Welcome back to the start of the 2026–2027 school year!
I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and found some time to relax, recharge, spend time with family and friends, travel, try something new, or simply enjoy the beautiful Calgary summer. It has been wonderful seeing our students back in the building this week picking up textbooks, getting their photos taken, reconnecting with friends, and finding their way through the halls again. There is something special about the energy students bring to Central Memorial when they return. The building just feels different when you are here.
I am excited to begin my fifth year as Principal of Central Memorial High School, and, hard to believe, I am also beginning my 35th year as an educator. When I think about that number, I am incredibly grateful. I truly could not feel more blessed to have had the career I have had, and I honestly cannot imagine having chosen anything else.
As we begin another school year, I shared with our staff the importance of connection and relationships. As educators, we have an incredible responsibility and privilege. Teachers influence lives deeply, not simply through the subjects they teach, but by providing safe spaces, emotional support, encouragement, and mentorship during some of the most formative years of a young person's life.
The impact of education reaches far beyond the subject matter. Sometimes, it is the teacher who notices when a student is having a difficult day. It is the coach who encourages an athlete not to give up. It is the staff member who takes the time to listen. It is the friend who makes someone feel welcome. It is the opportunity to discover a passion that a student didn't know they had. These moments matter, and often they are the moments that students remember long after they leave high school.
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to reflect on some of these ideas through the books I read, travelling to Finland to spend time with family, and travelling down south in the blistering heat to play golf with friends that I have known for more than 40 years. Many of those friendships began through playing sports together provincially and at university. And yes, despite all those years, we are still very competitive with each other!
Those experiences reminded me of something simple but important: relationships matter. The people we meet, the connections we make and the experiences we share shape who we become.
We are also excited to welcome some wonderful new staff members to Central Memorial this year. I look forward to seeing the impact they will have on our students and to watching them become part of the Central community.
For our students, I encourage you to make this year count. Central Memorial has so much to offer. Whether your passion is academics, athletics, Performing and Visual Arts, Career and Technology programs, clubs, leadership, technology, volunteering or something completely different, there is a place for you here.
Get involved. Try something new. Join a club. Come out for a team. Audition for a production. Explore a program. Talk to someone you don't know. Find something that makes you excited to come to school.
Most importantly, find your people and build your connections.
Our Central Memorial motto is “Pursue Your Passion,” and I hope that is exactly what each of our students does this year. High school goes by incredibly quickly. Take advantage of the opportunities in front of you, support one another, and make memories along the way.
To our families, thank you for your continued partnership and support. A successful school community depends on all of us working together, and we are grateful to have you as part of the Central Memorial community.
Enjoy this last weekend of summer. I hope you have the opportunity to relax, spend time with those who matter to you and get ready for what promises to be another exciting year.
Welcome back, Rams!
I am looking forward to an incredible 2026–2027 school year and to seeing what we can accomplish together. Pursue Your Passion.
Anne Kromm
Principal