Elements' Weekly Update

As November comes to a close, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support throughout the fall. It's been a month filled with learning, exploration, and meaningful moments in our school community!

This past month, we’ve celebrated achievements in the classroom, engaged in creative projects, and enjoyed special events. Our students have shown great growth and enthusiasm as they’ve embraced the opportunities for learning and collaboration.

Mrs. Pearn and Mrs. Zapesocki

• December 2 - Red and Green Theme Day
• December 4 - Early Dismissal, School Spirit Theme Day
• December 6 - Kindergarten Group B
• December 9 - Holiday Headwear Theme Day
• December 12 - Christmas Concert, 1:00PM & 6:00PM
• December 13 - Kindergarten Group A
• December 16 - Kindergarten Christmas Concert, 1:00PM - Group A
• December 17 - Kindergarten Christmas Concert, 1:00PM - Group B
• December 18 - Holiday Sweater Theme Day
• December 20 - Cookie and Milk Day from School Council
• December 20 - Christmas Caroling in the gym
  
• December 20 - Pajama Theme Day & Last Day of School

Students have been working hard on our Christmas Concert "Snowmen at Christmas!" Students are asked to wear a white top and to dress their best! Each family will receive 2 tickets to the afternoon show and 2 tickets to the evening show. This ensures that we stay aligned with fire code regulations and do not go over capacity in the gym.

More information about this will be email to families next week.

As the holiday season approaches, we are reminded of the importance of coming together as a community to support those in need. This year, we are organizing a Christmas Food Drive to help provide food and joy to families facing challenges during this festive season. We will be collecting food bank donations from December 9 - 18. Collection boxes will be placed by the front office for students to place their donations in. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a meaningful difference.

Thank you for helping us bring hope and warmth to those in need this holiday season. Together, we can make this Christmas truly special for everyone.

With the winter season almost here, we have a few reminders for families:

· Ensure students have clothing appropriate for expected weather conditions.

· If weather conditions are bad enough to impact student transportation, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) advises families directly, as well as posting on social media and eips.ca as early as possible. · Decisions regarding bus cancellations are guided by an EIPS administrative procedure that states, “school bus service may be suspended…when there is a forecast or current temperature of -40 C, including wind chill factor, in one or more regions.”

· Other reasons for suspending or delaying school bus services include adverse weather and poor road conditions.

· When school bus services are suspended, schools remain open to students.

For more information, contact EIPS Student Transportation at 780-417-8151.

Check out the December First Nations, Metis, Inuit Newsletter here.

If circumstances exist where you’re unable to pay school or transportation fees, you can apply to have fees waived by submitting an Application for a Waiver of Fees. The application deadline is Dec. 16, 2024. If you’re new to the Division, the deadline is the latter of Dec. 16, 2024, or 45 days after registration. To access your fee information, simply log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and go to “Student Fees.” There you can view your fees and pay them online using Visa or MasterCard. All fees are due within 30 days of being posted.

Don’t forget to also log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal regularly throughout the year. Fees are often added to your child’s account to cover the cost of various school activities such as field trips, class projects, extracurricular activities and more.

For more information about school fees, waivers and payment deadlines, visit www.eips.ca/schools/fees and https://www.fortelem.ca/about/fees. Alternatively, contact Mrs. Cheri Peichel, FSE Business Manager at Fort Saskatchewan Elementary at 780-998-7771.

Has your contact information recently changed?

Have you recently moved or has your contact information changed since the start of the year? Fort Saksatchewan Elementary encourages families to review the information the Division has on file to ensure it’s up to date. Using the Student Information Update available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, families can review the current information on file for each student—including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, parent and guardian information, emergency contacts, medical details and other related information—and submit any updates needed.

Reviewing and updating the form ensures the school and Division have the most up-to-date information regarding your child. Updates completed by December 10 are especially helpful as the Division prepares for 2025-26 registration processes beginning in the new year.

NOTE: Only submit updates for the changes that have already taken place. If you’re moving later this school year, you’ll submit the necessary updates to your information through the Student Information Update after you’ve moved.

If you have questions about the form or any trouble with your Parent Portal account, contact the school office at 780-998-7771.

FSE Parent Society has set up a 50/50 Raffle! Proceeds raised will be used to update the projector screen in the gymnasium. Click below for more information and to purchase tickets!

FSE Parent Society 50/50 Raffle

Do you know someone who may be interested in part-time, flexible work as a substitute educational assistant or substitute teacher in the specialty areas of French Immersion or CTS/CTF? Elk Island Public Schools is hiring. Spread the word!

Substitute teaching and non-teaching staff are critical to filling planning and unexpected vacancies when Division staff are away. Substitutes are needed to fill various positions at all school locations until the end of the school year. Upcoming application deadlines are December 12 and 13. If you know someone who’d be great in this role, encourage them to apply today.

The Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education team invites you to the upcoming Métis Kitchen Party. The evening will include food, fiddle, dancing and activities. All EIPS First Nations, Métis and Inuit families and their allies are welcome to attend. Monday, December 9; 5:30-7:30 p.m. Salisbury Composite High, 20 Festival Way, Sherwood Park With special guests, Métis fiddlers Brianna Lizotte and Ethan Graves Refer to the invitation for more details. RSVP by December 6.

If you have any questions about the upcoming gathering, or the ongoing First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education work within EIPS, reach out to the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education lead at Fort Saskatchewan Elementary: Ms. Kim Zapesocki, 780-998-7771.

Join your family and friends with Fort Saskatchewan Elementary School at Rogers Place to watch the Edmonton Oil Kings take on Prince Albert. Tickets are $25 per ticket, plus fees, and $5 from each ticket sold will go back to FSE! Game day is Friday, January 10 at 7:00PM. Use the QR code for more information and to purchase tickets. We hope to see you there!