Riverbend School

Students are enjoying the good weather outside, with learning, community walks and recess breaks bringing us outdoors more often. Grade six students are getting ready to go to outdoor school at the end of the month with Ms. Davaris and Ms. Hume, as well as preparing for their transition to grade 7 next year. 

We were impressed with the variety of hats that students and staff wore for Hats On! For Mental Health this past Wednesday.  

Further to the email sent Friday afternoon, if you wish to email messages to the office, please use: riverbend@cbe.ab.ca and not Ms. Allen's personal email as we will not receive the information. Ms. Hume and I will be supporting the office while we transition to a new administrative assistant; we thank you for your patience.

The Week Ahead: 

CBE Dates of Significance 

Updates and Information: 

Physical Education 

We will continue to use the mats and gymnastics equipment in gym classes during the month of May. We recommend that students wear shorts or pants rather than dresses. All long hair needs to be tied back and please leave any dangling jewelry such as long earrings or necklaces at home during this unit.  

Project Kampfire – Grade 4, 5 or 6 only 

Project Kampfire has a proud history of providing transformative experiences through camp and outdoor education. Project Kampfire’s Summer Camp, Kamp Kiwanis, provides a fully subsidized summer camp experience for youth, ensuring that financial barriers never stand in the way of growth, adventure, and connection. More than just a getaway, the camp is a place where young people build friendships, develop confidence, and learn the value of teamwork and leadership. Through outdoor exploration, hands-on learning, and community building, campers leave with lasting memories, new skills, and a deeper appreciation for nature and their role in the world. 
 
Project Kampfire offers 100% subsidized 6 to 8 day overnight summer camp experiences for students finishing Grades 4-7. Transportation is also provided between Calgary and the camp on the first and last day of sessions, or Parents/Guardians have the option to transport their children.   

2026 Summer Camp Dates 

• Junior Camp for students finishing Grade 4: August 12-17 
• Intermediate/Senior Camp for students finishing Grade 5/6: July 3-9 or July 13 - 19 or August 2-8 

If your child is currently in grade 4, 5, or 6 and you would like to have them nominated for a camp experience as outlined above, please reach out directly to Mrs. Poole no later than Monday, May 11th to express your interest. Note that Project Kampfire has a selection committee, and not all students nominated will necessarily be chosen. 

Podcast Examines Digital Distraction and Family Well-Being 

 A recent episode of Dr. Greg Wells’ podcast offers a timely conversation on digital distraction, mental health, and the growing influence of technology on family life. Relational neuroscience indicates that many families are now effectively co-parenting with the internet, often at the expense of connection, co-regulation, and well-being. The conversation offers practical strategies for restoring healthier habits, including phone-free bedrooms, daily screen-time checks, and replacing screen use with face-to-face connection. Find the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube. 

From School Council: 

The next meeting is the Annual General Meeting, and it will be on Thursday, May 21 at 6:30 in the library. Council will be voting in some new members and are on the lookout for Cookie Dough Fundraiser and Learning Garden coordinators. Both these positions are fun, have reasonably short time commitments, and come with instructions and mentors from previous years. This is a great way to become active on Council! 

Popcorn Snack 

Popcorn orders are due Tuesday, May 12 and will be delivered Wednesday, May 20th.