Welcome Back

Hello McKenzie Highlands School Community,

Welcome back! We’re looking forward to welcoming our students and to a great year of learning! To ensure timely communication about school events, families can expect to receive a weekly “Week Ahead” from the main office.

We are sending this welcome newsletter with a few key details regarding the start of the new school year.

Student Timetables & First Day Procedures

Our first day of classes is Monday, August 31. Classes begin at 9:00 AM, and we open the main doors at 8:45 AM. All students enter through the main entrance every school day.

Grade 4 & 5 Students

We will usher our Grade 4 and 5 students into the main gym upon their arrival at school, and there will be plenty of staff on hand to help them find their way.

We request that parents say goodbye outside of the school.

Grade 6–9 Students

Homeroom schedules will be posted outside the main doors and in the school foyer. Once students locate their homeroom, they are to make their way there for attendance.

  • Grades 7–9: Students will be given a printed timetable.
  • Grade 6: Students will have a timetable review in their homeroom.
  • Timetables will also be available for viewing in MyCBE on August 31.

Bell Times – 2026–2027

Regular Start

Regular Dismissal

Early Dismissal

9:00 AM

3:35 PM

12:40 PM

Nutrition Break and Lunch

Nutrition break is from 10:56–11:04 AM Monday–Thursday, and lunch break is from 1:00–1:39 PM.

Students in Grades 7–9 have off-campus privileges, but we encourage them to stay at school and enjoy our beautiful campus.

Students in Grades 4–6 remain on campus at all times, with lunch supervision in place.

A copy of the bell schedule has been linked for your convenience: Bell Times 2026–2027

Cafeteria Services

We offer a wide range of hot entrées, sandwiches, and other healthy choices.

We expect to open our cafeteria on Tuesday, September 8. More information will follow in the Week Ahead.

Students may pay with:

  • Debit cards
  • Credit cards
  • Cash

Please note that if paying with debit or credit, a physical card is required, as cell phones cannot be used in the school.

School Supplies

Grades 4–6

Parents/guardians of students in Grades 4–6 will be asked to pay a $40 school supply fee in the coming weeks.

Please do not purchase school supplies from external sources. We provide supplies throughout the school year.

Grades 7–9

Please have the following items on the first day of school:

  • Pen
  • Pencil
  • Paper
  • Binder

Teachers will indicate other required supplies in their course outlines.

Office Hours

Our office will be open this week from 9:00 AM–3:30 PM, except for Friday, August 28, when we will close at 12:00 PM.

Regular office hours:

  • Monday–Thursday: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
  • Friday: 8:00 AM–1:00 PM

Class Change Requests

We ask that families respect the work that the staff have done to create class lists and timetables.

We are unable to accommodate class change requests.

School Refusal

The startup of the new year sometimes causes high stress for some of our students. If you are experiencing this at home with your child, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher or one of our Student Services Teachers:

We have lots of experience helping families work through these challenges. We are happy to support our students and parents.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to MHS rather than wait until we are weeks or months into the school year.

Personal Electronic Device Policy (PED)

McKenzie Highlands School is in full compliance with the Alberta Education Ministerial Order on Personal Electronic Device Use and Digital Citizenship.

Please review the attached McKenzie Highlands PED Policy 2026–2027 and McKenzie Highlands Digital Citizenship Policy 2026–2027 to be aware of:

  • The rationale
  • Compliance requirements
  • Progressive discipline measures in place for instances of non-compliance

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Sincerely,

Daryl Martin
Principal

Tiffany Jernigan
Assistant Principal