Weekly Update Newsletter

March

Mar 1 - Early Dismissal 2:10 pm (Western Day), Saffron Presentations 72 & Jr High Howler Ball (afternoon)

Mar 2 - Saffron Presentations 92/93, Linking Generations Visit, Field Trip Grade 5 Millennium Place

Mar. 3 - PL Day No School, Performing Arts Wakeathon

Mar. 4 - LLR Bottle Drive (Noon-4:00 pm)

Mar. 8 - Saffron Presentations 73/74

Mar. 9 - Saffron Presentations 81, Linking Generations Visit

Mar. 13 - Saffron Presentations 91/93 & 71/74

Mar. 14 - Saffron Presentations 92/94

Mar 14-17 - High School Musical Performances

Mar. 17 - Last Day to order a yearbook

- Report Cards Published on PowerSchool at 3:00 pm

Mar. 19 - Hot Lunch Ordering Closed

Mar. 20 - Hot Lunch - Press'd

Mar. 21- Grade 6 Field Trip KLC

Mar. 23 - Field Trip Grade 3 & 4 Kinsmen Leisure Centre

Mar. 24 - No School (Spring Break starts)

April

Apr. 3 - First Day back after Spring Break

Apr. 5 - Early Dismissal (Neon Day)

Apr. 7 - Good Friday - No School

Apr. 10 - Easter Monday - No School

Wednesday, April 26 - Junior High Information Night - 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 3 - Kindergarten Information Night - 6:30 p.m.

Friday, June 16 - Grade 9 Farewell/Celebration

Monday, June 19 - Junior High Awards Ceremony

More information to follow soon on these upcoming school events.

Tell your family and friends!! On Saturday, March 4 from 12 pm - 4 pm Lakeland Ridge will be hosting a Bottle Drive. There will be a trailer parked at school. Families are welcome to drop their empty bottles off at this time. All proceeds will go towards LLR Musical Productions! Thank you for your support.

Next time you pop by the school, make sure to check out the March Book Madness display in the gathering area. You can see the incredible books that our students are reading throughout the month of March. Books are matched up in head to head brackets and students vote on their favourite title until there is only one book left. Make sure to ask your children about which books they voted for.

Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) wants to hear from you. Make sure to complete the 2023 EIPS Annual Feedback Survey: For parents and caregivers—open from March 1-23.

Every year, EIPS conducts the feedback survey to gauge its progress toward meeting the goals and priorities outlined in its Four-Year Education Plan. Families are asked a series of questions about their experiences with EIPS and the school their child attends, the overall performance of the Division, the quality of education being provided to students and areas for improvement. The survey input helps the Division develop new strategies to better serve students and the wider community.

VISIT EIPS.CA TO TAKE THE SURVEY: March 1-23

NOTE: The survey is anonymous and only takes a few minutes to complete. If you want to share the experience of more than one child attending an EIPS school, simply complete the survey again.

Once again, Alberta Education is surveying teachers, students, and families through its annual Alberta Education Assurance (AEA) Survey. The survey acts as an annual check-up on the province’s education system. Every year, Alberta Education conducts a survey to gather information about the quality of education provided by Alberta schools and school authorities. The survey looks at various measures such as education quality, citizenship, family involvement, engagement levels, school climate, and student wellness.

Throughout February, grade 4 and 7 students and all teachers at Lakeland Ridge School are completing the survey online at the school.

Additionally, parents and guardians of students in grades 4, 7, and 10 are also asked to take a survey, either online or by mail. Alberta Education will send families information about the survey directly. As with the student and teacher survey, it’s anonymous and asks questions about your school experiences. If you have a child in grades 4, 7, or 10, we encourage you to participate. The survey deadline is March 17, 2023.

Results from the AEA Survey are provided to Elk Island Public Schools each spring. The Division then uses the data to inform its four-year education plan, school education plans, and strategies for continuous improvement. Each fall, the results are also shared with EIPS families and school communities in the Division’s Annual Education Results Report.

Even with limited fundraisers over the past couple of years, the Parents Action Society has purchased new chrome books, replaced and added new books to the library, supported run club, junior high book club and also purchased new equipment for the drama department but we can't do it without the generous support of our families.

Parents Action Society is currently running a great fundraiser that helps both you and the school. We are selling Little Caesar's Pizza Kits and well as cookie colouring kits from Sweetness. This pizza kits are a game changer for getting quick and delicious suppers on the table on those busy nights. Order sheets came home with your kiddos last week but you can also order online.

Deadline to order is Sunday, March 5th.

Late orders will not be accepted. Pizzas and cookies will be available for pickup on Tuesday, March 21 from 2:30-7pm at the school. See below for all the details including where to go to order online and if you have any questions, feel free to email the Parent Action Society at llrpaschair@gmail.com.

Some of our shows are almost sold out!!

Log in to your parent portal, choose the student, click on fees, and under the 'Due Now' tab you will see all the shows available.

Click on the preferred show and fill in all fields. Ensure you click on "add ticket to cart" and "I read the terms". Then proceed to your cart to complete the payment process.

The list of show times and cast are available on our website under Programs. https://www.lakelandridge.ca/.../drama-matilda-the-musical

Maximum of 10 tickets per show per student

$10 per ticket

All tickets are general seating

Seating is limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 1 & 2 SHOW WEEK SCHEDULE

Tuesday, March 14

5:30pm - Cast Bolton HSM

7:30pm - Cast Sharpay HSM2

Wednesday, March 15

5:30pm - Cast Ryan HSM2

7:30pm - Cast Darbus HSM

Thursday, March 16

5:30pm - Cast Darbus HSM

7:30pm - Cast Ryan HSM2 (Selling Fast!)

Friday, March 17

5:30pm - Cast Sharpay HSM2 (Selling Fast!)

7:30pm - Cast Bolton HSM (Limited Seats Left)

Lakeland Ridge School welcomed Métis artist and knowledge keeper Connie Kulhavy to work with students and staff. The Grade Three students created beautiful Birch Bark Trees. The Grade Two students created Pointillism artwork that represents beadwork. The artwork is displayed throughout the school including the front display case and the library.

Thank you, Connie, for sharing your knowledge and talents with us!

Our Junior High Reset Room is a space where grade 7, 8, and 9 students can come when they feel overwhelmed to focus on what they’re experiencing at the moment—all under the supervision of an EIPS teacher who’s trained in mental health literacy and supported by the Division’s counseling team. Please speak with your junior high child about the room. We encourage students to talk to their teacher if they feel this is a place that would benefit their learning needs. Mrs. Cohn and Mrs. Hale are the teachers that are working in the room. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Cohn, Mrs. Hale, or the school office at 780-416-9018.

Is there a preschooler in your life experiencing developmental delays or challenges with speech-language or motor-skill development—big or small? If so, Elk Island Public School’s Play And Learn at School (PALS) program could help.

Early learning lays the foundation for success in primary grades and beyond. As such, EIPS offers the pre-kindergarten PALS program in five of its elementary school locations. In fact, EIPS is now accepting applications for free speech-language assessments for those interested in registering in the PALS program this fall. The assessment helps determine if PALS is appropriate for your child.

If you know a preschooler, born in 2019 or 2020, who could benefit from pre-kindergarten programming or want to book an assessment, fill out the PALS Program Request Form or call 780-417-8219. For more information, visit eips.ca.

Is your child turning five on or before Dec. 31, 2023? If so, it’s now time to register for kindergarten. To register, simply complete the online registration form at eips.ca/kindergarten.

To help families prepare, Elk Island Public Schools has put together an online EIPS Kindergarten Tool kit to make the transition as smooth as possible. The kit includes information on registration, important dates, programming options, what to expect, eligibility, how to find your designated school, transportation and more.

Additional information regarding Lakeland Ridge’s kindergarten program is available at https://www.lakelandridge.ca/.

Lakeland Ridge and the Division use the SchoolMessenger platform to communicate with families—through both phone and email. Be sure to add communications@eips.ca and amy.desaulniers@eips.ca and sherry.janke@eips.ca to your safe sender list to avoid having important messages funneled into your junk mail folder.

The easiest way to stay connected is to download the SchoolMessenger app. Get the latest updates from both the Division and your child’s school direct to your mobile device and enable push notifications to never miss a message. Families can also check back on past messages—for up to 30 days—directly in the app rather than searching to find an old message buried in their inbox. Download the SchoolMessenger app from the App Store or Google Play today.

Remember, be aware of thin ice this time of year. Depending on changing temperatures, ice can form and melt to varying degrees on outdoor bodies of water. Try to remind your child about the dangers of thin ice, obey all posted signs, take proper care and remain a safe distance from the ice.

For more information about ice safety, visit the Canadian Red Cross.

Did you know?

The colour of ice may be an indication of its strength. Clear blue ice is the strongest. White opaque is half as strong as blue ice. And, grey ice is unsafe—greyness indicates the presence of water.

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

Family Gatherings | February, April and June
The First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education team will be hosting family gatherings again, but we’ll be in person this year. Gatherings are a time in the evening when we can meet together to share, learn and connect. All family members are welcome and dinner will be provided at all gatherings. More details and registration will be shared with families closer to each event, but for planning purposes, the dates are as follows:

• Thursday, April 20 from 6 to 8 p.m.

• Art with Métis knowledge holder Connie Kuhlhavy (hosted at EIPS Central Services, Sherwood Park)

• Thursday, June 8 from 6 to 8 p.m.

• Land-based Learning (hosted at EIPS Central Services land-based learning space, Sherwood Park)

Cultural Programs | Late Winter and Spring
The First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education team is busy working with Elders and knowledge holders to plan a variety of cultural learning experiences for students and families. More details will be shared as plans are finalized, but know there are many exciting opportunities coming soon!

Direct Student Support

Study Help for Métis students Rupertsland Institute has secured access to Alberta ExamBank for K-12 Métis students to test their understanding through online practice. Métis students can sign up for the RECC Room to find the login for their MNA Region. Questions? Contact education@rupertsland.org.

Beautiful Michif Album

Métis singer/songwriter/actress Andrea Menard recently released her latest album, Anskoonamakew lii Shansoon, meaning Giveaway Songs. The collection of 10 songs are sung in and translated into the different languages and dialects of Michif people and are a way for Andrea to help share and preserve the Michif language. The songs can be streamed from a variety of platforms. A short video, the album and the lyric sheets are available on her website. Did you know: EIPS teacher Shelly Grauman’s daughter, Tai Amy Grauman, is a Métis playwright, and a song from one of her plays is included in the collection? Amazing talent!

At-home Supports for Métis Youth and Families

Are you a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA)? The MNA Children and Family Services team offers a variety of supports, programs and resources at no cost to citizens.

Winter Land Learning at Métis Crossing

Whether you and your kids are outdoor enthusiasts or like to keep busy and warm indoors, one thing is true, Metis Crossing has it all. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, skating rink and so much more! Enjoy our signature, locally sourced barista coffee at the Bistro in the Lodge or indulge in Métis-inspired lunches at the Cultural Gathering Centre. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 780-656-2229 or visit metiscrossing.com.

Want to know when things are happening? We have an athletics calendar on the LLR school website. https://www.lakelandridge.ca/athletics/athletics-calendar. Please visit often as our Athletics staff will update as often as they can. Please feel free to contact Mr. Fisher (our Athletics Director) if you have any questions or require more information.

Looking for engaging ways to incorporate math at home? This website has interactive activities that you can do at home (or in the classroom). https://mathathome.mathlearningcenter.org/ You can pick the grade and concept and work your way through the different math activities!

• Wellness Together is free mental health and substance use support for people in Canada and Canadians abroad
• https://www.wellnesstogether.ca/en-CA
  
• Hope For Wellness is free mental health and substance use support available 24/7 to all Indigenous people of Canada.
• https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/

Attendance (Please specify if absence is due to Illness or Parent Excused)

Office Hours

Bell Schedule

Email: general.llr@eips.ca
Website: https://www.lakelandridge.ca/
Location: 101 Crimson Drive, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-416-9018
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lakeland-Ridge-School-1490402014609661
Twitter: @LakelandRidge