Elements' Weekly Update

Dear Families,

Spring is in full swing, it felt amazing to be outside and enjoy the sunshine!

This week, we were thrilled to welcome Mrs. Rosato, our new assistant principal. She brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm, and we know she will be a wonderful addition to our school. Please join us in giving her a warm welcome!

As the weather continues to change, we encourage students to dress in layers—mornings can be quite cool, but the afternoons are warming up nicely. This will help ensure they are comfortable throughout the school day.

With more students walking and biking to school, it’s a great time to review safety rules at home. Please remind students to use crosswalks, wear helmets if biking, and stay aware of their surroundings to ensure a safe journey to and from school.

A huge THANK YOU to our Parent Society for organizing and to our families for supporting the Cotton Candy fundraiser! Your generosity helps fund school events and enrich the experiences of our students. We appreciate your ongoing support!

Don't forget we are accepting donations for the Class Food Bank Challenge until April 15!

Mrs. Pearn and Mrs. Rosato

• April 15 - Last day to bring in donations for Food Bank Challenge

• April 16 - School Council Caregiver Series - Indigenous Ways of Knowing 5:00 - 5:45pm

• April 16 - School Council and Parent Society Mtg. - 6:00pm

• April 18 - Good Friday - No School

• April 21 - Easter Monday - No School

• April 25 - School Assembly, 11:00am

• April 25 - Kindergarten - Group A

• May 2 - No School - Professional Learning Day

• May 4 - Hot Lunch Orders due for May 9 (McDonalds)

• May 7 - Early Out

• May 7 - Kindergarten Open House - 5:30pm

• May 9 - Hot Lunch - McDonalds

• May 9 - Kindergarten - Group A

Here are some fun ways you can celebrate:

• Experience Read Along Poetry Videos
• Find out more about the Edmonton Poet
  Laureate
• Visit the Strathcona County Library to meet
  their Writer in Residence and hear local poets
  share their work
• The League of Canadian Poets has great
  resources, especially for older children, to
  explore Canadian poetry

Building Fact Fluency at Home

Fact fluency—quick and accurate recall of basic math facts—helps students tackle more complex math with confidence. Fluency isn’t just about memorization; it’s about recognizing patterns, using strategies, and building number sense, using strategies and building number sense.

Here are some fun ways to practice at home:

• Use Strategies – Start with facts your child knows, like doubles (4+4, 6+6), making 10(3+7, 2+8), or skip counting (2s, 5s, 10s), and build from there.
• Flash Cards & Writing Facts – Use traditional flashcards or have kids write out math facts to strengthen recall.
• Sing Songs – Listen to multiplication or addition songs to reinforce facts in a fun way.
• Play Games – Try dice games, card games (like War with addition or multiplication),or board games that involve math.
• Use Online Resources – Websites like 99math and XtraMath provide engaging, structured practice.

Practicing just 5-10 minutes a day in fun, low-pressure ways helps kids build confidence and fluency over time!

Junior high schools across EIPS are hosting information nights for all Grade 6 students and their families—taking place in April and May. Make sure to attend to learn everything you need to know about the junior high programs at your child’s school. Those who attend will also have a chance to:

· meet the teachers;

· tour the school and classrooms;

· learn about the upcoming curriculum; and

· ask questions.

For specific dates and times, see: EIPS Junior High Information Sessions 2025

Do you have a child registered in kindergarten next year? If so, make sure to attend Fort Saskatchewan Elementary's upcoming Kindergarten Information Night on May 7. You’ll get to:

• · tour the school;
• · meet the teachers;
• · gain insight on play-based learning; and
• · see what a typical day looks like.

Kindergarten Information Night 2025:

Date: May 7

Time: 5:30 - 6:30

Location: Fort Saskatchewan Elementary School

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.

Additional information about Fort Saskatchewan’s kindergarten program is available on the school website. https://www.fortelem.ca/programs/kindergarten

We are excited to announce that yearbooks for the 2024-2025 school year are now available for order! This is a wonderful keepsake filled with special memories from the school year.

Please note that orders will only be accepted online this year. The cost of the yearbook is $20, which includes GST and shipping.

The deadline to place your order is Friday, May 16. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to celebrate the year with a treasured keepsake! To place an order, please visit our website: FSE 2024-2025 Yearbook

As we near the end of the school year, we want to remind you that there are only two more Hot Lunch dates remaining!

Please keep in mind:
✅ The cut-off for orders is 7 days before each lunch date.
✅ Full payment is required before the order will be placed. No payment means no meal will be delivered.

If you have any questions, please contact School Council directly at fseparentsociety@gmail.com.

May 9 - McDonalds - orders due on May 4

June 6 - Friendly Food Company

Please join us for our next School Council and Parent Society meeting on April 16 at 6:00pm in the school library. All families are welcome as it is a great way to stay up to date on what is happening in the school.

Prior to the meeting, at 5:00pm, the Parent Society has organized an Informational Caregiver Series on Indigenous Ways of Knowing. This is an opportunity to learn about curriculum objectives on Reconciliation and to ask questions. We would love to see you there!

We are excited to announce our upcoming Food Bank Challenge, running from April 7 - 15! During this time, we encourage students to bring in non-perishable food donations to help support families in need within our community.

Each classroom will have a designated bin for collecting donations. At the end of the two weeks, we will count the number of items in each class’s bin. The class that collects the most donations will win a pizza party!

This is a great opportunity for our students to give back and make a difference. Thank you for your support—we can't wait to see the generosity of our school community in action!

Navigating the Shift: Supporting Your Child From Elementary to Jr. High

Navigating the Shift: Supporting your Child from Elementary to Junior High. - Registration Link

SAFFRON PRESENTS: CYBERWORLD

This training is designed for caregivers to learn about the fast-changing world of online safety and its potential dangers. The session will cover safety tips for current social media platforms and gaming sites and discuss the world of online sexual exploitation.

April 22 - Fort Saskatchewan High - 6:30 - 8:30pm

ANXIETY Q & A SESSION

Join Dr. Caroline online where she is available to answer questions you may have around anxiety.This session is open to all and timely if you have signed up for the Anxiety Pre-recorded Session.

April 23 - Virtual - 7:00 - 7:45pm

CHILDHOOD ADHD: FROM STRUGGLING TO THRIVING

Join this lunch and learn to learn ways to support your child with ADHD as they move from Elementary to Junior High.

April 28 - Virtual - 12 - 1:00pm

SAFFRON PRESENTS: FOUNDATIONS OF CONNECTION

This training provides parents with strategies for communicating with children and youth at different developmental stages to encourage healthy relationships and build on trust and open communication. The goal is to help every caregiver act as a trusted adult for the children and youth in their lives.

April 28 - DOW Centennial Centre: Lions Pride - 6:30 - 8:30pm