Hello Briar Hill School Parents

What a wonderful week! Our Community Movie Night on Thursday brought families together for an evening of fun, laughter, and connection. It was fantastic to see everyone come together, building the kind of community that makes our school such a special place. We also received exciting news that our most recent casino raised an incredible $89,000 in support of Briar Hill, an amazing contribution that will directly benefit our students & enhance learning opportunities throughout the school. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible.

The week was also full of meaningful learning and celebrations. On Tuesday, Report Cards & IPPs were sent home, please remember that IPP signature pages are due back by March 3. Wednesday saw our Grade 3/4 students lead a thoughtful Pink Shirt Day assembly, reminding us all of the importance of kindness & inclusion. On Thursday, Valour Canada visited Grades 3–6 to share inspiring lessons about courage and service. It’s been a busy week, & we are so proud of the ways our students & families continue to engage & support our school community.

With gratitude,

Nathan deBoer


Parent Teacher Conferences


Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up just before Spring Break on the evening of March 19 and the morning of March 20. These conversations are important & meaningful opportunity to connect, celebrate growth, and talk about next steps in your child’s learning.

Conference booking opens on Wednesday, March 11 through the myCBE app. These scheduled times ensure every family has a dedicated opportunity to connect. We truly value this time together and look forward to seeing you.

  • March 19, Thursday 4:00pm-7:45pm
    • All conferences are in-person 
  • March 20, Friday 8:00am-12:30pm now 
    • Conferences Hybrid Model:  in-person –or - Virtual  


Reading a Report Card


*The following is from the Principal's Report, shared at the February Council Meeting

The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) K–9 report card uses a 1–4 outcome-based proficiency scale to measure student progress against Alberta Education curriculum outcomes:

•4 – Excellent : Student demonstrates excellent achievement of grade-level expectations.
•3 – Good : Student demonstrates good achievement of grade-level expectations.
•2 – Basic : Student demonstrates basic achievement of grade-level expectations.
•1 – Not Meeting : Student is not yet meeting grade-level expectations.
•IPP – Not Meeting : Student is not yet meeting grade-level expectations & is supported with an IPP

It is important to note that these indicators are not percentages. A “3” does not represent a 75% grade. Rather, teachers use evidence to determine the indicator that best reflects a student’s achievement in relation to grade-level curriculum outcomes.

For students with an Individualized Program Plan (IPP), an IPP indicator may also appear on the report card. This indicator is used only when the IPP learning target directly aligns with the report card stem or outcome. The IPP will have more information regarding progress, targets, & supports for this specific target.

The report comments now follow common CBE template that is being used across all CBE schools as part of ongoing work toward calibration and consistency across buildings. Comments focused on specific areas of strength and growth, using updated, simplified K–6 comment stems aligned with the new curriculum.


Alberta Education Parent Survey


  • A quick reminder to complete our school family survey that was emailed to families. Currently, only 17% of families have responded, and we hope to see that number grow.
  • Your feedback matters and directly informs our planning and priorities. Please take a few minutes to share your voice.

👉 Assurance Survey information HERE

  • Thank you for partnering with us & taking the time to share your voice.


AGM & Council Meeting

  • We continue to grow in our attendance for council meetings. Thank you to the families that have joined in the conversation. All families are welcome to join us for our next meeting on March 31 @ 12:15–1:00 pm. You are welcome to attend in-person or virtually
  • Virtual Meeting Link HERE


Donation Requests


  • We are grateful to the families who have donated indoor plants to our school. We continue to welcome plant donations. When students care for living things, they develop empathy, responsibility, & a deeper connection to the world around them.
  • We are also seeking a donation of a stainless steel sink (single or double basin) to support the creation of an outdoor mud kitchen. If you happen to have one available, please contact Nathan deBoer at Nadeboer@cbe.ab.ca.


Important Dates

  • March 2 - Gr.3-6 VRCORE  Experience
  • March 3 - Well-Being Ambassadors Lunch Meeting
  • March 5  - Fun Lunch (order Healthy Hunger HERE)  
  • March 16 – Connect Day  *Resilience
  • March 19 – Pizza Day  (order HERE)
  • March 19 – SPIRIT DAY: Tropical Beach Day 
  • March 19 & 20 – Parent Teacher Conferences 
  • March 21-29 - Spring Break 
  • March 30 - Classes Resume
  • March 31 Gr.6 & Gr. 1 Vaccines
  • March 31 - School Council/AGM Meeting