Dear William Reid Families,

This week, we were pleased to welcome Danisha Bhaloo-Shivji as our new School Council Chair and Sarah Moss as our Fundraising Society President at their first council meeting. We are grateful for their leadership and commitment to our school community.

The partnership between families and the school creates a strong foundation for our students’ experiences. It is a meaningful reminder that “It takes a village to raise a child.” This African proverb speaks to the importance of community—extended family, neighbours, teachers, and friends—working together to create a safe, supportive, and enriching environment for children. In today’s busy world, strong connections between home and school matter more than ever.

Nous travaillons bien ensemble — we work well together.

Below are updates and important information for the weeks ahead.

School Council

Next Council Meeting: March 10, 2026

We would like to thank Danisha Bhaloo-Shivji for stepping into the role of School Council Chair and for bringing valuable board experience to our team. We also extend our thanks to Tiffany Ward for her support during this transition, particularly for chairing our most recent meeting. We are equally grateful to welcome Sarah Moss as our new Fundraising Society President.

We currently have several open volunteer roles on the William Reid School Council and the William Reid School Fundraising Society (WRSFS) and would love your support:

  • Naturalization Lead
    Coordinate annual garden clean-ups and organize the summer watering schedule for naturalized and garden areas.
  • Jacket Racket Coordinator
    Organize the school-wide collection of jackets and winter items to support Calgary families. This role has a minimal time commitment but a meaningful impact. Parents are reminded to label children’s clothing with their family name.

These roles are not overly time-consuming but are essential to the success of our School Council.
Please contact wrchair@gmail.com if you are interested.

Healthy Hunger – Special Lunch Volunteers

Our next Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch is on February 26, 2026 (OPA!).
The Saturday prior is the final day to place or modify orders.

Order online through Healthy Hunger:
https://healthyhunger.ca/

Thank you to all volunteers who have already signed up to help organize and distribute food.

If you would like to volunteer on Fun Lunch days, please sign up here:
Healthy Hunger Volunteer Sign-Up

Casual Paid Lunchroom Supervisor Opportunity

Do you have a few hours to spare mid-day?

We are looking for individuals to help fill occasional lunch-hour vacancies. Being a Casual Paid Lunchroom Supervisor at William Reid School is a rewarding and flexible opportunity. You’ll connect with students, enjoy time outdoors, and earn a bit of extra income.

This position is very flexible and can be limited to William Reid only. Parents, grandparents, and neighbours are all welcome to apply.

Please contact Mr. Jay at the school office for more information:
403-777-6940

Soft Entry – Supporting a Smooth Start to the Day

William Reid offers a soft entry to support smooth transitions into learning.

  • Student drop-off begins at 7:50 AM
  • Students should be settled and ready to learn by 8:02 AM

This structure helps maximize learning time and reduce classroom disruptions. Late arrivals can impact both the individual student and the broader learning environment. We recognize that attendance challenges may reflect broader family circumstances, and we are always here to support.

Thank you for your partnership in helping our students thrive.

2025–2026 William Reid Yearbook

Order your 2025–2026 Yearbook now. This 32-page, full-colour keepsake captures special moments from the school year and features a custom student-designed cover.

Order here: WR Yearbook Orders
Yearbook ID Code: 14464826

More details about this year’s cover contest will be shared in February.

Bottle Drive – Thursday, February 19

Our second monthly bottle drive takes place on February 19, and we’re hoping to beat our previous total of nearly $300.

Bottle drop-off details:

  • Drop-off begins at 7:50 AM along the cement compound fence on 36th Avenue
  • Bottle truck on site from approximately 8:15–8:45 AM
  • Refundable drink containers only

Scheduled Bottle Drive Dates

  • Thursday, February 19
  • Thursday, March 12
  • Thursday, April 9
  • Thursday, May 14
  • Thursday, June 11

All funds raised directly support student activities and school-wide events.
For questions, please contact Mme Ferguson at kaferguson@cbe.ab.ca.

Ongoing Fundraising Opportunities

Families can support the school throughout the year through the following initiatives:

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 Donations

Donate bottles at Manchester Bottle Depot, 410 – 38A Avenue SE.
Let staff know your refund is to be donated to William Reid School. The process is quick and wait-free.

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