Westboro Weekly Newsletter

September 11: WBO fire inspection 2-3 p.m.

September 19: Little Elk Island Adventure for kindergarten and Bus Evacuation Drill for grade 1-6

September 20: Terry Fox run 9:25 a.m.

September 24: School pictures

Her role as an Educational Assistant will be to work closely with the kindergarten teacher to support classroom activities, assist students with their learning, and ensure each child receives the attention they need to succeed.

We are confident that Mrs. Diaz will make the classroom an even more engaging and joyful place for our youngest students.

Please join us in giving Mrs. Diaz a warm welcome as she embarks on this new journey with our school. We are excited to see the wonderful things she will help our kindergarteners achieve!

Our School Council and Parents' Society is looking to fill two important roles:

Hot lunch Coordinator and Treasurer.

Hot lunch Coordinator

Our Hot Lunch Program has always been a favorite among students, offering them a break from packed lunches and a chance to enjoy a warm meal. However, we need a new Hot Lunch Coordinator to keep the program running smoothly. This role involves organizing lunch menus, coordinating with vendors, and managing the distribution of meals on hot lunch days. If you are detail-oriented and enjoy working with both kids and food, this is a perfect opportunity to make a difference!

Treasurer

Our school Parents' Society also needs a Treasurer to help oversee the financial side of our activities. The Treasurer plays a key role in budgeting, tracking funds, and ensuring our council remains financially transparent. If you have a background in finance or simply a knack for numbers, we would love for you to join us!

Both positions offer a chance to directly contribute to the success of our school and build stronger connections with other parents and staff. If you’re interested or would like more information, please reach out to us at westboroparents@gmail.com. Your support is essential in continuing to provide quality programs for our children.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to our school!

Dear Westboro Parents,

We will have a Terry Fox Assembly on September 20 at 9:25 a.m., and then Westboro classes will complete the Terry Fox Run outside immediately following the assembly (weather permitting). Westboro parents and family members are welcome to attend the assembly and Terry Fox Run with us.

If Westboro families would like to show their support by donating, here is the link:

https://schools.terryfox.ca/westboroelementary

Please also note that the QR code on the Pledge Sheets does not link directly to our school in the Terry Fox Foundation website. Please use the link above instead.

Westboro School will NO LONGER COLLECTING CASH DONATIONS for this event, please use the link.

Thank you for supporting our school in the fight against cancer and for continuing Terry’s legacy!

Westboro Terry Fox Committee

During an emergency, our first priority is the safety of our students and staff. In order to provide an effective response to any school crisis, the division has developed an Emergency Response Plan. The plan works in conjunction with other local emergency plans, since a school emergency could require the involvement of numerous agencies. The plans created for individual schools, along with the division plan, are reviewed annually and after an emergency occurs.

For more information about our emergency preparedness plans, please review our School Emergency Preparedness - Guide for Parents and Guardians.

Emergency Preparedness | Elk Island Public Schools | EIPS

To improve safety and security in schools, the Division is announcing a new initiative to keep student safety and learning a top priority. Effective for the start of the 2024-25 school year, all school exterior doors, including the front door, will remain locked during operation hours, and opened for student access during specific school entry times.

Learn more about the new building security and door locking initiative.

Please communicate your child’s absence, leaving school early or arriving late directly to

general.wbo@eips.ca or click BUTTON BELOW. These emails are both checked regularly by the school office staff. Do not communicate this information to only the teacher. Situations occur when the homeroom teacher is away and your information will not be received by the office staff who are required to maintain an accurate record of attendance for students throughout the day.

If medication is to be administered to your child at school a form must be completed by the parent/guardian. The medication must be brought to school in the original container with a legible label. Please click the link button to complete the form online through Permission Click.

Forms must be completed on a yearly basis.

Our school zone is a very busy place before and after school. Ensuring our students safety is our first 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 note that there is no parking or stopping in front of the school during drop off and pick-up times. That area is designated for buses only. There is also no parking in the STAFF PARKING lots on the east and west sides of the school. The staff parking stalls are ALL spoken for and any quick drop offs or pick ups can cause great disruptions for our staff. There is parking available in the mall parking lot across from the school, in the middle and outer (closest to Broadmoor Blvd.) rows ONLY. Please obey all the cross walk markings during the busy times in the mornings and afternoons. Students will continue patrolling the crosswalk areas, please respect their requests as they assist Mrs. Labrecque and Mrs. Prouse in supervising the arrival and departure of our students.

In June, the Government of Alberta released Ministerial Order: Standards for the Use of Personal Mobile Devices and Social Media in Schools. The Division is currently reviewing administrative procedures and guidelines to align with these new standards. Effective for the 2024-25 school year, students will not have access to social media platforms on student devices or any devices connected to the guest network. The fully updated procedures will be shared with families as soon as they are finalized, but no later than Jan. 1, 2025.

Your child’s school and the Division use SchoolMessenger for communicating with families—through phone and email. You can directly manage your phone and email subscription preferences through your SchoolMessenger account.

Learn more about SchoolMessenger, manage your preferences and download the app.

The PowerSchool Parent Portal is an interactive web-based platform where parents and guardians can access attendance, grades and fee information for all students registered in the Division, as well as provide updates to family contact information as needed. One account provides access to the information about all students in your family.

Learn more about PowerSchool and how to set up your Parent Portal account if you’re new to EIPS.

EIPS uses the online Permission Click platform for many school and Division forms. The system makes the form submission process for families simple and straightforward, and forms are easily fillable from your mobile device.

Learn more about Permission Click and who these forms are sent to.

Is your child riding the bus this year? If yes, download the My Ride and Bus Status apps to stay in the know about your child’s bus stop location, route, pickup time and whether their bus is running on schedule.

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.

When reviewing the form, pay close attention to all listed phone numbers, email addresses and emergency contact information. Also, if you recently moved, now is the time to ensure the Division has your updated address. Throughout the year, the Division and school use the listed information to communicate with families about important information, including updates, the latest news and events.

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 780-467-7751.

Did you know you can sync the school calendar to your own calendar? Simply, visit www.westboroelementary.ca and click on the applicable subscription option:

· Download to iCal

· Add to Google Calendar

· Subscribe to Calendar

NOTE: Options are located above the calendar.

Once you click on the desired subscription option, follow the instructions. Within seconds, your calendar will contain all Westboro Elementary’s important dates including holidays, school-closures days, planned activities, events and more.

EIPS has three administrative procedures (APs) that address the Division’s code of conduct:

· AP 311: Welcoming, Caring, Respectful and Safe Learning Environments for Students

· AP 350: Student Code of Conduct

· AP 351: Student Conduct on School Buses

The Division, and Westboro Elementary, are committed to ensuring all members of the school community are provided with welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that respect diversity and foster a sense of belonging. EIPS encourages all students, staff and families to review the procedures to understand and practice the conduct expected throughout the Division.

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 the fees on the school website. Alternatively, contact Billie Jean Mepham at Westboro Elementary at 780-467-7751.

Did you know each EIPS bus is equipped with video surveillance, and many school sites have video monitoring equipment?

Video surveillance and equipment help:

· ensure the safety of all students, staff, drivers and property; and

· discourage destructive acts.

As needed, EIPS school administration and Student Transportation staff review video recordings, in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act. The recordings assist schools and the Division with monitoring student and driver conduct and may be used as evidence in a disciplinary matter.

For more information about the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, contact the EIPS FOIP Co-ordinator at 780-464-3477.

The Board of Trustees meets throughout the school year to discuss and make decisions regarding matters important to students, families, schools, communities and public education overall. Community members are encouraged and welcome to attend in person or to tune into the public livestream on the EIPS YouTube channel. For 2024-25 Board Meeting dates, visit the EIPS website and subscribe to the Division calendar.

Alberta Health Services offers free online programming for parents and caregivers of children and youth. Sessions are offered through Zoom. The list of September 2024 sessions is now available.