School Update 

To the students and families of MRS, 

As we are engaged in our planning for next year, we ask all parents of students who would be attending our school next year that are not planning to attend, to please email David directly at drlidlaw@cbe.ab.ca.  

On a different note, there is a great sense of excitement across our school as we welcome the arrival of newly hatched chicks. This engaging, hands-on experience is providing students, and staff, with meaningful opportunities to understand that living things grow and change over time while exploring the life cycle from egg to embryo to hatching. Students are asking questions, making predictions, and demonstrating curiosity through careful observations. They are also building important vocabulary such as hatch, chick, egg, and incubator, and representing their learning through detailed scientific drawings and early writing. This experience is helping students make real life connections, including comparing the needs and wants of chicks and humans, while also forming personal connections by naming and helping care for the chicks. 

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Maple Ridge Staff 

Upcoming Important Dates 

Kindergarten Orientation | May 14 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm 

We are thrilled to welcome our new Kindergarten students to the Maple Ridge School community for the 2026–2027 school year!  

As part of our commitment to supporting a smooth transition for our incoming Kindergarten students, we invite you and your child to attend our Kindergarten Orientation on Thursday, May 14th at 5:30 PM. Doors will open at 5:15pm.   

This in-person event will give you the opportunity to:  

• Meet our Kindergarten teaching team and school staff 
• Learn more about what to expect in the upcoming school year  
• Explore the Kindergarten classrooms  

We are excited to meet you and begin this important journey together. 

request | Bottle Caps Still Needed  

Grade 4 students in Room 11 will soon be starting a creative art project, and we need the school communities help. We are collecting clean plastic bottle caps of any size, shape, or colour. 

If you have any bottle caps at home, from water bottles, milk jugs, soda bottles, or other containers, please consider sending them to school with your child. All caps should be rinsed and free of residue. Thank you for helping make this project a success! 

Hats on for Mental Health 

We would like to remind our school community that May 6 is Hats on for Mental Health Day. On this day, all staff and students are encouraged to wear a hat as a simple but meaningful way to show support and raise awareness for mental health. We look forward to seeing our school come together in support of this important cause. 

Student Safety Reminders 

We would like to remind all students and families about an important safety procedure at dismissal time. If a student’s parent or caregiver is not at their designated pick-up location, students are encouraged to return to the school office where staff are available to support them. The office remains open until 4:00 pm Monday through Thursday and until 1:15 pm on Fridays to ensure all students have a safe place to go. 

Police Clearance for Volunteers 

We are pleased to share that the EPIC system used for Police Clearances is now working again. If you require assistance or are still experiencing challenges obtaining a valid clearance, please do not hesitate to reach out to Kelly at kebryceburns@cbe.ab.ca or contact the school at mapleridge@cbe.ab.ca. We are happy to support you through the process.