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Principal’s Post  

Family Literacy Week: Jan. 26 – Feb. 2 

Family Literacy Week takes place across Canada from January 26 to February 2 and is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the important role families play in supporting children’s learning. While schools focus on building strong literacy skills during the day, the everyday moments you share at home are just as powerful. 

But what exactly counts as a “literacy activity”? Literacy is much more than reading books. Philosopher and educator Paulo Freire reminds us that “reading the world precedes the reading of the word.” In other words, helping children make sense of the world around them is a critical part of learning to read and write. Face-to-face conversations about daily experiences, what happened at school, what you notice on a walk, or how a problem was solved, help build vocabulary, background knowledge, and confidence, all of which support later reading success. 

Whether in English or in another home language, there are many simple and enjoyable ways to support literacy at home: 

  • singing songs and saying rhymes, 
  • telling and listening to stories, 
  • looking at family photos and talking about memories, 
  • cooking together and reading recipes, 
  • playing word games or board games, and 
  • of course, sharing books together whenever you can. 

Families also often ask where screen time fits into literacy and learning. Recent Canadian research has shown that children aged 5–11 who spend more than two hours per day on screens report higher levels of anxiety, inattention, and hyperactivity, and that higher overall screen time is associated with lower achievement in reading and math. At the same time, experts note that it is not just the amount of screen time that matters, but also the quality of the content and whether screens are being used together with an adult to talk, question, and connect. 

As we recognize Family Literacy Week, we encourage families to look for small, meaningful ways to build literacy into everyday routines. A few minutes of conversation, a shared story, or a silly rhyme before bed can make a big difference over time. Thank you for the many ways you already support your child’s learning at home. Together, we are helping your children not only read words but also understand and engage with the world around them. 

  • Families were emailed a flat sheet with many links to literacy resources, and activities that you can do with your children at home.

Reminders & Ramblings 

 Kindergarten Registration for Next Year

  • If you have a Kindergarten age child who will be ready to start school with us in September, please register them right away. Knowing the accurate number of Cranston and Seton students will help us determine the available spaces for our Kindergarten lottery. For NEW students enrolling in the CBE (Kindergarten to grade 12), and for current students expressing interest in an alternative CBE program, the deadline to submit completed forms online in time for the lottery is 12:00pm on February 10.  

School Council Presentation Active and Safe Routes to School

  • At our January School Council meeting we welcomed a guest speaker from the Active and Safe Routes to School program. Emily shared some of the data collected in our Fall parent transportation survey as well as the planning underway to address the traffic around the community. Emily’s presentation slides can be found on our website.  

Dress for Outdoor Weather

  • All children play outside twice during the school day (15-20 minutes each time) unless the temperature dips below –20. There are many children who forget to bring mittens, hats, boots, and warm coats to school. Please ensure your children are dressed appropriately for the colder weather so that they are comfortable during their time outside each day. 

Dates to Document 

THERE IS NO SCHOOL FOR CALGARY BOARD OF EDUCATION STUDENTS THIS FRIDAY JANUARY 30.  

  • 2026-27 Kindergarten Registration opened (online) Jan. 12 
  • Alberta Education Early Years (Grade K-3) Assessments Jan. 19 – Feb. 6 
  • Non-Instructional Day Jan. 30 (no school) 
  • Cranston Olympics (more info coming next week) Feb. 6-20
  • Teacher’s Convention (school closed) Feb. 12 & 13 
  • Family Day Holiday (school closed) Feb. 16 
  • School Council Meeting online only Feb. 17 @ 6:30pm 
  • IPPs sent home with applicable students Feb. 20  
  • Bhangra Dance Residency Feb. 23 – 26 
  • Report Cards ready for viewing online Feb. 24