has hired hundreds of teachers, education assistants, and other school staff to support student learning. These positions have been funded by the Government of Alberta with the intention of addressing classroom complexity and class sizes.
We are pleased to welcome TWO additional new staff to our school for the 2026-27 school year! These additional staff will help ensure students benefit from:
Increased teacher attention
Improved classroom learning environments
Greater support for diverse learning needs
Terry Fox Run
Terry Fox Run – Friday, September 18
Our school will be participating in the Terry Fox Run on Friday, September 18. We are excited to come together as a school community to support the Terry Fox Foundation and continue Terry’s Marathon of Hope.
Donations: Our online donation platform is open and active, and families can make donations online.
If your child is bringing cash or a cheque to school, please ensure that it is placed in a sealed envelope with your child’s name on it. This helps keep donations secure for your child’s teacher.
Healthy Hunger
Healthy Hunger is back for the 2026/27 school year!
This parent council/volunteer run, and student-facilitated initiative offers affordable, nutritious snacks and lunch options to help keep our Tigers fueled through the school day.
It’s also a fundraising platform for David Thompson School, with funds going directly towards programs/activities/school equipment and materials.
Our first Healthy Hunger event of the year is scheduled for Tuesday September 15th (A&W).
If you don’t already have a Healthy Hunger account, you can easily create one under your students homeroom teacher name at healthyhunger.ca
Cross-Country
Cross-country running is open to all students and all fitness levels — no experience necessary, and everyone is welcome to join in. Meets and practices will take place on the following days:
Practices:
Tuesday, Sept 15
Thursday, Sept 17
Meets:
Tuesday, Sept 15
Monday, Sept 21
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:
School Council Meetings
Welcome back to a brand-new school year! I hope you had a restful and rejuvenating summer break.
We have an exciting year ahead of us, filled with new opportunities, collaborative initiatives, and community events. Our first school council meeting is just around the corner, and I look forward to working alongside all of you to make this year memorable and impactful for our students and families.
Wed Sept 16 (virtual)
Wed Oct 14 (in person)
Wed Nov 25 (in person)
Wed Jan 20 (virtual)
Wed Mar 3 (virtual)
Wed April 14 (virtual)
Wed June 9 (in person) (including AGM)
All meetings will be held at 6:30pm
Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is returning to our school! From September 21 to 24, our community will have the chance to explore a fantastic selection of new books, bestsellers, and exclusive titles.
What to expect: Exciting new releases, fan-favourite characters, and graphic novels for all reading levels.
Students will be able to go shopping during school class time. We cannot wait to see you there!
Here is the link, to access our bookfair online
https://bookfairs.scholastic.ca/bf/davidthompsonschool
Running Shoe Donation Request
We are looking to build up a collection of gently used running shoes for our school gym!
If your child has outgrown a pair of running shoes, or you have a pair that is still in good shape but no longer being used, we would greatly appreciate your donation. These shoes will be kept in the gym for students to borrow when they forget their shoes or need a pair to participate safely in PE.
We are looking for clean, gently used running shoes in a variety of sizes. They don’t need to be new — just safe, comfortable, and in good condition.
If you have a pair (or two!) that you would be willing to donate, please send them to the school with your child or drop them off at the main office.
Thank you for helping us make sure every student has the opportunity to participate!
Tiger-Dog! Meet the Teacher
Join us on Thursday, September 24 (5–7 pm) for our Meet the Teacher evening! We'll kick things off with a welcome assembly, followed by a chance for parents and guardians to meet their child's teachers, tour classrooms, enjoy a Tiger Dog BBQ and learn more about courses and expectations for the year ahead. We look forward to welcoming your family to DTS!
Orange Shirt Day – Fish Creek Provincial Park
On Tuesday, September 29, our DTS community will mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by spending a portion of the day together at Fish Creek Provincial Park. Students will take part in outdoor, land-based learning that honours residential school survivors and their families, and reflects on truth and reconciliation as a shared responsibility. More details will follow closer to the date.
Family and Caregiver Communication
The Calgary Board of Education invites all parents and guardians to join a live online series on supporting child and youth well-being. The series is hosted by the Recovery Alberta Community Education Service (CES) Program in collaboration with local experts from the Calgary Community.
Attached to this email is a poster with sessions designed to provide families with knowledge, tools, and strategies to help navigate the challenges and opportunities of raising children and teens today. Additional session details are available on our corporate website: Child and Youth Well-Being Family and Caregiver Series.
Alberta Education Grade 5 Literacy and Numeracy Screeners
Starting this year, Alberta Education requires all Grade 4 and 5 students to take part in literacy and numeracy screening. At DTS, Grade 5 students will complete these brief assessments this fall.
Screening does not replace regular classroom assessment and has no impact on report cards or grades. Results help teachers identify students who may benefit from extra support, and any relevant findings will be shared with you as part of our ongoing communication.
Wakefield Brewster Residency
We're excited to welcome spoken word artist and educator Wakefield Brewster to DTS for a Grade 7 residency continuing to run through September 14–15! Wakefield is a professional poet, literacy advocate, and former Poet Laureate of Calgary who works with students to build confidence, find their voice, and explore the craft of writing through poetry and spoken word. It should be a fantastic, energizing experience for our students — we can't wait to see what they create.
Dungeons and Dragons club
Our Dungeons and Dragons club will start October 1st after school. It runs from 2:30 to 4:00 in the art room. There will be a short meeting in the art room during the first half of lunch on September 23rd to gauge interest, provide information, and answer questions. All are welcome and no experience is necessary.
Eastern Canada Trip, Parent Information Meeting
Parent Information Meeting
This year, we will once again be offering the Grade 8 Eastern Canada trip visiting Ottawa, Montréal and Quebec. This is an amazing opportunity for grade 8 students to immerse themselves in French culture and language, providing authentic opportunities for students to practice their French! If you are interested in the trip, there is a mandatory parent information session Tuesday October 6th at 6:00pm! We hope to see you there.
Date: Tuesday October 6th
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Main Gym, École David Thompson School
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 before 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 before October 23rd!
Students can order their yearbooks here: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09700295
Important Dates
Sept 07 - Holiday School Closed
Sept 08-10 - Wakefield Brewster
Sept 14-15 - Wakefield Brewster
Sept 15 - Picture day
Sept 18 - Terry Fox Day, assembly @9:45am
Sept 24 - Meet the Teacher Night and BBQ, 5:00-7:00pm
Sept 21-24 - Scholastic book Fair
Sept 25 – NID, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Sept 28 - Grade 5 Bowling Trip
Sept 29 - Orange Shirt Day
“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