March Monthly News
Principal Notes
"In like a lion...out like a lamb." Let's hope that the end of March ushers in some spring weather for spring break, March 22-31st.
Prior to spring break, report cards will be sent home for grades K-6 on March 7th. Elementary teachers will be sending home interview signup sheets for an appointment time for parent/student/teacher conferences on March 12th.
Junior and Senior High students and parents will be able to view current marks and comments on the PowerSchool portal. The marks and comments on the portal will not change between March 7th and parent/student/teacher conferences on Tuesday, March 12th from 3:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Students and parents are encouraged to drop in for an interview with their teachers.
Thank you to everyone who donated items for the leadership class initiative for the Mustard Seed. Items are being delivered this weekend to help those in need. The students are looking forward to their volunteer day at the Mustard Seed in May.
I want to thank students and staff that are working together to provide hot lunch for the whole school on Thursdays. This has been an excellent way to build community and it is wonderful to see all the students eating together and enjoying the varied menu items. Donations are always welcome to keep this program funded. Thank you to Servus Credit Union for a recent $250 dollar donation.
Lastly, I hope that everyone has a wonderful spring break.
Upcoming Dates
Early Dismissal March 6
Report Cards / Marks Published March 7
Professional Learning Day March 8 (schools closed to students)
Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences March 12
Leprechaun Traps Due March 13
Substitute Appreciation Week March 11-15
Week of Inspirational Math March 11-15
Day-in-lieu for Parent-Teacher Interviews March 22 (schools closed)
Spring Break March 25-29 (schools closed)
School Resumes April 1
Andrew School Council Meeting April 2 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Early Dismissal April 3
Have your say! EIPS Parent Survey Opens March 11
Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) wants to hear from you. Make sure to complete the 2019 Parent Survey—open from March 11-29.
Annually, EIPS conducts a parent 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 school their child attends, the overall performance of the Division, the quality of education being provided to students and areas for improvement. The survey feedback helps the Division develop new strategies to better serve students and the wider community.
Plus, new this year, the survey includes questions about cellphones and personal devices. Your feedback will help the EIPS Board of Trustees develop a policy about cellphones and their use within the classroom.
VISIT WWW.EIPS.CA TO TAKE THE SURVEY
Survey opens March 11, 2019
Survey closes March 29, 2019
NOTE: The survey is anonymous and only takes a few minutes to complete. If you want to share the experience of more than one child attending an EIPS school, simply complete the survey again.
Kindergarten Registration is Now Open!
Is your child turning five on or before Dec. 31, 2019? If so, it’s now time to register for kindergarten. To register, simply complete the online registration form at www.eips.ca/kindergarten.
To help families prepare, Elk Island Public Schools has put together an online toolkit—available at www.eips.ca/kindergarten—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 kindergarten can be found on our school website at www.andrewschool.ca
New Bus Status App Available
A new version of the Bus Status app is now available. EIPS is encouraging all families to download the new version from the App Store or Google Play and delete the old version. The changes are not specifically related to the overall functionality of the app—it is much the same as the current version. What is changing is it’s now one unified app available for download rather than each school division having a separate app. All information from the Division Bus Status page is currently pushing out to both the old and new versions of the app. However, at the end of the school year, the old version of the app will no longer work. Families will need to ensure they have downloaded the new version of the app to receive updates about bus delays and cancellations in 2019-20.
Next Step Continuing Education Summer School and Youth Camps: Registration opens March 11
There’s something for everyone
Summer School: Open to students entering grades 10-12
With more than 25 credit courses, there are lots of ways to get ahead. Students can earn high school credits, upgrade marks and finish pre-requisite courses.
Courses include:
- CALM, Physical Education 10, and Extreme CALM and Physical Education 10 combined
- English, math, social and all the sciences at the 10-, 20- and 30-levels
- Film Production
- Work Experience
Summer Youth Camps: Open to participants in grades 5-9
From sports to babysitting, campers enjoy a fun-filled program while also making friends and learning new skills.
Camps include:
- sports
- cooking and baking
- babysitting
- Handball—new
Registration opens on March 11.
Saving for Your Child’s Education
It’s no secret, post-secondary education comes with significant costs. In fact, many families wonder how much they need to save and how soon they need to begin. To help get started, the Government of Canada offers families two education savings incentives.
- Canada Education Savings Grant: The government contributes up to 20 per cent on the first $2,500 in annual personal contributions to a Registered Education Savings Plan.
- Canada Learning Bond: Available for eligible children from low-income families born in 2004 or later. The government provides an initial payment of $500, plus $100 for each year of eligibility, up to age 15, for a maximum of $2,000—personal contributions are not required.
Once that child enrols in post-secondary education—an apprenticeship program, trade school, college or university—the money saved can be used to pay the associated expenses. These include tuition, housing, transportation, textbooks, equipment and supplies. So, while it’s never too late to begin saving, just a small contribution each year can translate into substantial saving later.
For more information visit the Government of Canada’s Education Savings website.
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.
