Dear MLS Families,

This past week, our Grade 2 and 3 students did an amazing job performing My Planet, Your Planet, their spring music performance. It was a wonderful opportunity to welcome families into the school and celebrate the learning and hard work students have been engaged in with Ms. Kvicala during music classes over the past several months.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the teachers who supported students through rehearsals, choir practices, and the many other preparations that contribute to a successful evening performance.

We would also like to thank the parents who stayed after the concert for helping to put away chairs. Your act of kindness allowed the cleanup to be completed quickly, enabling staff to get home to their families a little earlier. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Stream of Dreams

Some of you may have noticed that the stream of fish along the McKenzie Lake Way fence grew by more than 100 fish this week. The Stream of Dreams project is a long-standing legacy experience that students participate in before transitioning to middle school.

Our Grade 5 students’ fish have now been added to the fence, and we would like to thank the parent volunteers who supported the Stream of Dreams team with the installation. The display is a beautiful representation of our students’ creativity and their connection to environmental stewardship.

Our Grade 5 students are also looking forward to their final Celebration of Learning of their elementary school years this coming Tuesday. We are excited to celebrate their growth, achievements, and many accomplishments as they prepare for the next stage of their educational journey.

Staffing Update

As we wrap up the 2025–2026 school year, we are also preparing to say goodbye to several valued staff members who are moving on to new opportunities and experiences.

A number of teachers have reached the end of their temporary contracts at McKenzie Lake School and will be embarking on new adventures. We would like to thank Ms. Messier, Ms. Lam, and Ms. Kunz for their contributions to our school community.

We will also be saying farewell to two of our Education Assistants. Mrs. Mc Gowean and Mrs. Kearns will be transitioning to new schools in September, while Mrs. Staples will be beginning her retirement after many years of dedicated service at McKenzie Lake School.

Mrs. Gamble, one of our Lunch Supervisors, will be moving out of province with her family, and Mrs. Finnan will be retiring, after serving as a Lunch Supervisor in our EES classes and Grade 1-5 over the years.

In addition, we are saying goodbye to our two EES teachers, Ms. Louie and Ms. Williams, as they pursue new opportunities. Ms. Williams will be joining MidSun School as their new ACCESS and ALP teacher, meaning some of her current students may have the opportunity to work with her again in junior high.

We are deeply grateful for the contributions each of these staff members has made to the McKenzie Lake learning community. Individually, you have made a positive impact on countless students, and collectively, your absence will be felt throughout our school. We wish you all the very best in your next professional chapter, whether that involves a new school community or a well-earned retirement after many years of service with the Calgary Board of Education.

2025-2026 Yearbooks

Yearbooks will be distributed on Monday to students who ordered a copy through Lifetouch. If you purchased a yearbook, please check your child’s backpack when they arrive home to ensure it has been received and removed promptly. Throughout the week, teachers will be sending home student work, supplies, and personal belongings, and we want to avoid any yearbooks being accidentally damaged.

Once we have confirmed that all pre-ordered yearbooks have been distributed, any remaining copies will be made available for purchase. If additional copies are available, an email will be sent to all families with details. Yearbooks will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis for $25.00 cash.

Please wait for communication confirming availability before requesting to purchase an additional copy.

Lost and Found

Our Lost and Found still contains many unclaimed items waiting to be reunited with their owners. Families are invited to stop by and look through the Lost and Found between Monday and Wednesday. It will be displayed near the main entrance for easy access.

Any items that remain unclaimed after Wednesday will be donated on Thursday as we prepare the school for year-end cleaning and summer maintenance.

Government of Alberta’s Class Size Reduction Grant

We are pleased to inform you that our school has been allocated 1 additional teaching position for the 2026-27 school year through the Government of Alberta’s Class Size Reduction Grant.

This grant funds teaching positions that support improved learning conditions in kindergarten to Grade 9 classrooms.

This funding is specifically intended to help reduce class sizes in core subject areas (English Language Arts/French Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies), with priority given to schools experiencing the greatest class size pressures.

This decision was made using system-wide data that considers:

• The number of classes exceeding provincial class size benchmarks
• Projected enrolment and class organization
• School programming and grade configuration

Our goal is to ensure students benefit from:

• Increased teacher attention
• Improved classroom learning environments
• Greater support for diverse learning needs

We remain committed to supporting strong learning environments for all students and using our resources thoughtfully and strategically.

Sincerely,

Ms. Dayna McComish