Good morning families,

The updates for this week are:

Staffing Update

Ms. Bobenic will be away from school from September 28-October 9. During her absence, Jill Neufeld is acting as principal, and Trudi Tallerico is acting as assistant principal.

Truth and ReconciliACTION

On September 28, many students and staff at BRS wore orange shirts to school. Wearing orange on Orange Shirt Day honours Survivors of residential schools, remembers the children who never returned home, and acknowledges the lasting impacts of residential schools on families and communities. The orange shirt is a symbol of the culture, language, identity, and freedom that were taken from Indigenous children, and a reminder that Every Child Matters.

Our BRS TRC commitment to action for the 2026-27 school year includes the following actions:

Body-To Do: Actively create opportunities for students, staff, and families to learn about and engage in Indigenous land-based and place-based learning. (Connects to TRC Call to Action 62.2)

Spirit-To Be: Learn and work with Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers to deepen Indigenous students’ relationships to language, culture, community, and learning through songs, stories, and ceremonies shared according to local protocols. (Connects to TRC Calls to Action 62.1, 62.3, 63.1, 63.2)

BRS personalized action: We will invite students to share personal connections to the land through weekly land acknowledgement announcements.

With Gratitude

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the many volunteers who supported our first-ever whole-school field trip to the Jubilee Auditorium on September 29. Students and staff enjoyed an incredible performance celebrating Alberta's arts and culture, and this memorable experience would not have been possible without your gift of time. Thank you to our amazing volunteers for helping make this special day a success!

Dates of Significance

October is Canadian Islamic History Month, German Heritage Month, Latin American Heritage Month and Women’s History Month. At BRS we are committed to building a culture of appreciation and inclusion, where students and staff can see themselves valued, respected and celebrated. We encourage the sharing of ideas connected to culture and how this relates to students’ personal identities as learners.

BRS School Council and Parent Association Meetings – Thursday, October 1

Please join us at school tonight at 6:30 pm for the first BRS School Council and Parent Association Meetings of the 2026-27 school year.  These meetings are an important way for parents to connect with school administrators and share the important home school partnership in a more formal way.  It is also at these meetings where we determine the important enhancements the parents are committed to supporting over the course of the school year.  Look for the agenda on our BRS website - Get Involved tab.  Your voice is valued!  Please join us!

Traffic Safety

In October, especially as the mornings get darker, we are focusing on traffic safety; we are beginning with pedestrians.  We are teaching all our students to follow these safety rules:

-Always cross the street at a safe spot, such as a corner or intersection.  A marked crosswalk is best.

-Remember – Point, Pause, Proceed

-Watch for vehicles and traffic that may not see you.

-Look all directions before crossing.

-Make eye contact with drivers before you begin crossing the street.

-Stay alert and focused (do not text/talk on your phone, listen to headphones) while crossing the street.

-Be visible, walk as a group and wear bright clothing.

-Do not jaywalk or cross the street from between parked vehicles, especially buses.

Terry Fox Run

Thank you to the volunteers who supported our 2026 Terry Fox Run.  It was a beautiful day and a wonderful opportunity for students to participate in the National School Run alongside students all over Canada.  At school, we collected $1030.03 in cash; online, we’ve collected $1010. That brings the total raised to $2040.03!   

Scooter Storage

Many students ride bicycles and scooters to school each day. Due to limited space, we are no longer able to store scooters in the office during the school day. Students who ride scooters are encouraged to bring a lock so that scooters can be securely stored at the outdoor bike racks. 

Utensils for lunch

Please remember to include any necessary utensils, such as forks or spoons, in your child's lunch. The school does not have utensils available for students at lunchtime.

Take care,

Jill Neufeld