Good afternoon Higgins Families, Higgins Staff, and Future Higgins Families

School Council and the Dr. Gordon Higgins Parent Association

We are getting closer to the Parent Association Casino, a major fundraiser supporting learning and students at Dr. Gordon Higgins School. The Casino will be held on May 11 and 12, and volunteers are still needed. Please see the attached flyer for all the information you need: School Council Flyer

Next School Council Meeting

The next School Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. All parents are welcome to attend.

Next Year's Grade 7 Students

Thank you for attending the Grade 6 Open House — we loved having you visit! School visits have now concluded, and over the next month, the following will take place:

  • Student transition meetings: Our Student Services Learning Leader, Julie Pfiefer, will visit feeder schools and connect with schools of incoming students to gather information to best support students entering Grade 7.
  • Athletic Tryout and Band Preference forms will be sent to schools for families to complete. Both forms must be returned before the start of the new school year.

If you have any questions about your child’s transition to Grade 7, please feel free to reach out by email or phone.

Canadian Federal Election

The federal election takes place on April 28, and Dr. Gordon Higgins will serve as a polling station. Expect increased traffic around the school. To ease congestion, please drop students off a few blocks away and have them walk the rest of the way. It is essential to keep the front of the school clear for school buses.

Significant traffic delays are expected at the beginning and end of the school day.

For information about where to vote, visit Elections Canada.

Athletics

  • Monday, April 28 – No Athletics Scheduled (Federal Election)
  • Tuesday, April 29 – 2:45–4:00 p.m. Grade 8 Badminton
  • Wednesday, April 30 – 2:45–4:00 p.m. Grade 9 Badminton
  • Thursday, May 1 – 2:45–4:00 p.m. Grade 7 Badminton

Celebrating the Northeast

Thanks to Mr. Brar for bringing positive role models to Higgins students.

Guest Speaker: Simar Bajwa
On April 25, Simar Bajwa, owner and operator of SB Basketball Training, visited Higgins students.

Simar, a former Lester B. Pearson High School student-athlete, helped lead the Pearson Patriots to the Division 1 Senior Boys Basketball City Championship in 2017. After high school, he played varsity basketball at the University of British Columbia – Okanagan and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
He later founded SB Basketball Training in Northeast Calgary, helping athletes develop their skills and confidence.

Simar shared an authentic story about facing adversity, including shooting 1-for-19 during a City Championship game in Grade 11. He emphasized learning from failure, being inspired by Kobe Bryant, and returning to win the title the following year.
He encouraged students to believe in themselves, maintain balance in life, and set honest intentions. Several lucky students received autographed basketballs through a classroom draw.

Student Feedback:

  • "This guest speaker inspires me by telling us to believe in ourselves. Failure doesn’t mean you're not good at something — it’s just part of the journey."
  • "Simar inspired me because he kept pursuing his passion even after setbacks."
  • "He helped me realize that failure shouldn't kill your confidence but should strengthen it."

Guest Speaker: Tom Voortman

On April 11, Tom Voortman, a Calgary firefighter and former Lester B. Pearson High School student, visited as part of the Higgins Speaker Series.

Tom grew up in the Temple community, served at Temple Fire Station 22, and represented Calgary at the World Police and Fire Games in Rugby (Vancouver 2009, New York 2011).
He spoke about the life lessons learned through sports, the importance of perseverance, and the value of embracing diversity. Students reflected on his inspiring words: "Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing each other's uniqueness."

Tom shared his journey of fulfilling his dream of becoming a firefighter and emphasized that "hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard."

Student Feedback:

  • "He inspired me to work hard, even if I don't feel the most talented."
  • "Success takes time and dedication — it doesn’t happen overnight."
  • "His speech made me feel more positive and motivated about leading my own life."
  • "If you’re not the best, be the hardest working — simple and powerful."


Sincerely,


Colin McCracken

Principal