Briar Hill Families

"Change is the end result of all true learning."
— Leo Buscaglia

As we enter the final week of the school year, there is a sense of both celebration and transition in the air. Last week, we had the privilege of celebrating our Grade 6 students at their Farewell, recognizing an important milestone as they prepare for the next chapter of their journey.

Thursday also marked our final pizza lunch of the year. A special thank you to Greg, who organized his last pizza lunch after many years of dedicated service. Greg has been the driving force behind this much-loved tradition, and we are grateful for the time, care, and commitment he has shown to the Briar Hill community.

As another school year comes to a close, we are thankful for the memories, relationships, and sense of community that have made this year so special.

📋 IPP Signature Pages

• Teachers have updated IPPs, including transition plans for next year.
• Please review the IPP Letter and the IPP in the envelope, sign, and only return the signature page by Monday, June 22.

🏃‍♂️ Sports Day – June 24

• We have 14 of our 30 volunteer positions filled and are still seeking 16 additional volunteers to help make Sports Day a success.

Volunteer Schedule:

🕧 12:45 p.m. – Volunteer Meeting in the Gym (Orientation)
🛠️ 12:55–1:20 p.m. – Event Set-Up
💻 1:10–1:20 p.m. – Students participate in a Virtual Assembly
🏃 1:20–2:50 p.m. – Sports Day Activities

• Sign-Up HERE to volunteer!

📅 Looking Ahead to 2026–27

(*Information below was shared in greater detail at our last School Council Meeting.)

Planning for next year is already underway with support from staff, families, and the BHS Foundation. We are exploring a school-wide focus on identity, belonging, and story, and are excited about opportunities to create a new Briar Hill mural and welcome acclaimed storyteller Jeff Stockton for a student storytelling residency.

Lower-than-anticipated enrolment has required some adjustments, including moving to one morning Kindergarten class. Registered families have been notified, and Briar Hill Children's Program will continue to offer afternoon care for families that have signed up.

We are also pleased to share that we have received provincial Class Size Reduction Funding that is allocated to reduce class size for our Grade 5-6 classes. To follow the parameters of this funding, we will add a third Grade 5/6 class, reducing class sizes to approximately 17 students.

Staffing Updates

As another school year comes to a close, we recognize that transitions are a natural part of school life. While change is never easy, it provides an opportunity to celebrate those who have made meaningful contributions to the Briar Hill community and to welcome new members to our team.

Farewells

This June, we will be saying goodbye to several valued staff members:

• Gail Spidla is retiring after many years of dedicated service. Gail has positively impacted generations of Briar Hill students and families, and we thank her for her care, commitment, and unwavering support. We wish her all the best in retirement.
• Tracy Wiens will be leaving Briar Hill due to declining enrolment and budgetary considerations. Over the past two years, Tracy's literacy expertise and dedication have provided invaluable support to students. We thank her for her contributions and wish her continued success.
• Jessi Williams has accepted a Grade 4 position at Andrew Sibbald School. We are grateful for the positive impact she has had on our students and school community and wish her every success in this next chapter.
• Celeste Avendano has accepted a Grade 5 position at Willow Park Arts School, where she will continue to pursue her passion for arts-based learning. After 18 years at Briar Hill, Celeste leaves a lasting legacy, and we thank her for her many contributions.

Welcomes

We are excited to welcome two new staff members to Briar Hill for the 2026-27 school year:

• Beth Paul joins us with extensive experience supporting literacy and innovative teaching practices. We are excited to benefit from her expertise and passion for learning.
• Laura Goods joins our team as our new Kindergarten teacher. With more than 10 years of elementary experience, including 4 years in Kindergarten, Laura brings a strong background in literacy and inquiry-based learning.

Please join me in thanking those who are moving on from Briar Hill and in extending a warm welcome to those who will be joining our community next year. We remain committed to providing exceptional learning experiences for our students and look forward to another wonderful year together.

📅 Upcoming Important Dates

• June 24 – Sports Day (afternoon)
• June 25 – Report Cards available on MyCBE
• June 26 – Last Day of Classes for students
• June 27 - Tag! Parents you are it!!!
• Aug 26 - Briar Hill School Office opens
• Aug 26 - Teachers back
• Aug 28 - Welcome Letter from Your Child's Teacher sent out
• Aug 31 - First Day of School