Dear Students, Parents, Guardians and Caregivers,

Happy Labour Day Long Weekend! It has been an exciting and busy first week of school. What a joy it was to meet my students and staff again for another great year at Pearson. I want to share some special moments for you to enjoy. Please note and complete the important forms if you have not already done so. Be sure to scroll to the end of the newsletter for some Olympic news.

Refresh your PowerSchool

Students are asked to refresh their PowerSchool often as student timetables are being adjusted as we level class sizes. If one of your classes has been changed, please go to the new class. While our school is very full this year, we may be able to accommodate a limited number of timetable changes.

Students can use the link below to access.

Round 2 of Course Change Requests

• Form Opens 8:00AM Tuesday, September 3
• Form Closes 4:00PM Wednesday, September 4

Please note the following

• Grade 10 classes are entirely full, and no course change requests can be accommodated for grade 10 students. The only exception to this is where there is an error in the timetable (i.e. a missing core class, a spare, or similar). Grade 10 students who believe there is an error in their timetable may report this to their homeroom teacher in the first few days of classes to access changes.
• Grade 11 and 12 students may ask for a limited number of course changes (course additions and drops), request balancing of their timetables, request access to online classes, and similar requests.

New Cell Phone Policy

Personal mobile devices brought to school include 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. These must be powered off or set to silent mode and stored out of sight in student lockers, backpacks or other designated area during instructional time. This includes the Learning Commons, EAL and Dance Lounges, hallways, stairwells and bathrooms. Personal mobile device use may be permitted during breaks and lunch times. Personal mobile devices are permitted in the student cafeteria, if a student is on a spare.

Punctuality and Lates

Students are expected to be on time to each class and be prepared with materials to start work at the bell. Late arriving students miss part of the lesson, disturb other students, and interrupt the teaching process. If students arrive at school after the bell or if they are late between classes, they must report to the office for a late slip. A student is late when they arrive more than 5 minutes after the bell. Unexcused tardiness is unacceptable. Consequences for persistent non-compliance will be progressive in accordance to AR 6005 and 6006 and will involve working with students, parents and the school.

Student Parking

Students must have a valid parking pass to park in the Student Parking lot. There is no loitering in the student-parking lot during instructional time. Students who are in their vehicles on a spare must leave the parking lot. Persistent non-compliance will result in loss of parking privileges.

Lunch Service

As the new students in the culinary program get settled, there will be no lunch service. Lunch service begins on Monday, September 16. Please make arrangement to bring your own lunch. Students who go to Macdonald’s, Village Square or Tim’s for lunch must still be back on time for afternoon classes.

Reminder - Important Processes

The most important process is to gain access to your Parent Portal by setting up a My CBE account.

This will give you access to see PowerSchool, pay school fees, extra-curricular and team fees online; access to complete all the required online forms, monitor attendance and to view marks and report cards. Most of you already have a My CBE Account; however, if you are new to the CBE, it is essential that you sign up right away.

• Parents must have a My CBE Account in order to access PowerSchool and their entire student’s information (example: Demographic Forms, Attendance, assignments, etc.)
• If you do not have a My CBE parent account, you can follow the directions to create one. Here is the link for parents to get your ‘My CBE Account’ for everything including forms and paying fees.
• Please complete the following forms while you are in your My CBE Account
• • Annual Authorization for Athletic Tryout
  • Student Health Plan
  • Student Health Emergency Response Protocol Form (only if needed)
  • Consent for CBE Use of Student Information
  • Consent for CBE Use of Student Information by News Media and Outside Groups (Third Party)

Read only information for Parents, Guardians and Caregivers

School Fees

School fees can be paid online by logging into you’re My CBE Account. You can also pay school fees in person at the Business Office at Pearson. Please wait until after September 6 before paying fees as student classes may change.

Reporting Absences

When you are calling in late or absent for your student, call 403-280-6565 and press 1 for the Attendance line. Please give the following information: Spell your student’s first name and last name, give their grade, and reason for absence or lateness and a contact number that we have in PowerSchool.

School Calendar

The current school calendar is listed on our Calendar page. Please check back regularly, as there may be changes as the year progresses.

School Parent Council

Join the School Parent Council and learn about all the happenings at Pearson. Parent support is vital to our school culture and success. Our AGM will occur during our Meet the Teacher Night on Tuesday, September 10.

Student Identification

Lester B Pearson is a closed Campus. This means that only students registered at Pearson are allowed in the school. All other visitors must register at the Main Office, be part of a visiting athletic team, or be here by staff invitation. All doors to the school will be locked once classes commence and the only entrance students can use to enter the building will be the Main Entrance. To gain entrance you must have your current school ID and lanyards worn visibly around your neck. Grade 11 and 12 students please reuse your black lanyard. Grade 10s will be issued a new lanyard. While in the building, students must have their current ID and black school lanyard worn visibly around their neck unless instructed otherwise in classes such as PE, shop classes and in the labs. Grade 10s will be issued their first ID and lanyard at no charge.

School ID and Lanyards are required to sign out textbooks and other resources in the Learning Commons and to gain admission to athletic games and fine arts events. Lost IDs will only be replaced once at a cost of $5 for the ID and $5 for a replacement lanyard. No temporary IDs will be issued, so please be certain to have your ID with you when you leave home. If you forget, you will need to return home to get it or have someone drop it off at school. We cannot take our school safety for granted. We must all do our part to ensure overall safety and security.

Parking Passes

There will be a limited number of parking passes available for students wishing to drive and park a vehicle on school grounds. A parking pass is required, and it must be current and visibly displayed on your rearview mirror, or you will receive a parking ticket issued by the City of Calgary Parking Authority. Parking passes are available from the business office. Please present current vehicle registration and insurance. Passes are $50 for the year or $25 per semester plus GST.

Should students drive recklessly on school property, stunt or cruise around the parking lot, skip classes in their vehicles or bring individuals onto school property who are not students at Pearson, their parking pass will be revoked without refund, and they will no longer be allowed to park at the school for the balance of the school year. There is absolutely no loitering in the Students’ Parking Lot.

Lockers

Hallway Lockers will be available for students to use again this year. The cost to rent a locker for the year is $20 with $10 refundable upon return of their assigned lock at the end of the year. Lockers will be signed out on Tuesday, September 3 in front of the main office with Ms. Mincheva.

Save the Dates

• Monday, September 2 - Labour Day Holiday – No School
• Wednesday, September 4 - Photo and ID Catch Up Day
• Thursday, September 5 - Connect Substitute Day
• Tuesday, September 10 - Meet the Teacher Night 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• • IPP Parent Info Session from 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
  • K and E Parent Info Session from 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM o School Parent Council and AGM at 7:30 PM
• Thursday, September 12 - Connect Substitute Day
• Thursday, September 19 - Connect Substitute Day
• Wednesday, September 25 - Math/Science Parent Information Night – Topic: Supporting your child’s success in Math and Science at 6:30 PM in the theatre.
• Thursday, September 26 - Connect Substitute Day/Orange Shirt Day
• Friday, September 27 - Non-Instructional Day – No Classes/No School
• Monday, September 30 - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – No Classes/No School