Elements' Weekly Update

The first two weeks back at school have been fantastic! We remain dedicated to fostering a positive and supportive environment where students can excel academically, socially, and emotionally. To further promote citizenship and our seven teachings, we are excited to introduce the Citizen of the Month initiative. Each month, teachers will select 1-2 students from their class who exemplify the seven teachings, recognizing and celebrating their contributions to our school community.

Thank you to the families that joined us for our School Council/Parent Society meeting this past Wednesday, it was great to have you join us!

Mrs. Pearn and Mrs. Zapesocki

• January 20 - Fort Saskatchewan Indigenous Family Gathering, 6:00 - 7:30pm (Location: Fort Saskatchewan Elementary Gym)
• January 20 -27 - Parent Teacher Interview bookings available online
• January 27 - Family Literacy Day
• January 29 - No School - Professional Learning Day for staff
• January 29 - Parent Teacher Interviews & Book Fair, 4:00 - 7:00pm
• January 30 - Parent Teacher Interviews & Book Fair, 3:30 - 6:30pm
• January 31 - Shelter In Place Drill

A big thank you to our School Council for funding the new projection board in our gym! This fantastic addition will enhance school events by offering a larger, clearer viewing area. The School Council’s incredible fundraising efforts made this possible, and we are so grateful for their support. We can’t wait to unveil the new projection board at our next assembly!

The safety of our students is our top priority, and we need your help to ensure that everyone arrives and departs from school safely. We kindly remind all parents and guardians to follow traffic and parking signage around the school.

Please avoid parking or stopping in the bus lane, as this interferes with buses’ ability to safely enter and exit at their designated departure times. Keeping this lane clear is essential for ensuring the safety of students boarding and exiting the buses. It is also important that handicap accessible parking spaces are only used if you have the proper permit.

We appreciate your cooperation in following these guidelines and helping us maintain a safe environment for all students. Thank you for your continued support!

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.

We are excited to share the second of 3 Family Gatherings that we host throughout the school year! We hope to see you and your family come out to enjoy the Winter Story Telling of Indigenous knowledge holder Leah Atcheynum, take part in painting story rocks of your own under the guidance of Métis artist Connie Kulhavy, enjoy hot soup, buns and treats, and connect with other families that attend one of the Fort Saskatchewan Elk Island Public Schools outside of the school day setting. We will open in circle and smudge to begin the evening in a good way.

If you are planning to attend, we kindly ask that you RSVP here to aid in the planning of the event, however, please know that the RSVP does not limit attendance if your plans change, and you are able to come after all.

Parent Teacher Interviews are scheduled for the evenings of Wednesday, January 29, from 4:00 - 7:00pm, and Thursday, January 30, from 3:30 -6:30 pm. Kindergarten interviews will also be available the afternoon of Thursday, January 30. Appointments for interviews are made online at https://www.fortelem.ca/bookings Families will be able to book a timeslot beginning Monday, January 20, at 8:00am. Bookings will remain open until Monday, January 27 at 4:00pm.

Is your child turning five on or before Dec. 31, 2025? If so, it’s almost time to register for kindergarten.

Kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year opens on Feb. 1, 2025. 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 Fort Saskatchewan’s kindergarten program is available at https://www.fortelem.ca/programs/kindergarten.

The Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) returning student registration process for 2025-26 takes place Feb. 10-24, 2025. Through the online form, all families will confirm the school and program their child will attend next year or advise the Division if they aren’t returning. For students who want to attend a non-designated school next year, these requests must be submitted through the returning student registration process—acceptance is based on available space.

On February 10, the parent/guardian on file in PowerSchool identified as the Permission Click contact for each pre-kindergarten to Grade 11 student will receive an email through Permission Click with a link to the form. If your family hasn’t received any Permission Click forms this school year, contact the school office so we can investigate any technical issues before registration season.

FCSS offers The Dragonfly Support Group for families looking for connection and support. The Dragonfly Support Group is a monthly group for parents whose children face mental health challenges.

This group is a safe and supportive place for parents and caregivers to:

• share challenges and concerns
• learn and grow as a caregiver, and
• access supports from those who are facing similar struggles.

The next meeting takes place on Monday, January 27 from 6:00 - 7:30pm. Children's programming is available.

To register, please call 780-992-6267.

Learn how to help your teen with the social and technological pressures they face in the world today. Together we will go through research-based ways we can support teens when they are feeling the pressure of their digital lives. Issues addressed include interacting with strangers online, understanding their digital identity, and healthy relationships.

The content of this workshop is geared for parents and caregivers with children between 9-14 years of age.

The presentation is from 6 to 7:30 pm, with an opportunity for Q & A from 7:30 to 8 pm.

Sign Up Here: Digital Well-Being: For Parents and Caregivers of Youth Ages 9 - 14 years, Thursday, January 30, 2025, 6 - 7:30pm - Family and parenting supports | Strathcona County

Raising school-aged children can be both rewarding and challenging, especially when it comes to managing healthcare costs. We wanted to share some valuable programs from the Government of Alberta (GOA) that may help cover prescription drug costs for both youth and adults in families experiencing financial hardship.

Alberta Adult Health Benefit

The Alberta Adult Health Benefit program provides financial assistance to families facing economic challenges to help cover costs related to health services, including prescription medications, dental care, optical care, and more. Learn more and apply here: Alberta Adult Health Benefit | Alberta.ca

Alberta Child Health Benefit

The Alberta Child Health Benefit helps parents cover healthcare expenses for their children, including prescription drugs, dental and optical care, and essential medical supplies. Find out more and apply here: Alberta Child Health Benefit | Alberta.ca

What’s Covered?

To see the full list of prescription drugs covered under these programs, visit the GOA's official site here: Drug Benefit List and Review Process: Drug benefit list and drug review process | Alberta.ca

Under Alberta Education’s School Fee Regulation, schools must consult with parents prior to setting school fees for the upcoming school year. This will take place during our next parent council meeting on January 15, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. Administration will be sharing information about our current fee structure, posing specific questions about priorities, and asking you to provide your feedback as we plan for the next school year. While many of these activities and services enhance students’ educational experience, we want to ensure these fees aren’t cost prohibitive for families.

School administration will use feedback provided to help determine fees for next year, which will then be shared at the February school council meeting, posted to our website and shared via link through email.

We hope you can join us!