Dear William Reid Families,

We are deeply grateful for the incredible support of our William Reid community. Our holiday events would not have been possible without your generosity and involvement. The strong sense of community was evident through the Winter Market, EvenStart Winter Hampers, and the William Reid Family Gift Card donations. We extend our sincere thanks to the many volunteers who gave their time and energy to support these initiatives.

As we look ahead to Winter Break, we hope this time offers an opportunity for rest, connection, and rejuvenation. On behalf of the staff of William Reid School, we wish you a joyful and restful holiday season.

Please read the message below carefully, as it includes important information and upcoming dates as we begin the new year.

Upcoming Dates and Events 

  • Dec 19              Last day of classes - Winter Break
  • Happy New Year!
  • Jan 5                 Classes resume
  • Jan 13               School Council (7:00pm – See # 5 below)
  • Jan 15               Kindergarten & Grade 1 Open House (See # 3)
  • Jan 27               Healthy Hunger – Subway
  • Feb 2 - 6          Carnaval (Jeudi FolkloFolie – See # 2 below)
  • Feb 12 -13      Teacher Staff Convention – No school
  • Feb 16               Family Day – No school

1. Winter Market Success | School Raises $1280.00 for the Calgary Food Bank

Our Winter Market is now complete, and it was truly a great success! We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this special event possible.

A huge thank you to all the families who donated items to the Winter Market. The donations were fantastic, and we hope everyone is enjoying the gifts that were chosen so thoughtfully by our students.

We would also like to send a special thank you to the 30 parent volunteers who supported the market throughout the day, helping students shop, wrap gifts, and even driving extra items to the donation site.

We are incredibly proud to share that the William Reid students and community raised $1,280 for the Calgary Food Bank. We are proud of William Reid's kindness, generosity, and community spirit.

2. Preparation for Return

As you prepare to return to school after the holiday, it is recommended that you check your child’s indoor shoes as they might not fit them any longer.

3. Carnaval Preparation | Save and Clean 2 L Milk Cartons

Carnaval d’Hiver 2026 is just around the corner, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you during the week of February 2–6! This five-day event will be filled with fun activities and French-Canadian traditions that your children are sure to remember.

One of the more exciting events that occurs during the week is our ice castle building. To be successful at this event, we need families to begin to save and wash out 2L milk cartons. These cartons will be used to make ice blocks closer to our event day. Please ensure that they do not get crushed! Thanks for your attention to this as it will not be successful without your help.

Should you begin to create a stash of Ice Blocks, do not be afraid to be creative, but please be mindful of the environment. Keep in mind that when the blocks melt, the ice needs to contain only compostable items.

4. Inform | Kindergarten Registration 2026-27 | Open House

Kindergarten registration for the 2026-27 school year will begin on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 and closes on Thursday, Feb. 10, at noon. Please ensure that you register your kindergarten student even if they have a sibling in the school already, otherwise they will not get a spot at William Reid. A reminder that registration does not guarantee entry as we are a lottery school, and registration is not first-come, first-served. Children can be registered for kindergarten if they turn five years old on or before Dec. 31 of the school year. For example, when registering for the 2026-27 school year, the child must turn five on or before Dec. 31, 2026. Please find more information on the  Registration page.

William Reid School will host a French Immersion Open House on January 15, 2026, at 6:45 p.m. in the school gymnasium for families interested in Kindergarten or Grade 1. Kindergarten - William Reid School The evening will provide an overview of the French Immersion program, comparisons with other language programs, student supports, before- and after-school care, and opportunities for parent involvement, followed by a Q&A, school tour, and a chance to meet Kindergarten and Grade 1 teachers. Students may begin French Immersion in either Kindergarten or Grade 1, with no prior French experience required for students or parents.  For more information, families can contact the school office at 403-777-6940 or williamreid@cbe.ab.ca.

5. 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 – more details to come for this year’s cover contest in February!

6. School Council | Next Council meeting, January 13, 2026

William Reid is in immediate need of filling two roles for the William Reid School Council (WRSC) and William Reid School Fundraising Society (WRSFS).

  • • School Council Chair – Leads meetings, sets agendas, and liaises with the principal and school community.
  • • Fundraising Society President – Leads meetings, oversees fundraising, and ensures compliance. Holds signing authority.
  • 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.

7. Chess Club

Will continue in the New Year, every Wednesday at lunchtime in the gym! (Grade 3 and 4 students)

  • Bring your lunch
  • Bring your own chess set (if you have one!) or team up with a friend who brought a game

All skill levels are welcome—from beginners who want to learn the basics to experienced players ready to show off their best moves. Come sharpen your mind, meet new friends, and have lots of fun. See you there!

Ongoing Fundraising Links

 We have several ongoing ways that parents can contribute to our school financially throughout the year.

Kind Regards,

Kenzie Rushton

Principal | École William Reid School


Sheri Bullough

Assistant Principal | École William Reid School

 “Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things but learning another way to think about things.”
Flora Lewis