Strength of our Community
As we continue to embrace the spring snow and all that it offers for the emerging season of growth, I have been especially struck by the strength of our community. We are truly fortunate to have so many volunteers who step up so generously, and this week was no exception as they supported our on-site field trips. I am also deeply appreciative of the care and encouragement our community continues to show for our school.
Education Week
This upcoming week is Education Week—a time to celebrate the power of learning and the people who make it possible. This tradition began in 1928 as Alberta School Week. During Education Week, we recognize the many ways teachers spark curiosity; students inspire growth, and school staff, volunteers, and families work together to create places where children flourish. It is a reminder that learning does not simply shape minds; it helps shape the future.
One example of sparking curiosity that happened this week is our Grade 3 team organized a visit with our local MLA. Samir Kayande was here to speak to our grade 3 classes about government, how it works and the role it plays in our community.
Important Information
Below, you will find important information to support your planning for the up-and-coming weeks.
Upcoming Dates and Events
See our Calendar
1. School Council | Next Council meeting, April 14, 2026
Join us
Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 PM will be held in-person (preferred) and online via Microsoft Teams. All parents are welcome; it is an excellent way to stay up to date and be involved in school planning.
Our Special Guest for the meeting will be our School Board Trustee, Susan Vukadinovic. Susan Vukadinovic is the elected school board trustee representing Ward 8 and Ward 9, and she feels it is an honour and privilege to serve Calgarians in this role. Prior to elected office, Susan worked as a policy analyst and strategist for 20 years. She has a B.A. (Political Science) and an MBA, both from the University of Alberta. All three of Susan’s children are William Reid School alumni. As a William Reid School parent over a continuous twelve-year period, Susan served our school community by: chairing the committee that brought SEEDS of Spice before-and-after-school care to our school; chairing the playground committee that built the school playground; and serving as the school council chair.
This is a great opportunity for you to ask questions and provide input into the 2024-2027 Education Plan and the 2026–2027 CBE Budget which will be approved by the Board of Trustees in May 2026. More info here: CBE Board of Trustees Approves 2027–2030 School Capital Plan - News Centre - CBE
We strongly recommend joining us in person if you are able to leverage this special opportunity.
The agenda for the meeting and minutes will be found here: School Council
- Naturalization Lead — Coordinate a few annual garden clean‑ups and organize the summer watering schedule for the school’s naturalization and garden areas.
These roles are not overly time consuming but are crucial to the organization and success of Parent Council. Please contact wrchair@gmail.com with your interest.
2. Year End BBQ | Seeking Volunteers
We are excited to celebrate the amazing hard work our students have put in this year raising money from bottles! To show our appreciation and create a fun community event, we will be hosting a barbecue for all our kids on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 12:00.
We kindly ask for your help as volunteers to make this event a success. We need parents to assist with:
- Barbecuing hot dogs
- Serving refreshments
- *Picking up the big barbecue grill before the event and returning it to the rental place afterward (most urgent)
- Clean-up after the event
Your support will help us give the children a wonderful celebration for their efforts. If you’re able to volunteer for any of these tasks, please let us know. Together, we can make this event memorable and enjoyable for all the kids!
Thank you for your continued support and involvement.
Warm regards,
Mme Kathryn Ferguson
aferguson@cbe.ab.ca
3. Kindergarten to Grade 2 Parents | Learning Opportunity
The SLP team are offering two upcoming literacy sessions that are designed for parents. These sessions are targeted towards parents of children in kindergarten to grade 2.
Tying it Together with the Reading Rope
- April 20 - Building Language Comprehension through Shared Reading
- May 4 - Identifying and Playing with Sounds at Home
We look forward to welcoming you and learning together.
To register, please visit:
https://forms.office.com/r/ZYxTZ5V8p9
Registration Deadline: April 16, 2026
4. We still need Volunteers for the Scholastic Book Fair!
Scholastic Book Fair will be at William Reid School April 27 - May 1
This Book Fair is run with Volunteers and help is needed to make it run smoothly.
Please sign-up below – This link is also in the William Reid Calendar.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4FA8AE23A6FCC25-62619910-william
5. Healthy Hunger Special Lunch Volunteers
Our next Healthy Hunger fun lunch day is on April 30, 2026 – EDO.
The Saturday prior is the last day to get your orders in! Order here: https://healthyhunger.ca/
Thank you to all the Volunteers that have signed up to help organize and distribute food! If you’d like to volunteer for fun lunch food distribution days, sign up here:
Healthy Hunger Volunteer Sign Up
6. William Reid 2025-2026 Yearbook
Order your 2025-2026 Yearbook now! The yearbook is a valuable keepsake which captures memories and key moments throughout the school year. The book contains 32 color pages and features a custom cover created by one of our students – this year’s cover contest winner is: Ariana B! Congratulations! It was such a close competition with many fantastic covers submitted. Some of the runner-up covers will be featured on the back of the yearbook. Order yours now, to see if your cover entry is featured!
Final deadline to order: Tuesday, May 12 2026
Use this link to order: WR Yearbook Orders Our Yearbook ID code is 14464826
7. Love your Belongings – In the name of Recycling, avoid Waste
Label Everything: Use waterproof labels, iron-on labels, or a laundry marker on clothing tags, water bottles, and lunch containers. Create a Routine: Ask kids to do a "last look" around at their seat before leaving the car, classroom, gym, or playground. Check Frequently: Don't wait—check the school's lost and found within 1–2 days. Finally: don’t forget to thank Rosalyn for organizing the Lost items, for us.
8. Elementary Track & Field City Championships | Grades 3 - 6
The Elementary School Track & Field City Championships will take place on Saturday, May 31 and is open to students in Grades 3–6. This event is designed to build physical literacy through fun and inclusive experiences in running, jumping, and throwing, helping to address a gap in opportunities for younger students.
This is a great opportunity to support student well-being, confidence, and engagement in physical activity while introducing them to track and field in a positive, accessible way.
Please click on this link to register: 2026 | Elementary Schools Championships
Ongoing Fundraising Links
We have several ongoing ways that parents can contribute to our school throughout the year.
Mabel’s Labels
Help reduce lost items by labeling student belongings.
Mabel’s Labels – William Reid Fundraiser
Financial Donations
Support school initiatives through Education Matters:
https://www.educationmatters.ca/project-matters/william-reid-school/
Bottle Drive
Manchester Bottle Depot – 410 – 38a Ave SE – Donate your bottles here for William Reid School
Please return empties to the Manchester Depot and let them know that you would like your refund to be donated to William Reid, the funds will come directly to the school. And, your visit at the Depot will be super quick, no wait time, just drop-tell-leave.
“Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things but learning another way to think about things.”
— Flora Lewis