Westboro Weekly Newsletter

May 5: Bus Driver Appreciation Day

May 5 - 11: Mental Health Week

May 7: Early Dismissal - Students will be dismissed one hour early at 2:12 p.m.

May 7: Hats on for Mental Health - Wear a hat to school

May 8: Anything But a Backpack Day

May 8: Wellness Assembly 9:10 a.m.

May 8: Elk Island Invitational Relay - Strathcona Athletic Park 4:00 p.m.

May 8: Kindergarten Information Night 6:00 p.m.

May 9: Grade 2 Field Trip The Makery 9:30 a.m.

May 9: Grade 1 Arbor Day 11:35 a.m.

May 10: Deadline to order hot lunch is 9:00 p.m.

Looking ahead:

May 12-16: Gymnastics Week

May 13: School Council Meeting 6:30 p.m.

May 14: Classified Appreciation Day

May 14: Class 4L bowling field trip 9:15 a.m.

May 16: Hot Lunch

May 19: Victoria Day - Stat. Holiday: No school for students or staff

May 21: Grade 1 Teacher's Pet in school field trip 1:00 p.m.

May 21: Class 4L bowling field trip

May 22: Class picture day

May 23: Family dance

May 28: PAT Grade 6: English Language Arts & Literature (Part A) 9:00 a.m.

Join us on May 5 as we recognize and thank our school bus operators for keeping the safety of our students their first priority. We encourage you, and your children, to take a moment to say thanks to our bus operators—who go above and beyond to provide safe and timely transportation to our students.

On behalf of Westboro Elementary THANK YOU to all of our school bus operators for a job well done.

Do you have a child registered in kindergarten next year? If so, make sure to attend Westboro Elementary's upcoming Kindergarten Information Night on Thursday, May 8 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: Thursday, May 8

Time: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Location: Westboro Elementary

Anything But a Backpack Day is a fun, creative event where students are encouraged to carry their school supplies in unconventional ways, but with some key rules in mind. The primary rule is to avoid using backpacks, and all items must be school-appropriate and safe to handle.

Here's a breakdown of common rules and guidelines:

General Rules:

• No Backpacks: The core rule is to abstain from using backpacks. Students must find alternative methods for carrying their school supplies.

• School Appropriate: Items must be suitable for school and adhere to the school's dress code and guidelines.
• Safety First: Items should not be fragile, breakable, or pose a risk of injury to the student or others.
• Student-Controlled: Items must be carried and controlled by the student and cannot be ridden on.
• No Living Creatures: No living animals or other living things are permitted as carrying devices.

Speaking of amazing VOLUNTEERS…

A HUGE thank you to some of our student volunteers!

Our patrollers of the month for March AND April! These teams

March

Joel and Laysen Aubrey D., Audrey and Olivia

April

Mya, Aiza and Ruby Erik, Joef and Gibo

Ordering for Hot Lunch on May 16 is now open until Saturday, May 10 at 9 p.m.! This month's vendors are Cobbs and Booster Juice!

You can now place your hot lunch (and future fundraising) 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.

We are always in need of volunteers! There is a volunteer page in the online system where you can checkmark which dates you are available. The hot lunch coordinator will then contact you with a proposed schedule.

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

Please see the meeting minutes from the School Council meeting held on April 8, 2025.

Westboro School Council Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025.

Westboro Parent's Society Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025.

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

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

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.

April Spotlight: Enhancing public education through effective engagement

· Rules of engagement: Using a collaborative approach to improve student achievement and success

· Driving change: Strengthening public education through Board advocacy

RELATED INFORMATION
Annual Education Results Report 2023-24: Overview
EIPS Four-Year Education Plan: 2022-26
EIPS Three-Year Capital Plan: 2026-29

Each school has a School Education Plan on its website. Annually, these plans are updated for the next school year to reflect schools’ goals, strategies and measures—all based on priorities found in the EIPS Four-Year Education Plan. School administration update their plans after reviewing school-specific results from the EIPS Annual Feedback Survey and consulting with staff, families and school councils in April. A School Education Plan helps a school community focus on what’s most important in its own specific context from year to year. To view your child’s School Education Plan, visit your school’s website and find the relevant home page block.

Free Comic Book Day is an annual event that sees libraries across the globe give away special comic books for free! Strathcona County Library will be taking part this year, with selections for kids, teens and adults—while quantities last. Presented in partnership with Rolling Tales Pop Culture.

Connect Parent

Strong communication is important to foster healthy development and lasting family connections. Join us and explore new perspectives on parent-teen relationships and concrete strategies for success.

Circle of Security

Parenting can be challenging, and at times, it’s hard to know what our child needs. This program helps participants understand their child’s emotions and gain practical tools to foster a secure and connected relationship with their child through guided discussions, videos and reflections.

Call 780-416-6730 to see if these programs are a fit for you!

Empower yourself and your family with FREE safety courses!

Are you ready to make a difference in our community and ensure the safety of your loved ones? Strathcona County is offering FREE courses that can equip you with essential life-saving skills. Whether you're looking to learn CPR and AED, fire extinguisher training or preparing your kids (ages 8-12) to stay home alone safely, we've got you covered!

• CPR and AED training: Learn how to save lives in emergencies with hands-on training.
• Fire extinguisher training: Get practical knowledge on how to handle fire emergencies effectively.
• Home alone course: Ensure your kids are confident and safe when staying home alone.
• Personal emergency preparedness course: The time to prepare is now! Learn how.

Don't miss out on these incredible opportunities to enhance your safety skills and knowledge. Sign up and take the first step towards a safer tomorrow!

Explore courses and sign up today!

https://ow.ly/HPUz50VK5q0

Designed for all ages and stages of life, the Everybody Can brochure is your one-stop shop for affordable supports and services in Strathcona County! Find support for:

• Food, clothing and housing
• Finances and employment
• Children and families
• Transportation and recreation
• Health and wellness

Download the guide and learn more at strathcona.ca/EverybodyCan

Current events, the news cycle and financial uncertainty can be stressful for you and your family. Here are some tips from Rebecca from the Family Resource Network, to help take care of yourself and your family when feeling stressed or uncertain.

Check out some more tips for supporting our children during uncertain times: https://ow.ly/Fsl450VCJRX

The Family Resource Network is here to help, call 780-416-6730 or visit Strathcona.ca/families to learn more about programs and services that support families.