Dear Parents & Guardians:

In this post you will find information for the following:

·       Important Dates

·       Pulse HipHop Dance – Student Review

·       Class Configuration – Parent Workshops

·       Rideau Park School Tours for Grade 6

·       Black History Month

·       Found: Apple AirPod Pro

·       Volunteer Update

·       Skip the Depot Botte Drive Fundraiser

·       Alberta Education Assurance Parent Survey

Important Dates –

·       Feb 8 – Grade 4-6 (current) Parent Class Configuration Input Session (6:30 -7:30 pm)

·       Feb 12 – Grade 5-6 Aerospace Museum Fieldtrip

·       Feb 12 – Grade K-3 (current) Parent Class Configuration Input Session (6:30 -7:30 pm)

·       Feb 13 – Grade 6 Rideau Park School Tour (9:15-11:45)

·       Feb 15-16 – Teachers’ Convention (No school)

·       Feb 19 – Family Day (No school)

·       Feb 21 – Fun Lunch

Pulse HipHop Dance Residency – Student Review

Click here to read a review of this amazing dance experience written by Nina and Lucy.

Class Configuration – Parent Workshops

We are hosting two nights for parents to attend an in-person workshop to gather input from our parent community regarding class/grade configurations for 2024-25 and to build understanding and learn about the decision-making process.

Parents will be provided with next year projections, our constraints and an understanding of what is in- and out of scope for decision-making.

·       Thurs., Feb. 8 (6:30-7:30 PM) - current Grades 4-6 parents

·       Mon., Feb. 12 (6:30-7:30 PM) - current Kindergarten and Grades 1-3 parents

Parents who are not able to attend will be able to offer input in our Spring survey to parents about the CBE budget coming in March.

Rideau Park School Tour for Grade 6

On Tuesday, Feb. 13 (9:15-11:45), our Grade 6 students will be walking to Rideau Park School for a tour. This tour will familiarize students with the school’s programs and showcase their complementary courses, which will assist students when making course choices for their Grade 7 year.

Black History Month

During the month of February, Calgary Board of Education students and staff will celebrate and explore the many contributions of Black Canadians, peoples, and communities worldwide. Black History Month is an opportunity for schools to amplify and spotlight the innovative, courageous, and inspiring voices, stories, and contributions of Black Canadians and communities. Our classrooms will be exploring this topic at Elbow Park.

Throughout the month of February, the Calgary Public Library is hosting events dedicated to celebrating the lives, legacies, and voices of Black peoples and communities:

·       On Tuesday, Feb. 13, the Central Library will feature Black History Month: Jon Cornish “Power and Privilege in an Intersectional Life." Cornish will unravel the complexities of his unique journey as a person of mixed heritage, navigating a world rife with stereotypes and misconceptions. He will highlight the intricate interplay of race, culture, and geography in shaping identity while challenging the audience to re-examine their perceptions, biases, and often-mistaken assumptions.

·       On Sunday, Feb. 25, the Central Library in partnership with the Chinook County Historical Society will be hosting a screening and discussion of the film John Ware Reclaimed by filmmaker Cheryl Foggo, which follows her quest to re-examine the mythology surrounding John Ware, the Black cowboy who settled Alberta before the turn of the 20th Century. Foggo's research uncovers who this iconic figure might have been, and what his legacy means in terms of anti-Black racism.

Found: Apple AirPod Pro

We found one AirPod Pro frozen in the ice on the side of road at the crosswalk in front of the school. If you lost one, we have it in the office.

Volunteer Update

Our Parent Volunteer webpage has been updated. There are many opportunities to volunteer at our school. First, please complete your Volunteer Security Clearance (details on webpage) and then complete the online form for our Volunteer Coordinator to indicate your areas of interest: EPS Volunteer Form  

Library

Ms. Toni, our school Librarian, needs some help in the Learning Commons. This is a great way to volunteer according to your availability.

The time slot listed in the sign up is simply informing you of the hours Toni will be in the school. In the comment section of the sign up, please put the time you will be attending. A suggested volunteer shift is approximately 1.5 - 2 hours.

https://www.signupgenius.com/g...

Bottle Drive Fundraiser – Skip the Depot

Families can sign up to have bottles and even lightly used household items picked up from their home. The money gets deposited in the Elbow Park Parent Society (EPPS) account and then gift cards are purchased for families in need at James Short Memorial School.

Instructions can be found on our Fundraisers & Donations webpage in a PDF explaining how easy it is to book a pick-up.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Erin McCaffery at: elbowparkvolunteers@gmail.com

Alberta Education Assurance Survey – Grades 4-6 Parents

Results to the last survey (Spring 2023) were shared at our School Council on Wednesday of this week. The results summary is posted on the School Council webpage.

Each year Alberta Education conducts a survey. The Alberta Education Assurance Survey is open on January 22 and closes March 1, 2024. Alberta Education uses the Assurance Survey as a way for school authorities to measure their success and assess their progress towards meeting their learning goals.

Parents / Legal Guardians of children in grades 4-6 at Elbow Park, will receive their survey package in the mail in late January from Alberta Education. It will include the survey link and random-access code for you to complete the survey online. You are encouraged to complete the survey online. Students and all teachers will complete their surveys online at school. Please see the linked AEAS Info for Parents for more details.

The survey may be accessed at: Alberta Education Assurance Survey Link

In the 2023-24 Alberta Education Assurance Survey, students respond to 25 questions about their experiences at school related to quality of education, teaching and learning in the areas of Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and aspects of a safe, caring and welcoming school.

·       Questions on the survey are accompanied by a scale of responses (e.g., Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree, Very Satisfied to Very Dissatisfied, Don’t Know and N/A). Students will complete the online survey during school hours using a link provided by Alberta Education.

·       If a question is not applicable or if the respondent does not feel comfortable answering, they should leave the response blank or fill in the circle under “N/A”. A blank response or response under the “N/A” category does not count toward the total number of responses

Your voice matters. Your participation in the survey helps provide important information on the quality of education your child is receiving. Alberta Education and Calgary Board of Education thank you for returning the parent Assurance Survey promptly.