Dear Parents and Guardians,

While the German student teacher who started after the winter break has settled in, our next one is starting on Monday. Her name is Annabel Schulz and she is visiting the university of Hamburg, which is close to home for me. Annabel wishes to improve her English and Ms. Tetz and Ms. Hickling are happy to welcome her into their class. Great support for them, as Annabel is also staying until the end of the school year! Please say hello to her.

We are also welcoming Ms. Candace Marks who will be joining the German team (with English) as well as running some additional reading intervention groups.

Our teachers love working at Bowcroft and are incredibly dedicated to provide enriching learning opportunities during lunch time to your children. A large number of clubs are continuing and new ones are starting.

  • Frau Hauck: Chess Club, Grade 2's and 3's in Room #13, from 12:35 - 12:55 PM; weekday still needs to be determined!
  • Cosmetology Clubs, Semester 2, until the end of June 2025, from 12:15 - 12:55 PM:
  • Frau Cattanach: Art club in Room 12 on Tuesdays from 12:15-12:35 and Yoga Club in Room 24 on Thursdays from 12:15-12:35. Both clubs are for Division II.
  • Ms. Buckner: Grade 3 Earth Rangers club will be starting this Thursday Jan. 30 during lunch time (12:15-12:50pm)
  • Hockey  with Mr. Benty/Schafer/Buckner

Please review the calendar below as it includes new dates!

On March 20, most division 1 students will have the opportunity to learn from Eliese Watson.

My name is Eliese Watson. I have owned and operated ABC Bees since 2010. As an expert in beekeeper training, my specialties include: 

  • Teaching beginner beekeeping basics through my 5-week, post-secondary accredited Level One Beekeeping Certification Course
  • Mentoring beekeepers through seasonal work plans for sustainable apiary management
  • Train beekeepers how to rear their own queen stocks and stop their dependence on expensive and unreliable foreign queen importation
  • Connecting innovations in science, management, and technology in apiculture to beekeepers through keynote webinars and online course programming.

Ultimately, I am an example of what is possible for beekeepers; both hobby and small-scale producers. Managing colonies on a shoestring budget, testing techniques, and making mistakes so I can teach and train beekeepers in detail about what works. 

Through a mix of step-by-step strategies, simple formulas, and methods, layered with critical feedback and open dialogue, I am a new beekeeper’s cheerleader and most accessible mentor. I am a fun, open-book, and forever a true beginner. I am eager to explore and find wonderment in beekeeping every day. To learn with ABC Bees is to become a part of a hive.

Warm regards,

Meike Thomsen, Principal

Dates to Remember

February 4: BPAC 6:30 pm, online

February 10:  German 4/5; Calgary Open Minds, Library School

February 13-14: No School; Teacher Convention

February 17: No School, Family Day

February 12, 24-28: Ms. Halvorson, grade 1, Calgary Open Minds, Arts Commons

February 28: No School, PD

March 3-6 and 19 : Ms. Ruhrmann, grade 1, Calgary Open Minds, Arts Commons

March 4:  BPAC 6:30 pm

March 10-14: Fau McCashin, German gr 1, Hub for Inspired Learning

March 10-14: Ms. Tessier, grade 4, Jube

March 17-21: Book Fair

March 20: Bees and Pollination presentation to div 1 students by Eliese Watson

March 20: parent-teacher conferences 4:15pm to 8:00pm

March 21: no school; parent-teacher conferences 8:00am to 1:00pm

March 24-28: Spring break

March 31- April 4: Ms. Hickling, grade 4, Calgary Open Minds, Jube School

March 31-April 4: Ms. Cattanach, German 5/6, Seed

March 31- April 4: Ms. Tetz, grade 6, Science Center

April 7-11: Ms. Mitchell, grade 5, Science Centre

April 15, 22-25: Frau Schafer, German 3, Science Centre

May 22: Welcome to Kindergarten, 6:00-7:00PM

May 26-30: Mr. Benty, German 2, 2School

May 26-30: Ms. Nacinovic, grade 2, Zoo school

June 2-6: Ms. Afshari, grade 2; Zoo school

June 24: Grade 6 farewell, 2:30 to 3:30pm