Honoring the Marathon of Hope with the Terry Fox run

Posted on 2026-09-18 19:48:55.511 +0000 UTC

École David Thompson Weekly Update | A Community of Excellence

Weekly Update – September 18, 2926| Message de la semaine – 18 septembre, 2026

“I want to try the impossible to show that it can be done.” |"Je veux tenter l'impossible pour montrer que c'est realisable"- Terry Fox

Hello Tiger Families!

It’s been a wonderful week of learning and connection here at David Thompson. A heartfelt thank you to all the parents who joined us for School Council, and to everyone who contributed to the success of our Terry Fox Run. It was inspiring to see our students walking, running, and encouraging one another in the spirit of perseverance and community.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to welcome families for our upcoming Meet-the-Teacher/ Tiger Dog evening. We are also preparing to recognize Orange Shirt Day as part of our ongoing commitment to walking together as a school community for truth and reconciliation. This year we look forward to wearing orange and participating in talking circles as a whole school at Fish Creek Park. Huge thank you to School Council for supporting this!

A special shout-out goes to all our student-athletes who’ve joined teams this fall. Coaches have begun sharing game and practice schedules so please check backpacks or email the coach if you are missing this communication. We remind all team members that representing DT means showing Tiger Pride everywhere: on the field, on the sidelines, and in our school hallways.

We hope to see many of you cheering from the sidelines!

Warmly,

The David Thompson School Team

Items in this update:

Happenings
School Drop-Off Reminder
Before and After-School Safety
New Bussing Rules
Homework Support Club
Dungeons and Dragons Club
Band
Healthy Hunger
Cross-Country
Soccer Schedule 2026
Book Fair
Running Shoe Donation Request
Meet the Teacher and Tiger Dog BBQ
Orange Shirt Day – Fish Creek Provincial Park
Alberta Education Grade 5 Literacy and Numeracy Screeners
Eastern Canada Trip, Parent Information Meeting
Yearbooks
Save on Student Study Guides & Digital Resources - Until October 2, 2026
StarGATE Mentorship Opportunity for Students
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. The 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.

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.

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.

Homework Support 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 Support Club is here to help!

Students are welcome to drop in every day during lunch from 11:30 a.m.–12:00 pm in 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.

Dungeons and Dragons Club

Our Dungeons and Dragons club will start Thursday's 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 23^rd to gauge interest, provide information, and answer questions. All are welcome and no experience is necessary.

Band

All Band students should have their Music Instrument Rental Agreement by the end of this week. Students & Parents/Guardians must sign this form and return to Mr. McClary before taking their instrument home to practice.

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.

Look for your students homeroom teacher @healthyhunger.ca

Cross-Country

The final meet will take place: 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.

Screenshot 2026 09 11 101838

Boys:

Screenshot 2026 09 11 102537

Book Fair

Get ready, DTS families—the Scholastic Book Fair is heading our way! We are so incredibly excited to bring the magic of reading straight to our school from September 21–24. Save the date!

Student Shopping & Previews
Our students will have the chance to visit the book fair during regular school hours. Classes will be heading down together throughout the week, so make sure to check out the Book fair flyer at home with your child ahead of time to help them pick out their must-read book list!

Check out the scholastic book fair webpage for more details

https://bookfairs.scholastic.ca/bf/davidthompsonschool

Family Event: Parent Night
Can't make it during the school day? No problem! Join us for our special Parent Night on Thursday, September 24 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. It is the perfect opportunity to browse the shelves together and pick out some new family favorites.

Catch you at the book fair!

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!

Meet the Teacher and Tiger Dog BBQ

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.

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.

Eastern Canada Trip, 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

Save on Student Study Guides & Digital Resources - Until October 2, 2026

We are excited to share a special offer for educational resources through a new partnership between EducationMatters and Castle Rock Research. You can purchase valuable study materials at a significant discount and help raise funds for EducationMatters.

This is a great opportunity to get supplementary resources to support your student’s learning this school year, especially in preparation for unit tests and PATs.

How to Order:

Visit CBE’s unique online portal: CBE Site Sale — Castle Rock Research
Select our school’s specific ordering page.
Place your order and pay directly online.

All print materials will be delivered to the school and distributed to students.

*Order here* https://castlerockresearch.com/cbe-site-sale

StarGATE Mentorship Opportunity for Students

Our 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 our partnership with the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program, we’re thrilled to continue our mentorship initiative, connecting high school students with University of Calgary mentors. Our StarGATE Mentorship program is open to all grade 5-12 students, including those who are not part of the GATE program.

Program Highlights:

Explore University Life: Gain insights into campus life, academic pathways, and degree options.
Personalized Guidance: Monthly 30-minute one-on-one sessions with a University of Calgary mentor to ask questions, seek advice, and plan for post-secondary education.
Engaging Events: Participate in on-campus activities to connect with mentors and peers, build your network, and join a supportive learning community.

Over the past four years, mentees have shared that this program has been instrumental in helping them navigate their academic and career paths.

We would greatly appreciate it if you are able to inform your students and their parents about our club and encourage all interested students to apply and take advantage of this opportunity!

Students can submit their applications using the link below or by scanning the QR code in the poster provided in this email. The deadline to apply is October 9, 2026 at 11:59PM.

Link to register: Mentee registration form

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