Oki, Dadanast'ada, Âba wathtec, Tânisi, Taanishi, Helló, Привет, Привiт, 你好 (Nǐ hǎo), Bonjour, and Hello Somerset School Families,
Last week was a busy and festive time at our school! Highlights included our Winter Celebration, where students, staff and family came together to celebrate the season, our Volunteer Tea, a chance to express our gratitude for the incredible support we receive from our volunteers. We also responded to the Fire Alarm where students and staff successfully demonstrated their preparedness, and the grade 4's enjoyed a Virtual Field Study to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, which brought the fascinating world of paleontology right into our classrooms.
As we head into the final days of 2024, please note that this week is the last week of classes for the 2024 school year. Our final day of school will be Friday, December 20, with classes resuming on January 6, 2025.
Here are your Weekly Updates
SPIRIT DAYS in December
Let’s spread some cheer and creativity as we countdown to winter break. Here is the lineup for the week after next:
- Monday, Dec 16 – Crazy Hat/Hair/Sock Day
- Get creative and show off your wildest hats, hairstyles, or funky socks!
- Tuesday, Dec 17 – Festive Sweater Day
- Rock your favorite holiday sweater—silly, sparkly, or cozy!
- Wednesday, Dec 18 – Winter Wonderland Wednesday
- Dress in blue and white to channel the beauty of a snowy day.
- Thursday, Dec 19 – Tropical Day
- Bring the warmth of the beach with bright shirts and sunglasses
- Friday, Dec 20 – Pajama Day
- Relax in your coziest jammies as we wrap up the week in comfort.
SOMERSET Mischief?
We heard rumors that there might be a couple of mischievous Elves running around Somerset, so we made sure to triple-check all the doors and windows before locking up on Friday! Here is hoping they are too busy spreading holiday cheer to cause any trouble. Fingers crossed, no mischief will happen, but we will be on the lookout just in case!
WORD of the WEEK: Grumpy
Definition:
Feeling irritable, bad-tempered, or easily annoyed.
Example Sentence:
Snowflake felt a bit grumpy when things did not go her way at school, and she expressed her frustration quite loudly to Peppermint and Jolly. With some gentle support and guidance using the School's Problem-Solving Model, Snowflake learned how to share her feelings more calmly. She discovered how to express her needs in a way which encouraged a respectful conversation to support Peppermint and Jolly in understanding her needs.
Morphology of the Word:
- Root: Grump – which means to complain or be in a bad mood.
- Prefix: None
- Suffix: -y – a common suffix that turns a noun or root word into an adjective, indicating a characteristic or quality.
SDP WELLNESS Focus: Resilience and Mental Health
At Somerset School, we are focusing on promoting resilience and mental health by helping students develop a strong emotional vocabulary. By learning to recognize and express their feelings, students are better able to communicate their needs and manage challenges (social or academic) in a positive way.
To support this, we continue to use our School's Problem-Solving Model, which encourages students to pause, reflect, and express themselves respectfully when faced with difficulties. This approach helps foster emotional growth, improves communication, and promotes healthy problem-solving.
Problem-Solving Sentence Frame
"I feel [emotion],
when [describe the action/behavior], and
I need [suggested action/change]."
To help students use the Problem-Solving Model for positive communication, here are some simple prompts to guide their thinking:
- When I feel grumpy, I calm myself by...
(This helps students recognize ways to manage their feelings.)
- What is happening right now which is making you feel grumpy?
(This encourages students to identify the cause of their emotions.)
- How can you use your words to tell someone they are making you feel grumpy and ask them to stop?
(This promotes respectful communication and helps students express their needs clearly.)
Anchor Texts
To help our students develop their emotional vocabulary and increase their awareness of their feelings, we are using the anchor texts The Color Monster and The Big Book of Feelings. These books provide a supportive and engaging way for students to explore and understand their emotions.
Labeling Clothing
Click HERE for a fantastic solution from Mabel's Labels to help ensure your child's lost clothing is easily returned when misplaced at school.
How to Support
- Select Support A Fundraiser
- Choose Somerset School (Calgary)
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year opens on January 13, 2025.
- We recommend reviewing the Kindergarten Registration Guide to help prepare.
New and revised help pages are now available for MyCBE and SchoolEngage.
- These pages provide answers to frequently asked questions and tips for navigating the platforms.
- New information includes video tutorials and FAQs to assist with completing forms and uploading documents (e.g., Demographic Verification Form in SchoolEngage).
Important Dates Ahead (Next 6-8 Weeks):
- 19 December - Hot Dog Lunch Fun Lunch (Cut-Off: 14 December)
- 20 December – Last day of Classes
- 23 Dec. - 3 Jan. 2025!
- 6 January – Classes Resume
Let’s make the most of this final week of the 2024 school year and enjoy every moment together! Wishing you all a joyful and fulfilling week ahead.
Hand to Heart,
Nathan Bane
Principal, Somerset School