We’re almost there… the finish line of yet another school year!
As you are aware, this is my last message as principal of West Ridge as I will be returning to my role as System Principal for Area 7. It has been an absolute honor for me to serve as your principal these past two years. In getting to know students, teachers, and parents, I have been very proud to say that I represent this most amazing school community. Thank you, each of you, for your enormous level of support this year.
I maintain that the strong, positive culture that shapes this community of “Raptors” has been built by students, parents, and staff working in tandem. Thus, I take this opportunity to thank everyone for their role in shaping our school community and in helping it to further flourish.
I begin with our students. There have been so many occasions during which our students have made me so very proud – as students, as athletes, as artists, as citizens. What a legacy these “Raptors” will leave! To our Grade 9 students moving onto high school, I wish you the absolute very best! We are very proud of you all and will miss you terribly! You have greatly inspired the Raptors coming up behind!
Our kids are great because of their parents. Thank you, parents, for your support of our work with your children over the course of this year. You supported your kids in completing tasks and encouraging them to do their absolute best, in everything – academics, athletics, arts, and citizenship. You have instilled the finest examples of hard work, responsibility, and humanity!
I thank our staff for their unending hard work. Parents, you can be assured your children have been challenged, enriched, honored, supported, nurtured, protected, and deeply cared for. Students have received countless opportunities and experiences outside of the classroom because of teachers freely giving of their time. I am particularly proud of and appreciative for the extra time teachers have given to support students when they have encountered challenges in their learning.
At this time of year, we inevitably say goodbye to some staff members. This year we are bidding farewell to Mr. Joel Pendergast, who is moving to Bowness High School. I thank Mr. Pendergast for his enormous contribution to this community over the last six years – inspirational and passionate teaching, visionary leadership as a Learning Leader responsible for Math and Science, supporting Grade 9 transitions into high school, and building stellar volleyball teams! Also leaving our den of Raptors is Mr. Robert Coulas. In addition to his teaching assignment, Mr. Coulas also too served as a Learning Leader. I thank him for his dedicated service in the classroom and his vision and constant challenging us to re-imagine and grow even stronger as a school community. We also bid farewell to Mr. Matt Thompson, who is moving to Lester B Pearson High School. I thank Mr. Thompson for his solid, dedicated work in the classroom and for ensuring that a strong wrestling team continued to flourish under his watch! I also thank Ms. Emily McKenzie, Mr. Connor Viste, and Mr. Jory Rusnak, who each stepped into temporary roles this year and performed exceptionally well. I wish these three promising teachers all the absolute best on what I know will be exceptional careers! Moving into the Raptor’s Den next year are new Principal, Jeremy Lang and Assistant Principal Laura Carter in working alongside Assistant Principal Claudette Gourdeau. Joining the rank of teachers next year are Ms. Mary Krause and Ms. Jenna Adams.
As we head into the summer season, I extend to all of you a heartfelt wish that you enjoy restful and rejuvenating summers filled with many magical moments! Our school website contains back to school information under “About Us.” Here, you will find supply lists and our school calendar for 2025-26. More specific information as to the start of the new school year will be shared with you the final week of August. Our school office will open Wednesday, August 27 at 9 a.m.
All the absolute best!
Kel Connelly