June 17-23, 2024
Weekly Gazette June 17-23, 2024
Principal's Message
Who can even believe that it is already the last full week of June? This year has been so great, and it is hard to believe that it is coming to a close.
With that said, we have also been busy planning for next school year since March and would like to share some information with you:
Class Assignments for the 2024/25 school year: A heads up that we will be sharing class assignments a little differently this year. Instead of adding class assignment information into the last report card, we will be sharing this information via School Messenger with families after school on Thursday, June 20. There is a TON of thought and many considerations that go into the creation of class lists. Our entire staff is involved to assure we create as balanced and as great of classroom experiences as possible for our school community. Our number one goal is to do our best to make sure that students are in classes that set them up for success for the upcoming year.
Here are our teachers for the 2024/25 school year:
PALS: Mrs.Bowen
PALS: Mrs. Lipkewich
K/1 Quest: Ms. Grendowicz
Kindergarten: Mme Yates
Grade 1: Mme Allache
Grade 1: Mme Tremblay
Grade 2: Mme Irmani
Grade 2/3: Mme Grummett
Grade 3: Mme Ince
Grade 4: Mme Jordan
Grade 4/5: Mme Hodder
Grade 5/6: Mme Wright
Grade 6: Staffing update will be provided.
Music: Mme Lopez
Counselor: Mrs. Fedor
Assistant Principal: Mme Boswell
Principal: Mme Atchison
Meet the Teacher Night : we will host this event on Wednesday, Aug. 28 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is the night before the first day of school. We wanted to give our students the opportunity to bring in their supplies and see their new classroom before school officially begins on Aug. 29. We look forward to seeing you all then!
Recesses for the 2024/25 school year: with school budgets being tight this year we had to look at creative ways to ensure that our students are well supervised during their recesses and lunch periods, while also ensuring not to break the bank. We have worked with many of our fellow schools in the division in this endeavor and have learned some great insights from them. As such, we will be moving away from a formal afternoon recess for the 2024/25 school year. We reallocated the afternoon recess time to extend the length of our morning recess from 14 minutes to 19 minutes, and our lunch hour has gained an extra 10 minutes. Next year, because of the cost of supervision during the lunch hour, our teachers will be involved with supervision. It was important to us though to ensure not to increase teacher supervision time too significantly. By removing the third recess we have been able to keep teacher supervision times at just about the same amount as this year. Please know that movement and brain breaks our very important to us! Our teachers have been very mindful this year to integrate movement and brain breaks into their daily routines with our students. Next year, Instead of a formal afternoon recess, teachers will creatively incorporate movement and brain breaks into their afternoon routine to ensure our students are at their best throughout the entirety of the school day. If you’re interested in looking at the daily timetable to see what this looks like, check it out: bell schedule.
Movie Night 2024 : mark your calendars as we will again be hosting a Movie Night next school year! It is set for Friday, Sept. 20 at sundown (roughly 7:30 p.m.). We wil work with ACF in the fall to determine which exciting movie they will have available for us. Stay tuned!
Have a great week everyone!
Hot Lunch
LAST HOT LUNCH OF THE YEAR!
PANAGO
Mon June 24 -Kinder A - Gr 6
Tues June 25 -Kinder B
Orders close:
June 17 @ Noon
NEXT HOT LUNCH:
PLEASE CHECK BACK SEPT 2024
Parent Engagement Survey
Both Ecole Parc School Council and the Fundraising Society play a vital role in supporting a diverse learning environment for all students beyond what is provided by the school board and Alberta Education. School council members meet and consult with school leadership and our local Trustee to provide feedback and guidance. The Fundraising Society raises and manages the funds needed to supplement classroom and program resources, as well as community and cultural events for students.
As we come to the end of this school year, the Ecole Parc School Council needs FEEDBACK ON TWO KEY AREAS: PARENT INVOLVEMENT & FUNDRAISING DIRECTION.
We recognize that families are busy and want to make sure we can provide an inclusive and diverse way of participating in the school in meaningful ways. We also want to support our school financially. As a result, we need to revise how we manage fundraising and this includes the hot lunch program.
Please take a moment to answer the questions below to help us plan for the next school year.
Weekly Announcements - le 17 juin
- Please follow this link to watch our announcement: Le 17 juin
Save the date!!
ECS A Farewell Ceremony 9:00 am -10:15 am June 24, 2024
ECS B Farewell Ceremony 9:00-10:15 am June 25, 2024
Grade 6 Farewell Ceremony 1:00 pm June 25, 2024
Year-end Assembly 9:30 am June 26, 2024
Dates
What's happening this week at École Parc:
June 17
- ECS A Field Trip Edmonton Zoo
June 18
- Gr. 6 Immunizations AM
June 19
- Grade 6 Social PAT 9:00-10:00 am
- Grade 2 Field Trip-Fort Precinct
June 20
- Grade 6 Science PAT 9:00-10:00 am
- ECS B Field Trip Edmonton Zoo
- Grades 3-5 at Fort Precinct for Indigenous Peoples Day event 1:00-2:30
June 21
- National Indigenous Peoples Day
- Grade 4-6 Swim 10-12
Upcoming Dates:
June 24
- Kindergarten Farewell Ceremony 9:00-10:15 am
June 25
- Kindergarten Farewell Ceremony 9:00-10:15 am
- Grade 6 Ceremony 1:00 p.m.
June 26
- Last Day of Classes
- Year-end Assembly 9:30 am
- Report Cards Available to Parents
June 27
- Last operational day.
GREEN SPACE & OUTDOOR CLASSROOM NEWS
NEW RAISED BED FRAMES
We have new garden box frames in the courtyard. They replaced the old frames that were vandalized at the end of last school year. They look so much better and were built by the same skilled carpenter who built our mud kitchen, Ricky Solamillo.
DID YOU KNOW?
The courtyard and front door garden boxes have perennial indigenous plants such as Yarrow, Wild Bergamot, and Goldenrod. More will be added as the years go on, and various annuals are planted amongst them each spring by staff and students with the garden club.
MUD KITCHEN SUPPLIES NEEDED
The mud kitchen is still a very popular play spot at recess, but it is hard to keep it stocked with equipment. Pots and spoons tend to travel to the sandbox and never return, and a small number of students intentionally bend or break utensils. But fortunately we have generous families who will donate their old kitchen supplies and we can supplement from the thrift and Dollarstore as needed. Below is a list of equipment we accept. Please drop it off at the office and let Sherri know it is for the mud kitchen. She will put it in our storage cupboard on the stage for a controlled delivery.
Accepted Equipment:
Small metal pots or pans (no lids)
Baking sheets or trays
Bowls (metal is most durable, no lids)
Utensils - spoons, tongs, flippers, etc. (nothing sharp)
Hand whisks, small brooms, scrub brushes
SCHOOL SUPPLY SHOPPING MADE EASY WITH WRITE-ON!
As this year comes to a close we are in planning mode for 2024/25. Ecole Parc works with Write-On School Supplies to offer an easy back to school shopping option for our families. If you choose to order your students supplies through Write-On they are delivered to your door AND our school gets 10% back! The money raised goes to the school to buy necessary supplies for the year. It is a win win for everyone and will be the most pleasant school supply shopping experience ever.
FOR ONLINE ORDERS:
• Go to www.write-on.ca
• Click on “PARENTS – Order Here”
• School Name: Ecole Parc Elementaire - FORT SASKATCHEWAN
• Choose your grade and place your order. You may customize your order if there are items you already have left over from last year.
• Complete your order by clicking ‘PLACE ORDER’
• You will receive an automatic email confirmation to confirm your order has been received
• We accept VISA, MC, AMEX, Visa Debit and Interac On-line.
ORDER BY AUGUST 1ST to GUARANTEE DELIVERY BY AUGUST 29TH
Nut free reminder
A reminder to our families that please avoid sending nut products to school with your student as we have some very severe allergies. We appreciate your support in keeping all our students safe!
Tools for School
Ecole Parc has once again partnered with the United Way for the 2024-25 Tools for School campaign. Annually, Tools for School provides backpacks and school supplies to students in kindergarten through Grade 12 whose families have limited resources. If you’re a parent or know a parent who needs access to the program, contact the school directly. Staff will discretely provide the backpack to the child at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.
Alternatively, if you’d like to donate to the program, you can pick up a few extra supplies when you’re out shopping for back to school in August. Drop-off boxes are located at the EIPS Central Services office, many Staples locations and various businesses in the community. Any supplies donated within the community are invested back into the region.
For more information about Tools for School, contact Sherri Prince at 780-998-3741 or call EIPS Central Services at 780-464-3477.
EIPS Annual Education Results Report
Every year, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) publishes an Annual Education Results Report, which outlines the Division’s Four-Year Education Plan, opportunities for growth and how it’s supporting students to achieve the best possible outcomes. Read through this year’s EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2022-23 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 3), 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 and strategies the Division will use to meet each priority, goal and outcome in the 2024-25 school year.
RELATED INFORMATION
EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2022-23
EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2022-23: Overview
EIPS Three-Year Capital Plan: 2025-28
Check it out at the Library
Lost Library/Home Reading Resources:
If your child loses a library or home reading book, please contact the school. If the book is not found within 30 days, the cost of the resource will be assigned to the “Fees” section of your PowerSchool account. Please note, if the book is found within 30 days, a refund will be granted. However, if the book is found after 30 days, a refund will not be granted as we will have purchased a replacement for the library’s collection.
Celebrate Summer BINGO at the Fort Saskatchewan Public Library! For All Ages!
Everyone’s invited to welcome in summer! The library’s Summer BINGO challenge will help you get out and about and trying new things – or reading your favorite books in the sun! Pick up your monthly summer BINGO card at the Library or play virtually using the Beanstack app. Mark BINGO squares by completing an activity - or “buy” a square by reading for 30 minutes. Kids can earn weekly prizes and completed BINGO cards can be turned in for a new book that’s yours to keep! Teens and adults can play, too, and will earn Booksale Book Bucks and weekly entries into two amazing grand prizes. The games begin July 2 and run until August 31! Information on the Summer BINGO challenge and all of the library’s great FREE summer programs will be available at https://fspl.ca/ beginning June 14. Questions? Call 780-998-4275.
Citizenship at Ecole Parc
At Ecole Parc, we continue to build positive citizenship through the guiding principles of the Seven Sacred Teachings. Each month, we encourage students to focus on one principle or teaching. Our teachers are looking for students who display great examples of this teaching in the classroom and throughout their day. These students may be recognized by earning the Citizenship award for their class. We are currently reviewing all the Teachings!
REMINDER: 2023-24 school fees
School fees for the 2023-24 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 is an error or need help creating a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, contact your child’s school directly before the summer break.
NOTE: Pursuant to Board Policy 23: School Fees and Administrative Procedure 505: School and Administrative Fees, EIPS will forward any unpaid 2023-24 fee amounts to a collection agency. To prevent this from happening, remember to pay your fees before Aug. 31, 2024.
Student Transportation: 2024-25 registration
Planning to use Student Transportation in the 2024-25 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, 2024.
For those students who did not indicate needing transportation services during the registration process and want to now register, contact EIPS’ Student Transportation office at 780-417-8151.
For more information about EIPS Student Transportation, visit www.eips.ca/transportation.
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 non-school days.
Little Elk Island Adventure: Registration
Elk Island Public Schools is once again planning to run the Little Elk Island Adventure, a fun and informative program for first-time school bus riders.
Annually, Student Transportation offers the Little Elk Island Adventure to new riders and their parents. The program’s aim: To help introduce families to busing so they feel comfortable and at ease before even starting school. Through a series of activities, riders learn about school bus safety, danger zones, tips on boarding and how to sit properly on the bus. After that, both the children and parents hop on the bus to practice what they’ve learned by venturing out on a short ride.
The Little Elk Island Adventure is for first-time school bus riders entering the 2024-25 school year. The tentative session dates and times are as follows:
Location Date Time
EIPS Central Services August 12 5 p.m.
EIPS Central Services August 12 6:30 p.m.
EIPS Central Services August 14 5 p.m.
EIPS Central Services August 16 2 p.m.
EIPS Central Services August 16 5 p.m.
EIPS Central Services August 19 2 p.m.
EIPS Central Services August 19 5 p.m.
EIPS Central Services August 20 5 p.m.
EIPS Central Services August 20 6:30 p.m.
EIPS Central Services August 21 5 p.m.
EIPS Central Services August 21 6:30 p.m.
EIPS Central Services August 14 2 p.m.
* Special Education session for PALS and Project Unit Funding students only.
SouthPointe School August 13 5 p.m.
SouthPointe School August 13 6:30 p.m.
** SouthPointe School locations are for students attending schools in Fort Saskatchewan.
SouthPointe School August 22 5 p.m.
* Special Education session for PALS and Project Unit Funding students only.
A.L. Horton Elementary August 15 5 p.m.
*** The A.L. Horton Elementary location is for students attending schools in Vegreville and the surrounding area. This session is a combined session for regular busing students and Special Education students for PALS and Project Unit Funding students.
EIPS Central Services is located at 683 Wye Rd., Sherwood Park
SouthPointe School is located at 11 SouthPointe Blvd., Fort Saskatchewan
A.L. Horton Elementary is located at 5037 48 Ave., Vegreville
Space is limited and pre-registration is required.
More information about busing for kindergarten children is available at: eips.ca/transportation/kindergarten-busing-faq.
Counselors Corner
Attendance
If your student is absent, being picked up early or will be arriving late, we ask that you please email our attendance email at EPEAttendance@eips.ca or call the school at 780-998-3741. Please send any DQ permissions to this email as well.
Medical and Personal Care Plan Forms
If your child requires any medication, please click here to access the form. Please note we have 2 medical forms. We have a Personal Care Plan and an Administering of Medication Form. Please do not send medication with your child for safety reasons.
School Council Information
For information about our School Council and Fundraising society, please visit our website at:
Ecole Parc Playground Expansion Committee
During the 2022/23 school year staff identified that the playground structures were not meeting the needs of all the students, both in type of structure, and space available for students to play. When the playground structure was first built in 2013 there were 180 students in the school. We now have 326. The population has doubled and we have a larger group of students in the PALS and Division 1 (K-3) age group. The existing play structure is designed for ages 5-12. We need an additional play area that meets the needs of students aged 4-8. The goal is to have the project completed within 3 years.
We are excited to hit the ground running with this and officially kick things off this year. We are always looking for more volunteers to join the committee. We meet once a month, time commitment is flexible and there is always lots to do and input needed.
If you are interested in joining the committee or would like more information please feel free to email us at ecoleparcplaygroundexpansion@gmail.com.
Elk Island Public Schools
Download the new My Ride K-12 app
The student transportation routing and planning software used by the Division is getting an app update! The new My Ride K-12 app, which is replacing Ride 360, helps families stay up to date on your child’s bus schedules, route times and scans. Download My Ride K-12 from the App Store or Google Play by April 30.
For more information, visit www.eips.ca/transportation/apps. If you have any questions, contact Student Transportation at st@eips.ca or 780-417-8151.
Pre-kindergarten Programming at EIPS
Is there a preschooler in your life experiencing developmental delays or challenges with speech-language or motor-skill development—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—including Ecole Parc. 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 2020 or 2021, 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.
Get ready for Kindergarten
Do you have a child registered in kindergarten next year? If so, make sure to attend École Parc's upcoming Kindergarten Information Night on May 29, 2024. You’ll get to:
· tour the school;
· meet the teachers;
· gain insight on play-based learning; and
· see what a typical day looks like.
To make the transition to school as smooth as possible, Elk Island Public Schools has put together a toolkit for families. The kit includes information about registration, important dates, programming options, what to expect, eligibility, finding your designated school, transportation and more. Find it at: Welcome to EIPS Kindergarten.
Additional information about École Parc’s kindergarten program is available on the school website. www.Ecoleparc.ca.
Kindergarten Registration now open
Kindergarten Registration is Now Open!
Is your child turning five on or before Dec. 31, 2024? If so, it’s now time to register for kindergarten. To register, simply complete the online registration form at eips.ca/kindergarten.
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 Ecole Parc’s kindergarten program is available at www.ecoleparc.ca.
EIPS Annual Education Results Report
EIPS Annual Education Results Report
Every year, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) publishes an Annual Education Results Report, which outlines the Division’s Four-Year Education Plan, opportunities for growth and how it’s supporting students to achieve the best possible outcomes. Read through this year’s EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2022-23 and discover how EIPS fosters learning environments for all students to learn, grow and thrive—and why it matters.
May Spotlight: the EIPS Annual Education Results Report: Overview. Learn about EIPS’:
· mission and belief statements
· Alberta Education Assurance Measures results
· successes and challenges;
· four-year education plan;
· plus, more.
RELATED INFORMATION
EIPS Four-Year Education Plan: 2022-26
EIPS Three-Year Capital Plan: 2025-28
Updating Contact Information
Has your contact information recently changed?
Have you recently moved or has your contact information changed? EIPS 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. Your review is especially important as the Division prepares for 2024-25 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 780-998-3741.
Did you know?
EIPS is collectively committed to ensuring all members of the school community are provided with welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that respect diversity and foster a sense of belonging.
Specifically, the Division believes that all individuals within EIPS have the right to learn in settings that promote equality of opportunity, dignity and respect regardless of race, age, ancestry, place of origin, colour, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, marital status, family status, socioeconomic status and sexual orientation. Learn more:
· Board Policy 19: Welcoming, Caring, Respectful and Safe Learning and Working Environments
Grizzlies' Greatness
Family and Community Support Services
To register: Groups, Programs, and Workshops