Terry Fox Run – September 19
Treaty Seven Week – September 23-27
Orange Shirt Day – September 26
Riverside School Book Fair – September 25-27
School Conferences – September 26 from 4:00-7:00PM and September 27 from 8:00-noon
Riverside School Council and Parent Society meeting – September 26 at 7:00PM
No classes on September 27 due to School Conferences
Athletics - See updates on our Athletics Page
We’re now a week into the new school year, and everyone at the school is really hitting their stride! Tremendous learning is already taking place in the school; students are using their new visual journals, field studies are being planned, and our portable whiteboard sheets are in high demand. Every school year starts full of possibility, and this year is no different. Now the work of turning those possibilities into valuable experiences begins!
School Conferences/”Meet The Teacher”
As detailed above, our first set of school conferences for 2024-25 will take place near the end of the month (September 26 and 27). We will be sharing more information via these update messages a little closer to those dates. We’re all looking forward to seeing both new and familiar faces!
Personal Mobile Devices and Social Media Use updates
As you may have already heard, CBE is implementing restrictions on Personal Mobile Device & Social Media Use in Schools effective Aug. 29. This policy will comply with the Ministerial Order provided by the Government of Alberta this past June based on survey feedback provided by families.
CBE cares about the mental health and well-being of students. Restricting access to personal mobile devices and social media is expected to improve student achievement and learning outcomes. CBE strongly recommends students simply leave their devices at home, because in most cases, personal mobile devices are not needed to support student learning.
For students in kindergarten to Grade 9, CBE will use ‘away for the day’ guidelines similar to what many schools have been using in recent years. Personal mobile devices brought to school including cell phones, tablets, gaming devices, laptops, smart watches, Bluetooth speakers/headphones or any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate with or access the internet must be powered off or set in silent mode and stored out of sight in student lockers, backpacks or other designated area for the duration of the school day.
If a student is found to be using a personal mobile device in class without permission from the teacher, the CBE will work with the student to ensure the rules are understood. We rely on good communication and other existing processes to ensure students know what is expected. When necessary, schools will use a progressive student discipline approach in working with students.
These new rules will apply to all students, with exceptions for students using devices for health and medical needs, to support specialized learning needs and for educational purposes.
For students who require access to a personal mobile device for health and medical needs, it is advised that parents complete and submit a Student Health Plan as soon as possible or contact Sarah Ketcheson via email at seketcheson@cbe.ab.ca. For students who require access to a personal mobile device to support an identified educational need, families should contact the school to discuss this being included as an accommodation or support in the student’s individual program plan (IPP). If this is the case, please also contact Ms. Ketcheson.
For English as an Additional Language Learners who require access to a personal mobile device, a new PMD Exception form will be approved by School Administration in conversation with parents/guardians.
Also, aligned with the Ministerial Order, the CBE will restrict student access to all known social media platforms on the CBE network.
This policy will be in place for the first day of school. However, it is set to be reviewed in December, 2024. At that time, any feedback from schools will be considered before the Administrative Regulation is finalized as of Jan. 1, 2025.
Thank you for helping us to make this transition successful. For further resources, please view additional information on the CBE website. Please feel free to contact the school at riverside@cbe.ab.ca if you have any questions about this policy.
Yours in education,
Steve Radder, Principal
Riverside School