ÉRE Connection

School Newsletter October 2022

Welcome to October!

In the October Newsletter

School Council Election Results
Hot Lunch Orders Due Oct 20
Talent Show of Grandparents
Halloween Dress Up, Oct 31
Remembrance Assembly, Nov 9, 11:30 am
Why we have 'wood chips' on our playground
Principal's Message

1. School Council

Our School Council & Society met on October 3 and elected a new executive for the upcoming school year:

Chairperson: Vanessa Lobley

Vice Chair: Darlene Nordstrum

Secretary: Tiffany Hudey

Treasurer: Jeanette Plante

Hot Lunch Coordinator: Amanda Mix

Vanessa is serving a 3rd term as chair and we appreciate her leadership and commitment
Welcome newcomers to the executive: Darlene & Tiffany
The School Council & Society are really important to a healthy school. The Council & Society coordinate enhancements at the school, advise the principal, assist with hot lunches, and coordinate some fundraising.
The next council meeting will be November 3, 12 noon, at the school. ÉRE parents & caregivers are encouraged to attend.
The School Council & Society can be reached directly at: ereparentcouncil@gmail.com

Please write after school plans in the student agenda if different than usual.

2. Grandparents Talent Show!

Our grandparents have really special talents and we want to see them!
Please encourage students to think about the talents their grandparents have and then create a video submission of the talent. Talents might be: knitting, cooking, collecting old cars, musical, reciting a poem, giving the best hugs, etc.
Video submissions can be made through our Flip link until Dec 15 - https://flip.com/b1448b69
We will watch the grandparent talents at our Dec 22 assembly as a special Christmas Gift to ourselves
We already have 1 entry from a singing grandpa!

3. Online Demographic Updates

You have likely received an email regarding an Online School Demographic form. We send this form out yearly to ensure we have updated contact and medical information at the school.

To access, you will need to log into your Parent Portal in PowerSchool.
Your Username will be firstname.lastname
Click on the Forgot password to reset your password

E-mails will continue to be sent until the form is updated.

Please call the school office (403-845-3541) with any questions or if your contact information changes later in the year.

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4. Hot Lunch & Milk Program

Hot Lunch, Milk, and Hot Dogs are ready to order for November!

November orders are due by October 20.
Hot Lunch is offered on Mondays and Thursdays.
The Milk Program offers white or chocolate milk available to order every day.
The Grade 5s have added 4 Hot Dog lunch days as a fundraiser for their Calgary Field Trip

To Order Hot Lunch or Milk:

Go to ere.hotlunches.net
Click "Click Here to Register" (A new registration is required each year.)
Enter Access Code REHL
Complete the rest of the registration form.
Click "Register Now" button at the bottom
Follow the instructions to add each child at ÉRE
Once your child(ren) are registered, click on "Orders"

5. Playground Information

Some students sent a letter to Mr. Bowman asking why our playground surface changed from pea gravel to engineered wood fibres (wood chips)
A playground information meeting was held to discuss the change to wood fibres. About 25 students attended the meeting with Mike Lundstrum, Director of WRSD Facilities.
Mr. Lundstrum indicated rubberized matting is the best playground cover, but is also the most costly and repairs are harder to make. Engineered wood fibres are the next most preferred playground ground covering because they provide good cushioning for falls, maintain their 30 cm depth, are more accessible for wagons/wheelchairs, more likely to hold dangerous items like broken glass visibly on the surface, and have a reasonable cost. Pea gravel and sand are less preferred.
The wood chips are tumbled before application to smooth off edges and reduce splintering.
The students appreciated the additional information. Some still might prefer pea gravel, but understand there was a lot of thought put into engineered wood fibres and that they are a recommended playground covering.

6. Parent/Teacher Interviews, Book Fair, and The Market, Nov 23/24

Term 1 Report Cards will be sent home Nov 18.
Parent / Teacher interviews Nov 23/24 will be offered in person, by phone, or by video conference 4:30 - 7:30 pm. Information for booking will come out mid-November.
The Book Fair will be at ÉRE during Parent/Teacher Interviews. There will be a wide selection of new books to peruse and purchase.
A Market will be set up during Parent/Teacher Interviews Nov 23/24. In the past, this has been several tables of crafts and local items for sale. Tables can be rented for $25. Please contact the office to arrange a table and we will put you in touch with Misty.

7. Caretaker positions

Do you know someone who is looking for a full or part time job? The custodial division of WRSD is always looking for casual, temporary and permanent caretakers. The postings for these positions can be found in the Careers and Volunteer Opportunities section of the WRSD website and applying online is quick and easy!

8. This & That

School health continues to show improvement. The average daily ill in September 2021 was 9.7%. This year, the average daily ill in September 2022 was 4.5%.
Halloween dress up can be for the entire day on Oct 31. Scary/gory costumes or real looking weapons are not allowed.
Canadian Parents for French (CPF) is hosting its first meeting on Oct 27, 3:30 pm at the school. CPF is very active in the school and is open to all parents with students in French Immersion.
A big shout out to Steve Parenteau from Swift Oilfield Supply and Black Flame Holdings for the generous donation to our breakfast/lunch program!
Free breakfast is served every morning in our front foyer 8:20 - 8:40 am. All students are welcome to grab a bite to eat.
With skating season approaching, we have noted a few gaps in our school supply of skates. We are seeking donations of size 10/11 figure skates & size 3-9 hockey skates.
If your child will be absent from school, please connect with our Student Attendance Line by phone 1-855-756-2797 or use the School Messenger App
If at all possible, when paying for items like agendas, field trips or swimming, please pay through School Cash Online located at: https://wildrose.schoolcashonline.com/ This greatly reduces the chances of lost money or discrepancies in payments made.
Our school website is regularly updated with important dates, school newsletters, and useful links along with information about the school. https://ecolerocky.wrsd.ca/
Social Media - The school regularly updates our Facebook and Twitter accounts with good news stories and upcoming events. Please consider giving us a follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecolerockyelementary and Twitter: https://twitter.com/EREPeace

Congratulations Students of the Month for September

Kindergarten - William H, Lincoln T
Grade 1 - Anna C, Phoebe-Lynn P, Sayde A, Avery L, Presley W
Grade 2 - Cassandra W, Josie E, Mya A, Tatiana C
Grade 3 - Jaxyn Z, Kye K, Bailey P, Harlow A, Shepherd H
Grade 4 - Stevie W, Kenny K, Clio D, Kiera C, Sawyer S, Kixton T
Grade 5 - Aleah P, Paisley J, Saphira S

FREE

We received a donation of 40 pumpkin carving tools (above) that we are giving away to ÉRE Families. Adults can request a free package at the office. Available until gone.
Covid Rapid Tests are available to give away. They can be requested at the office.

7. Principal's Message

Hello ERE Families!

I love October, and even more so this year with the fantastic fall weather. We are now into the open waters of October where good routines and study habits are put to work and learning really takes off!

A few really awesome things to highlight:

Celina Whitford, a student at our school last year in grade 5 was recognized with an Honourable Mention in the Honouring Spirit Awards. Celina was nominated by several of the ERE Staff and we were glad to celebrate Celina's accomplishment.
Our Terry Fox Run was held at the Curtis Field Track with every student moving for 30 minutes to continue the Marathon of Hope.
Every student created a Rock Moccasin with our Indigenous Education Coordinator Crystal Clark to help represent the students who didn't return from residential schools. The students presented their Rock Moccasins at our Orange Shirt Assembly, and now have them on display in our front foyer.
Grandparents' Day returned as an in-person event and it lifted all of our spirits. With over 200 special guests, you could feel the love in the school!
We accepted a donation of $2500 from Swift Oilfield Supply & Black Flame Holdings to put towards our breakfast program. Everyday we serve free breakfast to students and thank Steve Parenteau for thinking of us. WOW!
Our school council has reformed and has already hosted an work bee event in our school garden.
Four second year education students from Red Deer Polytechnic will be joining our school for the next 8 Wednesdays.
A new resident to Rocky Mountain House is offering Karate to students. The first session has filled up and will run for the next 8 weeks.
We welcome a new family from Ukraine to our school!

If you have any questions, comments, or ideas, please connect with us!

Tim Bowman

Principal

tim.bowman@wrsd.ca

(403) 845-3541