Dear Simon Fraser Families, 

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year at Simon Fraser School! 

We are excited to welcome students and families for another year of learning, growth, and community. The start of a new school year is always filled with excitement, new beginnings, and opportunities to connect. 

This year, we look forward to: 

• Building on our strong school community 
• Encouraging curiosity, creativity, and collaboration 
• Supporting every student in achieving their personal best 

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we will make this a year filled with success, joy, and memorable experiences for all students. 

Please review the important information below to help make the transition back to school a smooth one. If you have any questions, please contact the school office. 

General Back to School Information 

Teachers are back to work officially tomorrow and will be actively engaged in planning for students this week. Office hours this week are: 

• Wednesday August 26, 2026: 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm 
• Thursday August 27, 2026: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm   
• Friday August 28, 2026: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm  

Homeroom teachers will contact families via email (SchoolMessenger) on Thursday, August 27, 2026, by 3:30 p.m. to welcome students to their class. Student schedules will be available on Monday, August 31, 2026, through MyCBE. 

Please note that we are not accepting student class or homeroom change requests. Students have been placed thoughtfully into classes by our teaching team based on a variety of factors. Parent and guardian input submitted through the classroom placement survey in May was carefully considered and accommodated whenever possible. 

We understand that students may sometimes feel disappointed if they are not placed in the class they were hoping for. As parents/guardians, your guidance and support in helping your child navigate these feelings is invaluable. Learning to manage challenges and disappointments is an important part of growth, and building resiliency in these moments will benefit students throughout their lives. 

First Day Entry Information: 

• Grade 6 students will enter through the main doors and be guided to the school compound (weather permitting). If weather does not cooperate, grade 6 students will enter through the main door and proceed to homeroom classrooms​ (staff will assist) 
• Grade 7 students will enter through the main doors and proceed to the gym​  
• Grades 8 & 9 students will enter through the second floor east door​ (on 33^rd Street) and proceed to homeroom classrooms.  New students will be assisted by staff as they enter. 

Parents and guardians who are bringing their child to school on Monday are asked to say goodbye at the door and allow students to enter independently. 

Calendar & Schedule 

• School Calendar Page (Constantly Updated) 
• 2026-2027 CBE School Instructional Calendar 

Students may enter the school beginning at 7:45 a.m. Monday through Friday. 

The Simon Fraser Bell Schedule is available on our website. 

Busing Update 

Families who require transportation must register for busing each school year. 

Please review your child's transportation information in MyCBE to ensure they have an assigned route and bus stop. If your child has siblings attending the school, we encourage you to discuss a plan for meeting at the bus at the end of the day. 

Families are also encouraged to check bus status information each morning to ensure their child's route is running on time and without delays. If you do not know your child's bus number, it can be found in your MyCBE account. 

Construction Update 

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing engaging and modern learning spaces, Simon Fraser School is currently undertaking renovations to modernize our Construction classroom. We are excited about these improvements and the enhanced learning opportunities they will provide for our students. 

During this project, families may notice construction activity and designated work zones around portions of the school's perimeter. The safety of our students, staff, and community remains our highest priority. 

We ask families to: 

• Be aware of all posted construction signage and restricted areas when arriving at or departing from the school. 
• Avoid entering or walking through fenced or designated construction zones. 
• Follow all directions provided by school staff. 

We also encourage parents and guardians to speak with their children about construction site safety, including: 

• Staying away from fences, barriers, and equipment. 
• Following designated walkways and school entry points. 
• Being aware of increased vehicle and equipment activity around the school. 
• Reporting any safety concerns to a staff member immediately. 

Thank you for your cooperation and support as we work to improve our learning environment. We look forward to sharing updates as the project progresses. 

Traffic Safety 

Before school drop-off and after-school pick-up times are particularly busy around our school. 

To help keep all students safe: 

• Do not park in front of the school or in the school parking lot during drop-off and pick-up times. 
• Do not block residential driveways. 
• Follow all posted traffic regulations and speed limits. 
• Use designated crosswalks whenever possible. 

Please take a few minutes this weekend to review safe travel practices with your children, including: 

• Using crosswalks 
• Looking both ways before crossing the street 
• Avoiding jaywalking or unsafe shortcuts 

Thank you for helping us keep our students and community safe. 

Absences and Lates 

Regular attendance is an important contributor to student success. The CBE  

Administrative Regulation 6020 - Attendance of Students outlines the responsibilities of students, families, and school staff regarding attendance. 

Parents and guardians are responsible for informing the school whenever a student will be absent or late. 

Please call the attendance line at 403-777-7290 and press 1 to leave a message. When leaving a message, please include: 

• Student's full name 
• Spelling of the student's last name 
• Grade 
• Reason for absence or lateness 

Please note that emails sent directly to teachers or administrators may not reach the office in time for attendance reporting and could result in an automated absence notification being sent to your family. 

Accurate attendance reporting helps us ensure the safety of all students and maintain effective communication with families. 

Personal Mobile Devices 

In accordance with Alberta Education Ministerial Order requirements, personal mobile devices are not permitted during instructional time. 

Students are encouraged to leave devices at home whenever possible. If a device is brought to school, it must remain turned off (or silenced) and stored in the student's locker during the school day. 

Please note that classroom and office phones are available in case of emergency. 

School Supplies 

Please note that school supplies are not provided for students in Grades 7 to 9. 

Families are encouraged to review the recommended school supply list available on the Simon Fraser School website (scroll all the way down). 

Additional supplies may be required for specific classes. Teachers will provide course-specific information at the beginning of the school year. 

Students are responsible for replacing any lost or depleted supplies throughout the year. Additional materials may also be required for special projects and assignments. 

Forms 

Several mandatory forms will be posted into School Engage (found within MyCBE accounts) soon.  Some forms directly relate to government funding.  We process the forms in a set order and must process them before the end of September.  Volunteer Registration forms are the last to be reviewed.   

New volunteers can apply through their MyCBE/School Engage account.  Once processed in the school office, it will go to Calgary Police Service (CPS).  Once parents have completed the application with the voucher from CPS, a downloaded copy will need to be returned to the school office for final approval.  Volunteer clearances are good for 5 years.  Current volunteers also need to log into their MyCBE/School Engage account annually to complete their annual volunteer form. 

Annual School Demographics forms are accessed through MyCBE/School Engage and must be approved and updated by legal guardians as needed each year.   

Important Dates 

Simon Fraser School follows the CBE Traditional Calendar, which establishes common instructional days, holidays, and non-instructional days across the system. 

Our 2026-2027 school-specific calendar is available on our website. 

• August 31: First Day of School 
• September 7: Labour Day: No School 
• September 11: Wellness Day (modified schedule) 
• September 16: Picture Day 
• September 17: Meet the Teacher Night 
• September 18: Terry Fox Run (modified schedule) 
• September 21: School Council Meeting 
• September 29: Orange Shirt Day 
• September 25: Non-Instructional Day (No School for Students) 
• September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (No School for Students) 

We look forward to a wonderful year of learning, growth, and connection with all members of our Simon Fraser community. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we wish all students and families a successful start to the school year. 

Go Flames!