Week Ahead         

April 21-25 Support Staff Appreciation Week 

 Upcoming Important Dates 

April 27 – May 3 National Volunteer Week 

Principal’s Message

“My favourite weather is bird chirping weather” 

~Terri Guillemets 

This week, while arriving at school, I took my time entering the building. Although it was quiet and calm, I noticed something new that caused me to pause – the gentle song of birds. As spring settles in, the quiet moments of early morning bring a gift: the soft chirping of birds returning to our trees and gardens. These serene sounds invite us to pause and reflect, offering a tranquil start to the day. In much the same way, during this time our students are finding their own moments of reflection in their learning, embracing opportunities to think deeply and grow. 

The stillness of a spring morning, punctuated by birdsong, mirrors the thoughtful pauses our students take as they explore new ideas. Whether they’re pondering a challenging question in science, crafting a thoughtful response in writing, or quietly working through a math problem, these moments of focus are where true understanding takes root. Like the birds that sing with purpose each dawn, our students are discovering the power of reflection in their journey of learning. 

We encourage you to share in these quiet moments with your children. Perhaps take a few minutes in the morning to listen to the birds together or ask them about a new idea they’ve been turning over in their minds. These small, reflective pauses can deepen their love for learning and strengthen the connections we share as a community. 

Thank you for your ongoing support as we nurture our students’ growth this spring. Here’s to cherishing the quiet beauty of morning birdsong and the thoughtful moments it inspires. 

Lisa and Denise 

First Class Childcare April 28 Notice

If you have a child who attends First Class Childcare, there will be an adjustment to your drop off and pick-up doors on Monday, April 28. Due to Sibylla Kiddle School being designated as a Polling Station for the Federal Election, students should be both dropped off and picked up at the Front Doors (South Doors) of the school. There will be signs posted that day as a reminder. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding. 

Sibylla Kiddle Sharing Circle 

This year, through our Truth and Reconciliation actions, staff and students at Sibylla Kiddle committed to building on our understanding of Indigenous circle processes; incorporating talking circles to facilitate discussions with and amongst students, staff, and families.  

To support this work, we are excited to announce that we will adding to our outdoor learning space at Sibylla Kiddle School. Working alongside our School Council and Fundraising Society, we have developed a plan to create an outdoor sharing circle on our school grounds. This sharing circle will be a special space for students to take their learning outdoors. It will hold opportunities for class sharing circles, outdoor discussions and other learning opportunities.  

Throughout this process, we are also working alongside knowledge keeper, Hal Eagletail. Mr. Eagletail will be supporting both staff and students in considering Indigenous perspectives of the land used for the sharing circle, as well as understanding the circle processes. We look forward to this work with Mr. Eagletail.  

In the coming weeks, we will provide further information about restricted spaces as construction begins. 

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.    

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. 

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.