Dear Thomas B. Riley Families,   

 

We hope you had an amazing summer summer as a family full offilled with rest, relaxation, and quality family time. We are very excited to soon begin the 2024-25 school year on August 29, 2024.   

 

Bell Times and Back to School Information

All back-to-school information, including bell times,  regarding Bell Times and Back to School information can be found on our school website. There will be a warning bell for all students at 7:55am to enter the school. We ask that all students enter throughuse their designated doors only and not through the front of the schooentrances and not the front doorsl. The main entrance is used for primarily for our students in ALP and PLP with accessibility needs such as wheelchairs to safely enter. We appreciate our students’ the cooperation cooperation of our students in ensuringin keeping this entrance is clear for them to enter safelyto ensure safe access for everyone.

 

Soft Start – Doors open at 7:50am

To ensure all students are supported in a gradual transition into their school day, we will be opening the entrance doors for all students at 7:50am this year for students who would like to come into the school a little bit earliersupport a gradual transition into the school day, we will open the doors at 7:50am for students who wish to arrive a bit earlier. Students are welcome into the school at this time to prepare for their day by putting their backpack in their locker, gathering their supplies and getting settled in their classroom. Classrooms and hallways will be open and supervised by school staff beginning at this time.

 

School Supplies

If this is your first year in Junior High School, welcome! One of the biggest changes is that students are responsible for bringing all of their own school supplies in Grades 7-9. It is imperative that students arrive with the following for a successful start to the school year. You may also find this list on our school website for future reference.

 

Students ins Grades 7 to 9 can use the following supply list as a guide. to what they will need. Some variations may occur depending on the classes in which the students are enrolled. 

A backpack will be needed to carry supplies to and from school. Please check with the office if your child is in need of a backpack or school supplies.

Students ins Grades 7 to 9 can use the following supply list as a guide to what they will need. 

  • Box of HB pencils
  • Erasers
  • Pencil Sharpener
  • Non-Squirting water bottle
  • Non-marking Running Shoes for Gym
  • Dry Erase Thin Tipped Markers
  • Dry Erase Eraser
  • 6 duotangs (Math, Science, Social, ELA, CTF x 2)
  • Pocket Folders (1 for Grade 9; 2 for Grade 7 and 8)
  • Looseleaf paper
  • Graphing paper (50 sheets)
  • Ultra-Fine Sharpies (Black)
  • Highlighters
  • Blue Pens
  • Black Pens
  • Whiteout
  • Glue Stick
  • Geometry Set (including protractor, compass, 45-45-90, 30-60-90)
  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Pencil Crayons
  • 2 boxes of Kleenex (for homeroom)
  • Pencil Case
  • Shoe box or container for projects
  • 4 - 80 page Hilroy Lined notebooks (Grade 7 and 8)
  • 8.5 x 11” Sketch Book (blank pages) (Grade 7 and 8)
  • Basic Calculator (Grade 7 and 8)
  • 1 package of blank paper (50 sheets, stored in pocket folder) (Grade 8)
  • Scientific Calculator (Grade 9)
  • Binder + Dividers (Grade 9)

 

ALP/PLP Supplies

  • 10 pencils
  • 2 erasers
  • 2 pens
  • 1 package markers
  • 1 package pencil crayons
  • 4-5 BLACK EXPO dry erase markers
  • 1 dry erase board eraser
  • 1 black permanent marker (such as a Sharpie)
  • 2 glue sticks
  • 1 pencil sharpener
  • 2 boxes Kleenex
  • 10 duotangs (PLP only)
  • 1 pair headphones/earbuds with auxiliary connector (built-in microphone would be an added bonus for practice with speech-to-text)
  • 2 highlighters (different colours)
  • “Phys Ed-Friendly” shoes (shoes that student is able to put on/take off independently with non-marking soles are greatly appreciated)
  • Note - Please send all supplies in a large Ziploc bag. These bags will be labeled and distributed as necessary throughout the school year.

 

TLC Uniform Requirements

If your child attends our TLC Program, it is a requirement that they arrive at school in their designated uniform. There will be a 2-week grace period for students to gather all clothing items as some may be out of stock, etc. After this time, we will be following up to ensure the correct dress code is followed.

 

School uniform colour: Middle/Junior – navy (TLC cardigan & vest)

 

-          Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, students in TLC may dress wear casual every Friday. School hoodies and other school spirit wear may be worn on Fridays only.

-          Both a formal uniformYou will need both a formal uniform, to the be worn every Monday and for special occasions and assemblies, and a regular uniform, to be worn Tuesday through -Thursday, are required. every week. School hoodies are not permitted to be worn in place of the uniform this year.

-            -Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, students in TLC may wear casual every Friday. School hoodies and other school spirit wear may also be worn during Fridays only.

-          - To pick up your uniform, please visit McCarthy's Calgary Store and tell them that you attend Thomas B. Riley School. They will ensure you have every piece you need.

-          All students wear the TLC plaid, ed. Either the plaid tie or kilt must be worn on formal days.

-          An informal TLC uniform may be worn on all other days. All uniform pieces must be clean, tidy, in good repair, and fit appropriately.

-            TLC students may dress is casual wear on Fridays only. TBR hoodies are not to be worn in place of uniform Monday-Thursday (*new)

-          Footwear: Please ensure that your child has non-marking running shoes for gym, as well as NO SCUFF BLACK, LEATHER, POLISHABLE, NON-SKID SHOES for inside footwear. TLC sStudents must have 2 pairs of shoes: one pair of black shoes and one pair of running shoes for Phys. Ed.

-          For additional information and a clothing chart see Student Handbook p.6

 

Lunch Hour: Off-Campus Expectations

Students in Grades 7-9 are permitted to leave the school campus over the lunch hour, however it is important to note that our lunch hour is only 40 minutes in length. This is not sufficient time to walk as far as the new developments to buy lunch and return back to school in a timely manner. Students who return to school late on a chronic basischronically return late  will lose the privilege to leave the school campuscampus during lunch. We would appreciate families having this conversation with their studentschildren ahead of time to ensure a smooth start to the school year. Attendance is taken in all class periods and late entries will be recorded in Powerschool for families to monitor.

 

 

Breakfast Program

A small breakfast is available for all students prior to the school start timebefore school every day. Our breakfast program is served in our Cafeteria space and open from 7:40am-7:55am. It will close at the same time as the warning bell so students have sufficient time to transition into class. All students are welcome. 

 

Preferred Communication: Email

If you wish to contact either your child’s teacher or administration this year, email is the preferred method for initial contactcommunication. Leaving messages at the office makes it difficult to track communications and easier for communication to be missedincreases the likelihood of missed messages. You will receive an initial email from your child’s teacher on Wednesday and then you will have their contact email.

 

Our school staff are happy to give you a call back following an email request using the school phone. If you were provided with a staff member’s number for the purposes of a field trip or emergency situation in the past, please do not use this as a form of contact moving forward through phone calls or texts as this is their personal communication device and not intended for school use. Staff have been advised to refrain from any communication other than the instructed to use only the school landlines and email for communication., except for extenuating circumstances such as anin emergency situations.  

 

Updated Cell Phone Policy

An update regarding the new Ministerial Order and Updated Cell Phone policy will be coming early this week in a separate email.

 

 

Final Communication – School Start Up

You can expect an will receive additional communication from your child’s homeroom teacher by the end of the day Wednesday with more information on school start-up and first- day information meeting spots for all grades outside of the schoolmeeting locations for all grades.

All Grade 7 students will meet at their designated meeting outdoor meeting spots outside and then transition into to the gym for further directioninstructions.

 

Students in Grades 8 and 9 will move from their outdoor meeting spots outside to their homeroom class for the first three school days (Thursday August 29, Friday August 30, and Tuesday September 3). The rest of the school day will be inconsist of condensed periods. Your child’s schedule will be available in PowerSchool by this time, and a paper copy will be provided on the first day of school.You will be able to view your child’s schedule in Powerschool by this time as well. They will also be provided with a paper copy on the first day of school.

 

Please note: We do not accept requests for particular teachers or friend requests when making homeroom classes. Classes are made thoughtfully and mindfully with many complex factors in mind and with the input of all staff.

 

Soft Start Throughout the School Year – Doors open at 7:50am

To support a gradual transition into the school day, we will open the doors at 7:50am for students who wish to arrive a bit earlier. Students are welcome into the school at this time to prepare for their day by putting their backpack in their locker, gathering their supplies and getting settled in their classroom. Classrooms and hallways will be open and supervised by school staff beginning at this time.

 

Our school office is open now open. If you need to register a child, please email or call the school to make arrangements as soon as possible.  

 

We look forward to seeing all of our students and families soon! You can also expect a weekly communication in the form of a Weekly Message at the start of every week to keep you up to date withinformed about all of the amazing things happening this year at T.B. Riley School.

 

As always, I am honored to continue to be a part of this very special learning community and know that this will be the very best year yet!

 

Take care,

 

Tiffany Austin

Principal, T.B. Riley School