- KEARNEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Parent Information Bulletin | September 14–18, 2026
Welcome Back to School!
Welcome to the start of a wonderful new school year! It has been a joy opening our doors and welcoming students back into the building. The hallways are filled once again with energy, laughter, and learning, and our entire staff is thrilled to have everyone back.
We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we finalize student schedules. While we expect things to settle in smoothly, there remains a slight chance that minor schedule adjustments may be necessary over the coming days. Thank you for your continued support as we kick off a fantastic year together!
Note: Monday, September 14 will be a Day 1 as we begin our normal school schedule.
Upcoming Highlights (September 2026)
| Friday, Sept 18 | Picture Day |
| Monday, Sept 21 | Canteen Opens |
| Tuesday, Sept 22 | Fall Open House (5:00 PM) & PAC Meeting (6:30 PM) |
| Thursday, Sept 24 | Terry Fox Run |
| Friday, Sept 25 | Non-Instructional Day (School Planning) – No school for students |
| Tuesday, Sept 29 | Orange Shirt Day |
| Wednesday, Sept 30 | Truth & Reconciliation Day (School Closed) – No school for students |
School Updates & Policies
Meet the Teacher Night & PAC Meeting
Please join us for our annual School Open House and Meet the Teacher Night on Tuesday, September 22 at 5:00 PM. (Note: Please disregard the date printed on the school magnets, as that was an error—September 22 is the official date!) We look forward to welcoming all parents and guardians into our building.
Following the open house, our first Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meeting of the school year will take place at 6:30 PM. Even as middle school students grow more independent, staying connected as a school community makes a significant difference. Your voice and involvement are vital to our school, and we warmly encourage you to join us.
Course & Class Change Requests
Course change request forms are available from Ms. Barb in the main office. Please keep in mind that our master schedule is very tight this year, and most requests cannot be accommodated. Building student schedules and class cohorts requires balancing academic needs, learning styles, support services, and group dynamics. Because a single change impacts multiple classes and peer balances, adjustments are far more complex than they appear.
School Canteen
We are excited to announce that our school canteen will officially open for lunch on Monday, September 21! Please join us in welcoming our new Canteen manager, Brandy. Brandy has been a valuable part of our team in the past as an EA. We look forward to offering convenient lunch options for our students starting next week.
Volleyball Coaches Needed!
We are still looking for coaches for two of our volleyball teams this season! Athletic Director Dwayne Watson is putting a tremendous amount of work into creating opportunities for as many students as possible to get involved, but we need volunteer coaches to make these teams happen. If you or someone you know is interested in coaching, please call the school office and ask for Dwayne Watson, or reach out directly by email at dwatson@prn.bc.ca.
Closed Campus & Visitor Policy
Dr. Kearney Middle School operates as a closed campus. Students must remain on school grounds for the entire school day, including lunch. If a student needs to leave campus during the day, they must sign out through the main office before departing. If your child needs to go home specifically for lunch, arrangements can be made through Ms. Barb in the main office.
Starting Monday, any visitors or volunteers going beyond the main office are required to sign in and pick up a visitor pass.
Facilities, Safety & Devices
Washroom Policy: individual-stall facilities are available for privacy. To foster a safe environment, we strictly enforce a one-person-per-stall policy at all times. Students found sharing a stall will be sent home for the remainder of the day.
Cell Phones & Personal Devices: Cell phones and personal electronic devices are not permitted in classrooms during instructional time. Devices must remain powered off/silenced and stored in lockers during the day.
Lockers & Backpacks: Remind your child to keep their locker combination strictly private. Backpacks must be stored in lockers during the day to keep classroom aisles clear and safe.
Student Handbook: We are currently updating our student handbook for the new school year and will notify all families as soon as the revised version is available on our website.
Dr. Kearney Middle School — Master Calendar 2026–2027
Below is the official schedule of key dates and holidays for the upcoming school year.
| DATE | EVENT / DESCRIPTION |
| Tuesday, September 8, 2026 | School Opens – Grade 7s Only (Dismissal at 11:00 AM) |
| Friday, September 18, 2026 | School Photos – All Grades (Updated/Corrected Date) |
| Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | Fall Open House (5:00 PM) & PAC Meeting (6:30 PM) |
| Friday, September 25, 2026 | Non-Instructional Day (School Planning – No School) |
| Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | Truth & Reconciliation Day (School Closed) |
| Monday, October 12, 2026 | Thanksgiving Day (School Closed) |
| Thursday, October 15, 2026 | School Photo Retakes – All Grades |
| Friday, October 22, 2026 | Non-Instructional Day (Pro-D Provincial) |
| Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | Remembrance Day Assembly |
| Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | Remembrance Day (School Closed) |
| Friday, November 13, 2026 | Quarter 1 Ends |
| Monday, November 23, 2026 | Term 1 Ends |
| Tuesday, November 24, 2026 | Term 1 Learning Updates Issued |
| Wednesday, November 25, 2026 | Early Dismissal Day |
| Thursday, November 26, 2026 | Early Dismissal Day |
| Friday, November 27, 2026 | Non-Instructional Day (Parent-Teacher Interviews) |
| Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 | Christmas Vacation Period (School Closed) |
| Monday, January 4, 2027 | Schools Reopen after Christmas Vacation |
| Thursday, January 28, 2027 | Semester 1 / Quarter 2 Ends |
| Friday, January 29, 2027 | Non-Instructional Day (District – Semester Turnaround) |
| Monday, February 1, 2027 | Semester 2 Begins |
| Monday, February 15, 2027 | Family Day (School Closed) |
| Friday, February 25, 2027 | Non-Instructional Day (Report Writing) |
| Monday, March 8, 2027 | Term 2 Ends |
| Tuesday, March 9, 2027 | Term 2 Learning Updates Issued |
| Wednesday, March 10, 2027 | Early Dismissal Day |
| Thursday, March 11, 2027 | Early Dismissal Day |
| March 15 – March 25, 2027 | Spring Vacation Period / District Closure Days |
| Friday, March 26, 2027 | Good Friday (School Closed) |
| Monday, March 29, 2027 | Easter Monday (School Closed) |
| Tuesday, March 30, 2027 | Schools Reopen after Spring Vacation |
| Thursday, April 16, 2027 | Quarter 3 Ends |
| Friday, April 23, 2027 | Non-Instructional Day (Pro-D Day) |
| Friday, May 14, 2027 | Non-Instructional Day (Indigenous Learning Pro-D) |
| Monday, May 24, 2027 | Victoria Day (School Closed) |
| Monday, June 21, 2027 | End of Year Summer Fun Day |
| Tuesday, June 22, 2027 | Grade 6 Transition Day (Incoming Grade 6s only) |
| Wednesday, June 23, 2027 | Track & Field Day |
| Thursday, June 24, 2027 | Last Day for Students / Semester 2 & Term 3 End / Reports Issued |
| Friday, June 25, 2027 | Administrative Day (Schools Close for Summer) |
Note on Calendar Corrections:
The original draft calendar contained minor date discrepancies (e.g., photo day conflicts, non-matching weekday alignment for Thanksgiving/March early dismissals). The schedule above has been reconciled to ensure accurate calendar days and alignment with the parent newsletter.
Dr. Kearney Middle School | Web: kearney.prn.bc.ca | FB: Dr. Kearney Middle School | IG: @sd60dkms