Book Spotlight: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt 

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing key ideas from The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, a book that has sparked important conversations in education, parenting, and youth mental health. Haidt examines a major cultural shift that has taken place over the past decade: the movement from a predominantly play‑based childhood—rich in independence, outdoor exploration, and face‑to‑face social interaction—to one increasingly centered around phones, tablets, social media, and virtual spaces. 

The book argues that this rapid transformation has had profound effects on young people’s emotional development, resilience, and overall well‑being. Haidt highlights how reduced free play, increased online exposure, and the constant pressures of comparison culture contribute to rising levels of anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal in children and teens. 

As a school community, these themes matter deeply. Many of the challenges we see daily in classrooms, hallways, and peer relationships connect directly to the patterns Haidt describes. 

To support our shared understanding, I will be summarizing one chapter each week. These short summaries will highlight key insights about how phone‑based childhoods differ from play‑based childhoods, and what we—as educators, families, and a community—can do to help young people thrive. 

Water Only School | Reminder 

Beddington Heights is a water‑only school. Pop and other sugary drinks create unnecessary messes and do not support students with regulation and readiness for learning. Please ensure your child brings only water to school. Thank you for your support.  

Parent Teacher Interviews | March 19 & 20, 2026   

Please see the chart below for information on Parent Teacher Interviews coming up in March.   

Beginning now, families will be able to book a time for their interview through their MyCBE account where you can select Book and Manage Meeting Times. More information on how to book an appointment can be found here.  

Families requiring an interpreter will be contacted by one at their appointment time to assist in the communication during the meeting.   

Student Fees 

The unpaid 2024-25 lunch supervision and transportation fees will be sent to collections in February/March 2026; Families can avoid having their account sent to collections by: 

Paying their 2024–25 central fees in full, or applying, and being approved, for a 2024–25 Central Fee Waiver. Please contact FeeWaiver@cbe.ab.ca directly for more information.  

Request a Payment Plan by contacting StudentFees@cbe.ab.ca . A payment plan requires a signed commitment to pay a minimum of $20 per month toward 2024–25 central fees. 

Ramadan 

As we are now midway through the month of Ramadan, we want to ensure we are honouring and supporting the wishes of our families for the remainder of this important time. We know that fasting and observance practices vary across students and families, and we want to make sure each child feels safe, respected, and supported at school. 

If your child is participating in fasting or requires any specific accommodations during Ramadan, please connect with your child’s teacher or the school office. If it is an accommodation they are already receiving, please let us know you would like this to continue. We are happy to work with families to understand individual needs and put thoughtful supports in place for the remainder of the month. 

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping us maintain a welcoming, inclusive school community for all students. 

Lost and Found | Donated March 19 

Please take a moment to check our Lost and Found for any items your child may be missing over the next couple of weeks. We have accumulated quite a collection, and we want to ensure everything finds its way home. Any unclaimed items remaining at 8 pm on March 19 will be donated. Thank you for helping us keep our school tidy and ensuring belongings are returned to their owners. 

Staffing Updates 

Evawani Daud 
We are pleased to share that Evawani Daud has been hired into our 15‑hour Educational Assistant position. Ms. Eva has been a valued member of our lunchroom team, and we are excited to have her continue supporting our students in this new role. 

Israa Al‑Taie 
Ms. Israa has accepted an Educational Assistant position at JK Mulloy School and will also be leaving our lunchroom team. We thank Israa for her care and contributions to our school community and wish her all the best in her new opportunity. 

Learn and Share | School Planning 

We know we make better decisions to support student learning when we build understanding and work together. During our February School Council Meeting we shared information about school planning and asked those in attendance to share their perspectives. 

Attendees had the opportunity to: 

Learn About 

• School planning, which includes the school development plan, school budget and school fees 
• How the school development plan sets the overall focus and direction for a school to improve student learning outcomes 
• How the school budget provides funding to implement our school development plan 
• School fees and why they are necessary 

Opportunity to participate after the fact: 

• Watch this short video to learn about the planning work schools do to improve and support student learning. 
• You can view the presentation here to see what was discussed. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me and I can answer any questions you may have. 
• Share your perspectives through an online survey open until March 31^st. 
• Helpful links that are in the Powerpoint: 
• ^{Guide to 2025-26 School Fees} 
• ^{2024-25 Report to Parents on Fees}   

We’ll send you a link to the survey, our school development plan and school budget and fees information when it’s available. We will also post it on our school website. 

 Key Dates 

Recurring Messages 

Beddington Heights School is on Instagram | Follow us: @beddingtonheightsschoolcbe 

Fun Lunch | Coco Brooks 

Our next Fun Lunch will be COCO Brooks on March 19^th. The ordering deadline is March 14^th. Orders can be placed at HealthyHunger.ca. Thanks to generous donations from BHS families, we were able to provide 9 lucky students with a free fun lunch from Edo Japan last month! Thank you to all who contributed to this cause! If your child is absent on Fun Lunch day, their lunch will be kept in the office until 3:00 p.m. for pick-up. After that time, it will be discarded to meet health and safety guidelines and due to limited storage space. 

Popcorn Sales | Delivered Every Thursday 

Parent Association sells popcorn for students, which will be distributed each Thursday. All proceeds will support BHS families in need during the Winter Break/Christmas season. Popcorn orders will be made through HealthyHunger.ca. The ordering deadline for each week is Saturday. 

Fundraiser| Message from the Parent Association 

We are excited to launch our BHS Brew Coffee & Tea Fundraiser in partnership with Rebel Bean Roasters. 

From February 17 to March 15, families and friends can purchase freshly roasted coffee and loose-leaf tea while supporting Beddington Heights School. Our school receives 30% commission on every bag sold. 

☕ Featured: BHS Brew 

BHS Brew is our special edition medium roast coffee with a custom school label. It is smooth, mellow, and easy to enjoy, making it a great everyday coffee or gift. 

🛍 Other Available Products 

Coffee (400g bags) 

• Medium roast, Dark roast, Espresso blend, Swiss Water Process decaf, Whole bean or ground 

All coffee is 100% Arabica and roasted locally in Okotoks. 

Loose Leaf Tea (50g bags) 

• Arabian Mint (caffeine free), Rooibos Blueberry (caffeine free), Earl Grey Cream, Organic English Breakfast 

📦 Order Pickup 

All orders will be delivered to Beddington Heights School after March 15. Families will be notified when orders are ready for pickup. 

🔗 How to Order 

1. Visit this link. You must use the link to ensure our school receives the credit 
2. Choose your coffee or tea 
3. Enter “Beddington Heights” at checkout 
4. Complete your order 

Orders close March 15. 

Thank you for supporting Beddington Heights School. 

FlipGive Fundraiser  

Support Beddington Heights School all year long through FlipGive — an easy, free way to raise money just by shopping for things you already buy! 

Our school earns cash back whenever families shop for groceries, gas, dining out, or online purchases from hundreds of popular retailers. 

Join our team here: Beddington Heights FlipGive 

Every purchase helps support our school families. 

Dates of Significance 

Irish Heritage Month – March 

March is Irish Heritage Month in Canada, a time to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Irish Canadians. Throughout the month, communities recognize traditions, music, storytelling, and the lasting impact of Irish heritage across the country. 

 International Women’s Day – March 8, 2026 
International Women’s Day is a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements, leadership, and strength of women in our school and community. It reminds us to continue working toward equity, opportunity, and respect for all girls and women, today and every day. 

 Substitute Teachers Appreciation Week – March 2026 
This week, we express our gratitude to our substitute teachers, whose flexibility, professionalism, and care keep our classrooms running smoothly. They step in with short notice, support students with kindness, and ensure learning continues without interruption. We appreciate everything they do for our school community. 

Commonwealth Day – March 9, 2026 
Commonwealth Day invites us to reflect on the shared values of cooperation, diversity, and community across the Commonwealth’s nations. It’s an opportunity for students and families to recognize global connections, learn about different cultures, and celebrate the importance of working together for a better future. 

Pi Day – March 14, 2026 
Pi Day celebrates the mathematical constant π and the curiosity, problem‑solving, and creativity that math inspires. It’s a fun opportunity for students to explore patterns, thinking, and numeracy in meaningful ways. We hope everyone enjoys the learning and excitement that come with this annual math celebration.