Ryley School Newsletter

A Message from the Principal

November has been a busy and meaningful month at Ryley School. We were pleased to

welcome a new student teacher to our junior high team, and our staff and students have

enjoyed supporting her as she settles into her practicum with us.

This month, we also held our Remembrance Day Ceremony which was a powerful and heartfelt

event for our entire school community. We were honoured to welcome Ryley School graduate

and Legion veteran, Doug Harbak, as our guest speaker, along with several representatives from

the Ryley and Holden communities. Their presence and words provided an important reminder

of the sacrifices made for our freedom, and we are grateful for their contributions.

As the volleyball season ends, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Mr. Bennion

and Mrs. Tracy Boast-Radley for the many hours they dedicated to coaching our teams. Their

commitment and leadership have made a significant difference for our students. We now look

forward to the start of basketball season and extend our appreciation to Mr. James and parent

volunteer, Mrs. Kady McKinney, for stepping forward to coach our junior high teams.

Thank you to all the families that attended our Parent-Teacher Interviews today. Connecting with

your child’s teachers is an important part of supporting their learning, and we appreciate your

engagement and partnership.

Thank you to everyone who visited and supported our Book Fair. Reading is essential to student

growth, and all funds raised will go directly back into our school library to purchase new books

for our students.

Thank you for your continued support of Ryley School.

Warm regards,

💖Mrs. Schaade

Principal

Ryley School

For November our Core Characteristic was Empathy. Here we have the students that were selected by their teachers as exemplifying this trait for the month.

We also recognized the Kindergarten class and gave them their own Ryley Rebel shirts to grow into.

Our boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams have wrapped up an exciting and hard-fought season filled with growth, teamwork, and determination. Both teams showed tremendous improvement in their skills, communication, and confidence on the court. It was inspiring to watch players push themselves, support one another, and rise to new challenges each week.

Unfortunately, the girls’ team did not qualify for the East Division playoffs. However, they showed remarkable improvement throughout the season, growing stronger in their skills, teamwork, and confidence with every game they played.

The boys’ team earned a spot in the playoffs and proudly finished 4th in the East Division. Their hard work, resilience, and dedication were evident in every match.

We are incredibly proud of all our athletes. Their positive attitudes and commitment to learning made this a season to remember. Great job, everyone!

Basketball season is starting soon. We are thrilled to have Mr. James and Mrs. McKinney coaching the boys and girls teams this season. Practices will be starting in December with games lined up in January and February.

In our first week back to school following the labour action, we were still able to get in some fun with some Halloween activities. Lots of students dressed up and showed off their costumes. The staff spirited into the festivities too.

Ceremony November 6

The Foods class enjoyed some Japanese influence when they set to making onigiri. The creations were both artistic and edible.

On Monday, November 24, Mr. Dave Maruszecka visited the Grade 4/5 class for a special presentation. Mr. Maruszecka, President of the Holden Museum, has long been a valuable community resource for our students, enriching their learning with his knowledge of local history and historical events.

This visit focused on Remembrance Day. Mr. Maruszecka brought in several artifacts for students to examine firsthand and shared photos and stories from his personal travels. His presentation offered a meaningful and engaging opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of the importance of remembrance and the history connected to it.

Thank you, Mr. Dave!!

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Battle River School Division has an emphasis on safe and caring schools. Part of providing a safe learning environment is helping students and staff be prepared for an emergency.

Our school holds six fire drills each year and we will also be holding two lockdown drills – one in December and another in the spring.

A lockdown is when all the students and staff are tucked into their classrooms (or another safe, lockable area of the school) to avoid an intruder inside the building. This is not a situation we expect our schools to encounter but, just like a fire drill, practicing will help us all be better prepared if such an incident does occur.

When we hold our lockdown drill, discussions will also take place with students in a calm, sensitive, age-appropriate way, so as not to generate anxiety or fear. If you’d like to speak to your children ahead of time, to provide additional reassurance that they are safe at school and drills are what we do so we are prepared ‘just in case’, we would welcome your support.

During a lockdown drill, the outside doors of the school will also be locked. If you should arrive at the school during the brief time our drill is taking place (either this month or in the spring) you will see a sign letting you know why you can’t get in.

It is possible we will have police officers present for the drill, as well as representatives of the school division. Their role is to help us evaluate our preparedness and suggest any changes we might make in future drills.

Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact us at 780-663-3682.

Because we know that the Holiday season can be difficult for families and students, we have collaborated with our Interagency Partners to create the attached Coping with the Holidays package that we hope you can use and share with families you know who may need support.

Along with this supportive resource, the MHCB team will once again be offering Before the Break programs and resources to schools, including a single session program that will be available for grades 1-8 students, along with messaging and promotion for screens in our highschools. This program includes the creation of a Mental Health Action Plan that students will create with strategies to help them over the break. Stay tuned for more information and sign up sheets to come from your MHCB Wellness Coaches.

You can order Ryley Rebel wear here anytime.

The office is open regular school days (normally Monday to Thursday) from 8:15am to 3:45pm. If you call outside of these hours, please leave a message.