Westmount Weekly News September 16 - 23, 2026
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Principal’s Message
Dear Westmount Families,
At Westmount, we know that strong attendance is one of the most important factors in a child’s success at school. From Kindergarten through Grade 9, regular attendance helps students build academic skills, develop friendships, strengthen confidence, and establish the routines and structure that lead to lifelong success. Recent research continues to show that students who miss school regularly are at greater risk of falling behind academically, and that attendance habits formed in the early years often continue throughout a student’s educational journey. Research also shows that chronic absenteeism can affect not only the individual student but the learning environment for the entire classroom. Consistent attendance helps children develop "school stamina" by learning to manage responsibilities, persevere through challenges, and establish healthy daily routines. Research highlights the strong connection between regular attendance, literacy development, academic achievement, and long-term educational success.
We understand that every family faces challenges from time to time, and we want you to know that we are here to help. As a general guideline, students should attend school unless they have a fever, are vomiting, or have diarrhea. Mild coughs, sniffles, and seasonal colds are typically not reasons to stay home. If your child is experiencing school avoidance, anxiety about attending, or difficulty with routines, please reach out. Our staff are experienced and well-trained to support students and families, and early intervention makes a significant difference. This year, we will be closely monitoring attendance, and teachers will contact families to check in when attendance patterns become a concern. These conversations are intended to be supportive, collaborative, and focused on student success. Our goal is simple: every student thriving, learning, and feeling connected. To make that happen, we need them in class, learning alongside their peers every day they are able. The Foothills School Division Attendance Toolkit also emphasizes the importance of strong home routines, positive school partnerships, and early support when attendance concerns arise. We are here to partner with you – engage, support, and succeed for all our Westmount Wolves!
Warmly,
Stacey Burrows
Principal, Westmount School
NEW INFORMATION
Meet the Teacher: We are so excited to welcome families on Thursday, September 17th from 4:00 – 6:00 PM for Meet the Teacher and a Community BBQ. We will have hot dogs, juice, and chips available for families to enjoy a light meal together. We look forward to seeing you there!
Teachers will be outside from 4-6 p.m., by the playground area with name tags on. Please have your children introduce you! If you’d like to peek inside the classroom, let the teacher know, and they will unlock their door and show you around! Gentle reminder: this is not a parent/teacher interview, but rather a time for you to put a face to a name and socially interact with your child’s teacher.
Terry Fox: Our annual Terry Fox walk for kindergarten to Grade 6 will take place on Thursday, September 17th. We will have a short assembly just after 11:00 (families are welcome to attend). Our K-6 will go on our walk starting around 2:15 PM. Families are encouraged to join us to commemorate the spirit of Terry Fox and his impact on fundraising for cancer research. In Terry’s honour, Westmount will collect “ Toonies for Terry”. If you are able, please send a toonie with your child. The teacher will collect them, and the school will make a donation to the Terry Fox Foundation. We also have a registered donation link with the Terry Fox Foundation if you’d like to donate and receive a tax receipt. https://schools.terryfox.ca/137453 Last year, the Wolfpack at Westmount raised $463 dollars for cancer research! Way to go!
Our junior high students (Grades 7-9) will be participating in their Terry Fox Run on Wednesday, September 23 from 11:00(ish) to 3:00.
For all grades, please ensure that you have permitted walking field trips in your Edsembli account, as this is required for students to be able to leave campus. A reminder was sent home today.
Lost and Found: We have shoes and other clothing that were collected from June and stored. These items will be set out on tables inside the school by the office. Take a look and claim your belongings at the September 17 Meet the Teacher/BBQ event. All leftover items will be donated on September 18.
School Council: Westmount School Council will host their first meeting of the 2025-2026 school year in the Learning Commons on Tuesday, September 22nd, beginning at 5:30 PM. We hope to see you there – we value you sharing your voice and ideas around the table.
Lifetouch Photographs: Lifetouch will be at Westmount School on Tuesday, September 22nd, for picture day.
For school information, please check the school website and follow us on Instagram - Westmountfsd. If you are not able to find the information you are looking for, please feel free to contact the office by email or phone.
IMPORTANT DATES
September 16 – Walking field trips due. Complete this in your Edsembli account.
September 17 – Terry Fox Assembly and Walk (K-6).
September 17- Meet the Teacher from 4:00 – 5:30; Family BBQ outside in the back 4:00 – 6:00 PM
September 18 – Local Learning Day for Teachers – No school
September 22 – Lifetouch Picture Day (class and individual photos)
September 23 – Grade 7-9 (only) Terry Fox run – 11:00 – 3:00
September 29 – Orange Shirt Day
September 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – No School
REMINDERS & UPDATES
Bike Safety at Westmount: To ensure a safe environment for everyone, all students must WALK, their bikes, scooters, and skateboards while on school property. Riding these wheeled devices creates significant hazards near busy entrances and the staff parking lot, increasing the risk of collisions with moving vehicles. By walking, students can maintain better control and remain highly visible to drivers during drop-off and pick-up times. We also remind all bike riders to be respectful of pedestrians, who have the right of way, on sidewalks when biking home. We appreciate the cooperation of our entire school community in following these safety rules to protect our students. Thank you for doing your part to keep our campus safe. As a reminder, please do NOT park in the staff lot at the end of the school day. Thank you.
No Parking: Please be aware that we have a new NO PARKING sign in our staff parking lot (at the back of the lot near the grade one door). We have had some safety concerns and need to encourage our parents to wait in the loop or at the front of the parking lot.
Foothills School Division App: Stay connected and receive notifications directly from Westmount School by visiting the app store on your device and downloading the Foothills School Division App. Once downloaded, you will be prompted to launch the app and follow the on-screen instructions to create an account. Follow this link for further instructions: https://www.foothillsschooldivision.ca/_ci/p/17765/introducing-the-fsd-app
Hot Lunch: Hot lunch for next week is Subway. Please ensure your orders are in by Saturday for next Thursday. Link to order: https://healthyhunger.ca/index.php. A huge thank you to our volunteers who give their time to help with our Healthy Hunger program every week.
Have a wonderful rest of the week and weekend, Wolves!
