Bison Tales March 23, 2023

Happy Spring Break Ardrossan families, 

Reminder! If you haven't already looked,Term 2 Report cards are in your Parent Portal. 

We've had so many fun events and activities happening in our school this month that time has just flown by! A final thank you to all our staff and parents who have helped to make the month of March a memorable one for us.

We hope everyone has a great Spring Break!

Lana Lastiwka and Tandy Atchison 

Principal and Assistant Principal

WEEK AT A GLANCE

April 3 - 6, 2023

Upcoming Dates

• April 3 - 13 - May Hot Lunch Orders Open
• April 7 - Good Friday - School Closed
• April 10 - Easter Monday - School Closed
• April 11 - Earth Ranger K - 6 Presentation
• April 13 - May Hot Lunch Orders Close
• April 17 - Grade 2 field trip to the Telus World of Science
• April 17 - Grade 6 Immunizations Round 2 - with parental consent
• April 17 - School Council and AEPSA meetings 6:30 p.m.
• April 21 - Spirit Day - Dress Like a Book Character Day
• April 21 - Grade 4 Assembly and Volunteer Appreciation event

Parent Feedback Survey

If you haven’t yet done so, we’d appreciate if you could take five minutes of your day and share your thoughts by March 23. The survey is an opportunity for you to provide direct feedback to Ardrossan Elementary and Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) about your experiences throughout the past year. Parent and caregiver input provides valuable information to evaluate what’s working well and what could improve, as well as assisting the school and Division with future planning.

At the Division level, EIPS uses the survey results to gauge its progress toward meeting the goals and priorities outlined in its Four-Year Education Plan. The survey feedback helps the Division develop new strategies to better serve students and the wider community.

TAKE THE SURVEY NOW!

Bison Bravo a Staff Member

Did you know that the Ardrossan Elementary Parent Support Association has started a staff bravo initiative?  As you might know, Ardrossan staff regularly give out Bison Bravos to students to acknowledge acts of citizenship, kindness or excellence.  

AEPSA is offering the chance for students and families to Bravo a staff member!  All you have to do is click on the the Bravo a Staff Member box on the right side of the school webpage to fill out an electronic Bravo form.  Then our amazing AEPSA parents write you message on a note which is delivered to that staff member along with a sweet treat!  

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 780-922-2066.

Kindergarten Registration is Now Open!

Is your child turning five on or before Dec. 31, 2023? 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.

Pre-kindergarten Programming at EIPS

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 Ardrossan Elementary. In fact, EIPS is now accepting applications 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 2019 or 2020, 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.

CALLS Math Homework Support Program

Math Homework Support for Parents and Caregivers Looking to support your child in their math learning? The Community Adult Learning and Literacy Society (CALLS) is here to help! A CALLS instructor can walk you through kindergarten to Grade 6 math homework online so that you can feel confident in fostering your child’s math skills. Support sessions take place virtually every Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Simply call or text 780-667-8441 for a Zoom meeting link.

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.

EIPS Annual Education Results Report

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 2021-22 and discover how EIPS fosters learning environments for all students to learn, grow and thrive—and why it matters.

April Spotlight: Student Growth and Success · Early Learning: Ensuring early learners reach developmental milestones · Culture of Literacy: Dive deep into the data and learn how students are developing strong literacy skills · Math Matters: Enhancing reasoning, understanding and achievement through numeracy-rich classrooms · Boosting Educational Outcomes: Discover how EIPS supports the growth and achievement of students who self-identified First Nations, Metis and Inuit · Beyond high school: Supports and strategies that are creating real-life career pathways for learners

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

A big 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

Parent Corner

How Can We Help Kids With Self-Regulation?