Elmdale School
April Newsletter
Principal's Message
Springtime is here! Some days it feels like winter is hanging on for too long and then the sun peaks out again. Spring brings many interesting and important events so please read through this newsletter to stay up to date with everything. Don't forget to check the calendar link above and follow our Google Calendar for up to date information.
Some things to highlight:
- Did you know our grade 2 classes are once again collecting sap from our local maple trees. Here's hoping for a good harvest for some yummy homemade syrup!
- This spring many classes are planning some fun and educational field trips. Please watch your email or SeeSaw account for information from teachers as it becomes available
- June may seem far away, but we are already looking ahead to plan some fun end of year events. Stay tuned!
- Our grade 4 students are already starting to think about Middle School for next year. Our first middle school transition event is coming up next week. See information below for details.
- Run, Jump and Throw Day is coming up in May. Start warming up for some fun and challenging outdoor events!
- Grade 1 and 2 Spring Concert is taking place on May 7. Stay tuned for details. Our kindergarten students will also be putting on a concert on May 15 and 16 in the afternoon.
There's lots to look forward to!
Mr. Vince Hiebert
Principal: Elmdale School
Email: vhiebert@hsd.ca
Instagram: elmdalehsd
Report Cards
Term 2 Report Cards were posted to the Parent Portal for all grade 1-4 students on March 15. If you haven't already done so, please login to your Parent Portal account to see a snapshot of how your child is doing at school.
If you have any questions about your child's report card, please be in touch with their teacher as the teacher will be able to explain and clarify the information on the Report Card.
Jump Rope for Heart
Thank you for all your hard work in fundraising for Jump Rope For Heart! As a school we raised more than $850 towards cancer research while learning about positive heart health. Way to go Elmdale!
Kidsight Vision Screening
Hanover School Division is excited to announce that we have partnered with The Lions Club to offer vision screening to all of our students in Grades 1. The program is very similar to the hearing screening we conduct in the fall every year.
Members of The Lions Club have been trained in the use of the SPOT Vision Screener and will use this tool to screen children in all HSD Grade 1 classrooms. The vision screener they use is capable of screening for Myopia (near-sightedness), Hyperopia (far-sightedness), and Anisocoria (pupil size deviation). In addition, Astigmatism (blurred vision), Anisometropia (unequal refractive power) and Strabismus (eye misalignment) which can result in Amblyopia (lazy-eye), The individual screening takes just a few seconds and is performed from a distance of about three feet. There is no physical contact with the child and no eye drops are administered. The individual conducting the screening will provide a print-out of the results for each child for whom a follow up appointment is recommended with an eye care professional.
Kidsight Screening will be happening at Elmdale School on April 30. More information will be provided to the families of grade 1 students closer to that date.
UMBRELLA SKILL FOR APRIL - COGNITIVE FLEXIBILITY
This month our focus is on building Cognitive Flexibility. What will cognitive flexibility do for my child?
Life doesn’t always follow a predictable pattern; cognitive flexibility helps our children navigate this uncertainty and feel like they have more options when faced with challenges. As things change around them, they need to change in order to maintain their wellbeing.
With cognitive flexibility your child will be better able to change strategies when faced with new and unexpected situations, make sense of the unfamiliar and thrive in uncertainty. Flexible Thinking is an enormous skill, especially valuable for kids who are prone to anxiety.
Cognitive flexibility is important for innovating, coming up with new ideas and solving problems, and is essential to creativity. It will also help them understand people and situations that are different from theirs and improve their relationships. Demonstrating flexible thinking helps kids navigate friendships and solve conflicts together.
Pizza Lunch Reminder
A reminder that our Thursday Pizza Hot Lunches are continuing in January. We alternate between Cheese Pizza and Pepperoni Pizza for $2 a slice. Orders are placed first thing in the morning so that enough pizza can be ordered. Please note the schedule for the coming weeks:
April 4 - Pepperoni Pizza
April 11 - Cheese Pizza
April 18 - Pepperoni Pizza
April 25 - Cheese Pizza
Middle School Transition
This time of year we start thinking about next school year, and our grade 4 students are very aware of this as they think about middle school for the fall. To help ease this transition, we have several transition events planned over the next three months. In early April and again in early June, students will have the opportunity to visit their respective middle schools for a short visit during the school day.
Parents of students who will be attending Grade 5 at Clearspring Middle School or Stonybrook Middle School next year are invited to an information evening on May 16th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the school where they will be attending.
Registration information will also be coming home this month. Please make sure to fill out these registration packages and return them promptly so that the middle schools can begin planning.
If you feel your child may need some additional transition planning, please be in contact with their teacher or contact our School Counsellor at tklassen@hsd.ca
March Princi-Pals
Class Placements for 2024-2025
We will soon be starting the process of creating class lists for the 2024-2025 school year. This is a very involved process and requires us to work closely as a school team to create class lists that are balanced and equitable for all. We take this process very seriously as we try very hard to create a positive learning environment for students.
We consider a variety of criteria when creating class lists, including:
- Balanced class composition
Social and behavioural considerations
Group dynamics
Learning styles
Parent input
If a parent would like to make a specific request for a friend or teacher placement, please email Mr. Hiebert (vhiebert@hsd.ca) your request including a clear explanation of the academic and learning reasons for your request, by May 15, 2024. All requests must be in writing, and only those submitted by that date will be considered based on their merit. We cannot guarantee that all requests will be honoured, and late requests will not be considered. Also, please note that teacher staffing assignments may not be finalized by this date.
Given appropriate support at home and at school, it has been our experience that the vast majority of placements are successful. Where a placement is proving to be difficult, we ask that parents and students give it the time required for friendships and classroom community building to develop.
Class placements will be included in your child's June report card. Early information about whether requests have or have not been granted will not be shared prior to June 30, with the exception of students entering Kindergarten. Families of incoming Kindergarten students will be notified of their child's teacher and the days they will attend in mid-June.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to your child's education.
"Soup's On" School Lunches
Bus Times, Routes & Address Changes
Please check our website for information about bus transportation.
If your address has changed, please call transportation at 204-320-2347 to make sure that your children are riding the correct bus to and from school.
Nutrition Bits and Bites - Packing a Healthy Lunch
Local Opportunities
Elmdale Early Years School
Publisher: Mr. Hiebert
Email: elmdale@hsd.ca
Website: http://elmdale.hsd.ca/
Location: 160 Elmdale Street, Steinbach, MB, Canada
Phone: 204-326-3325
Twitter: @elmdalehsd