April Monthly News
Principal Notes
It is very nice to have some warm weather, sunshine and to hear the sounds of the kids enjoying the playground! Please make sure to revisit the website regularly for updated news items that may be published in between posted and printed monthly newsletters.
I want to thank the Oil Kings organization for agreeing to refund the school for the unused tickets from the Hockey Hooky field trip. This is allowing us to take the whole school to the Royal Alberta Museum on April 25th. Field trip forms and more information will be sent home after spring break.
The Board of Trustees is still considering all the information received from stakeholders on the Andrew School Consultation. More information will be shared as it becomes available. Please check the Elk Island Public Schools website for the most current information.
I hope that everyone gets a chance to get outside and enjoy some spring weather and family activities over the break.
Important Dates
April 2 Andrew School Council Meeting 3:30 p.m.
April 2 Lamont County True 2 You Program begins
April 3 Early Dismissal
April 18 Pitch In Earth Day School Yard Clean Up
April 19 Good Friday - no school
April 22 Easter Monday - no school
April 23 / 24 Paska Activity
April 25 Whole school field trip - Royal Alberta Museum
April 25 Kindergarten Information Night
Attendance
As Spring arrives, we would like to remind all families and students that attendance at school is not only necessary for success but also required by law for all students under the age of 16. According to the School Act of the Province of Alberta:
13(1) An individual who
- is eligible to be enrolled in a school,
- at September 1 in a year, is 6 years of age of older, and
- is younger than 16 years of age,
shall attend school.
Not attending school regularly has consequences for the student, the teacher, and the school culture. When students miss class, they are missing an opportunity to hear instruction and participate. Trying to catch up after the fact is detrimental to that student's progress and often affects the other students as teachers struggle to move through the curriculum when having to re-instruct individual students on what they missed. We have seen a trend recently whereby groups of students are choosing not to attend school on the last instructional day of the week. This practice affects school culture as many students are using the excuse that “nobody else is there” as a reason to be excused by their parents. This ultimately leads to students who are attending regularly missing out on instruction and teachers being unable to meet the curricular outcomes.
When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.
All absences from school should be for valid reasons such as a medical appointment, illness, or an emergency situation. We need the cooperation of all of the members of our Andrew School learning community to maintain a culture of academic excellence and for student learning. We thank everyone for being diligent in pursuing their studies and ensuring attendance at school.
Gearing up for Kindergarten
Do you have a child registered in kindergarten next year? If so, make sure to attend our upcoming Kindergarten Information Night on Thursday, April 25th from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- tour the school;
- meet the teachers;
- gain insight on play-based learning; and
- see what a typical day looks like.
Elk Island Public Schools has also put together an online toolkit to make the transition to school as smooth as possible. The kit includes information about registration, important dates, programming options, what to expect, eligibility, how to find your designated school, transportation and more. Find it by visiting www.eips.ca/programs-services/kindergarten.
NOTE: To be eligible to attend kindergarten in the 2019-20 school year, children must be five years of age on or before Dec. 31, 2019.
New Bus Status App Available
A new version of the Bus Status app is now available. If you haven’t already, we encourage all families to download the new version from the App Store or Google Play. After downloading, make sure to delete the older version from your device.
All information from the Division Bus Status page is currently pushing out to both the old and new versions of the app, so you’ll receive updates regardless of the app you’re using. However, at the end of the school year, the old version of the app will no longer work. Families will need to ensure they’ve downloaded the new version of the app to receive updates about bus delays and cancellations in 2019-20.
A big THANK YOU to all of our volunteers
On behalf of the Board of Trustees at Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS), thank you to all of our volunteers within the Division who help make our schools and programs successful. Whether it’s assisting at an athletic competition, coordinating a fundraising initiative or helping at a school event, the impact you make within our school community is profound. Together, we’ve created a relationship that allows us to rally behind one clear vision: Providing exceptional education for all students.
In recognition of National Volunteer Week, which runs April 7-13, EIPS extends a heartfelt thank you to the hundreds of volunteers across EIPS who offer their knowledge and dedicate countless hours in our schools.
Trina Boymook
Chair, Board of Trustees
Watch for Thin Ice
Elk Island Public Schools remind families to be cognizant of thin ice this time of year. Depending on changing temperatures, ice can form and melt to varying degrees on outdoor bodies of water. Please remind your children about the dangers of thin ice, to obey all posted signs and to take the proper care to remain a safe distance from the ice. For more information about ice safety, visit the Canadian Red Cross.
Did you know?
The way ice forms affects the way it melts in spring. Minerals in the water actually become concentrated in vertical veins throughout the ice as it freezes. Warm temperatures cause these veins to melt more quickly and weaken the ice, a process known as candling.
When Can My Child Start Kindergarten?
To register for kindergarten in the 2019-20 school year, your child must be five years old on or before Dec. 31, 2019.
