Good Evening Parents, Caregivers, Students and Guardians,
Yesterday, we held our monthly Student Principal Advisory Meeting, where we welcomed Constable Courte to speak and answer any questions. A fun small world story is that I was the principal of both of Constable Courte's children at two other schools and worked closely with his wife who was on the School Council. It wasn't until I started at CMHS that I got to finally meet Constable Courte. What a wonderful addition he has been to our staff.
In our meeting, Constable Courte expressed how fortunate he felt to be part of a school community, where he has the opportunity to connect with students from Grade 10 through to graduation. He explained that his role is to support students in reaching their potential, both within and outside of school. He emphasized that enforcement is always the last resort, with a strong focus on intervention and diversion programs to support student growth and developing an understanding of actions and their consequences.
With 23 years of experience in policing, Constable Courte shared his journey—how he originally moved to Banff to ski, later studied to become a national park warden, and ultimately found a rewarding career in policing. He also highlighted the many career opportunities within law enforcement.
A significant focus of the discussion during the meeting centered around online safety, particularly concerning violent online groups that are targeting youth. Constable Courte spoke about these groups, which use platforms like Discord, Twitch, and Steam to exploit vulnerable individuals. He emphasized the importance of monitoring online activity and encouraged students to be aware of the dangers of online extortion, including cases where individuals have been coerced into sharing personal information or images.
Students shared their perspectives on online safety, discussing the challenges of navigating social media, the impact of AI-generated content (such as deepfakes), and the importance of media literacy. Based on what students shared I would highly encourage parents to have open conversations with their children about online safety and to be aware of the apps and platforms they are using.
Students expressed how they appreciate the Student Success Centre and the importance of creating more spaces that provide support and accessible resources. Students talked about the possibility of redesigning the Learning Commons to enhance accessibility and availability. Students on the Student Wellness Action Team shared that they were working on creating additional homeroom resources to improve communication and awareness about school supports.
Constable Courte ended the meeting by sharing some opportunities about an upcoming event and some general areas to focus on for students interested in policing, including:
- The Student Police Academy – A one-day event at Heritage Park where students participate in interactive sessions with role players and specialty units.
- Fitness Recommendations for Aspiring Officers – Encouragement to find an activity they enjoy and maintain consistency, whether it's running, weight training, or other fitness goals.
- Psychological and Crisis Training in Policing – While not all officers have formal psychological training, they work closely with specialists, such as Registered Nurses, to support individuals in crisis.
The Central Memorial High School staff continues to thank all of our school community for your continued support in fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment for our students. If you have any questions or would like more information on any of these topics, please do not hesitate to reach out to Constable Courte by email at pol3779@calgarypolice.ca
Sincerely,
Anne Kromm Principal
Important Dates to Remember
Tuesday April 8 - School Council Meeting - Learning Commons/Hub 6:30
Wednesday April 9 - Vaping & Youth - 11:30
Yearbook Purchase Deadline - BEFORE Sunday April 27, 2025
Friday April 18 - Good Friday - No School
Tuesday April 22 - Parent/Student Report Card Access 9:00 am
Travel Safe Student Video Contest - Due by April 30
Fri May 2 - Sun May 4 - Hack VR Challenge Lethbridge Polytechnic
Tues May 6 - Thurs May 8 - Provincial Skills Competition in Edmonton
Tues May 6 - Wed May 7 - Canadian AME Competition - Best Western Premiere Plaza
Wednesday May 14 - Student Police Academy (applications due Mon Apr 21)
Thursday May 22 - Digital Dilemma - 11:30
Tues May 27 - Sat May 31 – National Skills Competition in Regina SK
Closes Saturday May 31 - Scholarship Applications
CMHS Sports
Tuesday April 8 - Girls Rugby GAME 4:45 vs WA
Tuesday April 8 - Field Hockey GAME at CSC3 vs ST. M
Tuesday April 8 - Boys Rugby GAME 6:00 GAME vs RT
Tuesday April 8 - Jr Boys Soccer GAME 4:30 at LB
Tuesday April 8 - Badminton Singles Divisionals
Wednesday April 9 - Badminton Doubles Divisionals (Hosting)
Thursday April 10 - Senior Boys Soccer Game 4:30 PM at Flac
Thursday April 10 - Badminton Mixed Divisionals
Friday April 11—Junior Boys Soccer GAME 4:30 vs LBP
Future School Events
Friday April 4 - Friday April 18 - Music Strings International Trip
Sunday April 13 - Wednesday April 16 - Vocal Festival Edmonton
Wednesday May 14 - Centrals Got Talent
Tuesday May 6 - Collaborative Art Exhibition - Cspace Marda Loop 6:00- 8:00