Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope this message finds you well as we head into December at New Brighton School. It has been a lively and engaging week in our hallways, thanks in part to a little fun our staff decided to have!

Staff Secret Spirit Week

This week, our staff participated in a “Secret Spirit Week” to see just how observant our students are—and the results were fantastic.
Here’s how it went:

• Blackout Monday – Every staff member wore all black. Very few students noticed!
• Jersey Day Tuesday – Our jerseys caught everyone’s attention. Almost every student noticed right away!
• Denim Wednesday – This one was hit-or-miss, with about half the students catching on.
• Anything But a Water Bottle Thursday – Staff brought the most unusual drink containers imaginable, and the majority of students definitely noticed!
• Crazy Socks with Sandals Friday – This one was a big success, with most students spotting the silly combination immediately.

Thank you to our students for the joy their reactions brought—staff had a great time with this little experiment!

Respiratory Illness Outbreak Notice

Alberta Health Services has declared a respiratory illness outbreak at New Brighton School due to a higher-than-normal number of students reporting symptoms.

Respiratory illness symptoms may include:

• Cough, shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Fever
• Loss or change in taste/smell
• Significant fatigue, muscle aches, headaches
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

These illnesses are easily spread through coughing and nasal or oral secretions. To help minimize transmission, we recommend the following:

• Keep children home when they are ill.
• Encourage regular hand hygiene using soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers.
• Reinforce respiratory etiquette: covering coughs/sneezes with a sleeve or tissue and disposing of tissues immediately.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and taps.
• Ensure routine immunizations are up to date, including COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.
• Testing is not routinely recommended, though your healthcare provider may advise it based on symptoms.

Children should stay home until symptoms have improved, they are fever-free for 24 hours without medication, and they feel well enough to resume normal activities.

If you have questions about your child’s symptoms or need medical guidance, please contact Health Link at 811. Additional information is available at MyHealth.Alberta.ca.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our school community healthy and safe. We appreciate your partnership as we navigate cold and flu season together.

Sincerely,
Patrick Murphy
Principal, New Brighton School

Winter Recess: The Polar Bear Club Returns

As winter arrives, we must prepare for the challenge of indoor recess. The Calgary Board of Education’s inclement weather guidelines recommend keeping students indoors when the temperature, including wind chill, drops to -20°C or colder. 

In past years, students stayed in their classrooms during these cold days, playing games or watching videos. However, extended periods indoors often impact their ability to focus and engage with academic tasks. Recess plays a vital role in a child’s day, offering opportunities for fresh air, exercise, play, and social-emotional regulation. 

To better support our students, we are excited to launch the Polar Bear Club this winter. This initiative allows students to enjoy recess outdoors in colder temperatures, provided they are dressed appropriately for the weather and they have returned the letter (click here) signed by a parent/guardian. 

📣 Parent Council Updates

🍴 December Healthy Hunger

December Fun Lunches & Snacks are available to order!
Here’s what’s coming up this month:

• 🥖 Dec 11 – Fun Snack (The Saucy Bread Company)
  Kindergarten students can order this one!
• 🍕 Dec 18 – Little Caesars Pizza

📅 Dates for the next few months have also been posted.
🛒 Order anytime at HealthyHunger.ca

🍿 Popcorn Volunteers Needed – Multiple Dates

We have a fun and busy popcorn schedule this month and could use more helping hands!
Even one hour of volunteering makes a huge difference.

We are looking for volunteers to help pop and bag popcorn on:

• Dec 15
• Dec 18 – Warm Feet for the Street event
• Dec 19 – Read-A-Thon Popcorn Party! 🎉

👉 Sign up here: https://volunteersignup.org/CX8YD
Thank you so much to everyone who supports Popcorn Days — the students absolutely love them!

📸 Picture Retake Day Volunteers – December 11

We are looking for a couple more volunteers to help on Picture Retake Day (Thursday, December 11th).

📷 Sign up here: https://volunteersignup.org/A3BDW

🌟 Ongoing Fundraisers

Support our school year-round with these easy options:

• Mabel’s Labels → Select New Brighton Parent Council at checkout
• Cobs Bread (130th Ave) → Mention New Brighton School at checkout, and a portion of your purchase is donated back to NBS

Stay Connected

📧 nbs.parentsassociation@gmail.com
🌍 newbrightonschool.com
📌 Facebook: @NewBrightonSchoolParentAssociation
📷 Instagram: @nbsparentsassociation