School Update 

To the students and families of MRS, 

At our School Council and Parent Association Meeting last night, our school took time to engage in conversation regarding our SDP (School Development Plan) and School Budget. For those that were unable to attend, your voice still matters. We ask you to please take the time to fill out the following survey: 

School Planning Engagement Survey 

As many of you are likely aware, CUPE Local 40 members have served strike notice to the Calgary Board of Education. This union, which includes school facilities and cleaning staff, is set to withdraw services beginning Monday, February 24th. Please note that information to families regarding the strike action will be communicated centrally by the CBE – not by individual schools. The information below is messaging from the Calgary Board of Education regarding the pending strike action: 

• The CBE is prioritizing in-person learning – all CBE schools and buildings will remain open, and classes will continue 
• However, a strike will have an impact on schools and operations 
• We are committed to ensuring schools remain a place where students, staff and families feel valued, supported and safe 
• CUPE Local 40 members are an important part of our school communities 
• We value the contributions of all employees who support student success, and we respect the bargaining process 
• We are committed to bargaining in good faith to reach a new collective agreement 
• The following link will take you to extensive information and updates regarding the strike: CBE Labour Action Page 

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend filled with warmer weather. 

Maple Ridge Staff 

Upcoming Important Dates 

Black History Month 

Throughout the month, students have been reading a variety of books and learning about other Black Canadians who have impacted Canada, both in history and in the present day. They are continuing to learn how they showed perseverance and resilience to stand up for what they believed in and fight for the rights they deserved.   

This link  is to a playlist of CBC kid's videos, books, short stories etc. if your family is looking to explore more on Black History Month.  

School Council & Parent Association Update  

School Council and Parent Association  

Thank you to all who attended our February meeting last night, particularly given the Canada-US hockey game taking place at the same time. Please check the school website for the Meeting Minutes, which will be posted by early next week. 

Thank you to Mr. Laidlaw and Ms. McNeil for your presentation of the School Development Plan and answering our questions about it with transparency and candor.  

Note that we are looking for volunteer coordinators to help with fundraising, special events and our social media accounts. 

Spring Fundraiser 

We will be moving forward with a spring fundraiser, in support of funding resources and activities at Maple Ridge School in 2025. Watch for more details about our plans to fundraise in partnership with Growing Smiles in the coming weeks. If you're interested in helping out, please contact us at mapleridgecouncil@gmail.com. 

Reach us anytime at mapleridgecouncil@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.     

iLab Materials Still Needed   

We are continuing to restock our iLab materials and are thankful for the excellent items that we have been recently receiving. 

iLab projects promote critical thinking skills and encourage students to use design thinking to solve real-world problems. 

If you are willing to donate any of the following items, please drop them off at the front door (in the wagon) or send them with your child. We will be accepting donations until further notice. 

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

Thank you in advance for helping us collect these items and support innovation at Maple Ridge!   

*Not needed at this time: Egg Cartons, Fabric 

Reminder – No Food Policy 

We want to take a moment to continue to share an important policy in place at our school: students are not to bring food (purchased or from home) to share with other students during the school day. 

This policy is essential for several reasons. Many of our students have allergies or dietary restrictions that could make sharing food unsafe for them. By ensuring that each child only consumes food provided by their own family we can help maintain a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. 

We kindly ask for your support in reinforcing this rule with your child as this will help us protect the health and well-being of all our students. 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.