Westboro Weekly Newsletter

Looking ahead:

June 10: Kindergarten and Grade 1 zoo field trip 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

June 11: STEPS/PLACE - Puppet Tree in school field trip

June 12: PAT Grade 6: English Language Arts & Literature (Part B) 9:00 am

June 12: Track Team Pizza Lunch

June 12: Kindergarten Year End Celebration 1:30 p.m.

June 13: PAT Grade 6: Mathematics (Part A) 9:00 am

June 13: STEPS/PLACE Makery 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Looking ahead:

June 17: Kindergarten/ Grade 5 - Broadmoor Lake, Strathcona Library 11:00 a.m.

June 17: PAT Grade 6: Mathematics (Part B) 9:00 a.m. - 10:10 a.m.

June 18: PAT Grade 6: Social Studies 9:00 am - 10:00 am

June 19: Fun in the Sun

June 19: Grade 5 & 6 swimming 8:35 - 10:45 a.m.

June 19: PLACE bowling field trip 10:10 - 11:45 a.m.

June 20: RAIN OUT DAY - Fun in the Sun

June 20: WBO celebrates - Indigenous Peoples Day

June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 24: Grade 3 & 4 Swimming 8:35 a.m.

June 25: Grade 6 farewell 1:00 p.m.

June 25: Report cards go live at 3:00 p.m.

June 25: Last day of classes

June 26: Operational day

For this year's Fun in the Sun on June 19, we have arranged a pizza hot lunch. We invite you to order individual pizzas for your student(s) through the MunchaLuncha platform. Ordering is now open until Thursday, June 12 at 9:00 p.m.

You can pay for your orders online using credit card (Visa / Mastercard), debit-credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay or pre-paid credit card.

HOW TO REGISTER:

1) Go to: https://munchalunch.com/schools/westboro

2) Click the “Register Here” button (as shown below). The system will guide you through.

3) After adding your children, click the green “Order Lunch!” button to order.

4) Next time, just click the “Login Here” button to access your account.

HOW TO REGISTER IF YOU ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL:

1) Go to: https://munchalunch.com/addaccount

2) Click the “Start” button. The system will guide you through.

3) After adding your children, click the green “Order Lunch!” button to order.

4) Next time, just click the “Login Here” button to access your account.

ORDERING INFORMATION:

If you need assistance with ordering, or do not have access to the internet, please contact our new hot lunch coordinator, Nicole at westborohotlunch@gmail.com

Thank you!

Our Lost and Found is overflowing! To help reunite items with their owners, we will be displaying all lost and found items on tables near the main doors of the school from June 12 to June 19.

We encourage families to stop by during this time to check for any missing jackets, water bottles, lunch containers, or other belongings.

Please note: Any items not claimed by the end of the day on June 19 will be donated to a local charity.

Thank you for helping us clear out the Lost and Found before summer break!

It’s that time of year again! We would like to remind you that all library materials are now due back. To assist you, please check your student’s agenda for any library notices that may have been sent home regarding overdue items.

Thank you for your cooperation.

As we begin preparing for the upcoming school year, it’s important for us to have the most accurate enrollment information possible. If your child will not be returning to our school in the fall, please let us know as soon as possible.

Having up-to-date enrollment numbers helps us make informed decisions about staffing, class placements, and resource planning.

Thank you for helping us plan ahead and ensure a smooth start to the new school year! If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact the school office.

Through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, parents and guardians can subscribe to receive email updates from the school and about their child, as well as the frequency for receiving the updates. These PowerSchool notifications are separate from the emails you receive from the Division and your child’s school sent through SchoolMessenger.

In June, Elk Island Public Schools is updating the domain configuration where these PowerSchool emails come from to support more cost effective and efficient modernization of technology within the Division. As the updates take place, notifications may come from one or the other email address. By June 13, when the update is complete, messages from the PowerSchool Parent Portal will come from only the new email address:

• Current email sender: powerschool@eips.ca
• New email sender: DoNotReply@powerschool.mail.eips.ca

We encourage you to add this new email address to your safe-sender list to avoid missing any updates you’re subscribed to. At any time, if you’d like to update your subscription settings within PowerSchool, simply log in to the Parent Portal and click the “Email Notifications” tab in the left-hand menu.

School fees for the 2024-25 school year are posted on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. All fees are due within 30 days of being posted. Throughout the year, fees are often added to cover the costs for various activities, such as field trips, extracurricular activities, and late, damaged or lost textbooks.

To access your fee information, simply log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and go to “Student Fees.” There you can view fees and pay them online using a Mastercard or Visa credit or debit card. Make sure to monitor your child’s account on an ongoing basis.

For more information about school fees, waivers and payment deadlines, visit eips.ca/schools/fees. And, if you have questions, think there’s an error or need help creating a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, contact your child’s school directly before the summer break.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Pursuant to Board Policy 23: School Fees and Administrative Procedure 505: School and Administrative Fees, EIPS will forward any unpaid 2024-25 fee amounts to a collection agency. To prevent this from happening, remember to pay your fees before Aug. 31, 2025.

Planning to use Student Transportation in the 2025-26 school year? If so, make sure your child is registered so Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) can plan routes and send your child a bus pass before the first day of school.

All students who indicated needing transportation services through the returning student or new student registration processes are now registered. Those families have also received tentative route schedules and invoices—fees are due June 30, 2025.

For those students who did not indicate needing transportation services during the registration process and want to now register, complete a Busing Setup form through the Transportation Service Desk.

NOTE: Families can pay fees online using the PowerSchool Parent Portal. To pay in-person, visit the EIPS Student Transportation building during its office hours—Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school closure days.

Please see the meeting minutes from the School Council meeting held on May 13, 2025.

Westboro School Council Meeting Minutes AGM May 13, 2025

Westboro Parent's Society Meeting Minutes AGM May 13, 2025

It is crucial to prioritize the safety of our students by driving responsibly in school zones. These areas are busy with young pedestrians, patrollers and parents/guardians dropping off or picking up their students. A moment of carelessness behind the wheel can lead to tragic consequences.

Here are some reminders to help keep everyone safe:

1. Obey the Speed Limit

The speed limit in school zones is reduced to 30 km/hr to protect students and staff. Pay close attention to posted signs and adjust your speed accordingly.

2. Avoid U-Turns

Making U-turns near schools is not only illegal in many areas but also dangerous. This maneuver can confuse other drivers and put students at risk, especially those crossing the street.

3. Watch for Students

Children are often unpredictable. They may dart out into the street without warning or cross outside of designated areas. Stay vigilant, especially during school start and dismissal times.

4. Follow Crossing Guard Instructions

Our patrollers are there to ensure everyone’s safety. Always stop when directed and give them the space they need to do their job.

5. Minimize Distractions

Distractions can slow your reaction time and lead to accidents, particularly in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic. Please minimize distractions and focus on your driving.

By taking these simple precautions, we can create a safer environment for our children. Let’s work together to ensure that every student arrives at school and home safely.

Welcome to the Westboro Elementary Spiritshop-where our students, parents, and staff can buy custom spirit wear to show our pride! plus, 10% of each sale supports our organization's fundraising goals.

Pick your favourite gear, customize it with designs found on the site, and make it yours with your name!

Please visit: https://westboroelementary.entripyshops.com/

The results of the 2024-25 EIPS Annual Feedback Survey: For Parents and Caregivers are now available. In March, the Division conducted the annual survey, which helps EIPS gauge its progress toward meeting the goals and priorities outlined in its Four-Year Education Plan. Families were asked a series of questions about their experiences with EIPS and the school their child attends, the overall performance of the Division, the quality of education being provided to students and areas for improvement.

Thank you to all families who took the time to share their feedback with the Division. Overall, the survey received close to 2,400 responses from parents and caregivers across EIPS. The Division, and schools, will now review the feedback in detail and use it to develop new strategies to serve students and the wider community better.

The full results are available online:

2024-25 Parent and Caregiver Survey results: EIPS

2024-25 Parent and Caregiver Survey results: Westboro Elementary

New student registration for the 2025-26 school year is open!

For tips on filling out the form, refer to How to Register a New Student.

Is your child turning five on or before Dec. 31, 2025? If so, it’s almost time to register for kindergarten.

Kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year opened on Feb. 1, 2025.

To help families prepare, Elk Island Public Schools has put together an online EIPS Kindergarten Tool kit to make the transition as smooth as possible. The kit includes information on registration, important dates, programming options, what to expect, eligibility, how to find your designated school, transportation and more.

Additional information regarding Westboro Elementary's kindergarten program is available at www.westboroelementary.ca/about/kindergarten

When schools are closed during the summer, many EIPS staff are still hard at work. School staff create lesson plans, engage in professional development and take part in other activities to help enhance student success. Several staff will also support EIPS Summer School. Additionally, Central Services staff work through the break to prepare for the upcoming school year, from staff recruitment to school repairs and more. In mid-August, school staff return to their schools to get ready to welcome students back to class.

Every year, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) publishes an Annual Education Results Report, which outlines the Division’s Four-Year Education Plan, growth opportunities and how it supports students in achieving the best possible outcomes. Read through this year’s EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2023-24 and discover how EIPS fosters learning environments for all students to learn, grow and thrive—and why it matters.

June Spotlight: EIPS Four-Year Education Plan: 2022-26 (Year 4), which details the Division’s priorities, goals and outcomes over a four-year period.

· Priority 1: To promote the growth and success of all students.

· Priority 2: To enhance high-quality learning and working environments.

· Priority 3: To enhance public education through effective engagement.

The plan also outlines the performance measures, key insights and strategies the Division will use to meet each priority, goal and outcome in the 2025-26 school year.

RELATED INFORMATION
Annual Education Results Report 2023-24: Overview
EIPS Four-Year Education Plan: 2022-26
EIPS Three-Year Capital Plan: 2026-29

Is there a preschooler in your life experiencing identified developmental delays or challenges with speech-language—big or small? If so, Elk Island Public School’s Play And Learn at School (PALS) program could help.

Early learning lays the foundation for success in primary grades and beyond. As such, EIPS offers the pre-kindergarten PALS program in five of its elementary school locations. Applications are now open for free speech-language assessments for those interested in registering in the PALS program this fall. The assessment helps determine if PALS is appropriate for your child.

If you know a preschooler, born in 2021 or 2022, who could benefit from pre-kindergarten programming or want to book an assessment, fill out the PALS Program Request Form or call 780-417-8219. For more information, visit eips.ca.

Our FREE summer program schedule from the Family Resource Network (FRN) is here! Connect with other parents and caregivers, learn new skills and support your child’s healthy development.

• Drop-in parented programs for infants aged 0 to 18 months
• Drop-in parented programs for kids 0 to 6 years old
• Registered programs for kids in grades 1 to 3 and grades 4 to 6
• Registered parenting skill-building sessions for a variety of age groups
• Special events for families and children of all ages

Register for programs and learn more about Strathcona County's Family Resource Network at strathcona.ca/families.

The Strathcona County Library prepares reading kits for Grade 1 students to encourage children to practice reading throughout the summer so they can build on their newly acquired reading skills. The kit is free and contains fun activities to keep students reading all summer long. Kits are available from June 1 to Aug. 24, 2025. Families can pick up kits from the main floor Information Desk at the Library or meet the Bookmobile at any of its weekly stops. Library staff ask families to bring their children to pick up their kits in person so staff members can meet them and welcome them to the library. Learn more

Children love getting messy with mud. In addition to being fun, playing with mud helps develop fine motor skills and contributes to the healthy development of the sensory system. Join us for Mud Day, where children and adults alike can create, imagine and get dirty together.

More information here.

Not sure if your child's car seat is installed correctly? Get peace of mind at our upcoming Car Seat Inspection Clinic. Join our trained Community Peace Officers in the Randy Rosen Arena parking lot on Friday, June 13, from 1–3 p.m. for a free inspection.

Bring your car seat and its manual.

Designed for all ages and stages of life, the Everybody Can brochure is your one-stop shop for affordable supports and services in Strathcona County! Find support for:

• Food, clothing and housing
• Finances and employment
• Children and families
• Transportation and recreation
• Health and wellness

Download the guide and learn more at strathcona.ca/EverybodyCan

Current events, the news cycle and financial uncertainty can be stressful for you and your family. Here are some tips from Rebecca from the Family Resource Network, to help take care of yourself and your family when feeling stressed or uncertain.

Check out some more tips for supporting our children during uncertain times: https://ow.ly/Fsl450VCJRX

The Family Resource Network is here to help, call 780-416-6730 or visit Strathcona.ca/families to learn more about programs and services that support families.