Hello Griffith Woods Families, 

We are pleased to inform you that our school has been allocated 2 additional teaching positions for the 2026–27 school year through the Government of Alberta’s Class Size Reduction Grant. At Griffith Woods we were specifically allocated funds for the grade 3 cohort for 2026/27 and the 7-9 students.  As a result, we will be making a 5th grade 3 classroom and we will allocate one grade 8 and 9 teachers to reduce size numbers for mathematics, based on our data.  In our building, we have also been allocated one teacher to support complexity in our K-6 classrooms, as well as two 30 hr EAs. 

This grant funds teaching positions that support improved learning conditions in kindergarten to Grade 9 classrooms. 

This funding is specifically intended to help reduce class sizes in core subject areas (English Language Arts/French Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies), with priority given to schools experiencing the greatest class size pressures. 

  • This decision was made using system-wide data that considers: 
  • The number of classes exceeding provincial class size benchmarks 
  • Projected enrolment and class organization 

School programming and grade configuration  

Our goal is to ensure students benefit from: 

  • Increased teacher attention 
  • Improved classroom learning environments 
  • Greater support for diverse learning needs  

We remain committed to supporting strong learning environments for all students and using our resources thoughtfully and strategically. And reach out to the admin if you have further questions. 

We wish everyone a wonderful summer break, and we look forward to seeing everyone back on August 31, 2026.  Please check the Back-to-School Section for updated information.  

Mrs. Bombard and Dr. Batycky 

Reminders

Important Upcoming Dates are available in the School Calendar.

Dates of Significance  

  • June 16: Hijri New Year  
  • June 20: World Refugee Day   
  • June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day   
  • June 21: Father’s Day   
  • June 21: Summer Solstice   
  • June 27: Multiculturalism Day 

Updates  

Staffing Updates  

As we near the completion of our school year, we would like to communicate some staffing changes occurring for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.   

Please join us in thanking the following members of our learning community and wishing them all the best in their future. The following staff are moving on to new experiences for the 2026-27 school year:    

  • Sarah Walter (Grade 8) is moving onto Mckenzie Highlands Schools 
  • Emily Smith (Grade 1) is moving to New Brighton School 
  • Mandy Peterson (CCT Teacher) is moving to Rimbey Christian School 
  • Megan Keats (K-4 Phys Ed) is moving to Evanston Heights School 
  • Ada Hoeksema (Grade 4) is moving on to Calgary Christian School 
  • Fern Kirkpatrick (Grade 2) is moving to Queen Elizabeth Elementary School 

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to two of our valued teachers who are retiring this year. Their dedication, care, and commitment will be deeply missed. We wish them all the very best as they begin this exciting new chapter, with more time to enjoy family, friends, and travel. 

  • Kelly Rathje (Grade 6) is retiring after 26 years with the CBE.   
  • Jeanna Day (Grade 3) is retiring after 25 years with the CBE.  

Jenna Cunningham and Alyssa Green will be on a maternity leave next year. We wish them all the best with their new little ones and look forward to welcoming them back when they return.  

Whether they have been here for a long or short period of time, all these fantastic staff members have done so much in the service of our students and families while at Griffith Woods School. We thank them all for these contributions and wish them nothing but the best as they move forward in their careers.  

We would like to welcome and introduce the following new teaching staff to our school.   

  • Shane Vopicka – Will be coming from Valley Creek School 
  • Lisa Talbot – Will be coming from Dr. Roberta Bondar School  
  • Charlene Craig – Will be coming from Dr. Freda Miller School 
  • Elizabeth Ivy – Will be coming from Simon Fraser School 
  • Britnee Menard – Will be coming from Prairie Sky School 
  • Pria Overy – She was a student teacher this year in Mr. Rathje’s class and we are happy to have her join us as a teacher next year. 
  • Cassie Louie – is returning to Griffith Woods after doing her Student Teaching practicums here. 
  • Caitlin Montgomery and Meghan McCann will be staying on with Griffith Woods School on probationary contracts. 

Next Year Planning 

Please Let the Office Know if Plans Have Changed for the 2026-2027 School Year 

Please report to the main office if you have moved out of area and / or are planning on attending another school next year (only if you have not already told us and if plans have changed)  

School Store is Live 

Our new online school store is live! We only have our traditional design up to get it started, but new clothing will be added as we go! GWS gets 10% royalties on each purchase that is paid out twice per year.  

https://merchee.ca/collections/griffith-woods-school 

MyCBE Account 

Stay informed for the 2026-27 school year! We would like to ask that at least one parent / legal guardian for each student create a MyCBE account or add newly registered children to existing MyCBE accounts prior to the beginning of the upcoming school year. 

A MyCBE account allows parents / legal guardians to: 

  • View your child’s report card 
  • Access your child’s program information (e.g., course assessments, daily attendance record) 
  • Book School Conferences 
  • Submit school forms (e.g., Demographic Verification, Annual Authorization, Citizenship Information Update, and/or Volunteer Registration) 
  • Pay fees, apply for waivers or register for transportation 

Note | For a visual guide on how to find the CBE ID within SchoolEngage, see: SchoolEngage - CBE Student ID Number 

For any questions or if you require assistance, please contact the CBE Parent Account Help Line. 

Police Clearance  

Please look into your volunteer clearance and check if it is up to date.  This is helpful if you want to volunteer at the start of the next school year.  Thank you to all of our volunteers!  We could not have our great trip without yu.  

Teacher Appreciation Lunch – We Need Your Help!  

Our incredible staff at Griffith Woods School work hard every day to support, inspire, and care for our students. To show our appreciation, we are hosting a Teacher Appreciation Lunch, and we would love your help! 

If you’re able, please consider signing up to bring a dish, treat, or beverage to help make this a special and delicious event for our staff. If you are unable to send food you can also sign up to give a costco gift card.  Every contribution, big or small, is truly appreciated. 

Thank you for helping us celebrate and recognize the amazing work of our teachers and staff! 

Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0545ABAA22A5F58-64473693-staff 

Griffith Woods School Council