Colts Connection - Parents Edition

Each year in February/March the provincial government sends a survey to all of our Grade 4 students and parents, as well as to our teaching staff. This survey data is passed on to me to use as a data piece to guide our school's Assurance Plan (aka Education Plan). I will be going over this plan with parents at our next School Council meeting. We have some large areas of growth identified in this survey and I will be looking to School Council for ideas/suggestions on how to improve in those areas and thus continue to improve our school. In addition to this, in December or early January, I will be sending out a short survey to all parents/guardians to collect more detailed information from our school community.

As a school administrator, our parents/guardians support and connect to our school is invaluable and an important aspect of our continual improvement and growth. When you see the survey come out (via SwiftReach) please take the time to fill it out to help us learn, grow and continually improve.

Thank you to your continued support of our school.

- Mr. Nathan McEntee

Principal

Social Emotional Learning.

Although it doesn't feel like it we should be talking about cold weather yet with the beautiful October we've had, Winter is just around the corner. With colder weather means the potential for school closures due to inclement weather. Please see the quick facts below for everything you need to know about how school closures are decided and how to find out when/if schools will be closed when there is inclement weather.

We live in a climate where we have quite a few months of colder weather. We value the safety and well being of our students, this includes being outside and getting fresh air, even in the winter. It is important for students to learn how to enjoy the outdoors even in the winter, so we try and get outside as often as possible throughout the winter. In order to do this, it is important for students to dress for the weather. Winter coats, snow pants, mitts, toques and warm winter boots are imperative to enjoy the winter months. We understand that ensuring students leave dressed for the weather may be challenging for some, but we want to remind everyone that we will be outside for recesses up to -25 degrees Celsius (including wind chill). Some of our longer recesses may be cut short as the temperature gets closer to -25, but students can expect to be outside for recesses if the temperature is warmer than -25. At -25 and colder we do have students come inside right away in the mornings and we have indoor recesses.

Just a reminder that we do our very best to make sure we receive and pass along end of the day messages that come through the office. Any phone calls/emails/messages received after 2:45 can be challenging for teachers to pass along to students. We understand and recognize plans change throughout the day and we know the importance of student safety in getting those messages to students. In this understanding, we also ask, as much as possible to call us as early as you can if you have an end of the day message for your student.

Each month bus drivers from around the school division submit student bus riders to be Riders of the Month. Students selected as Riders of the Month are recognized by Transportation Services, receive a letter and a prize. This month three students from PES were recognized as Riders of the Month. Congratulations to the following students!

Keira Anderson - Grade 6

Aleah Raugust - Grade 3

Brinnley Adcock - Grade 5

We have had some calls asking about last year's yearbooks that were ordered. When investigating the situation I discovered I forgot to submit the final version for printing. It has been submitted now and we will get them out to those who ordered as soon as they arrive. Our sincerest apologies for the delay.

We are currently working with LifeTouch to get proofs of the Fall pictures out to families. Once we confirm that we will be scheduling a date for retakes. We had originally scheduled retakes for November 3rd but recognized that date wouldn't work as no-one has received their proofs yet.

While there are no longer any pandemic protocols in place we will return to following the public health guidelines that were in place for schools prior to the pandemic. This includes recommending that students and staff stay home when they are sick, notifying parents when students become ill at school, and contacting Alberta Health Services when absences due to illness are higher than usual.

There are many respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses that are easily transmitted in a school environment. Staying home when sick can significantly reduce outbreaks and decrease disruptions to learning that occur when large numbers of students and staff at a school become ill. Practising proper handwashing, using hand sanitizer when washing is not possible, avoiding sharing of food and beverages, and coughing and sneezing into your elbow or away from others, can also help reduce the spread of illness in our schools.

How do you know when your child is too sick to go to school? Check out our Too Sick for School Infographic (below) for things to consider when you are deciding whether or not to send your child to school when they are ill.

We have signed up for the Edmonton Oilers - School Spirit Nights. See the poster below for details on Oilers games with special pricing for families. If tickets are purchased through the program, the students' name is entered for a chance to watch the warm-ups from the Penalty Box. Please note: there is no obligation to participate, just an opportunity we are sharing with families. The program is run through the Edmonton Oilers organization.

In a discussion during our last School Council meeting School Council has decided to start a campaign to collect new or gently used coats, mitts, ski pants and toques to distribute to PES students/families in need. We do have some snow suits still from last year's donation from Home Church, but are definitely shy in the larger sizes for some of our older students if they are in need. There will be a box to collect these in the foyer/office.

A reminder that School Council's Purdy's Chocolates fundraiser is due on November 3rd.

November 3 - Purdy's Chocolates Orders Due

November 10 - Remembrance Day Ceremony

November 11 - Remembrance Day - No School

Novmeber 16th - VIrtual Social Emotional Learning Presentation for Parents

November 18 - Colts Day! Wear your school clothing or wear blue and/or green to show your school spirit!

November 25 - Staff Collaboration Day - No School for Students

November 28th - School Council Meeting - 6:30 pm - Community Common