Elements' Weekly Update

We made it through our first full week of school for the 2024-25 school year and what a busy week it was!

We want to thank all of our families who attended our Meet the Staff evening. It was a wonderful night connecting with our students and their families, and sharing the great things that are happening around the school. We hope everyone had a chance to visit the gym to see Mr. Booker and experience the giant floor map.Throughout the week, Ms. Zapesocki guided each class through a lesson with the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada floor map. The map allows students to learn about and explore the past, present and future of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

This week, students practiced our first evacuation drill. An evacuation is used when it is unsafe to remain inside the building. In an evacuation, students and staff exit the building and gather at a designated location outside the school. In the event students and staff must remain outside for an extended period of time, they may move to our alternate indoor evacuation centre. With safety as a top priority, we will continue to review emergency preparedness procedures with staff and students. Please reach out if you have any questions.

On Friday, we were lucky that the rain held off so we could participate in the annual Terry Fox Run.

• September 17 - T/Th ECS and Whole School Picture Day
• September 18 - M/W Picture Day
• September 23 - School Wide Bus Evacuation Drill
• September 24 - Connie Kulhavy - Orange Shirt Day lesson
• September 27 - Orange Shirt Day in honour of September 30
• September 30 - No School - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

FSE and schools throughout EIPS will commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on Friday, September 27. Orange Shirt Day is a day for remembrance and is an act of reconciliation. We are honoured to welcome Connie Kulhavy, a Metis artist, beader and knowledge keeper, to FSE on September 24. Connie will lead staff and students through a directed drawing lesson to create their own orange shirt design while weaving in Indigenous stories and teachings. Students are encouraged to wear their orange shirts on September 27.

Our online school spirit wear store is open! There are many brands and styles to choose from and your order can be shipped directly to your home. Check out the options here: FSE School Wear

Wondering when and how to pay for school fees? School fee information for the 2024-25 school year will be posted on the PowerSchool Parent Portal in late September. All fees are due within 30 days of being posted. NOTE: Additional fees may be added throughout the year—for example, at the beginning of each semester, as your child takes part in various activities, or they may be adjusted by changes in selected optional courses in junior and senior high school. If you’re unable to pay your school fees, you can apply to have certain fees waived. The application deadline is Dec. 16, 2024.

For more information, visit our School Fees page on the school website. Alternatively, contact Ms. Marcoux-Jones, business manager at Fort Saskatchewan Elementary at 780-998-771.

Did you know our School Council has already organized some amazing hot lunches for the school year? If you are interested in ordering hot lunch you need to go to www.HealthyHunger.ca and click "No Obligation Sign Up." Once your account is created you are able to view all up-coming dates for Fun Lunches, place orders, and pay for your orders online. For more information visit our school website and click on Parents under the Menu button and then Hot Lunch.

The EIPS Correction and Verification Form is available online through your PowerSchool Parent Portal—at the top of the left-hand menu. Use the form to access and update your child’s records information—including address, parent and guardian information, emergency contacts and medical information. Reviewing the form and submitting updates ensures the school has the most up-to-date information regarding your child.

PowerSchool Correction and Verification Form Review and update the form by Sept. 25, 2024.

If you have questions about the form or your Parent Portal account, contact the school office at 780-998-7771.

Alberta Health Services offers free online programming for parents and caregivers of children and youth. Sessions are offered through Zoom. Click here for the list of September Sessions.

The Board of Trustees meets throughout the school year to discuss and make decisions regarding matters important to students, families, schools, communities and public education overall. Community members are encouraged and welcome to attend to in person or to tune in to the public livestream on the EIPS YouTube Channel. For 2024-25 Board Meeting dates, visit the EIPS website and subscribe to the Division calendar.