📢 Welcome Back to Branton School – 2025/2026
Dear students and parents
We are delighted to welcome you back to school for the 2025–2026 academic year. We hope you had a wonderful summer break and are ready to start a new and exciting year of learning. Please note that Branton staff will start their work on August 27, 2025, to prepare our school for your return, ensuring that it is safe, clean, and comfortable for everyone.
📢 Our first weekly newsletter will be sent to all parents on September 5, 2025. Parents will have access to their child’s schedule on September 2, 2025. Last May 2025, we invited parents to share any suggestions about classmates their child should or should not be placed with. All teachers met in May and June, and will meet again in August, to ensure classrooms are balanced and based on student needs. Please note that only exceptional reasons will be considered for changes after September 2, 2025. We kindly ask for your support in helping your child understand and accept their assigned class list for the 2025–26 school year. At Branton School, parents are true partners—we deeply appreciate your feedback, support, and understanding of the complexity of running a middle school of over 750 students.
📅 Important Dates & Reminders
The office will reopen on August 27 at noon.
September 2 is the official return to school for students with staggered entry:
- Grade 6 student supplies will be provided at school.
- Grade 7–8–9 student supplies will be communicated by their teachers during the first week.
September 3 will be Day 1 on the school calendar.
📸 Lifetouch Fall Individual Photos: September 8
👥 School Council AGM: September 25 at 6:00 PM at Branton School
📚 School Council AGM: : September 18 at 6 PM
📚 Meet the Admin and Teachers Night: September 18 at 6:30 PM for all students (Grades 6–9, CSSI, and ACCESS).
📚Grade 8 Quebec Trip Meeting for the May 2026: 8pm
🏫 “Special Tour”
We would like to invite our new Grade 7 Late French Immersion students, their parents, and our BELCANFRAN students on Wednesday, August 27 between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM. This is a special tour for the students who missed our Open House or would benefit from seeing their new school.
📆 Student Return Schedule
- Grade 6 & 7 students: Tuesday, September 2 from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
- Grade 8 & 9 students: Tuesday, September 2 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
- ALL students: Wednesday, September 3 from 8:30 AM to 3:11 PM
Starting in the 2025–26 school year, all parents requesting a school fee waiver will begin by applying through the central fee waiver process.
💵 Questions About Fees & Waivers
studentfees@cbe.ab.ca and/or feewaiver@cbe.ab.ca
Attendance Matters 🎒📅
The Calgary Board of Education recognizes the strong link between regular attendance and student success. Consistent attendance builds routines, boosts belonging, and helps every learner reach their potential. At CBE, we use a whole-school approach to attendance to allocate support strategically and create a culture where students feel connected. 🤝
Why it matters (milestones):
- By Grade 3: Students with chronic absenteeism are less likely to read at grade level. 📖
- By Grade 6: Chronic absenteeism increases the risk of not completing high school. 🎓
- By Grade 9: Regular attendance is a stronger predictor of graduation than test scores. 📈
How families can help:
Please schedule appointments outside school hours when possible, plan trips during breaks, and let us know about any barriers to getting to school—we’re here to help. If your child will be absent, please contact the office. ☎403-777-7440
📣 Staffing Update for 2025–2026
As we prepare for the upcoming school year, I’d like to share some exciting staffing updates and transitions:
Ms. Bailer – Math & Science, Grade 7
Ms. Dominique McCullough – Humanities Grade 6 & Social Studies Grade 8 (two classes)
Ms. Perreault-Murphy – FLA/SS Grade 6 & FLA Grade 8 (two classes)
Mr. Bishop – ELA Grade 6 & ELA Grade 8 (two classes)
Ms. Rochon – Social Studies 8–9
Ms. Fisher & Ms. Wright – ELA 7–8 (co-teaching)
Ms. Cohen – Math & Science Grade 7 (Early French Immersion)
Mr. Sager – Math/Science Grade 6 & Science Grade 8 (two classes)
Mr. Lau – Math Grades 8–9
Ms. Sara Collier – FLA & Social Studies Grade 7
Mr. Genge – FLA & Social Studies Grade 7, FLA+ support
Ms. Crepin – Math & Science Grade 7, Math+ support
Ms. Alberton – FLA Grades 8–9
Mr. Andreasen – FLA Grades 8–9
Mr. Ho – PE (during Ms. Lackner’s maternity leave)
We are so happy to have you back in our school community. We are confident that this will be a great year for all of us.
Sincerely,
Sébastien Picard, Principal Branton School