Elmdale School
September Newsletter
Principal's Message
Hello Everyone,
It is so great to see children back at Elmdale. Walking through the classes I see many smiles (smiling eyes!) and lots of happy, excited, and calm chatter. Outside at recess the squeals of joy, laughter, shrieks of excitement fill the air. This is good!
We know this year will look different, but it is our goal at Elmdale to make the school experience as normal as possible. We have staggered entry points and recess zones, we have scheduled bathroom breaks to keep cohorts apart, we have adjusted our timetable to have cohorts use our multipurpose spaces back to back (gym, music, library), and have increased our cleaning protocols to follow divisional and provincial mandates and guidelines. We know that this is not a no-risk situation, but we are doing our best to make it a low-risk situation.
We are asking that parents come alongside us and work through the new procedures and protocols with your children. Explain why we are doing this and how we are doing our best to keep everyone safe. We may not always understand the rules or the reasons why we do things a certain way, but we encourage you to understand that everything we are doing is done with lots of thinking and planning behind it. If you disagree with or have questions about how something is being done, please contact your child's teacher or the office for clarification.
Together, we can make this another awesome year at Elmdale!
Mr. Vince Hiebert
Principal: Elmdale School
Email: vhiebert@hsd.ca
Instagram: elmdalehsd
Important Dates
September 8 Administration Day (no classes)
September 8 Meet the Teacher by appointment (Gr 1-4)
September 9 First Day of School
September 9-10 Kindergarten interviews (by appointment)
Sep. 11,14,15,17 Kindergarten staggered entry (K students attend one day)
September 18,21 Strong Connections (students attend one of 2 days)
September 25 Terry Fox Run
October 12 Thanksgiving Day (no classes)
October 19,20 Picture Days
CLICK HERE for our ongoing Elmdale Calendar
CLICK HERE for a Year at a Glance Calendar from HSD
Self-Screening
Elmdale Daily Routine
8:50 a.m. Bell - Students come in
9:00 a.m. Religious exercises (by petition)
9:08 a.m. O Canada & Announcements
9:15 a.m. First class begins
10:25-10:40 Gr. K-2 Recess
10:45-11:00 Gr. 3-4 Recess
12:00-12:25 Gr. K-2 Lunch Gr. 3-4 Recess
12:30-12:55 Gr. 3-4 Lunch Gr. K-2 Recess
1:00 p.m. Classes begin
2:00-2:15 Gr. K-2 Recess
2:20-2:35 Gr. 3-4 Recess
3:30 p.m. Walkers dismissed
3:40 p.m. Bus Students dismissed
3:45 p.m. Pick Up Students dismissed
Strong Connections
Our Annual Strong Connections days will happen this year on September 18 and 21. Strong Connections is an assessment and relationship building program designed to enhance the beginning-of-the-year connection, assessment and familiarity of each student.
The purpose of this day is for teachers and students to get to know each other better and for teachers to get to know some of your child's strengths and challenges when it comes to learning. This helps us plan better for their needs, and this year it will help us prepare for Recovery of Learning needs that exist due to the school shut-down this past spring.
Half of the students will attend each day, and we schedule families so that all of their children will attend the same day. Please understand that your family will NOT be at school either Friday or Monday.
Strong Connection dates are available on the Parent Portal. Please contact the office if you do not have a Parent Portal Account
Elmdale Morning Procedures
Walkers/Drop-off
We are asking that students being dropped off do not come before 8:50 and walkers plan to arrive between 8:50 and 9:00. Parents unable to wait until 8:50 will need to make arrangements with the office. Permission for earlier drop off will only be made in exceptional circumstances. Please note that before-school supervision will not be provided at 8:30 as in previous years. Supervision will only be available once buses begin arriving.
Parents should park in the Family Parking Lot and walk their children across the bus loop as in the past. We’re asking that the goodbyes happen at the fence and students head to the building without their parent. Supervision will be provided.
Should the Family Parking Lot be full AND all buses are through the bus loop (generally after 8:50) parents may elect to drop their children off in the bus loop. This should be a drop off zone only! Please pull up against the fence on the right side of the bus loop, stop and help your child through the fence, then return to your vehicle and proceed through the bus loop, exiting on Elm Avenue. Parents should not turn around in the bus loop or drive through the staff parking lot. Utmost caution is expected as this is a busy area during morning drop-off time.
When arriving after 8:50, students will go directly to their regular doors and enter the building to go straight to their classrooms.
Bus Students
When students arrive at school a staff member will help students exit the bus by Cohort. They will be directed to their “Morning Zone” where they will play until their teachers come to bring them into the school (map attached). Signs will be in place.
When the 8:50 bell rings students will line up at their designated spot and a teacher will come to bring them into the school.
Elmdale After School Procedures
NEW - We will not be releasing students to leave after 3:15, other than their assigned pickup/leaving time. If you need to pick your children up early, please do so before 3:15. Thank you
Walkers
Walkers will be dismissed first this year. Note that this is only for those who are walking home. Students who meet their parents at school to walk home will be considered part of the “walkers” group.
On September 9-11, walkers will be dismissed at 3:20. Parents please plan accordingly.
After that, walkers will be dismissed at 3:30.
Walkers will exit the building through their regular doors and walk around the building to leave their usual way. A crossing guard will be provided at Elm Avenue and at Main Street/Brandt Road as in the past.
Bus Students
Bus students will be walked from their classrooms to their bus area by grade. They will board their bus directly to minimize interaction with students from other cohorts. Each grade will load separately. Supervision will be provided throughout the bus zone. At the start of the year teachers will walk their students to the buses.
Pick Up Students
Student pick-up will happen after all buses have exited the bus loop, generally at 3:45. Parents may wait in the family parking lot, or pull into the bus loop (after all buses have exited the loop - NO WAITING IN THE BUS LOOP PRIOR TO 3:45!). Students will be waiting in Cohort groups, lined up along the fence. As parents pull up to the fence, students will go to meet them at their vehicle - parents may exit their vehicle and meet their child at the fence.
A few guidelines for parents:
Do not enter the bus loop prior to buses leaving
Please do not block the street along Elmdale or Elm while waiting
Pull up along the fence to pick up your child - no double parking. If no space is available, please wait for one to open up
Once your child(ren) has entered your vehicle, proceed through the bus loop to Elm Avenue.
DO NOT turn around in the bus loop
Parents may not wait inside the school when picking up their children at the end of the day.
Elmdale Family Reminders
We are trying to reduce the number of guests at Elmdale this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Where possible we ask that medical appointments, music lessons, etc be scheduled outside of the school day. When it is unavoidable and a parent or guardian needs to come to the school, we ask that all guests are asked to use Entrance A & C (centre of the school) when entering and exiting the building.
We ask that all guests sign in at the office. We are required to keep track of all people who enter our building each day.
Please notify the school if someone other than a parent/guardian is picking up your child. We will not allow a child to go with a different adult without proper notification.
Please make arrangements with your child in advance if possible. The office gets very busy from 3:30-3:50, so it is difficult to get all phone messages to their proper place in a timely manner. If plans change, please contact the school before 3:00 if possible.
If your child is absent, please remember to inform the school ASAP. Our practice is to phone all families whose children are absent without notification as soon as attendance is completed in the morning. This is to ensure the safety of all of our students. If you are going to be away for an extended period of time, we can enter this in our attendance in advance.
Terry Fox Run
Save the Date!
We are a Nut Aware School
Due to the number of students with allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, Elmdale is a Nut Aware school. We ask that students do not bring lunches or snacks to school that include peanut or tree nut ingredients, including peanut butter and Nutella.
Please click HERE for further information.
A Note From Mrs. Klassen
Student Handbook
School Maps 2020-2021
Entrance/Exit Map by Grade
Morning Zones
Recess Zones
2020-2021 ELMDALE STAFF
Vince Hiebert Principal
Rose Friesen Learning Support
Wanda Hiebert Head Secretary
Laurena O'Connor Asst. Secretary
Angie Penner School Librarian
Nichelle Doerksen KD
Tammy Klassen KK
Susanne Penner KP
Lyndsey Engel Grade 1E
Jennifer Mutter Grade 1M
Connie Johnson Grade 1J
Jo-Anne Giesbrecht Grade 2G
Mandy Murphy Grade 2M
Cheri Thiessen Grade 2T
Gavin Barkman Grade 3B
Melissa Fry Grade 3F
Bethany Drewlo Grade 4D
Mike Martens Grade 4M
Darnell Thiessen Grade 4T
Louise Redekop Music
Kelly Tufford Phys-Ed
Pamela Reimer Literacy Support Teacher
Tara Klassen School Counsellor
Martine Aronson E.A.
Lita Hornan E.A.
Adeline Koop E.A.
Rachel Loewen E.A.
Janet Mehling E.A.
Linda Reimer E.A.
Brooke Rooney E.A.
Anita Wiens E.A.
Jenna Toews E.A.
Heidi Duerksen E.A.
Brynae Wiebe E.A.
Kelvin Johnson Head Custodian
Erin Rafferty Assistant Custodian
Parent Portal
All parents/guardians are encouraged to create and regularly check their Parent Portal Account.
The HSD Parent Portal is a communications tool designed to enhance and increase parent/guardian involvement in the education of their children. The portal provides parents/guardians with secure online access to our Student Information System. With a single username and password, parents/guardians can access the following information for each of their children attending an HSD school:
· Student Information
· Attendance Information
· School Fees Account
· Permissions & Consent Forms
· Report Cards - NEW Report Cards are now ONLY provided on the Parent Portal. Print copies are no longer available from the school
· Change of Contact Form
Follow this LINK to create your account, or contact the school office.
Religious Exercises & Instruction
School religious exercises/instruction will commence at such a time and in such a manner that logistical requirements related to the pandemic can be addressed.
Student Accident Insurance
The Hanover School Division and the Manitoba School Boards Association are committed to the health and welfare of students. Injuries and accidents are everyday occurrences. The home, playground, school and community all present possible hazards to children and adolescents.
Universal Student Accident Insurance
Hanover School Division maintains Universal Student Accident Insurance coverage, underwritten by Industrial Alliance, for all students attending our division’s schools. The program provides basic accident and medical coverage while students attend school or participate in school-organized activities. It also extends to provide coverage to high school students enrolled in an approved course or class outside of school that qualifies for credit in Physical Education. This coverage does not extend to any other activities at times outside of school; i.e. not 24 hour coverage. Please see the attached Universal Student Accident Insurance Highlight document for more details on coverage.
The Universal Student Accident Insurance Program complements but does not replace the Voluntary Student Accident Insurance coverage purchased by parents/guardians.
Voluntary Student Accident Insurance
The Voluntary Student Accident Insurance underwritten by Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada provides enhanced accident coverage for accidents and benefits beyond that of the Universal Student Accident Insurance held by the School Division or through a parent’s benefits plan through their employer. Benefit coverage includes disability, fractures, dislocations, accidental dental, ambulance, hospital and many other benefits.
Please visit www.manitobastudentinsurance.ca or refer to the attached brochure and application form for details and how to enroll your child(ren) in the Voluntary Student Accident Program. If you have any questions, please contact Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada at 1.800.463.5437.
Elmdale Early Years School
Publisher: Mr. Hiebert
Email: elmdale@hsd.ca
Website: http://elmdale.hsd.ca/
Location: 160 Elmdale Street, Steinbach, MB, Canada
Phone: 204-326-3325
Twitter: @elmdalehsd