Lakeland Ridge Weekly Update!

Friday, September 17, 2021

Hello Lakeland Ridge families,

On Wednesday evening, the provincial government added additional health measures. We are waiting for some more clarification from the province and continue to make health and safety a priority. We will keep you updated as information becomes available.

A reminder: Every morning before coming to school, all students, staff and visitors are required to complete the daily COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklist. If you are feeling unwell, you are asked to please stay home.

Have a great weekend!

EIPS School Operation Guidelines 2021-22

Mask Reminder

Maks are mandatory for all staff and students in kindergarten through Grade 12.
Any and all visitors to EIPS schools and buildings must adhere to EIPS’ mandatory masking requirement.

Please carefully read the EIPS Operations Guidelines 2021-22 and EIPS Operations Frequently Asked Questions documents that were sent out to families.

Visitors in Schools

All visitors, couriers, and contractors must sign in at the front main doors and check-in at the office, complete the COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklist, and be wearing a mask properly.

If any of the answers to the questions are “YES,” DO NOT enter the school or workplace.

Similarly, if feeling unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms—fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste, aches, pink-eye, nausea —DO NOT enter an EIPS-operated school or workplace.

Terry Fox Run

This year we will be honouring Terry Fox by doing a run inside the school grounds. We will be accepting Toonies from Sept. 20-24 or you can donate via our Lakeland Ridge Terry Fox Fundraising link.

ATHLETICS UPDATE FOR 2021/2022 SCHOOL YEAR

Our Athletics Schedule is constantly being updated, please reference our athletics calendar for upcoming information.

Now that our teams are made, parent permission forms will be coming home on Monday, Sept. 20. Please note, both Jr volleyball teams are practicing Monday at 7am.

All home games and select away games will be broadcast via Livestream by the host school. Our home games will be live on our YouTube channel.

In order to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 during EIPS athletic events, spectators are not permitted at practices and games at this time. We ask that when dropping off or picking up student athletes outside the school, parents and guardians maintain a 2-metre distance from other families.

This will be consistent in all EIPS buildings as we follow the Metro Athletics guide.

Upcoming Dates and Events

Sept. 20 - Lakeland Ridge is a polling station for the Federal election

Sept. 22 - PowerSchool Correction Forms Deadline

Sept. 23 - Elementary Terry Fox Run

Sept. 24 - Jr. High Terry Fox Run & ECS Group B

Sept. 29 - Orange Shirt Day

Sept. 30 - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Schools closed)

Oct. 4-8 - Read-In Week

Oct. 5 - World Teacher's Day

Oct. 6 - Early Dismissal (dismissal 1:55 p.m.)

Oct. 21 - Grade 6 Immunizations

Required Forms

The division has developed a series of forms all families are required to review and submit at the start of the school year to support school operations. All forms are available through your PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you have trouble accessing your Parent Portal account, contact your child’s school for assistance.

Note: Forms in PowerSchool often don’t display properly in Internet Explorer. Please use a different browser to review and complete the forms for your family.

Please refer to an email sent from the district on August 25th for more information on the following forms;

COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklist Acknowledgement (Due: Aug. 31, 2021)
Pre-existing Medical Conditions (Due: Aug. 31, 2021)
Correction and Verification Form (Due: Sept. 22, 2021)

Yearbooks

Today we distributed the yearbooks to whoever ordered one. For the students who graduated Grade 9, their yearbooks have been forwarded on to their corresponding High School. There are still a couple of yearbooks available to purchase for $30. Please contact the office to purchase one.

Lakeland Ridge Jr High Agendas

The agenda is an important classroom tool in school as it helps with communication between the school and home and assists students with organization and preparation. We have a limited amount of Jr High LLR agendas. The agendas are available on a first-come, first-served basis until our supply has been depleted. A form went home with each Jr High student, if you wish to have an agenda for your Jr High student, complete and return to the office.

Indigenous News

September 2021

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

Youth Leadership Forum on Reconciliation | Deadline to register October 3

Experiences Canada is hosting a virtual Youth Leadership Forum October 13-17. The event will bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, ages 14-25, from across the country to develop Reconciliation projects to undertake in their own communities. Registrations are being accepted until October 3. Please connect with your school’s lead teacher for details on supports for students if their registration is accepted. For youth who feel internet connectivity issues might be a barrier, please email forums@experiencescanada.ca so we can discuss ways we can support your participation. Further information and registration can be found on Experiences Canada website.

Strathcona County Family and Community Services have been reaching out to different community groups, organizations and businesses in Strathcona County with respect to understanding their experience with COVID over the past year. Some of the groups they’re looking to hear from are newcomer families/individuals, seniors, LGBTQ2+, persons with disabilities and Indigenous Peoples. Specifically, they’re looking to hear about their experiences with COVID and the impact it has had on their lives. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in sharing your experience as part of this project, contact Audra.Holm@strathcona.ca.

Direct Student Support

Métis Nation of Alberta Gear up for School Program Is your child Métis? Is your child attending preschool, kindergarten, Grade 1 or Grade 2 this school year? The MNA is once again offering free school supply kits. Click on the link to read more about the program and access the registration form.

Successful applicants for the Gear Up for School 2021 program will meet the following criteria:

All children receiving school supplies through this program must be entering preschool, kindergarten, Grade 1 or Grade 2 in the 2021-22 school year.
Successful applicants and their children must currently reside in Alberta and provide an Alberta mailing address on the application form.
Either the parent/guardian applicant or the child receiving a backpack must be an MNA citizen (or citizens).

From skills courses to wellness kits, discover all the MNA Youth Services has to offer free to all Métis ages 12-29.

Jordan’s Principle Learn more about Jordan’s Principle and the funding supports available for First Nations children—visit the Assembly of First Nations and Government of Canada resources.

Resources of Interest

Edmonton Indigenous Relations Bulletin Stay up-to-date on events and initiatives in the Edmonton area—subscribe to the City of Edmonton’s Indigenous Relations Community Bulletin.

Indigenous Art Adventures Cree artist Lance Cardinal is continuing his online art and language show, Indigenous Art Adventures, for young people and their families. His latest show will be live on Saturday, September 11 at 2 p.m., when he’ll share the Cree word for fall and will lead children on a fall leaf art project. The show, as well as previous episodes, is available on the Aboriginal Congress of Alberta Association’s Facebook page.

Virtual Family Gatherings We’re grateful to Elder Wilson Bearhead and the family members who attended our virtual parent gatherings last school year. We look forward to continuing the conversation and welcoming new families to our virtual circle. We’ll share this year’s schedule in our next newsletter.