GATE Parents Newsletter October 2025

Meet Your New GPA 2025-2027 Executive

The GPA held its Annual General Meeting on September 23, 2025. Elections are held every 2 years and this year was a voting year. Here are the election results:

Executive Positions:
President – Zahra Ansarizadeh
Vice-President – Faezeh Eshragh
Treasurer – Darrin Gallant
Secretary – Gangani Perera

Non Elected Positions:
Past-President – Stephanie Labowka
Parent Education Chair – Chris Peng
Social Media Administrator – Chetna Jaraim
Casino Coordinator – OPEN
Fundraising Coordinator- OPEN

Site Reps:
Louis Riel – Aisha Hammouda
Queen Elizabeth – Chris Peng
Hillhurst – Kristin Lalji
Henry Wise Wood – OPEN

A huge THANK YOU goes out to Stephanie Labowka. She has done a tremendous job as President over the last two years, transforming and modernizing the GPA. We are so grateful for her continued involvement as Past President. 

Thank you also to Sunita Chowdhury for her work over the last 4 years and for Jodi Staples for her work over the last year. 

Welcome GATE Families

Welcome back to GATE families and a special welcome to NEW GATE families! All parents and guardians of GATE students are automatically members of the GATE Parent Association. The GPA is a great way to stay connected to the GATE community and receive updates on GATE-specific matters.

If you know of a new GATE family, they can sign up for the newsletter here.


Queen Elizabeth High School – Casino Volunteers 

Queen Elizabeth High School’s biggest fundraising opportunity – the volunteer casino – is coming up over Thanksgiving weekend. 

Sunday October 12 and Monday October 13, 2025 at Pure Casino Calgary – 1420 Meridian Road NE, Calgary  

If you are able to support, sign up here. 

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED. Training will be provided when you arrive. Volunteers will receive a free meal and snacks during their shift. 


UPCOMING PARENT EDUCATION SESSIONS

The Community Education Service (CES) is offering the following sessions for parents and families. Sessions are offered at no cost but registration is required. *Click on the Poster/PDF icon below the correct session to register*

Oct 6: Digital Dilemma: Screens, Social Media, and Gaming

Oct 7: Is Your Child Struggling at School? It May be Time for a Psychoeducational Assessment

Oct 8: Level Up: Exploring the Impact of Gaming and Tech on Adolescent Learning and Cognition

Oct 15: Mental Health & Youth

Oct 20: Cyber Safety

Oct 21: ADHD is Awesome!

Oct 22: Executive Functioning: Essentials for Parents

Oct 22: Vaping: What’s Really Going On?

Oct 29: Stressed but Strong, Anxious but Awesome: Understanding your child’s worries through a strength-based lens

Oct 30: Navigating the Pressure to Perform: Benefits of Well-being Centered Identity Development for Children and Teens

DID YOU KNOW you can access pre-recorded sessions for free HERE.
ALSO CHECK OUT resources available through Mental Health Literacy HERE.

How can we help you?

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