The Board of Trustees of Rocky View Schools (RVS) is reaching out to parents, students and staff to help plan the school calendars for 2025/26 and 2026/27.

"Community members are invited to review the 2025/26 and 2026/27 draft calendar options on RVSEngage.com and share their thoughts through a short survey which launches today and closes at 4 p.m. on June 1," a news release from RVS stated.

Beginning in 2025/26, RVS is considering a new fall break in November intended to support staff and student well-being. Feedback will help the Board to understand if this would be a desirable change for RVS school communities.

Each year Alberta school divisions must provide 475 hours of instruction for Kindergarten students, 950 hours of instruction for Grade 1 – 9 students and 1,000 hours of instruction for Grade 10 – 12 students. School must also end by June 30.

"It is up to local school divisions to determine how best to organize the school calendar to meet these requirements. All statutory holidays must also be included in the calendar."

The key differences between each option for each school year are as follows:

2025/26 Calendar:

"The differences between the calendars are: when classes begin in the fall, whether there is a fall break in November if an Organizational Day is held in January and when the last day of classes is in June"

Option 1 - 178 school days, eight professional learning days

  • First day of classes – August 27 
  • Weeklong break in November 
  • Organizational Day – January 28 
  • Last day of classes – June 24
  • Organizational Days – June 25, 26 

Option 2 - 183 school days, eight professional learning days

  • First day of classes – August 27 
  • Weeklong break in November
  • No Organizational Day – January  28 
  • Last day of classes – June 26 
  • Organizational Days – June 29, 30 

Option 3 - 182 school days, eight professional learning days

  • First day of classes – September 2 
  • Long weekend in November 
  • Organizational Day – January 28
  • Last day of classes – June 26
  • Organizational Days – June 29, 30 

2026/27 Calendar 

"The differences between the three draft calendars are: when classes begin at the start of the school year, whether there is a fall break in November and the scheduling of an Organizational Day in January.' 

Option 1 - 179 school days, seven professional learning days

  • First day of classes – August 31 
  • Weeklong break in November 
  • Organizational Day – January 27 

Option 2 - 180 school days, seven professional learning days

  • First day of classes – August 31 
  • Weeklong break in November 
  • No Organizational Day in January 

Option 3 - 182 school days, seven professional learning days 

  • First day of classes – September 2 
  • Only Remembrance Day
  • No Organizational Day in January 

"Developing a school calendar is an important process that must take into consideration many differing factors and collecting feedback from our RVS families and staff is a key part of the process," said Board Chair, Fiona Gilbert. "Learning what is valued by our school communities will help determine how best to design the 2025/26 and 2026/27 school year calendars in support of student learning and success."

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