Feb 26 - Mar 1, 2024

The Ecole Parc Fundraising Society has been granted a Casino May 20 & 21.

This is the BIGGEST fundraiser for the fundraising society to support our school and it only comes every few years. These funds help to bring in things like new Library books, sports equipment, classroom supplies and playground equipment.

We need Volunteers! Please consider helping our school by signing up for a shift or two.

If you are able to help, please reach out to our Casino Coordinator, Melanie Redfearn at melhoines@hotmail.com.

It is amazing that February is coming to an end already and this weather is helping us believe spring is truly on it's way! It was great to see so many families last Thursday for our first evening of Parent Teacher Interviews and we look forward to seeing many more families this week.

This Wednesday, February 28th is Pink Shirt Day, an international day to support kindness and anti-bullying. Students are invited to wear pink and will participate in various activities in class to discuss healthy relationships and encourage kindness.

Please note that there is no school on Friday, March 1st as staff will be attended Professional Development.

Finally, mark your calendars! École Parc is proud to present Carnaval 2024 on the afternoon of Friday, March 15th, from 1:00 – 2:45 pm.

Parent volunteers: In order to make our Carnaval a success, we require parent volunteers to help prepare hot chocolate and a snack, aid in the set up and take down of equipment and supervise groups. If you are able to help with any of the afternoon activities, please fill out the form below and send it back to your child’s teacher by Friday, Mar. 8. Please remember to dress for the weather as we will be outside for 2.5 hours. If you can volunteer we'd ask that you arrive by 12:15 to ensure we can have everything organized by our 1:00 start time.

Toboggans: We are in need of toboggans for one of the outdoor activities. Please, label your toboggan and send it to school by Friday, March 8.

To loan a toboggan or to volunteer for this amazing event, please email jade.jordan@eips.ca

SkyHy Pizza & Donair Hot Lunch!

March 6 - Kinder A - Gr 6

March 7 - Kinder B

Ordering Open - Feb 14

Ordering Closes - Friday March 1 @ Noon

www.epeschoolcouncil.com/hotlunch

Next Hot Lunch:

Panago!

March 20 - Kinder A

March 21 - Kinder B - Gr 6

• Please follow this link to watch our announcement: Le 26 fevrier

What's happening this week at École Parc:

Feb 26 - ECS A In school field trip: Puppet Tree House

Feb 27 - Parent-Teacher interviews: PALS, ECS, Grade 1 to grade 6 4:00-7:00pm,

Feb 27 - ECS B In school field trip: Puppet Tree House

Feb 28 - Pink shirt day

Feb 28 - Parent-Teacher Interviews: PALS ONLY 4:00-7:00 pm

Mar. 1 - Professional Learning Day - No school

Upcoming Dates to be aware of:

Mar 4 - Class of the week 2I

Mar 6 - Early Dismissal

Mar 6 - Grizzly Gear Day

Mar 6 - Monthly Assembly 9:30

Mar 6 - Jump Rope for Heart ends

Mar 6 - Sky High Pizza and Donair Hot Lunch ECS A - Gr 6.

Mar 7 - Choir Festival Gr 4-6

Mar 7 - Sky High Pizza and Donair Hot Lunch ECS B

Mar 8 - PALS Parent Teacher Interviews

Mar 10 - Time Change: Clocks move ahead one hour

Mar 11 - Class of the week 2G

Mar 12 - Fire Drill

Mar 13 - School Council and PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m

Mar 14 - Battle of the Books 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Grades 3 to 6

Mar 14 - Grade 4/5 Skating Field Trip 1-2:30

Mar 15 - Carnaval

Mar 17 - Class of the week 1A

Mar 19 - Vertically inclined Field Trip Mme Ince/Mme Hodder

Mar 20 - Panago Hot Lunch Kinder A

Mar 21 - Vertically inclined Field Trip Mme Choucair/M Ayuen

Mar 22 - 28 Spring Break School Closure

Mar 29 - Good Friday School Closure

April 1 - Easter Monday School Closure

Apr 2 - Classes resume

Time to spring ahead one hour!

Register to donate at https://jumpropeforheart.crowdchange.ca/51361

For over 40 years, Jump Rope for Heart has been committed to enhancing the heart and brain health of children throughout Canada. This initiative not only instills the importance of physical activity and healthy habits in kids for a robust life but also actively engages them in fundraising endeavors. All proceeds from these activities directly contribute to supporting crucial research for heart diseases, benefiting the Heart and Stroke Foundation and saving lives.

The campaign dates for Jump Rope for Heart are set from February 12 to March 6, 2023, providing a dedicated period for participants to make a positive impact on heart health and contribute to this noble cause.

Are you passionate about creating a safe and positive environment for students? We are currently seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Noon Supervisor to join our team! As a Noon Supervisor, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the well-being and safety of students during lunchtime both indoors and outdoors.

This is a paid position for one hour, Monday to Friday following the school calendar. Please contact Jade Jordan at jade.jordan@eips.ca.

At Ecole Parc, we continue to build positive citizenship through the guiding principles of the Seven Sacred Teachings. Each month, we encourage students to focus on one principle or teaching. Our teachers are looking for students who display great examples of this teaching in the classroom and throughout their day. These students may be recognized by earning the Citizenship award for their class. During the month of February, we are focused on the teaching of Honesty.

Come score a goal at our book fair! This is our French book fair so most of the books will be in French, with a small number of English books.

The book fair will be open as follows:

• Thursday, February 22: 3:08 – 7 PM
• Monday, February 26: 3-4 PM
• Tuesday, February 27: 12:45-7 PM
• Wednesday, February 28: 3-4 PM

The book fair is also open for students during the school day. It will be open for K-2 students first recess and lunch recess (when they would normally be outside) on Thursday, Feb. 22, Monday Feb. 26 and Wednesday Feb. 28. Grade 3 – 6 students may purchase items second recess and lunch (when they are normally outside) on Thursday, Feb. 22, Monday, Feb. 26, Tuesday, Feb. 27 and Wednesday, Feb. 28. The book fair will officially close at morning recess on February 29.

As usual, we will have teacher wish lists available if you chose to donate a book a to the classroom.

The proceeds from the book fair allow us to purchase not only new library books but also books and resources for the classrooms. Since our last book fair, we have purchased an art drying rack, wiggly cushions and other fidgets for classrooms, as well as prizes for the Battle of the Books students and other books. We always strive to reach the highest rewards possible for the school. When our sales are $4000 or more, we receive 50% of the proceeds back in Scholastic dollars or the option to take 25% back in cash.

Thank you to everyone who helps make the book fair a success!

A big thank you goes out to the Fort Saskatchewan Public Library for donating the prize for the grade six class in our reading relay! Each student who logged books received a pencil, special pencil topper and a bookmark. Congratulations grade sixes and keep reading!

Jennifer Milanovic

Library Technician

École Parc Élémentaire

If your student is absent, being picked up early or will be arriving late, we ask that you please email our attendance email at EPEAttendance@eips.ca or call the school at 780-998-3741. Please send any DQ permissions to this email as well.

If your child requires any medication, please click here to access the form. Please note we have 2 medical forms. We have a Personal Care Plan and an Administering of Medication Form. Please do not send medication with your child for safety reasons.

During the 2022/23 school year staff identified that the playground structures were not meeting the needs of all the students, both in type of structure, and space available for students to play. When the playground structure was first built in 2013 there were 180 students in the school. We now have 326. The population has doubled and we have a larger group of students in the PALS and Division 1 (K-3) age group. The existing play structure is designed for ages 5-12. We need an additional play area that meets the needs of students aged 4-8. The goal is to have the project completed within 3 years.

We are excited to hit the ground running with this and officially kick things off this year. We are always looking for more volunteers to join the committee. We meet once a month, time commitment is flexible and there is always lots to do and input needed.

If you are interested in joining the committee or would like more information please feel free to email us at ecoleparcplaygroundexpansion@gmail.com.

January/February 2024

Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) wants to hear from you. Make sure to complete the 2023-24 EIPS Annual Feedback Survey: For parents and caregivers—open from March 1-21.

Every year, EIPS conducts the feedback survey to gauge its progress toward meeting the goals and priorities outlined in its Four-Year Education Plan. Families are asked a series of questions about:

· their experiences with EIPS and the specific school their child attends;

· the quality of education being provided to students;

· areas for improvement; and

· new this year, the survey includes an additional series of questions—focused on stakeholder confidence in EIPS’ priorities and strategic direction as a whole.

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.

TAKE THE SURVEY NOW!
open March 1-21

To preview the questions before completing the survey, see Question Preview - 2023-24 EIPS Annual Feedback Survey: For parents and caregivers.

NOTE: To share the experiences of more than one child, or if you have a child who attends classes at more than one EIPS school—such as Next Step and an EIPS senior high school—simply complete the survey again.

The survey is anonymous and only takes roughly 10-15 minutes to complete. EIPS will share the survey results in next year’s Annual Education Results Report 2023-24.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2022-23
EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2022-23: Overview

EIPS Four Year Education Plan: 2022-26

The background links are also provided throughout the survey, which you can use to help inform your survey answers.

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—including Ecole Parc. 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 2020 or 2021, 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.

Kindergarten Registration is Now Open!

Is your child turning five on or before Dec. 31, 2024? If so, it’s now time to register for kindergarten. To register, simply complete the online registration form at eips.ca/kindergarten.

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 Ecole Parc’s kindergarten program is available at www.ecoleparc.ca.

Have you recently moved or has your contact information changed? EIPS encourages families to review the information the Division has on file to ensure it’s up to date. Using the Student Information Update available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, families can review the current information on file for each student—including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, parent and guardian information, emergency contacts, medical details and other related information—and submit any updates needed.

Reviewing and updating the form ensures the school and Division have the most up-to-date information regarding your child. Your review is especially important as the Division prepares for 2024-25 registration processes beginning in the new year.

NOTE: Only submit updates for the changes that have already taken place. If you’re moving later this school year, you’ll submit the necessary updates to your information through the Student Information Update after you’ve moved.

If you have questions about the form or any trouble with your Parent Portal account, contact the school office at 780-998-3741.

The Education Act requires every public school division in the province to have a Board of Trustees. The Board is made up of elected representatives who are accountable to you, the families, and to the community members of a school division who have elected each trustee. For EIPS, the Board provides overall direction and leadership, accepting responsibility for the Division’s policies and procedures. You can view all current policies and procedures on the EIPS website.

Within EIPS, schools consistently offer a broad range of educational choices for students of varied backgrounds and interests—from specialized language and faith-based programs to advanced academic opportunities and competitive sports to specialized supports and continuing education. Through this, students are then able push their limits and find meaningful ways to contribute to and enhance their communities. Learn more about Division programs and services on the EIPS website.

Alberta Education provides funding to EIPS. The provincial government’s funding framework allocates funding directly to the Division, who then allocates funding to individual schools. Every year, EIPS prepares a budget in the spring based on projected enrolment, funding and student-focused initiatives directed by the Board of Trustees. Learn more about K-12 Education Funding in Alberta and the EIPS Budget.

Every year, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) publishes an Annual Education Results Report, which outlines the Division’s Four-Year Education Plan, opportunities for growth and how it’s supporting students to achieve the best possible outcomes. Read through this year’s EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2022-23 and discover how EIPS fosters learning environments for all students to learn, grow and thrive—and why it matters.

March Spotlight: cultivating high-quality learning environments and experiences

· Power of Kindness: Creates welcoming, inclusive, respectful, and safe learning environments in schools

· Building Blocks: How effective planning, management and infrastructure is supporting learning

· Raising the bar: Evidence-based practices that are enhancing teaching and learning in EIPS

RELATED INFORMATION
EIPS Four-Year Education Plan: 2022-26
EIPS Three-Year Capital Plan: 2024-27

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.

To register: Groups, Programs, and Workshops