Participate in our December School Event!

 

What: Community Outreach Event

When: Tuesday December 12, 2023

Materials Due: Dec 8. 2023

 

Our Outreach Event will be a cozy day of preparing to give to others in our communities.  Students are welcome to wear their PJs.  There will be a number of activities for students to engage in to contribute to our community during this season of giving. Classes and grade groups have decided on a number of outreach activities. Below are some of the items we would like to collect as a whole school for this event. Classes will also have collection/donation lists posted on their classroom communication tools.  All students and families are invited to donate items to any of the outreach events. 

 

                                                                                                    

Parachutes for Pets

 

Kindergarten will be supporting Parachutes for Pets.  They provide support to Calgary’s vulnerable populations, including seniors, veterans, children in foster care, the homeless, and their cherished pets.  Their wish list includes;

·       Dry and Wet Dog Food (without chicken)

·        Prescription Dog and Cats Foods (like urinary and gastrointestinal support)

·        Small Bags of Cat Litter. 

·       They also accept pet toys, pet dishes, leashes, collars, beds, litter boxes and pet crates.

 All items can be delivered to the kindergarten room by December 7, 2023.  On December 12, 2023 students will be graph/sort them.  Kindergarteners will be making cards to go into the Parachute for Pets backpacks that are distributed to people who are in need.

 

 

Supporting Bethany Calgary

 

This year, the Grade 1’s will be reaching out to one of the extended care facilities in our community by creating winter holiday cards for the senior citizens. Our goal is to ensure everyone at the care facility receives at least one card from a QES Student. 

 

All cards will be made during school hours on December 12, 2023. The handmade cards will be delivered to the residents after our event. 

 

We are kindly requesting Grade 1 families to donate: 

• colored cardstock paper
• winter stickers
• small colorful sequins
• winter foam stickers 
• colored pens or thin markers for writing special messages 

• other craft items to be used to create a greeting card 

 

You might also consider having a conversation with your child about sharing kindness in the community. This will support your child with creating appropriate messages to be written in the cards. Our intent is to bring and spread joy in our community with our local senior citizens.  

 

Thank you for contributing to our Winter Outreach and Community Building Event at QES. 

 

 

Supporting Community Little Libraries and Calgary Reads. Building community. Inspiring readers. Expanding book access.

 

The Grade 2 and 3 classes will be collecting books in an effort to support Literacy in our community and other communities around Calgary.  We will be distributing the books into Little Libraries on our community walks.  In addition, we will donate extra books to others in need through the organizations, Little Free Libraries and Calgary Reads. 

To contribute to this activity, all students are encouraged to bring new or gently used books to donate. We will collect books starting tomorrow until December 7, 2023.  As well, there will be a drop box inside the main doors of the school on Parent - Teacher conferences.  During our school-wide community outreach morning on December 12th, students in grade 2/3 will be creating kind messages and/or bookmarks to add to the books. 

We encourage your family to learn more about these inspiring organizations by reading through their websites. 

Little Free Library -https://littlefreelibrary.org/ 

Calgary Reads  - https://calgaryreads.com/

The Birthday Room

The Birthday Room is a special place at the Calgary Food Bank. Volunteers gather to build Birthday Party Kits for children who might not otherwise enjoy the luxury of a birthday party. The Birthday Party Kits are nestled under the Emergency Food Hamper Program, rely solely on donations, and are available for children aged one to 12 whose families are getting a food hamper within three weeks of their birthday. Grade 4 and 5 students will be supporting this worthwhile initiative.   

 

Birthday Party Kit Wish List includes: 

• Cake mixes 
• Icing
• Sprinkles
• Candles 
• Balloons 
• Stuffed animals 
• Party supplies (napkins, plates, cutlery, cups) 
• Age appropriate toy (Ages 8 – 12) as this is a category of great need! 
• (Lego, toy car, puzzle, ball, doll, craft kit, art supplies, games) 
• Age-appropriate books
• Party favours/decorations 
• Candy goodie bags / loot bags
• Microwave popcorn 
• Medium/large gift bag 

 

On December 12, 2023 our grade 4 and 5 students will be organizing, wrapping, and filling the Birthday Bags. They will also be creating greeting cards and writing letters of support Thank you, in advance for your generosity and help with this outreach project. The Food Bank made a special request that gift cards are graciously declined. 

Urban Wildlife

This year for the community outreach program our Grade 6 students wanted to make a connection with the urban animals and their environment. To do so, we were hoping to be able to provide food for birds in the community during their winter season, which will also allow us to study birds and their flight adaptations. On December 12, 2023, students will create seed clusters using:

• bird seed
• lard or shortening
• and twine

Once the seed clusters are finished, students will apply their studies of trees and forests to implement their project in the community. Through using a dichotomous key, students will identify the type of trees they choose to house their seed clusters. To make this project possible, donations of bird seed, lard or shortening, and twine are greatly appreciated. Please ensure materials are brought to the school by December 7, 2023.  Thanks in advance for your support!

General Food Bank

QES is also supporting a sense of belonging by focusing on what makes our school a great place to learn.  In addition to recognizing what we are grateful for at QES, students are asking for families to donate food donations for the local Food Bank.    Please have all items for the Food Bank Delivered by December 2^nd.  https://www.calgaryfoodbank.co...

Gift Wrapping

 

This event is one that will help others in our community.  You can sign up to bring in an unwrapped gift for a donation by December 7, 2023.  Our students and volunteers will wrap your gift.  The donations collected will be delivered to our friends in need. Items requested are listed in the following sign-up genius. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B084DAAA82CA13-46331413-community

If you are willing to volunteer to help organize for other parts of the day, please contact your child’s teacher.

 

Thank you for supporting our efforts to consider others during this season of giving! If you have questions, please feel free to call the school or email your child’s teacher.

 

Thank you!