Elements' Weekly Update

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• September 23 - School Wide Bus Evacuation Drill
• September 23 - Little Elk Island Adventrues (Kindergarten A)
• September 23 - Connie Kulhavy - Orange Shirt Day lesson
• September 24 - LIttle Elk Island Adventures (Kindergarten B)
• September 24 - Fort Saskatchewan Indigenous Family Gathering 6-7pm
• September 25 - PowerSchool Correction and Verification Form Update due
• September 27 - Orange Shirt Day in honour of September 30
• September 30 - No School - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The school zone and parking lot is a very busy place during morning drop off and afterschool pick up. Student safety is our number one priority. Parents/guardians are reminded of the speed zone in the area in front of the school, as well as be reminded that there are no U-turns allowed anywhere within the school boundaries. Please remember there is no parking or stopping in front of the school during drop off and pick-up times as it is the bus lane only. Visitor parking is located to the east of the front doors. When in the parking lot, please ensure everyone's safety by driving slowly and being aware of other cars and people.

Our school counsellor, Ms. Melnyk, has creted a resource page on our school website. You can access it by clicking on Menu and then selecting Counsellor's Corner. The past few weeks Ms. Melnyk has been going into classrooms and teaching students about their 'Incredible Brains!' The lesson includes an introduction to three important parts of our brain. There is the pre-frontal cortex, known as the Wise Owl. This is the thinking part of our brain and helps us to make decisions. Next is the hippocampus and is referred to as the Memory Saver. Our hippocampus helps us to learn, create new memories and use the information from previous memories. The amygdala is another important part and is where we feel emotions and is used to keep us safe. During the lesson students learned about how our bodies feel and act when we are feeling stressed and are unable to access our pre-frontal cortex, the thinking part of our brain. Ms. Melnyk introduced and practiced strategies to help our brains and bodies feel safe and calm. You can learn about some of the strategies by clicking on September Strategies on her Counsellor's Corner page!

An important aspect of keeping students safe is ensuring they have arrived safely at school. Please communicate your child’s absence, or if they are leaving school early or arriving late. Click on this link to take you to our Contact Us page to keep the school informed. You can also call the school at 780-998-771 to the report absences.

Thank you for your support!

Wondering when and how to pay for school fees? School fee information for the 2024-25 school year will be posted on the PowerSchool Parent Portal in late September. All fees are due within 30 days of being posted. NOTE: Additional fees may be added throughout the year—for example, at the beginning of each semester, as your child takes part in various activities, or they may be adjusted by changes in selected optional courses in junior and senior high school. If you’re unable to pay your school fees, you can apply to have certain fees waived. The application deadline is Dec. 16, 2024.

For more information, visit our School Fees page on the school website. Alternatively, contact Ms. Marcoux-Jones, business manager at Fort Saskatchewan Elementary at 780-998-771.

Did you know our School Council has already organized some amazing hot lunches for the school year? If you are interested in ordering hot lunch you need to go to www.HealthyHunger.ca and click "No Obligation Sign Up." Once your account is created you are able to view all up-coming dates for Fun Lunches, place orders, and pay for your orders online. For more information visit our school website and click on Parents under the Menu button and then Hot Lunch.

The EIPS Correction and Verification Form is available online through your PowerSchool Parent Portal—at the top of the left-hand menu. Use the form to access and update your child’s records information—including address, parent and guardian information, emergency contacts and medical information. Reviewing the form and submitting updates ensures the school has the most up-to-date information regarding your child.

PowerSchool Correction and Verification Form Review and update the form by Sept. 25, 2024.

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

Our first of 3 Family Gatherings that the EIPS Fort Saskatchewan First Nations, Metis, Inuit Lead Education Teachers host throughout the school year is fast approaching on September 24, 6-7:00 at the West Rivers Edge Pavilion. Please bring a lawn chair, your family and come out to enjoy the music of Indigenous Artist Curt Young, eat some bannock and treats, and connect with other families that attend one of the Fort Saskatchewan Elk Island Public Schools outside of the school setting. We will open in circle and smudge to begin the evening in a good way.

We hope to see you there!

Mark your calendars for the next 2 gatherings which take place on January 21 and May 27!

Alberta Health Services offers free online programming for parents and caregivers of children and youth. Sessions are offered through Zoom. Click here for the list of September Sessions.