Ryley School Newsletter

Principal's Message - October

As we celebrated Thanksgiving this month, our essential characteristic of “Thankfulness” was a

wonderful reminder to pause and recognize the many people who make Ryley School such a

special place to learn and grow.

I am incredibly thankful for the community support we receive from Clean Harbors. Their

generosity allows us to provide our students with exceptional learning opportunities, educational

programs, field trips, and experiences that enrich their learning, all at no cost to families. Their

support makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our students, and we are fortunate to have

such a committed community partner.

I am also thankful for our wonderful parent volunteers, led by Mrs. Tensen, who continually

show their care and generosity through the delicious treats and meals they prepare for our school.

From homemade muffins and cinnamon rolls to a spaghetti lunch for the entire school this

month, these thoughtful gestures bring our school community together and remind our students

that they are surrounded by people who care about them.

I am equally thankful for our dedicated staff, who consistently go above and beyond to meet the

diverse learning needs of every student while also supporting their social and emotional well-

being. Our staff's commitment, patience, and compassion help ensure that every child feels valued,

supported, and encouraged to reach their potential.

Most importantly, I am thankful for our students. Each day, they walk through our doors trusting

that they will be safe, cared for, challenged, and given the opportunity to receive a quality

education. That trust is something we never take for granted. Our responsibility is to honour it by

providing a safe and caring environment where every student can learn, grow, build

relationships, and experience success.

Our motto is, “The Small School With A Big Heart.” Thankfulness gives us another reason to

recognize just how true that is. It is reflected in the generosity of our community, the dedication

of our staff, the kindness of our volunteers, and the enthusiasm of our students.

When we take the time to appreciate the people who make a difference in our lives, we realize

that the greatest gift of all is being part of a community that cares. I am truly thankful to be part

of the Ryley School family!

💖Mrs. Schaade

Principal

Ryley School

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

The girls' volleyball season came to a close in Round Hill on October 28th. They qualified to participate in the divisional tournament but did not advance to regionals. There were many close games that showed our girls' skill and determination. Well done!

All 5 races of the Battle River Series have been completed and we had participants in each of them. Thanks to the parents for getting these young athletes to the events and cheering them on.

On October 2nd, Ryley School participated in the annual Terry Fox Run. We raised a total of $857 to go towards cancer research. Well done Ryley School!

On October 6, students and staff dressed in fall colours.

On October 16th it might have seemed that people forgot to get dressed in the morning but it was actually pyjama day.

On October 20, staff and students dressed up or accessorized with a pumpkin theme.

On October 22nd, elementary students went swimming at Ryley Pool.

October 29 we had our costume parade with a contest for best costumes in elementary and junior high. The students' union also prepared a fun haunted house and got a number of donations for the food bank while they were at it. Have a safe and happy Halloween this weekend!

October 14 the students in grades 3 - 5 went to the Strathcona Wilderness Centre for a fun field trip. We were lucky the weather held up so they could do their predator/prey activity outside.

Grade 1 and 2 were playing literacy games while practicing their vowel sounds.

Ryley School is launching its first school fundraiser of the 2026-27 school year and we need your help! This year we are partnering with Dieleman Fundraising Sales (DFS) to raise some funds to support our ‘Small School With a Big ’.

DFS is a new-to-us fundraiser and we are excited to share it with all of you. Please click the link below to explore some of the amazing products that are available for purchase. We would be grateful if you could share this link with family and friends! Shipping is free if you choose "Ship to Organization Free" upon checkout. Shipping to your home address is also available at no cost for orders over $150.

This fundraiser closes on Tuesday, November 17, 2026. Order delivery is expected before the end of November. Thank-you for your support!

Creating a safe, respectful and welcoming school community is a shared responsibility—both online and in person. As part of our digital citizenship learning, students are being reminded that the choices they make online can have an impact on themselves and others.

Students are encouraged to:

• Post. Pause. Think. Stop and think before posting, sending, liking or sharing.

• Don’t join in. What we say, share and do online can affect other people.

• Check in. If something online does not feel right, talk to a trusted adult.

• Speak up. If you see something that could hurt someone, tell an adult who can help.

• Know when to step away. Sometimes the best choice is to put the device down and be present with the people around us.

We want every student to know that they have a role in creating a kind and positive online community. If something online feels confusing, uncomfortable or unsafe, they can always talk to a trusted adult at school.

Our goal is not to keep students away from technology, but to help them develop the skills and good decision-making they need to use it safely, responsibly and respectfully.

We appreciate parents reinforcing these same messages regularly at home and in the community. Supporting student safety and wellness is a shared responsibility, and consistent messaging across school, home, and community can strengthen its impact. By working together, we can help students develop the awareness, skills, and habits that support safety and well-being.

Coming Soon - FORSS Online Silent Auction!

The Friends of Ryley School Society is excited to announce that our Online Silent Auction will be running November 22–28!

We are currently looking for donations of BRAND NEW items, handmade items, or unique antique/vintage treasures to help make our auction a success!

Whether you’re a local business, talented crafter, collector, or simply have something special to donate, we would love to hear from you.

All funds raised will go directly toward supporting Ryley School, our students, and our staff. Your donations help us continue providing programs, resources, activities, and special experiences throughout the school year.

Can’t donate? You can still help!

One of the biggest ways you can support us is by:
Following our auction page: Link - https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1dBsDDamHH/
Sharing our page with your family and friends
Inviting others to join our auction page
Watching for the auction to go live and JOIN THE BIDDING!

The more people who see our auction, the more opportunities we have to raise funds for our school!

Interested in donating? Contact any FORSS Board Member

Alysha Dietz, Selina Hellekson, Cassandra Freeman, Lori Fowler, Brandyce Tensen, Melissa Pyzik, Kasie Vitek, Krystl Squires

Email: Treasurer@friendsofryley.org Call/text: (587)988-6231

Let’s make this auction a HUGE success for the students of Ryley School!

Thank you to everyone who continues to support FORSS and our school community!

You can order Ryley Rebel wear here anytime.