School Update 

To the students and families of MRS, 

It has certainly been a cold week at Maple Ridge, with students indoors for much of the week as temperatures remained below -20°C with the wind chill. We were grateful that later today the weather finally warmed above that threshold, allowing students the opportunity to head back outside for fresh air and movement. On Thursday, we were also treated to a beautiful Sun Dog, which is featured on our school website. A Sun Dog is an atmospheric phenomenon that appears as bright, often colorful spots of light on one or both sides of the Sun. It is caused by the refraction of sunlight through hexagonal ice crystals in high-level clouds. It was a wonderful reminder of the beauty that can be found even on the coldest of days. 

Wishing everyone a wonderful, and hopefully warmer, weekend. 

Maple Ridge Staff 

Upcoming Important Dates 

Kindness Week | Feb 23 – 26 

Next week is Kindness Week at Maple Ridge School, and we are excited to kick things off with a school-wide assembly on Monday morning. Throughout the week, students will be engaging in activities that highlight our Pillars of Care: Kindness to Self, Kindness to Others, and Kindness to This Place. Wednesday is Pink Shirt Day, and we encourage all students to wear pink as a visible sign of our commitment to inclusion, compassion, and standing up for one another. There are even some rumours that Piggie and Gerald may be making a special virtual visit to Maple Ridge to read a story and help us celebrate the many acts of kindness that are already taking place in our school community. It promises to be a meaningful and joyful week for all. 

Grade 4 Parents | Alberta Education Survey 

An email will be sent from School Improvement to all Grade 4 families inviting parents to share their input through the Alberta Education Assurance Survey. This voluntary and anonymous survey provides an important opportunity for families to reflect on their child’s school experience, and the feedback gathered helps inform school improvement and helps shape the future of education in Alberta. The survey deadline is March 6, 2026. 

iLab Materials 

Thank you to our students and staff for taking care of our iLab space! There are a few loose parts and items we would appreciate as donations. If you are willing to donate any of the following materials, please drop them off at the front door (wagon) or send them with your child.    

• Cork  
• Puzzle pieces 
• Cotton balls, cotton swabs 
• Scraps of fluffy poly fiberfill or batting 
• Small wood pieces 
• Die cut shapes and scraps 
• Plastic eggs 
• Pool noodle pieces 
• Paper plates 
• Paper cups in any sizes 
• Chopsticks or disposable wood utensils 
• Tubing 
• Scrap pieces of wire such as packing twist ties  
• Packing box filler such as crinkle cut paper shred, packing peanuts, etc (please no solid Styrofoam or cardboard moulds) 

If you have any questions or think you have something not listed that might be useful to our iLab, please email Ms. Harris at anharris@cbe.ab.ca.    

We really appreciate your donations and support!