September 2, 2026 
 
Hello, and Welcome / Welcome Back Wolfpack Families! 

I truly love the start of each new school year. There is nothing quite like the first days of school and the sense of freshness that each September brings.  

At the start of each school year, I'm also reminded that there is no single "right" way to feel. For many, this season is filled with excitement, optimism, and anticipation for all that lies ahead. It is also a time of new routines, new relationships, new learning, and plenty of change.  

As we settle into the 2026-2027 school year together, we know there may be a mix of emotions, both expected and unexpected, and that's perfectly okay. What unites us each September is the opportunity to begin again, embrace new possibilities, and continue building a strong and caring Wolfpack community together.  

As I begin my second year as Principal at QES, alongside Mr. Dan Tinaburri, who is entering his ninth year back at Queen Elizabeth School as Assistant Principal, I can tell you that it has been ineffably wonderful to welcome students, families, and staff into the building. There is a special energy that comes with the start of a new year, and seeing everyone arrive on Monday morning ready to learn, connect, and grow was a reminder of just how fortunate we are to be part of this one-of-a-kind community.  

Last week, we welcomed eight incredible teaching staff members to our team. Each has already hit the ground running and has been warmly welcomed and supported by our experienced staff within intentional collaborative planning and strategic organizational time.  Our Wolfpack students are in caring, capable, and dedicated hands. 

We look forward to partnering closely with students and families throughout the year and are committed to proactive communication whenever possible. This edition of Wolfpack Weekly marks the beginning of our regular updates, which will typically arrive in your inbox on Wednesday afternoons.  

If this is your first edition, welcome to the Wolfpack. To our returning families, welcome back. 

We're excited for the year ahead. Here we go, Wolfpack! 

Warmest regards, 
-Travis Robertson, Principal 

Start-up | Beginning QES’ 2026-27 School Year ‘In a Good Way’ 

At Queen Elizabeth School (K-6), each classroom and grade-level team has been proactively planning learning experiences with Alberta Education’s Global and Cultural Citizenship competency in mind, helping students develop a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives, intercultural awareness, responsible citizenship, and their role within local and global communities.   While there are 8 interdisciplinary competencies, this competency was intentionally chosen in response to 2025-26 perception data, and to support start-of-year community building efforts.  

These learning opportunities are being thoughtfully connected to our ongoing Spirit to Be conversations and explorations, supporting students in reflecting on who they are, how they relate to others, and how they contribute to the well-being of their communities.  Together, these efforts align with Alberta’s cross-curricular competencies and the Calgary Board of Education’s vision for holistic, lifelong learning.  
From here, each grade level is exploring, with more exciting details to follow: 

  1. Grade 1: Belonging – What can we discover when we slow down & look closely at what makes our place special?  
  2. Grade 2: How does the land we live on shape who we are?  
  3. Grade 3: How do stories teach us about the past, present, and future?  
  4. Grade 4: How did Canada’s past shape our present, and how can we help shape its future?  
  5. Grade 5: How do systems impact our lives and how do our actions influence systems? 
  6. Grade 6: How can our actions show respect and responsibility towards the natural environment?   

Notification & Reminder | Welcoming, Caring, Respectful & Safe Learning and Work Environments 

As we begin our new school year, we remind ourselves, our CBE Student Code of Conduct and CBE Progressive Student Discipline regulations apply to all of our students across our learning community. They outline the roles and expectations for our students to promote positive and inclusive learning environments, help students to develop empathy and become good citizens both within and outside of the school community, and explain the consequences when a student’s disruptive behaviour negatively affects the learning environment.    

These efforts are an important part of establishing and ensuring, Welcoming, Caring, Respectful, & Safe Learning and Work Environments.  In the days and weeks ahead, students will be reviewing this Code of Conduct and related administrative regulations and context (in ‘student friendly’ language and in developmentally appropriate ways).  Should questions arise on this front, please contact your child(ren)’s teacher(s) and/or our front office.  

Updates | Provincial Funding  

This fall, the CBE has hired hundreds of teachers, education assistants and other school staff to support student learning. These positions have been funded by the Government of Alberta with the intention of addressing class sizes. 

We are pleased to welcome additional new staff to our school for the 2026-27 school year: 

  • Grade 2, - Ms. Lori Goods 
  • Grade 6, - Ms. Veronika Horluts 

We are very pleased to welcome these new staff members to our school community! This additional staff will help ensure students benefit from: 

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

Staffing Update  | Support Staffing 

We are also pleased to provide congratulations through a support staffing update.  Please join me in welcoming (back): 

  • Melanie Beaudoin-Louie  
    • Who will join our team as an Education Assistant (formerly a familiar face on our lunchroom supervision team). 

Save-the-Dates  | Upcoming September Events  

  • Terry Fox Run/Walk – Tues. Sept 22;  
    • We are so pleased and honoured to welcome Fred Fox to our kick-off assembly ahead of our Run/Wal (exact time TBA) 
    • Students at QES complete their Run/Walk on school property in our field, we ask for proper footwear, etc. and attire appropriate for weather/movement, with further information and times to be shared by classroom teachers. 
    • Due to very limited capacity in our gymnasium, we are unable to accommodate guests/parents at our assembly. Parent Volunteers are coordinated by School Council for outdoor portions to this day. 
  • Meet the Teacher – Thurs, Sept 24 after dismissal (4:30 PM to 6 PM)  
    • At QES, this event is Open House style, for a chance to meet staff and to see/experience learning spaces. 
    • We ask that questions and conversations relating to achievement and/or to specific learning needs be scheduled separate from our Meet the Teacher event. 
  • School Council / Parent Society – 6:30 PM Tues, Sept 29. 
    • Meetings are hosted on our stage with childcare provided on-site 
    • Parent Society meeting follows School Council 
    • Each meeting has classroom representation with our Grade 2 team sharing a classroom update focusing on Global and Cultural Citizenship at this month’s meeting. 
  • Orange Shirt Day – observed at QES Tues. Sept 29 (with Truth and Reconciliation lessons throughout Sept. and beyond).  

Looking ahead -  

  • School Portraits/Photos: 
    • Fall Individual – Original Date: Weds., October 14th  
    • Fall Individual – Retake Date: Tues. November 3rd 
  • Remembrance Day – observed the morning of Tue. November 10. 
    • Due to very limited capacity in our gymnasium, we are unable to accommodate guests/parents at our assembly.  

Reminder | Non-instructional Days in September 

September: 

  • Friday, September 25 – Professional Learning 
    • No school for students.   
    • For staff, collaborative efforts towards:  
    • Individual Program Planning (IPP’s) and 
    • English as an Additional Language (EAL Benchmarking). 
  • Wednesday, September 30 - Truth and Reconciliation Day 
    • No school for students nor staff.