Happy Eid al-Fitr to those that are celebrating today!

It was wonderful to welcome our community back into the building this week. Connecting families with teachers is at the heart of our work, and we are grateful to partner with you in supporting your child’s learning. It truly takes a village to raise a child, and our staff is honoured to be part of yours. We hope Spring Break brings your family rest and renewal.

Today is officially the first day of spring. For many Indigenous peoples, the spring equinox is a significant time of renewal, rebirth, and new beginnings. It is a season to celebrate the return of light and growth after winter, and a time for reflection, gratitude, and reconnecting with the land through traditions such as smudging, planting, and harvesting maple sap.

With these things in mind, we wish you a restful and rejuvenating break!

Upcoming Dates and Events

  • Mon, Mar 23 – Fri, Mar 27 Spring Break – No School
  • Mon, Mar 30 First day back to school
  • Tue, Mar 31 National Indigenous Languages Day
  • Wed, Apr 1 Picture Day - Spring Photos
  • Fri, Apr 3 Good Friday – No School
  • Tue, Apr 14 School Council (Special Guest – School Trustee 7PM – 8:30 PM)
  • Thu, Apr 16 DELF Exams (Grade 4 students)
  • Fri, Apr 24 Non-Instructional Day (No School)
  • Mon, Apr 27 – Fri, May 1 Scholastic Book Fair
  • Wed, Apr 29 Parent Information Session – Hosted by School Council (Online Safety: Generation Alpha – Guest Speaker Paul Davis – 7:30 PM – Virtual Session)
  • Thu, Apr 30 Healthy Hunger - EDO
  • Tue, May 12 School Council
  • Thu, May 14 Volunteer Tea
  • Fri, May 15 Non-Instructional Day (No School)
  • Mon, May 18 Victoria Day (No School)
  • Fri, May 22 Kindergarten Orientation
  • Thu, May 28 Healthy Hunger - Little Caesar

1. Celebrate Francophone culture and heritage through music at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre. Admission is free! - This Saturday, March 21.

Join the National Music Centre for a full day of activities to celebrate Canadian and Albertan Francophone culture through songs and stories. With Alberta Francophonie Month falling in March and the Government of Alberta proclaiming 2026 as the Year of the Francophonie, NMC is proud to showcase our vibrant Francophone community alongside celebrations happening throughout the city and province.

https://www.studiobell.ca/whats-on/event/journee-de-la-francophonie

2. Looking for French Practice Over Spring Break?

There are several helpful resources on our website which your family can draw upon to promote your child’s learning of the French language. We would encourage you to explore some of the resources that we have posted online.

Parent Resources - William Reid School

3. FREE | Childhood Unplugged Event - April 22, 2026

When? 10 am to 12 pm. at Central Library Theatre

 Screens are everywhere – in our homes, schools, and pockets. Many parents and educators are asking the same question: How do we help children find balance in a digital world?

Join us for a conversation inspired by Katherine Johnson Martinko’s book Childhood Unplugged: Practical Advice to Get Kids Off Screens and Find Balance, which offers practical guidance for helping children spend less time on screens and more time reading, playing, and exploring the world around them.

This event will feature a keynote presentation by the author, followed by a panel discussion with local experts who will share insights, research, and realistic strategies to help families navigate screen use in today’s digital environment.

Expert panel featuring:

  • Dr. Sheri Madigan, Professor in the Department of Psychology and Tier I Canada Research Chair in Child Mental Health and Well-being at the University of Calgary.
  • Dr. Mengguo Jing, Assistant Professor in Learning Sciences with the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary.
  • Sara Austin, Founder and CEO of Children First Canada.

Event Moderator: Dr. Susan Graham, Director of the Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Scientific Director of the Azrieli Accelerator, and Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary.

The first 200 guests through the door receive a free copy of Katherine Johnson Martinko's book.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, caregiver, or community member, together we’ll explore how small changes can help create a childhood that is richer in reading, creativity, and real-world connection.

 Register for free at https://childhoodunplugged.eventbrite.ca

4. Scholastic Book Fair Volunteers Needed

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

WRBook Fair

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. Student Fees | Collection

Any unpaid 2024-25 lunch supervision and transportation fees will be sent to collections in February/March 2026.  Families can avoid having their account sent to collections by:

Settling their 2024–25 central fees in full via MyCBE, or

Applying, and being approved, for a 2024–25 Central Fee Waiver. We are currently offering extensions for the 2024–25 waiver until June 30, 2026. Parents can be directed to FeeWaiver@cbe.ab.ca for more information.

Requesting a Payment Plan by contacting StudentFees@cbe.ab.ca. A payment plan requires a signed commitment to pay a minimum of $20 per month toward 2024–25 central fees.

7. 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! 

8. Attendance: Good to Know

Students who attend daily are less likely to fall behind in school.  By grade 3, students with regular attendance are more likely to read at grade level.  By grade 6, regular attendance is a predictor of high school completion.  By grade 9, regular attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than test scores.  Concerns with school attendance may indicate other challenges in a student’s life. Regular school attendance is an important life skill on the path to graduation and future employment.

9. Love and Science combined by 10-year-old Jo Nagai

Should you be interested, here is a fantastic example of how a student can use a passion and make a difference. For a 14 minute Sunday afternoon video to watch with your Family, click:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhESxrqPjfU    

Or, if the link does not work, google or go to you tube for:   “10-year-old butterfly scientist "   

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