Good afternoon Parents/Guardians,
As we move further into February, the cold weather has certainly returned. I hope everyone is doing well and managing through these chilly days. With the colder temperatures come slick roads and occasional transportation delays. Please be patient and cautious during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, as road conditions can make things slower than usual. Additionally, please be reminded that students must be dressed appropriately for the weather. This includes proper winter footwear, warm jackets, hats, and gloves. While we aim to open our doors 5–10 minutes early whenever possible in the morning, there can always be unexpected delays, buses can break down, and weather conditions can impact timing. It is essential that students are dressed warmly and that all bare skin is covered so they can remain safe and comfortable while waiting outside.
This week, we were excited to welcome political cartoonists who worked with our Grade 9 and Grade 6 students. These guest teaching opportunities enrich the work happening in our classrooms and allow students to apply curricular outcomes to realworld contexts in meaningful and engaging ways. Additionally, our Grade 7 students have been working with a hip hop musician to collectively write and create their own song as a class. Through this experience, they are bringing their Humanities learning to life by expressing key themes and understandings through lyrics and music. It has been wonderful to see their creativity and collaboration in action.
Looking ahead to next week, we have several events occurring:
▪ Tuesday, February 24: Report cards will be available via PowerSchool. Please take time to review your child’s progress.
▪ Tuesday, February 24: Grade 9 vaccinations.
▪ Wednesday, February 25: Grade 7 Outdoor Education students will be heading out snowshoeing — we are hoping for cooperative weather.
▪ Thursday, February 26: Our Grade 8 students will be attending Theatre Calgary to watch the musical The Tale of the Gifted Prince.
▪ Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 PM: Our Open House will take place. We encourage you to share this information with any prospective families who are considering attending ALS next school year. This evening is designed to showcase our school, our programs, and the wonderful learning environment we offer.
This past Tuesday, our School Council met, and I shared enrollment projections for the 2026–2027 school year that were received last week. Our current enrollment sits at 731 students, and projections for next year are 653 students. This decline was anticipated following the boundary changes and designated community adjustments three years ago, as well as our configuration shift from Grades 5–9 to Grades 6–9. If the funding model remains as it currently stands, we anticipate a staffing reduction of approximately 3.0 FTE, and possibly up to 4.0 FTE. This will require adjustments in supports and resources. However, we will not fully understand the implications until the funding model for next year is confirmed. I remain hopeful and optimistic that we will be able to maintain staffing levels to support our students in a manner consistent with what we are able to provide currently. As more information becomes available and we have a clear sense of our funding, I will share this with our community.
As we are now in the holy month of Ramadan, we would like to wish all our families who are celebrating a blessed and peaceful month, Ramadan Mubarak! For our Grade 6 students who are fasting and prefer to be away from food during the first half of the lunch break, the Learning Commons will be available as a supervised space where they can spend time comfortably with friends. They will then head outside for the second half of lunch to join the rest of the students as per usual. This accommodation is being made for our grade 6s in particular as they are the only grade in the school that cannot leave campus.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.
Please feel free to reach out is you need anything at all.
Warm regards,
Dr. Nancy Lisi
Principal, Arbour Lake School
nmlisi@cbe.ab.ca