Easter, Jump Rope for Heart, & Volunteers

CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS

• The Kindergarten Ukrainian Language & Culture class showed off their pysanka (decorated eggs) this week. Khrystos Voskres!        

• Homesteader Lodge hosted Kindergarten classes for an Easter Egg hunt and visit with residents. Happy Easter!
• Ramadan Mubarak to our families observing this season of prayer, fasting, family, and gift giving.
• Merci to Grade 6 leaders Maddie and Espyn and their team for leading the Grade 1-2 Easter Egg Hunt.
• The Grade 1-2 Ukrainian Language & Culture class is making babka at the church.
• The Grade 3-6 Ukrainian Language & Culture students are making babka at school with parent volunteers on April 19.
• All are invited to Save the Date  - May 3 at 6 PM - for this year’s Vesna Ukrainian Spring celebration in the gym. Students will be performing followed by treats and visiting with friends, family, and community. 
• We will see all new Kindergarten students and families for the Kindergarten Open House on April 18 at 5:30 PM. There will be a slideshow, Q & A, and a tour of the school. 
• Grade 1 Alberta Government learning disruption funding has arrived and Miss Morgana will be working with students three afternoons a week. 
• Welcome to Mr. Miller who will be teaching in LINKS 2 part time. 

HELP IF YOU CAN

Our youngest students K-3 occasionally have difficulty with “walking around” the many puddles forming on our playground. Please send in a bag of extra clothes to help us help your child in times of need. 

Have a drill and screwdriver that need some exercise? Please call the school office at 780-632-3113 if you can help put together a chair rack for assemblies and a drying rack for art classes.

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Mrs. Miller is looking for 7 parent volunteers to run Jump Rope for Heart activity stations on Thursday, April 20th from 1:15pm - 2:45pm. Responsibilities will include setting up a station and explaining the activity to rotating classes.  If you can volunteer please sign up on the google form emailed to all families. 

SUMMER OUT OF SCHOOL CARE - ON SITE AT A.L. HORTON 

Families needing daytime care for children between 7:15 AM and 5:15 PM might register for summer out of school care with Miss Jenny and her team. The Out of School Care program will run July 3 to August 18. This program runs independently from school operations, is not funded by Alberta Education, and is a non-profit program. More details to come. Please call 780-603-7101 to reserve a spot for the summer. Priority will be given to working parents and caregivers. 

THANK YOU to EIPS VOLUNTEERS

National Volunteer Week takes place April 16-22. On behalf of the Board of Trustees at Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS), I want to say a huge thank you to all EIPS volunteers and school families who help make the Division what it is today. Whether you volunteered for the first time this year or have committed many years to EIPS, your initiative, hard work and dedication are invaluable. You build a legacy for others to follow and a memory for students to cherish as they journey into their futures.

So, thank you again for your overflowing support. Your actions are a direct reflection of the kindness and compassion found in all the communities EIPS serves. This National Volunteer Week, I encourage everyone to celebrate the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of hours put into making schools across the Division places for students to learn, grow and succeed.

Trina Boymook Chair, EIPS Board of Trustees

COMPLETE YOUR PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION VERIFICATION FORM 

Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) is currently reviewing and updating all parent and guardian contact information within the Division’s student information system. This one-time, full-scale review is to ensure the Division has complete and accurate data on file as Alberta Education moves to a new way of capturing information in the provincial database.

As part of the data review, EIPS requires all families to carefully review the parent and guardian information on file for each student in your family—even if you’ve recently completed a Student Correction and Verification Form. Families can quickly and easily indicate no updates are needed, if that’s the case, or provide updated contact information as needed. The form also includes a handful of new questions to help the Division understand each parent and guardian’s relationship to the student and their preferences for receiving communication from the school and Division.

To review your information, simply log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal and open the “Parent/Guardian Information Verification Form” from the left-hand menu or notification at the top of the page. Review all information carefully, provide updates where needed and submit your form by April 30. One form is required for each student currently registered at an EIPS school. Only one parent/guardian will complete the form for each student—all associated parent/guardian information for each student is available to review on the same form.

If you have any questions about your Parent/Guardian Information Verification Form, reach out to the school at 780-632-3113. 

WATCH FOR THIN ICE

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.

IMPORTANT DATES

April 7 & 10 No school; Good Friday & Easter Monday

April 11 to 14 Ukrainian cultural program Easter baking 

April 11, 13, 14 Hot lunches provided by CALS for those who ordered

April 12  Hot dog lunch

April 15  Young Authors Conference in Sherwood Park

April 16 - 22 National Volunteer Week

April 17  Alberta Opera presentation “Jack & the Beanstalk”

April 18, 20, 21 Hot lunches provided by CALS for those who ordered

April 19  Hot dog lunch

April 19  Grade 3-6 Ukrainian classes making babka

April 20 Jump Rope for Heart events

April 17 - 21  Earth Week events

April 21    Earth Day spirit day - wear blue and green

April 24   School council meeting 6:30 PM in the library 

April 26  Grade 3-6 Speaking in Class finals

April 28   Wacky Hair Spirit Day

May 3  Hats On for Mental Health Day

May 3  Early dismissal 2 PM

May 5  Professional learning day; no school

Check the school calendar for field trip information as well.

Keri Busenius                Chloe Giebelhaus

Principal                        Assistant Principal

Connecting to foster the minds and hearts of leaders