Dear William Reid Families, 

It has been a great return to school this week! Students have slid right back into our school routines. The month of January is packed with preparation and activities for our school community and Carnaval. 

We acknowledge that on January 15, our Muslim friends celebrate Lailat al-Mi’raj. This day of celebration is sometimes translated as the Night of the Ascension. This event marks two significant moments in Islam: Isra (“Night Journey”), when the Prophet Muhammad was transported from Mecca to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and then prayed with the other prophets. According to Islamic tradition, it was during the Mi’raj that God gave Muhammad the instruction for Muslims to pray 5 times a day. 

Many Muslims observe this holiday with prayer (especially at night) and the recounting of the story of Muhammad’s Night Journey. Some also share meals with friends and family, and mosques and homes may be decorated with candles and lights. 

Below is our up-and-coming important information for your review. 

Upcoming Dates and Events

Jan 13               School Council (7:00pm – See # 5 below)

Jan 15               Kindergarten & Grade 1 Open House (See # 3)

Jan 15               Bottle Drive – Collecting Donations (7:50- 8:45 AM) (See #1 below)

Jan 29               Healthy Hunger – Subway

Jan 30               Non-Instructional Day – No School

Feb 2 - 6          Carnaval (See # 2 below – Volunteer request)

Feb 12 -13      Teacher Staff Convention – No school

Feb 16               Family Day – No school

Feb 26              Healthy Hunger – OPA!

Feb 27               Non-Instructional Day – No School

1.    Bottle Drive – Collecting Donations at William Reid on Thursday

As we plan for our upcoming year-end celebrations, including our Year-End BBQ, we are excited to share that we will be hosting a monthly refundable bottle and can drive to help support these events and celebrate our students’ hard work.

The bottle drive will take place on the second Thursday of each month and you can start dropping your bottles off on the cement compound along the fence line on 36th ave. at 7:50 a.m.  A bottle truck will be parked on the school cement compound from approximately 8:15 to 8:45 and they will load the bags of bottles then. We will be collecting refundable drink containers only. January’s pick-up date will be Thursday, January 15.

Scheduled pick-ups for the rest of the year:

  • * February 19 (because of Teachers’ Convention the week before)
  • March 12
  • April 9
  • May 14
  • June11

All funds raised will go directly toward activities and events that benefit our entire school community.

If it’s more convenient, you may also drop off bottles at the Manchester Bottle Depot on Macleod Trail and donate the proceeds to our school’s open account.

How you can help:

  • Collect refundable bottles and cans at home
  • Send them to school in a sealed garbage bag
  • Invite family and friends to contribute

Your participation truly makes a difference and helps us create fun, memorable experiences for all of our students. Thank you for your continued support and for being such an important part of our school community.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mme Ferguson at kaferguson@cbe.ab.ca.

2.    Carnaval Preparation | 2 L Milk Cartons | Volunteer Request

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. 

Carnaval d’hiver is just three weeks away! From February 2–6, we will be celebrating with a variety of fun activities around the school, and we would greatly appreciate your help as volunteers. This is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your child, be involved in the school community, and enjoy a special French-Canadian tradition together. If you are able, please click the link below to sign up for any activities that interest you, whether it’s one or several; all help is appreciated! Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to celebrating with you! 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044EAEA72CA4FBCE9-61542618-william#/

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

Current Kindergarten students who are enrolled at WRS will be automatically enrolled into grade 1 for next year except for any students who live outside of the school boundaries. You do not need to attend the Open House as well.

New students to CBE must be registered through School Engage. New Kindergarten registrations for the next school year (2026-27) will begin on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 and closes on Thursday, Feb. 10, at noon.  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. 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.

4.    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! 

5.    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.

6.    Healthy Hunger Special Lunch Volunteers

Our next Healthy Hunger fun lunch day is on January 29th, 2026 – Subway

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

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!

8.    Traffic Safety Concerns | Safety Over Convenience

We continue to have a few parents and students jay-walking in front of the school. It is for all of us to work together to keep students safe during drop-off and pick-up. We as a school are encouraging students to choose the crosswalk for safety.

Please review and attend to the following reminders to help support a safe environment for everyone:

Use Crosswalks
Please model safe behaviour by using the designated crosswalks. Our students learn from what they see—your guidance helps them develop safe habits when they are walking independently.

Kiss-and-Go Zone
The Kiss-and-Go area at the front of the school is only for quick drop-offs. If you wish to walk your child to the school, please park on 11th Street, 12th Street (south of the school), or north of the driveway on the west side, or on 13th Street.

Bus Zone
Please do not park or drop off in the bus zone. The bus zone extends from the corner of 12th Street and 36th Avenue, to north of the driveway at the west doors. Parking in this area causes congestion at the 4-way stop, delays our buses, and creates unsafe conditions for students to exit vehicles while buses are trying to pull in and out.

Support from CPS
We have requested support from Calgary Police Service Traffic Safety. When they are on-site, they may issue tickets to drivers who are not following posted signage or traffic laws.

Reporting Concerns
If you observe a traffic-related safety concern, you are encouraged to report it through 311 using this link: https://www.coplogic.ca/dors/startreport/102104800/117669900

Thank you for helping us prioritize student safety. Your cooperation makes a meaningful difference in keeping our school community safe.

9. 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