September 2024
École Sifton School Newsletter
Message From Our Admin Team
Hello everyone, and welcome to the 2024-25 school year at École Sifton School! My name is Kathleen McLennan, and I am the new school principal. Terry Kennedy, the assistant principal, and I are so excited to be joining Sifton. Already we have been made to feel welcomed by students, parents, and staff here.
At Sifton, we are committed to upholding our vision of “Every Student, Every Day, a Success”. Through a supportive and inclusive learning environment, the dedication of all of our staff, and strong collaboration between our school and the community we serve, we focus on helping students grow and learn every day.
École Sifton Admin Team
We use our ROAR every day.
We do our best in every way.
We make strong choices.
We respect all voices.
We strive for more.
Here we ROAR!
This Newsletter Can Be Translated!
Did you know that reading the school newsletter in Smore allows you to translate it into different languages? Just click on the translate button and pick one of the many languages from the drop down menu!
Sifton Open House
We would like to invite all parents/guardians to attend a Sifton Open House on Wednesday, September 11 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. This is an opportunity for you and your child to meet the staff and tour the school.
Other Important Dates
Reminder
This school year there will not be any early dismissal school days for staff meetings.
September Dates:
September 3 First Day of School
September 4 Apple Fundraiser Due
September 6 Sifton Spirit Day wear red, black, white
September 6 Summer Reading Challenge is due
September 11 Sifton Open House 5:30pm-6:30pm
September 11 & 12 8:30am-10:00am Boo Hoo Breakfast for kindergarten/maternelle parents
September 12 Apple Pick up
September 17 Parent Council Meeting at 7:00pm
September 27 Orange Shirt Day
September 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Schools are closed
October 1 Terry Fox Run
October 11 Staff meeting/Division PD/Staff Collaboration (No School for Students)
October 14 Thanksgiving Day (Schools/BRSD Offices Closed)
Kindergarten/Maternelle Fridays!
M/W Kindergarten / Maternelle (Mrs. Skoglund & Mme Urkow)
September 20
October 4
October 18
T/Th Maternelle (Mme Urkow)
September 27
Don't forget about our school home page that has a complete and up to date list of important dates and information. https://sifton.brsd.ab.ca/
Sifton 2024-2025 Bell Schedule
BRSD 2024-2025 School Year Calendar
Important Information
Reminder About Entering the School
If you need to come to the school for any reason, please check in at the office. Anything that needs to be dropped off or picked up can take place there. To avoid disruption to learning, parents should not be going to classrooms or dropping off/picking up from lockers.
Contacting Sifton Staff
At Sifton, teachers, administration, support staff, and parents are all part of a team that works together to support our students. Open communication is extremely important!
There are several ways to contact our staff.
- For absences and home time arrangements, please call the office: 780-672-2980. Please don't email this information, as teachers are not always able to monitor email throughout the day.
- You can email your child's teacher directly, or call the office and leave a message. Teachers will not respond to emails after hours, but they will make every effort to respond quickly.
- To speak to an administrator or other staff, you can call the office and leave a message, email us directly at kamclennan@brsd.ab.ca or tkennedy@brsd.ab.ca, or use the website contact form https://sifton.brsd.ab.ca/contact. We are both very active in the school, teaching our own classes as well as supporting students and teachers, so sometimes it is impossible for us to respond immediately, but we will always contact you as soon as we can.
6 to 6 Protocol
Our school follows the Battle River School Division 6 to 6 protocol. What this means is that staff will not respond to or send calls or messages between 6 pm and 6 am. This helps our staff create a healthy work/home life balance. We thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Please Remember to complete the School Verification form on SchoolEngage . Here parents can confirm contact numbers and ensure information for students is up to date and accurate.
Real Time Reporting
Battle River School Division is excited to announce a significant change in how we will be reporting student academic progress at your child’s school. Traditionally, report cards served as a snapshot of your child's performance at specific points in the school year. However, with our transition to PowerSchool four years ago, we are now able to offer a more dynamic and informative way to keep you updated on your child's academic journey.
Effective September 2024, printed report cards will no longer be sent home as a progress report. Instead, we are embracing digital reporting through the PowerSchool platform. Here's why we believe this change is beneficial for both you and your child:
1. Real-Time Information: With PowerSchool, you can access your child's academic progress in real-time. This means you can stay up-to-date on their learning journey whenever you want, rather than waiting for periodic report cards.
2. Unlimited Access to Assessment Results: You are no longer limited to seeing your child's progress three times a year. With digital reporting, you can check assessment results at any time, enabling you to have a deeper understanding of their academic performance.
3. Active Partner in Learning: This transition empowers you to become an active partner in your child's education, rather than merely an observer. You can now be more involved and engaged in their learning process.
4. Timely Support: If your child is facing challenges or has missing assignments, you can address these issues promptly, preventing them from becoming larger problems. Digital reporting allows for timely intervention.
5. Access to Teacher Feedback: You'll have easy access to teacher feedback on assignments, which can help you better support your child's learning by understanding their strengths and areas for improvement.
6. Engagement in the Learning Process: We view education as a partnership between parents and educators. Digital reporting fosters greater collaboration and engagement in the learning process.
7. Close Communication with Teachers: The PowerSchool platform also facilitates closer communication with your child's teachers, allowing for quick and efficient exchanges of information.
We understand that not everyone may have access to technology. If you find yourself in this situation, please reach out to our school. We will work with you to establish alternative arrangements to ensure you can still receive timely updates on your child's progress if you wish. If you have not signed up for the PowerSchool ‘portal' to access your child’s information and need assistance please contact the office and we will support you through the process.
BRSD believes that this transition to digital reporting is a positive step forward in enhancing communication, engagement, and support for your child's education. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we embark on this exciting journey together. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Use of Personal mobile Devices and Social Media in Schools
The Division believes it is important to promote a focused and productive learning environment. The Division therefore aims to ensure that all students and staff understand and respect the guidelines regarding the use of cell phones, electronic devices and social media within the school premises. At École Sifton School we are a device free zone. What this means is that students may not use personal mobile devices or engage with social media platforms at all during the school day (from bell to bell). We thank you in advance for your continued support around these expectations and discussing with your children the importance of minimizing distractions and ensuring all students comply with the guidelines. If you need to give your child a message during the day please contact the office and we can relay the message to your child at a time when it is the least disruptive to the classroom learning environment.
To review the BRSD policy on the use of personal mobile devices and social media please click here
Just a reminder that we do not have microwaves available for student use at the school. Please ensure your child's lunch is preheated at home and put into a thermos, or pack items they can enjoy cold. Thank you
Please contact the school if you have any questions about our Student Wellness Facilitator.
Library Learning Commons
Mrs Grant's Summer Reading Challenge
Please return your Summer Reading Challenge to Mrs Grant by Friday, September 6. Don't forget to have your name, class and parent's signature on it.
Library Reminders
Please remember that ALL students are required to have a waterproof library bag to protect their library books. Ziplock type bags work great! The bags must be big enough to cover the book and keep them protected from water and dirt.
We thank you in your cooperation at helping us keep our library books in good reading condition.
Parent Council Update
Next Parent Council Meeting
The next parent Council meeting is Tuesday, September 17 at 7:00pm in the Library Learning Commons. All parents/guardians of students attending Sifton are welcome to attend.
WE NEED YOU!! From ROAR ticket prizes and Friday hot lunches, to gym equipment and year end field trips, Ecole Sifton’s Parent School Council raises funds for supplies and school equipment, plus supports a wide variety of events that enhance your child’s elementary school experience. It truly takes a village to create and provide the opportunities our children have been enjoying and have come to expect at Ecole Sifton!
These supports are greatly valued by parents, students and teachers; however, many will be lost without additional Parent School Council volunteers. There are volunteer opportunities for everyone, from a few hours per year to regular leadership opportunities on Council. Specifically, Parent School Council is in serious need of a co-chair and fundraising coordinator.
Please complete the following survey to share with us how YOU can help build and strengthen our
school community, and also contribute to the overall experience and success of students at Ecole
Sifton. Thank you!!
Click here to complete the Ecole Sifton Parent Council Volunteer Survey:
An account has been opened at the bottle depot where families can drop off bottles any time, and the funds can go towards the school. Ask to donate them to "Sifton School Parent Council" when you drop them off.