Calgary Academy has changed a lot throughout its years of operation—it didn’t begin in the building that hundreds of students visit today.
Over its 40-year history, generations of CA alumni, such as Louise (‘88) and Mia Kladnik (‘24), have attended the school. A former student and now a staff member, Ms. Louise Kladnik and her family have been tied to the community for decades.
With her oldest daughter Mia’s recent graduation and her second daughter, Emma, walking the stage this month, mother and daughter have reflected on what the school means to their family.
Family Ties
The Calgary Academy Ms. Kladnik and Mia attended looked different, but the school’s spirit has stayed the same.
Ms. Kladnik attended CA in its first years of operation, learning at the school from 1985 to 1988 and participating in one of the school’s first graduating classes! In the 1980s, the school had a handful of students and staff spread across rented classrooms.
Her parents moved her to the relatively new school for the extra support she needed in her classes. Ms. Kladnik fondly remembers how impactful her teachers were during her student days.
“When I was a student, it was a very small school. There were maybe three or four classes. It was kind and caring, with compassionate teachers. You felt like a family.”
Mia graduated from CA in June 2024, capping off six years at the school. Starting in Grade 7, she remembers her first ever Meet & Greet event, where she met many teachers who would later cheer her on at graduation.
Moving to a new school can be nerve-wracking, but Mia quickly learned that everyone at CA was there to support her.
“My favourite memory is my first Meet & Greet here. Coming from a school that wasn’t very effective for me, I was like, ‘wow, these people are really nice.’ I knew this place would be my home away from home.” – Mia
CA is Always a Place to Call Home
Ms. Kladnik currently works as an education assistant at Calgary Academy’s Junior School, returning in the last few years after stepping away from her career to raise her daughters.
She always found ways to recommend CA to other families at events or her daughters’ extracurriculars. Her mother had learned about the school through a personal connection when Ms. Kladnik was a student, and she always looked to spread the word.
She remembers telling a mom at one of Mia’s dance classes about CA, who eventually enrolled their child at the school.
“I would always say, ‘you should look at our school.’ And I always still said our school because it’ll always feel like it.” – Ms. Kladnik
When Ms. Kladnik noticed similar academic struggles in Mia, she enrolled her daughter at Calgary Academy. There, Mia received the same supportive education with the benefits of an expanded permanent campus, extracurricular options, and everything else the school offers today.
Mia made the most of her time at CA, helping choreograph school drama productions, running a dance club for Junior School students, and winning the Legacy Award in her senior year for exemplifying the school’s REACH principles in the community.
With Mia now attending Mount Royal University (MRU) and Emma graduating, Ms. Kladnik is excited to continue her impactful work at Calgary Academy while watching the school grow.
Currently in Open Studies at MRU, Mia hopes to apply to the Early Education program. No matter the road ahead, she knows it’ll lead back to Calgary Academy, where she hopes to work one day.
When asked about what she’s excited about in the future, Mia immediately had her answer.
“Coming back here and working, duh!”