Iinii Insights
May 1 is designated Tsuut’ina Day. The date was chosen because, during this moon month, traditionally thanked the Great Spirit for the start of another life cycle following the winter’s end; essential decisions were made and celebrated with feasts and dances.
In the mid-1700s, our ancestors traversed cold and unrelenting lands across Northern Alberta. As one large group they travelled south, migrating for food, when they came across a large frozen lake. The Chiefs told everyone, “hurry across the ice.” “The ice is thin,” they said.
One woman was crossing with her child on her back, and he began to cry for an object sticking out of the ice. He wanted it for a toy. The woman kept telling him that the Chiefs were hurrying everyone across the ice, but the child kept crying. She relented and released the axe attached to her belt to begin chopping at the object. She cleaved and she hacked, and the object awoke as the horn of the Taslani, a dragon. An angered Tastlani broke through the ice, and the ice split. Many of our people died, and the rest were separated. The Tsuut’ina kept on their path south, while the Dene remained and returned north. If you visit the Xani-tii Guk’a Sidodi (Buffalo Lake, north of Edmonton) today, it is said you can still hear the people crying. — as told by Bruce Starlight
Tsuut’ina Nation. (2025, April). Dzánágù-hí Nīīhīgúnījà: Our story our nation. https://tsuutina.com/our-history/
At NLC this Week...
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Mon. April 27 | Regular Day of Learning |
Tues. April 28 | Elder Visit |
Wed. April 29 | Lacrosse Residency |
Thurs. April 30 | Principal Advisory Council 12:30pm Celebration of Learning 1:30pm |
Fri. May 1 | Tsuut’ina Day |
Looking Forward | May 4- Elder Visit 5- Soccer Residency (Tuesdays until end of June) 15- Non-instructional Day- No School for Students 18- Holiday No School 21- Knowledge Holder Visit 22- Honour Tea- For Volunteers-More details coming soon |
Nutrition Plan
MON | Breakfast: Cereal and milk, fruit, cheese Lunch: Brown Bagging for Calgary Kids lunches |
TUE | Breakfast: Muffins, Hardboiled Eggs, fruit Lunch: Soup, Grilled Sandwiches, fruit & veggies |
WED | Breakfast: Yogurt, Nutrigrain Bars, fruit cups, fruit Lunch: DIY “Lunchables”, veggies & fruit |
THUR | Breakfast: Pan Granola bars, yogurt, cheese, fruit Lunch: Soup, Toasted buns, fruit & veggies |
FRI | Breakfast: yogurt & granola parfaits, banana bread, fruit |
Word of the Week | Speech and Language Pathologist | Ms. Kailey
Each week, we will be focusing on a new “Word of the Week” (WoW) at school to help boost language skills. The WoW will be chosen to encourage vocabulary growth, strengthen communication skills, improve grammar, and help your child increase their understanding of language. Throughout the week, we encourage you to emphasize the WoW in everyday conversations and activities at home. Families can do this by reading books and finding the WoW, playing games, or simply chatting about your child’s day together. Helping your child think about the WoW at home will make learning even more meaningful!
Word of the Week | Conversation Ideas | Books | Games! |
“help”
“Help” is often used as an action word (verb). It can also be a thing (e.g., I need help). It is one of the earliest verbs that children learn, although it’s important even as adults to remember to practice asking for help when needed! |
We all need help sometimes, whether we are kids or adults!
You can ask your child:
- How does everyone in your home help to make sure things get done?
- What do they do to help in class when they are at school?
- Is there anything they need help to do but they haven’t asked? |
Ask your child:
- “Help me read the pictures” – telling you what they see happening in the story
- “Help me find …” – finding the first letter in their name in the text, or finding certain words if they are older
The following short episode (10 minutes) shows the importance of asking for help when we really need it:
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Mini Helper Activity
Think of an activity at home where your child can take on the role of “mini helper.” This might be cleaning out a room (“mini cleaner”), making dinner (“mini chef”), or even putting away laundry (“mini folder” or “mini sock matcher”).
Remember to use the word “help!” during the activity (e.g., “help stir the noodles!” or “help find the other blue sock!”) |
Tips for Supporting Young Children’s Talking, Listening, and Learning
These tips honour Indigenous ways and traditions, helping your child grow language skills through everyday life. Your Child is a Gift. Children are gifts from the Creator. Treasure and care for them.
💻 Technology Time
| 🌿 Nature Time
Examples:
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Adapted from: Tips for Caregivers to Support Young Indigenous Children’s Talking, Listening, and Learning: Public Health Agency of Canada
Invite| Join us for Celebration of Learning
We are excited to invite families to our Celebration of Learning on April 30. This is an opportunity for students to share their growth, learning, and achievements. The Spring Celebration of learning will be led by the Preschool and Kindergarten students and will take place at 1:30pm following Principal Advisory which will begin at 12:30pm
We look forward to celebrating learning together as a school community!
Swimming
Students in Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 will be participating in the City of Calgary Swim to Survive program at Bob Bahan Aquatic Centre as part of our Physical Education and Wellness program. The program will take place for 4 days
from June 8- June 11th, 2026. Fees: The actual cost of the field trip is $38 including bussing, but the student fee for this field trip is $20, paid through your MyCBE account using a credit card or in the main office using debit or credit card. If you need assistance with the fee, please contact the office.
Dismissal and Pick-Up Procedures
The instructional day ends at 3:05 p.m.
Students taking school transportation are escorted by staff to their assigned bus.
Students who are picked up are escorted to the front main doors and handed directly to their parent, caregiver, or designated driver by the classroom teacher or the staff member supervising dismissal using the student pick-up binder.
For safety reasons, all student pick-ups must occur at the front doors. Please do not pick up students at side doors or along side sidewalks.
Early Pick-Ups
If your child needs to leave school early, please report to the main office.
A parent, caregiver, or designated driver must sign the student out.
The student’s attendance will be marked LE (Left Early).
Early pick-ups do not occur at classroom doors or dismissal areas.
Changes to End-of-Day Transportation
If your child will not be taking their assigned bus and will be picked up instead, please call the main office at least 30 minutes before the end of the instructional day. This allows staff to notify the classroom teacher and ensures each student is safely transitioned according to their dismissal plan.
Connecting to Spirit Home Model
The Connecting to Spirit Framework was developed at Niitsitapi Learning Centre to address the need for a regulation framework that is culturally responsive in supporting our Indigenous learners. The framework focuses on interconnectedness and reflects deeper consideration of community, culture and above all, connecting to one’s spirit.
We understand that in order for students to learn, they need to feel safe and regulated. To support child development, the Connecting to Spirit Framework considers the holistic aspects of one's self, including the spiritual, emotional, physical and mental.
Connecting to Spirit Home Model