February Newsletter 2026

It's already February, and we are so excited for the opportunities this new month brings. February is a time of growth, learning, and connection, and we look forward to continuing this journey together at school. With its shorter days and meaningful celebrations, including Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, Ramadan, and Pink Shirt Day, February offers many moments to inspire kindness, reflection, and unity within our school community. We are committed to making this month both enriching and enjoyable for our students.

Re-Enrollment Cafe — February 3, 2026 - By appointment only, please call the office.

School Council Meeting — February 4, 2026 - 6:30pm

Pizza Hut Hot Lunch — February 12, 2026

Valentine's Day — February 14, 2026

Ramadan — February 17, 2026

Reading Week - NO SCHOOL — February 16 - 20, 2026

Pink Shirt Kindness Day — February 25, 2026 - Wear Pink!

Herald School is hosting a Re-Enrollment Cafe on Feb. 3, 2026. This is a supportive opportunity for families to receive assistance completing registration forms for the 2026/2027 school year.

Ms. Daniels will be available to answer questions, walk you through the process, and ensure all required information is submitted accurately. By appointment only. Call the office to book today at 403-526-4477.

https://herald.mhpsd.ca/register

Registration for the 2026/2027 school year opens on Feb 3, 2026.

Go to https://herald.mhpsd.ca/register to register now!

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 @ 6:30pm - Herald School

Being a part of the school council enables you to contribute ideas, offer perspectives, and collaborate on decisions that impact your children's experiences at Herald. Your involvement not only benefits your own children but also enhances the entire school community. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in shaping the educational experiences for all the students.

Ordering for this Hot Lunch is open until Feb 8, 2026!

Follow this link to sign in to SchoolCash and the hot lunch item will be attached to your student! Any other questions please contact the office at 403-526-4477.

https://www.schoolcashonline.com/

Deadline for ordering this Hot Lunch is February 8 @11:59pm.

Our online school apparel store is open for business. Check out some of the amazing items and designs in the store. Every purchase made helps to support Herald School.

Happy shopping!!

https://merchee.ca/collections/herald-school

Every February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and festivities that honour the legacy of Black people in Canada and their communities.

The 2026 theme for Black History Month is "30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.” This theme celebrates three decades of Black History Month in Canada and recognizes the enduring legacy of Black Canadians, whose leadership, creativity, innovation and resilience have shaped our past, continue to influence our present, and will inspire future generations.

Pink Shirt Day was started in 2007 in Nova Scotia. The original event was organized by Grade 12 students David Shepherd and Travis Price, who bought and distributed 50 pink shirts after a Grade 9 student Chuck McNeill was bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt during the first day of school.

"I learned that two people can come up with an idea, run with it, and it can do wonders"

- Travis Price, 17

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting in Islam. During the month of Ramadan Muslims fast from dawn until dusk, and they are permitted to eat and drink only before sunrise and after sunset. Observing the daily fast for Ramadan comprises one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

In addition to fasting, the month is a period of introspection, communal prayer (ṣalāt) in the mosque, and reading of the Qurʾān. God is said to forgive the past sins of those who observe the holy month with fasting, prayer, and faithful intention. The month of difficult fasting and focused religious observance concludes with the jubilant feasting holiday of Eid al-Fitr, “Feast of Fast-Breaking.”

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ramadan

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns experienced by both children and adults. We all experience worry, fear, stress, and anxiety at times; these emotions are a healthy and normal part of life. While uncomfortable, emotions such stress and anxiety can motivate us to overcome a challenging situation, or they may act as a signal that something is not quite right. In fact, anxiety is an important emotion that is essential to our survival! Most of the time, we can handle the situations that bring these emotions to the surface in healthy and helpful ways, however, in some circumstances, our responses to these feelings might be maladaptive, meaning that they create increased levels of unhelpful emotional responses in our bodies that leads to greater problems, such as an anxiety disorder. It is important to remember that everyone goes through situations in life that might trigger an anxiety response; it’s true, we all experience anxiety, but not everyone has an anxiety disorder.

You might be wondering how to know if the worries and anxiety your child experiences are normal, and when they are a cause for concern. First, know it that is normal for children of all ages to experience fears and worries; as children mature and develop, they may outgrow some of these fears (for example, a fear of the dark, a fear of getting a needle, or performance anxiety in older youth). Some children, however, experience increased fear, rather than less, as they mature, which may cause significant distress and interference in everyday life. When this occurs, you might notice that your child becomes distressed by, or avoids, certain situations, thereby preventing them from engaging in age-appropriate activities or meeting developmental milestones.

The combination of excessive worry and anxiety, along with disruptions to normal life are signs that your child’s worries have moved beyond what is considered to be normal, and the anxiety they are experiencing has become problematic. Other indicators that your child’s anxiety is cause for concern include school avoidance, frequent complaints of physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches, frequent crying, constantly seeking reassurance, lashing out, difficulty sleeping, academic struggles, withdrawing from previously enjoyed social activities, and refusal to engage in new activities. While it can be scary to recognize these signs and symptoms in your child, know that there are many wonderful supports available to both you and your child in our community. If you are concerned that your child may be suffering from an anxiety disorder, speak to their pediatrician or family doctor right away, and consider accessing mental health supports to support your child in learning the proper coping skills and strategies for overcoming their anxiety, as well as the many ways that you can support them through this. Remember, as a parent, you are the most important person in your child’s life, and that your love, encouragement and support will help them work through their anxiety and conquer it.

Take care, and thanks for reading!

-Erin

Email: herald@sd76.ab.ca

Website: https://herald.mhpsd.ca/

Phone: 403-526-4477