Westboro Weekly Newsletter

March 3: Grade 6 Alberta Legislature field trip 8:45 a.m.

March 5: Interview bookings open for booking at 8:30 a.m.

March 5: Early Dismissal at 2:12 p.m.

March 7: Professional Learning Day - No school for students

March 8: International Women's Day

Looking ahead:

March 10-14: Substitute Appreciation Week

March 10-14: Week of Inspirational Math

March 11: Managing Anxiety Discussion and Planning Hour 6:30 p.m.

March 11: School Council Meeting 6:30 p.m.

March 14: Pi Day

March 14: Report Cards go live at 3:00 p.m.

March 17: Interview booking close 3:00 p.m.

March 18 & 19: Student/Parent/Teacher Interviews

March 20: Kindergarten field trip to Sherwood Bowl 10:00 a.m.

March 21: School Closure Day

March 24-28: Spring Break

March 31: National Indigenous Languages Day

Student/Parent/Teacher Interviews will take place on March 18 and 19 (4 - 7 p.m.)

Note:

• Kindergarten interviews are on March 18 only.
• Mrs. Graziano and Mrs. Richard interviews are on March 18 only.

Bookings open Wednesday, March 5 at 8:30 a.m. and close Monday, March 17 at 3:00 p.m.

Go to https://schoolinterviews.ca/code/ymsyx and follow these simple instruction.

1. Enter your details.

2. Select the teachers you wish to see.

3. Select the appointment times that suit your family best.

When you click FINISH, your interview timetable will be emailed to you automatically.

If you do not receive your email immediately – check your junk mail folder.

Ordering for Hot Lunch on March 14 is now open until Saturday, March 8! This month's vendor is The Canadian Brewhouse.

Please place your orders online using MunchaLunch.com! You can pay for your orders online using credit card (Visa / Mastercard), debit-credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay or pre-paid credit card.

HOW TO REGISTER:

1) Go to: https://munchalunch.com/schools/westboro

2) Click the “Register Here” button (as shown below). The system will guide you through.

3) After adding your children, click the green “Order Lunch!” button to order.

4) Next time, just click the “Login Here” button to access your account.

HOW TO REGISTER IF YOU ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL:

1) Go to: https://munchalunch.com/addaccount

2) Click the “Start” button. The system will guide you through.

3) After adding your children, click the green “Order Lunch!” button to order.

4) Next time, just click the “Login Here” button to access your account.

ORDERING INFORMATION:

If you need assistance with ordering, or do not have access to the internet, please contact our new hot lunch coordinator, Nicole at westborohotlunch@gmail.com.

Please note if your child is ill on a lunch date, you are welcome to come and pick up their lunch by 12:30 p.m.; otherwise please consider it a donation. Consistent with previous years, there are NO REFUNDS.

Our thanks to the Westboro Elementary parent community for supporting hot lunch and to our wonderful volunteers who help make this program a success!

Make weekly checks for head lice a regular part of your child’s personal hygiene routine!

Head lice is a common problem faced by school-aged children and their families. Cases of head lice often increase following school breaks due to such things as sleepovers. While head lice control is primarily a family responsibility, families, the school, and the community all have a role to play.

Talk to your child and try to normalize lice as common in school children. Lice are not dangerous, anyone can get them, lice do not carry germs and do not make you sick; they are found in both clean and dirty hair, and they can easily be treated using a special lice shampoo.

Also, talk to your child about proactive behaviors they can take to help prevent the spread of head lice. This includes avoiding head contact, and not sharing combs, hats, pillows, and hair accessories. Your child should know that teasing other students about head lice is unacceptable because just like the common cold, anyone can get head lice. It’s essential that each family does its part at home by undertaking weekly head checks. Early detection and removal of live lice and nits (eggs) should be part of routine personal hygiene. For further information, visit the AHS website or contact 811 Health Link.

We are excited to announce the launch of our Family Mental Wellness Challenge, running from February 24th to March 20th.

You may be wondering how this will work... Well, each student will receive a passport with pages including a QR code and reflection questions. When scanned with a digital device, the code will take you to a short video. After watching the video, we encourage you to discuss the reflection questions with your family! Once you've completed the video and discussion, please sign at the bottom of the page.

At the end of the challenge, every student who has all four passport pages signed will be entered into a draw to win a Family Prize Basket. Completed passports must be submitted by Thursday, March 20th. The winner will be announced on Friday, March 21st, just in time to enjoy the basket over Spring Break!

If you have any questions, feel free to email julia.knudsen@eips.ca.

Thank you and good luck!

Miss Julia Knudsen

EIPS Annual Feedback Survey

Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) wants to hear from you. Every year, EIPS conducts a feedback survey to gauge its progress toward meeting the goals and priorities outlined in its Four-Year Education Plan. Collectively, the Division uses the survey feedback to help guide future planning, decision-making and strategies—all aimed at enhancing student learning and better serving the wider community.

Complete the 2024-25 EIPS Annual Feedback Survey: For Parents and Caregivers by March 21.

Alberta Education Assurance Survey

The Alberta Education Assurance survey gathers feedback on the quality of education provided by school authorities and their schools. Schools and school authorities use this information to understand how they are doing and plan for the future. Grades 4 parents and caregivers have received information directly from the school on how to complete the survey. Complete the Alberta Education Assurance survey by March 21—learn more. For questions or concerns, contact the school.

New student registration for the 2025-26 school year is open!

For tips on filling out the form, refer to How to Register a New Student.

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 opened 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 Westboro Elementary's kindergarten program is available at www.westboroelementary.ca/about/kindergarten

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. 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 2021 or 2022, 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.

Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) has updated EIPS Administrative Procedure 146: Social Media, as per the new legislation from the provincial government. The procedure includes rules for using personal devices at school and banned social media platforms. Learn more

Remember, be aware of thin ice this time of year. Depending on changing temperatures, ice can form and melt to varying degrees on outdoor bodies of water. Try to remind your child about the dangers of thin ice, obey all posted signs, take proper care and remain a safe distance from the ice.

For more information about ice safety, visit the Canadian Red Cross.

Did you know?

The colour of ice may be an indication of its strength. Clear blue ice is the strongest. White opaque is half as strong as blue ice. And, grey ice is unsafe—greyness indicates the presence of water.

Every year, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) publishes an Annual Education Results Report, which outlines the Division’s Four-Year Education Plan, growth opportunities, and how it supports students in achieving the best possible outcomes. Read through this year’s EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2023-24 and discover how EIPS fosters learning environments for all students to learn, grow and thrive—and why it matters.

March Spotlight: Student Growth and Success

• Early Learning: Ensuring early learners reach developmental milestones
• Culture of Literacy: Dive deep into the data and learn how students are developing strong literacy skills
• Math Matters: Enhancing reasoning, understanding and achievement through numeracy-rich classrooms
• Boosting Educational Outcomes: How EIPS supports the growth and achievement of self-identified First Nations, Métis or Inuit students.
• Beyond High School: Supports and strategies that are creating real-life career pathways for learners

RELATED INFORMATION
EIPS Four-Year Education Plan: 2022-26
EIPS Three-Year Capital Plan: 2025-28

EIPS is seeking two volunteer community members to serve on its Audit Committee. The Audit Committee reports to the Board of Trustees and is comprised of three elected trustees and two volunteers residing within EIPS boundaries. This opportunity provides valuable experience in the financial oversight of one of Alberta’s largest school divisions with an operating budget of approximately $210 million. The committee keeps EIPS accountable for every dollar spent to enhance student success. The closing date for this opportunity is March 7, 2025. For more information and to apply, visit the EIPS website.

Kids Have Stress too! (parent education workshop)

Stress is a normal part of everyday life for kids and adults, but too much stress can be overwhelming. Join us for this workshop to look at strategies for children aged 3 to 8, to help reduce stress and support your child to develop effective coping techniques.

Courage Quest (for kids in grades 3 & 4)

Join us as we explore how to develop confidence, work through emotions, establish healthy friendships and try new things! This interactive program will create a safe space for kids to connect and learn new skills while having fun.

Register at strathcona.ca/families, space is limited.

Find more programs: https://ow.ly/uXQm50UEInX

Upcoming Free Programming - Calendar here

Art to Heart – Spring Break Program.

Ages Grade 6 and older.

Tuesday March 25, 1-3 p.m.

160 Festival Way, Sherwood Park

Unleash your creativity by diving into art activities and meet new friends. No artistic skills required, just bring a friend and your imagination!

Mental Motion – Spring Break Program.

Ages Grade 6 and older.

Wednesday March 26, 1-3 p.m.

160 Festival Way, Sherwood Park

Boost your mental wellbeing and build skills through fun physical activities. This program gets kids moving while building their brains and fueling their minds.

Cook it Up – Spring Break Program.

Ages Grade 6 and older.

Thursday March 27, 1-3 p.m.

160 Festival Way, Sherwood Park.

Explore cooking and learn how to fuel your body and boost your mental health. No prior cooking experience needed – just your enthusiasm!

The days are getting longer, which means there’s more time to get outside and enjoy winter activities.

Getting outside has a positive impact on your wellbeing. Simply getting outside can reduce your stress and increase your happiness, allowing you to decompress, slow down and connect with yourself, your family and your friends.

Create your own local adventure by exploring your neighbourhood! Go for a walk, take out your snowshoes, find a cross-country ski trail, head to a toboggan hill or go for a skate on a nearby outdoor rink.

Find information about winter activities here: https://www.strathcona.ca/.../festival.../winter-activities/