Dear Sunnyside School Families,

I hope you enjoyed the long weekend and had the opportunity to spend time with family and friends.

This week, we will continue to distribute Read-A-Thon prizes, Ms. Betcher's class will be visiting Seed School, and our School Council will meet on Thursday at 6:00 PM. Below are some additional school-wide updates.

National Nutrition Program Grant

Sunnyside School has received federal funding through the National Food Program Agreement to enhance and expand school food programs while supporting student well-being. This funding must be used within a specific timeframe and according to established purchasing guidelines. We are working to ensure it is used thoughtfully and effectively to best support our students and school community.

As a first step, we will be using this funding to provide students with access to snacks as a universal strategy. This approach helps normalize access to food at school for all students, not only those experiencing food insecurity. Given the age of our students, it is common for them to experience periods of growth and feel hungry mid-morning or mid-afternoon. When students have finished the food they have brought from home, the school food program allows us to provide additional support.

Providing access to food in a universal and stigma-free way helps foster a sense of belonging for all students. When snacks are available to everyone, students are not singled out or made to feel different based on their needs or circumstances. Instead, food becomes a shared and normalized part of the school day. This helps students feel cared for, included, and supported within their classroom community. Additionally, when students' basic needs are met, they are better able to engage in learning, build relationships, and participate fully in school life.

We are also working to develop an efficient and reliable system for notifying families when a child has accessed the program. We will begin by placing a note in the child's lunchbox or backpack. We are grateful for this opportunity to further support student well-being at Sunnyside School and will continue to share updates as plans are finalized. In the meantime, please take two minutes to complete the following form for each child attending Sunnyside School.

National Food Program Opt In - Fill out form

Complexity Team Funding

Sunnyside School has been identified by Alberta Education and Childcare as one of 118 schools in CBE that will receive targeted government funding to support the creation of a Classroom Complexity Team for the 2026-2027 school year. This funding is designed to support the hiring of one teacher and two education assistants.

How schools were chosen - the Ministry identified high priority classrooms using three measures:

  • Classroom composition
  • Occurrence rate
  • Class size

While our class sizes fall within the normal range, our school reflects the increasing complexity seen across the system, including a growing number of students with specialized learning needs and students learning English as an Additional Language (EAL). This additional support will help us better meet the diverse needs of our learners.

What this means for Sunnyside School:

  • A teacher will join our team for the remainder of the current school year
  • A modest increase in Educational Assistant (EA) hours from May through June
  • Two additional EAs hired for the 2026-2027 school year
  • A teacher dedicated to supporting student complexity in 2026-2027

The Classroom Complexity Team will support inclusive instructional practices, classroom organization, targeted interventions, and staff capacity to respond to diverse learner needs. We are excited about the positive impact this will have on student learning and classroom environments.

More information on the three measures Alberta Education and Childcare used to determine classroom complexity can be found at: Taking action on classroom complexity | Alberta.ca

CBE's class composition data is available at: CBE Class Sizes and Composition by Division

More information will continue to be shared at upcoming School Council meetings.

School Provincial Assessment Results for 2024-25

A heartfelt thank you to the dedication and hard work of our Grade 5 and 6 teachers. Despite the increasing complexity within classrooms, Sunnyside students are outperforming provincial averages across all assessed subject areas.

English Language Arts and Literature:

  • 22.7% Standard of Excellence (Provincial: 13.5%)
  • 90.9% Acceptable Standard (Provincial: 79.6%)
  • 9.1% Below Acceptable (Provincial: 20.4%)

Mathematics:

  • 29.2% Standard of Excellence (Provincial: 16.9%)
  • 79.2% Acceptable Standard (Provincial: 59.6%)
  • 20.8% Below Acceptable (Provincial: 40.4%)

Social Studies:

  • 45.5% Standard of Excellence (Provincial: 22.3%)
  • 86.4% Acceptable Standard (Provincial: 77.2%)
  • 13.6% Below Acceptable (Provincial: 22.8%)

Note: Provincial acceptable standard results include students achieving at the standard of excellence.

Transitions

We are beginning to prepare students for upcoming transitions. Whether moving to a new grade, classroom, or school, we recognize that change can bring both excitement and uncertainty. Over the coming weeks, students will have opportunities to ask questions, build familiarity, and feel prepared for what lies ahead.

Thank you to families who shared their plans for next year during conferences. We will continue to follow up with those we have not yet heard from, as this information supports thoughtful planning and smooth transitions for all students.

Thank you for your continued support.

Warmly, Shannon Muir Principal, Sunnyside School

School Council webpage: https://www.sunnysideschoolcouncil.com

Upcoming Dates