Knightly News

Elk Island Public Schools’ (EIPS) returning student registration process is now open. All current students, except Grade 12, must complete the online Returning Student Registration Form to confirm their enrolment in a school and program for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. Additionally, students who want to attend a non-designated school or program need to make that request through the returning student registration process—acceptance is based on available space. All current EIPS students are required to complete the form by Feb. 24, 2025.

To complete your child’s returning student registration, refer to the Returning Student Registration Form email you received from Elk Island Public Schools through Permission Click on February 10. Families will receive one email for each student. No log in is required to complete the form.

For more information, contact the school directly.

RELATED INFORMATION:
Returning Student Registration Process
Frequently Asked Questions
EIPS School Boundary Maps
Closed Boundaries 2025-26
Find my designated school
Applying to a non-designated school

It is Black History Month, and we will be sharing information on prominent individuals who have had an impact on Canada. You can find further information on Black History Month in the link below.

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month.html

We are also bringing in a guest speaker, Toni Harrison on February 20 for a presentation for our entire school. Information on that presentation is below:

Racism Isn't Funny

A deconstruction of the way racism is often encountered in schools as "jokes". We cover what microaggressions are, historical examples of how "racist jokes" have caused harm and continue to cause harm.

Did you know we have a Money Management course as an option course for our Grade 9 students? Not only did they go on a field trip to Innovative Mortgage and ATB, but they also had a sales challenge.

The Money Management 9 class wrapped up semester one with a pizza challenge. Students set up their own advertising strategy, set their price point, and then sold pizza at their price point to raise money for their charity of choice. The winning company was Pepperoni Power, and all proceeds went to their charity, Make A Wish Foundation. The class donated just over $300!

Kindness week is coming up, and we are starting early! We have these posters around our school to share ways to spread kindness everyday, because we could all use a smile and a kind word!

Each class also has a Kindness Bingo Card to acknowledge and track Random Acts of Kindness!

Our student tutors are still going strong! This means a leadership opportunity for our grade 9 students, and an extra learning opportunity for all students, including our tutors! In December, we had a ton of students who came for our peer tutoring. The atmosphere was very positive with lots of support from our tutors with the watchful eye of Mrs. Yeo and Mrs. Gotaas.

If your student could benefit from some tutoring, and is interested they can connect with any of their teachers, Mrs. Yeo or Mrs. Gotaas.

Yearbooks for the 2024-25 school year are now available to be ordered. They will be delivered in the fall of 2025. To order a yearbook, you can pay the fee through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Yearbooks must be ordered in advanced and aren't available for purchase in the fall.

The deadline to place your order is April 25, 2025.

Alberta Education has implemented a new Digital Assessment Platform (DAP) for all PAT and Diploma exams. Clover Bar and Elk Island Public Schools has a plan to give our students time to practice with the DAP to be prepared for their PAT's in June.

Families can also check out the new DAP through the Alberta Education website:

https://www.alberta.ca/provincial-achievement-tests;

• then clicking on Digital tests and exams;
• students can practice navigating the assessment platform or use the practice exams.

The DAP will only be used for PAT's for our grade 9's. The grade 7 and 8 Common Exams will NOT use the DAP this year.

Monday, February 17 - Family Day - School Closed

Tuesday, February 18 - Day 4 - S4L 9 Trip to Canmore

9:00am - CLB Admin Meeting

10:00am - CLB Finance Meeting - Mr. Shudra and Mrs. McElheran

6:00pm - CLB Parent Council Meeting

Wednesday, February 19 - Day 5 - S4L 9 Trip to Canmore

7:30am - EIPS Leadership Cohort Meeting - Mrs. Orr

EIPS Leadership Meeting - Mr. Shudra and Mrs. Orr away

Mr. Wooden Acting Assistant Principal

Thursday, February 20 - Day 6 - Band Trip to Gull Lake

1:00pm to 3:00pm - SFS Consultant Visit

1:30pm - School Wide Guest Speaker

Friday, February 21 - Day 1 - Band Trip to Gull Lake

1:00pm - Collaborative Response Template Meeting - Mrs. Orr away

Feb 17 - Family Day - School Closed

Feb 18 - Random Acts of Kindness Day

Feb 24 - Returning Student Registration Closes

Feb 26 - Pink Shirt Day

March 1 - Start of Ramadan

March 7 - Professional Learning Day

To send a Knightly Kudos, you can click on the image above or the link below. Thank you!

Knightly Kudos Form

Mark your calendars! Registration for EIPS Summer School opens March 17.

Make the most of your summer with more than 40 senior high courses where students can earn credits, upgrade marks, lighten their workloads or finish needed prerequisites.

Summer School Dates and times:

July 7th – 31st (5 credit) 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

July 7th – 18th (Session 1) 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

July 21st – 31st (Session 2) 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

August 5th – 13th Diploma Exams

Summer School Locations:

Bev Facey (most classes), Salisbury (gymnasiums), F.R. Haythorne (gymnasiums)

For more information, see the Summer School page on Next Step’s website: https://www.eipsnextstep.ca/summer-school

The next municipal election is on Oct. 20, 2025—an important component of this is the election of school trustees. Trustees are elected representatives who are knowledgeable about the communities they serve, and are accountable to students, families, staff and community members of a school division. Once sworn in, these individuals work diligently to promote and advocate for a strong public education system. Learn more

EIPS’ Annual Education Results Report 2023-24 is now available online. The report details how EIPS is doing relative to Alberta Education’s performance measures; how it’s supporting students to achieve the best possible outcomes; and its successes, challenges and priority strategies moving forward. A brief overview of the report is also available.

If your child misses just two days a month for any reason for ten of their school years, they’ll have missed the equivalent of one entire year of school. Students who frequently miss school, even as early as kindergarten, are also more likely to have difficulty in school, at post-secondary and in their career. As every family has unique circumstances, EIPS uses a multi-tiered approach to re-engage students with chronic absenteeism. In addition, the Division promotes strategies to support and encourage regular attendance for all students. If you’re concerned about consistent student attendance for your child or youth, contact the school for support. An informative video is also available.

The Caregiver Newsletter provides resources, sessions, and support to families on a variety of topics. Click on the link below to access to latest Newsletter.

Strathcona County Family and Community Services is excited to share the details for a cross-cultural parenting program called Parenting in Canada that will be running on February 12, 19, and 26 (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm). A light supper will be provided. Transportation support is available as needed. Childcare is not available.

Topics of discussion may include:

· cultural similarities and differences in parenting

· programs and supports for children and families (recreation, education, health care)

· tips for raising children in a multi-cultural environment while maintaining home language and culture

If you are new to Canada and are interested in connecting with other parents and learning about resources and tips for raising children in Canada, please share the attached postcard with them.

The program will be facilitated in English, so participants need to feel comfortable communicating in English. Any parent who is not originally from Canada is considered an immigrant parent no matter how long they have been in Canada. Priority is given to Strathcona County residents.

Immigrant parents who are interested can call 780-416-6730 or email FamilyResourceNetwork@strathcona.ca. Schools can make a referral by reaching out directly to the program facilitators, German Villegas (german.villegas@strathcona.ca) and Linh Nguyen (linh.nguyen@strathcona.ca).

EIPS has a partnership with Alberta Health Services to support students and families with coordinated health services. This includes immunizations, but also goes beyond that. Below is a resource page so that you are informed of what that partnership brings.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at general.clb@eips.ca or 780-467-2295.

Community Supports

Family and Community Service

(FCS) call-in hours 780-464-4044

Monday, Fridays: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868

The Distress Line 780-482-4357

Strathcona Food Bank - 780-449-6413