Week Ahead         

 Upcoming Important Dates 

Support Staff Appreciation Week April 21-25 

Principal’s Message 

“Being a little bit nicer in each interaction can result in a network of broad and strong connections over time.” 

~James Clear 

As part of our School Development Plan, we’re dedicated to fostering a deep sense of belonging for every student. To achieve this, there has been a clear focus around creating structures that connect classes and grades such as using consistent language and visuals to strengthen our school’s unity. Our Kindness Tree in the forest is an example of this common work as a school. 

To bring this to life, we have also incorporated buddy classes into our school culture, where younger and older students collaborate on fun, relationship-building activities. For example, buddies might play board games together to support problem solving, work together on art projects to ignite creativity, or go on walks to share stories and build trust. These efforts aim to foster friendships, encourage mentorship, and ensure every student feels valued and connected. Recently, many of our buddy classes have created secret handshakes and we have enjoyed seeing our buddies meeting each other in the hallways and greeting each other in this way! 

We will continue to keep you updated on our work to build a community of kindness where each students feels like they belong. Thank you for being part of our vibrant, caring community! 

Lisa and Denise 

Planning for Next Year 

We would like to provide you with some initial information as we plan for the 2025-2026 school year. To create an optimal learning environment for all students we are examining the organization of the school, the class configuration and teaching assignments of teachers.   

Although the start of the next school year is still several months away, we can share a few updates with you:   

• Every homeroom will be placed in a classroom.  Teachers may elect to create teaming environments by opening walls between classrooms to create shared learning spaces;  
• Each homeroom will be assigned a teacher, and this teacher will be your main contact for assessment and learning information;  
• All our teachers work in grade teams to provide a similar experience for each student;  
• We will be organized using “straight grades” (no multi-age or split grades);   
• All students will not only learn in their homeroom classroom, but also in other flexible learning environments such as the learning commons, gym or music room;   
• Current teachers may teach a different grade than they are teaching this year;   

In May, we will begin the process of creating class lists for next year. As a staff, we spend a great deal of time preparing these lists to create optimal learning environments to ensure success for each student. The following criteria go into our processes:   

• Attention to the complexities of learning needs of specific students and as a group 
• Academic, social and emotional needs of students 
• Keeping students with complimentary classmates / friends   

Given the complexities detailed above, it is not possible for parents to request specific teachers. We have personalized processes that allow us to make informed decisions for your child. Should you have additional information regarding your child’s learning needs that you would like us to consider when creating class lists, please email Mrs. Patten no later than May 10 at sibyllakiddle@cbe.ab.ca detailing this information.    

Bell Times and Bussing Information 

For the 2025-26 school year, the CBE will be expanding yellow bus service and adjusting walk zones. This is in response to School Transportation Amendment Regulation for student transportation that comes into effect on Sept. 1, 2025. This means many more students will become eligible to take the bus. 

When changes are made to yellow bus transportation, it has an impact on bell times for schools. That’s because bell times are directly connected to transportation. Aligning bell times across schools makes transportation more efficient, allowing each bus to run multiple routes. This creates a reliable transportation system, ensuring students get to school safely, on time and ready to learn. 

For the 2025-26 school year, bell times for Sibylla Kiddle School are 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM Monday through Thursday. Friday early dismissal is at 12:00 PM. 

Bell times were reviewed across the CBE to ensure transportation system reliability, while also making sure that students receive the required instructional hours while maintaining time for breaks, transitions and extracurricular opportunities. 

To learn more about the bell time changes at the CBE, visit our website for details including Questions & Answers. 

SKS Spirit Days 

Grade teams have organized some SKS Spirit Days until the end of the school year. Your child(ren) are welcome to take part in these days to continue to create a sense of belonging amongst all students in the school. 

Traffic Reminders 

Spring is an excellent time to walk, wheel and ride to school. This supports the traffic congestion at school and is a wonderful way to get some fresh air before the school day begins.  

We would like to remind parents not to use the staff parking lot for pick up or drop off, including students that attend First Class. The parking lot is for staff use only. As there is much traffic coming in and out of the parking lot as staff arrive and depart, we want to ensure our student and staff safety. Thank you for finding alternative parking along Cranford Drive or Cranford Street. 

Support Staff Appreciation Week 

We wanted to take a moment to shine a spotlight on a group of individuals who play a crucial role in our children's education: our incredible support staff.  

From our facilities staff who ensure our school environment is clean and safe, to administrative assistants who keep things running smoothly behind the scenes, and educational assistants, early childhood practitioners and Braille assistants who offer invaluable assistance to students with diverse needs, as well as Lunch Supervision staff who support work each day to ensure that our students have a positive lunch experience every day. Each member of our support staff contributes significantly to the success of our school community. 

From April 22-24, we will be celebrating Support Staff Appreciation Week. It's an opportunity for us to express our gratitude and recognize the dedication and hard work of these unsung heroes. Their commitment to our children's well-being and educational experience is truly commendable, and they deserve to be celebrated. 

Navigating Social Media and Teens | Community Education Services & Recovery Alberta Live Presentation 

Understanding Social Media Use in Teens 

Date: Wednesday, April 16 
Time: 6 - 8 p.m. 
Register using this link . 

The world of social media is constantly changing, and it can be hard to keep up. This session will look at some of the most popular platforms among Canadian youth and how to protect privacy and keep everyone safe. We will also discuss the effects of social media use on teen mental health and how to promote healthy social media habits in a digital world. 

Presenters include Ashley Meagher, Certified Child & Youth Care Counsellor, Success Coach & Jo Burley BCST, NPML, Success Coach, Rockyview School Division, MHCB Stepping. 

School Council/Parent Society Notes 

Our next School Council and Parent Society Meeting will be on Thursday, May 8 at 6:30pm in the Forest. For more information, please see the school website.