January Newsletter 2025

Welcoming 2025 with excitement & celebration! We hope your holiday break was filled with joy & good cheer!

• January 14: School Council Meeting @ 6:45pm - 7:45pm

• January 15: Booster Juice Snack for those who ordered

• January 16: WCPS Ribbon Skirt Day

• January 24: SOUP-er Day!

• January 25: JS Family Rebels Hockey Night
• January 27-30: Indigenous Education Week
• January 27: Wear an Orange Shirt!
• January 28: Boston Pizza Hot Lunch for those who ordered
• January 31: Professional Development Day - No School

Morning outdoor supervision begins at 8:20am each day. The first bell rings at 8:33am marking the start of our student day at school. Between 8:33am and 8:45am, teachers take attendance for the morning. If your student is going to be away - please be sure to connect with your classroom teacher or call & leave a message on our attendance line BEFORE 8:45am. Messages received after 8:45am may not be received in time to adjust an absent code, and you may still receive the absent alert phone calls (our system pulls the report at exactly 8:50am).

To reach our attendance line, please call 403-782-3096 and press 8. Thank you!

We collected a substantial pile of Food Bank items & Santa's Anonymous gifts during our Christmas Concert week.

Thank you for your generous donations! Its so wonderful to see the community spirit in our school.

It is almost time for our skating unit in physical education, which focuses on developing locomotion skills and a lifelong pursuit of active living. We are very fortunate to have Lacombe’s Gary Moe Sportsplex close enough for us to walk across the field to skate. All classes are on the FRONT ice.

Please refer to the schedule below for your child’s two skate times and dates. Students will head to the arena in advance of their skate times, so there is time to tie skates. Each class will have its own change room. With the ages of our students, we sure could use help with tying skates. Please contact your child’s teacher if you wish to help. Please arrive at the arena 15 minutes before skate times if you are coming to help with tying, e.g. if your child skates at 10:10, arrive at 9:55! Parents and guardians are also welcome to skate with the children.

**Students will only be allowed on the ice if they have the following**

• Properly fitting skates

• Snow pants

• Mittens

• Certified hockey, figure skating or ski helmet

• Please send your child’s skating things in a sport or cloth bag - this is required if your child rides the bus

• (Note: Bicycle helmets are not acceptable for skating safety, as they are designed for a different purpose)

If your child does not have the required helmet or skates that fit correctly, please let your classroom teacher know as soon as possible so that we can get them fit for some at the school if you would like them to participate in skating.

**PERMISSION FORMS MUST BE SIGNED for students to participate in Skating**

Forms are online in your Parent Portal under Student Fees > Permission Forms

Thank you!

Miss Smith - Physical Education Specialist

We’re thrilled to announce our 2nd Annual Indigenous Education Week at École James S. McCormick, taking place from January 27–30, 2025. Throughout the week, we’ll welcome several Indigenous guest speakers who will share cultural stories, lead traditional games, and perform dances in beautiful regalia.

The new Alberta curriculum emphasizes learning about the rich diversity of cultures in Alberta and Canada, including the histories, traditions, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples. It fosters an understanding of living in harmony and balance with the land, particularly through the Science curriculum, which encourages hands-on exploration of natural materials. This approach highlights the importance of respecting and connecting with nature, reflecting Indigenous perspectives on stewardship and sustainability. Additionally, the Language and Literacy curriculum recognizes the significance of oral language, honouring how generations before us shared knowledge, stories, and cultural traditions orally, long before the advent of written communication. This renewed focus nurtures cultural appreciation, environmental responsibility, and a deeper connection to our shared history.

We are inviting staff and students to wear an orange shirt on Monday, January 27th in recognition that we commit to the enduring truth that EVERY CHILD MATTERS, every day and everywhere.

Melissa Rogers

Principal

Items will be available for purchase next week; stay tuned for an update on when items are online!

February 11 - Booster Juice Snack

February 26 - Subway

March 5 - Booster Juice

March 11 - Moe's Pizza

Our 2024-2025 Council has set-up some general email inboxes for direct communication with our families.

ejsmfundraising@outlook.com

ejsmcouncil@outlook.com

ejsmhotlunch@outlook.com

ejsmtreasurer@outlook.com

Chairperson - Gary Rice

Vice-Chair - Krystal Prins

Treasurer - Pam Dedora

Fundraising - Renee Spelt

Secretary - Melissa Rogers

Our next meeting will be January 14 @ 6:45pm. It will be held in person in the Wellness Room.

• February 5: Global Play Day/Winter Walk Day/World Read Aloud Day
• February 11: Booster Juice Snack for those who ordered
• February 14: Pink & Red Day! School Wide Theme Day
• February 17: Family Day - No School
• February 18: PD Day - No School
• February 19: PD Day - No School
• February 20 & 21: Teachers' Convention - No School
• February 26: Pink Shirt Day!
• February 26: Subway Hot Lunch for those who ordered

Save The Date! March 3: Cabane à Sucre - we are excited to have Bonhomme Carnaval back with us, as well as the Maple Shack to make "la tire" (toffee).

Remember to subscribe to our calendar on our website to sync school-wide events to your personal online calendar!

Office Hours: 8:00am to 4:00pm ~ Monday to Friday

Email: jsm@wolfcreek.ab.ca
Website: www.ejsm.wolfcreek.ab.ca
Location: 5424 50 Street, Lacombe, AB, Canada
Phone: 403.782.3096
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EJSMSchool