Good afternoon ALS families,
Oh my goodness, it has been quite a week at ALS!
The week began with considerable uncertainty surrounding several of our off-campus learning experiences as we monitored the significant rainfall and flooding concerns across the region. Thankfully, all our planned trips were able to proceed, although a few required adjustments, delays, and creative problem-solving due to weather, mechanical issues, and transportation challenges.
Our Grade 6 students travelled to Drumheller, our Grade 7 students visited Heritage Park, and our Grade 8 Outdoor Education students spent three days camping and hiking in Kananaskis. The feedback from our Outdoor Ed students was unanimous: Mr. Smaniotto made the trip an incredible experience and ensured students stayed warm, safe, and engaged despite the less-than-ideal weather conditions. His flexibility, creativity, and commitment to students were greatly appreciated.
In town, Our Grade 9 students also enjoyed a visit to StoryBook Theatre to see Shrek, with additional groups attending next week.
Without question, the highlight of the week was Thursday evening's Grade 9 Farewell. This event marks an important milestone in the lives of our students as they prepare to leave middle school and begin their high school journey. After spending five years with many of these students, it is difficult to imagine ALS without them. We are incredibly proud of the young people they have become and wish them every success as they move on to the next chapter of their educational journey.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to Ms. Tompkins, Mr. Cousins, and Ms. Sayed for their leadership in planning and organizing this year's Grade 9 Farewell. Working with our entire grade 9 team and alongside our student committee, they helped ensure that student voice was reflected throughout the event and that the evening was meaningful and memorable for our graduates. I would also like to recognize all staff members who volunteered their time to plan, organize, decorate, set up, supervise, and celebrate with our students. These events do not happen without tremendous effort behind the scenes. Thank you to everyone who helped make the evening so special. I hope our students and families enjoyed this important celebration.
As mentioned above, the rain did create some challenges. Unfortunately, the annual Middle School Football Tournament scheduled for today had to be postponed and has been rescheduled for next week. At this point, our Track and Field Meet scheduled for Monday remains a go.
During PE this week, all students have also been participating in an in-school dance residency with Sound Kreations. And while students don’t always love the PE dance units, the instructors have brought valuable expertise and fresh approaches that have helped make dance more engaging and relevant for middle school learners. Dance can be a challenging unit to deliver in a way that resonates with adolescents, and the opportunity to learn hip hop and other contemporary styles has been a positive experience for many students. The residency will continue into next week.
Next week remains busy. Additional Grade 9 students will attend “Shrek” at StoryBook Theatre, while our Drama 7/8 students will be attending a performance at Theatre Calgary.
As we move into June, PATs continue for our Grade 6 and 9 students, and we are also beginning final assessments for Grades 7 and 8. Grade 7 students will be writing their English Language Arts and Mathematics final assessments next week. Families are encouraged to continue monitoring Grade Team Updates for specific assessment schedules and information.
Planning for next year is also well underway. Complementary course selections were due this week, and peer requests were due two weeks ago. Next week, we will begin the complex process of building class lists and student timetables for the 2026-27 school year. At this point, we will be moving forward with the information we have received. Students who have not submitted complementary course selections will be assigned courses based on availability, and families who did not submit a peer request will be assumed to have no preference regarding student placement. Unfortunately, we are unable to continue chasing down students and families for this information if we are to remain on schedule with our planning process.
2026-2027 Class Sizes
With the introduction of additional government funding, Arbour Lake School has been allocated three additional teaching positions for the 2026-27 school year. These positions are intended to ensure that core class sizes remain below the following government benchmarks:
▪ Division II: ▪ Division III: Moderate High: 27 High: 33
▪ Division III: High: Moderate High: 31 High: 36
With additional funding, our projected core class sizes are currently:
▪ Grade 6: 23 to 25 students (Current class sizes 25-26 students)
▪ Grade 7: 25 to 27 students (Current class sizes 30-32 students)
▪ Grade 8: 25 to 27 students (Current class sizes 31-32 students)
▪ Grade 9: 26 to 28 students (Current class sizes 31-33 students)
To support these targets, an additional homeroom has been added at each of Grades 7, 8, and 9.
2026-2027 Staffing Updates
I would also like to share several staffing updates with our community.
Andrew Crabbe has accepted a new position at Bob Edwards School. They are very fortunate to have Andrew joining their team. His creativity, enthusiasm, and energy will be a tremendous asset, and their Grade 6 students will be exceptionally well served.
Victoria Milligan has accepted a new position at Clarence Sansom School. Clarence Sansom is gaining an outstanding educator whose expertise in literacy and English language learning will greatly benefit students and staff alike. Victoria's contributions to their learning community will undoubtedly be significant.
Emily Fischer has accepted a job-share position at Dr. Freda Miller School. Dr. Freda Miller is fortunate to have someone of Emily's calibre joining their team, and her students and colleagues will benefit greatly from her professionalism, dedication, and expertise.
I would also like to congratulate Ms. Carla Samuelson on her upcoming retirement. Carla has been a valued member of the ALS community for many years and has positively impacted the lives of countless students. Her dedication, kindness, and commitment to young people have left a lasting mark on our school. While we will miss her greatly, we wish her every happiness and success in retirement.
On a positive note, we are pleased to share that Ms. Emily McKeon is scheduled to return to ALS next year.
As staffing and organizational plans continue to evolve, there may be additional updates throughout the month of June. For example, we have several staff members on temporary contracts and as the staffing process progresses, we will be able to share with you how things progress for them as well. We will keep families informed as information becomes available.
Thank you for your continued support of Arbour Lake School. I hope you have an opportunity to enjoy the sunshine this weekend. As always, please reach out if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to support your family.
Warm regards,
Dr. Nancy Lisi
Principal, Arbour Lake School
nmlisi@cbe.ab.ca