Dear Parents & Guardians:
In this post you will find information for the following:
· Important Dates
· Principal’s Message
· Next Year Class Placement
· Friend Suggestions for Next Year
· 2 Pieces of Found Jewelry – Call office to claim
Important Dates –
· May 25 – Gr. 6 ELAL Written PAT (AM)
· May 29 – Parent Appreciation Tea (10-11 a.m.) RSVP to elbowpark@cbe.ab.ca
· June 4 – Gr. 6 ELAL Part B PAT (AM)
· June 4 – Opera Performance (1:15-3:15) for extended family & community
· June 4 – Opera Performance (6:30-8:30) ticketed seating for EPS families (2/family)
· June 5 – Opera Performance (10:00-12:00) for extended family & community
· June 11 – James Short Grade 6 Student Sports Day (PM)
· June 12 – Gr. 6 Science PAT (AM)
· June 12 – Kindergarten New Student Orientation (9:00-10:00)
· June 12 – Kindergarten Graduation (10:00-12:00)
· June 15 – Gr. 6 Math Part A PAT (AM)
· June 18 – Gr. 6 Math Part B PAT (AM)
· Subscribe to our updated Web Calendar (link on bottom left)
Principal’s Message
Our Grade 6 class hosted three alumni residents that attended Elbow Park School during our 50th Jubilee in 1976. We heard stories about what life was like for them as a student at that time and we reviewed parts of the 50th Jubilee yearbook that we posted online on our School Spirit webpage. Students heard about the strap in the Principal’s office, the coins that were part of the time capsule buried under the corner stone and paper punch cards that were the beginning of computer coding. Students asked questions about what they did for fun and what was in the community at the time. We heard about dog catchers, truancy officers, that kids could choose between learning Latin or typing and no one had backpacks! We read about what students wanted to be when they grew up and answers included: ranchers, fisherman, nurse, engineers, dancers, geologists, stewardesses and pilots. Many students also said they just wanted to finish school. This was a wonderful experience and our students will be using this as inspiration for some writing in class.
We also had some science experiences this week in our Kindergarten and Grade 4-5 classes. The University of Calgary has a program called Minds in Motion where students come to the classroom and offer hands-on experiences for kids. Our students built baking soda water bottle rockets and launched them outside on our compound. Our Kindergarten class had three cute little ducklings visit and learned about how animals move and where they live.
On Thursday morning, we hosted the grade 9-12 choir students from Sheldon-Williams Collegiate School in Regina. They sang a variety of songs accompanied by piano and a djembe drum. They were on tour and visiting a variety of schools and sites in Calgary.
Next Year Class Placement
As was shared at our last School Council meeting, we begin creating class lists for next school year through the spring, and it is a very intentional and thoughtful process. We focus on the learning conditions and approach in the classroom that best suit each learner, and work to make the best match possible considering a multitude of variables.
We also shared that our current grade configurations, provided our student enrollment does not change dramatically, will remain as it is this year. We will have straight grade 1 and 6 and multi-age for grades 2-3 and 4-5.
- Students will loop with their current homeroom teacher in multi-age classroom if they currently are in the lowest of the combined grades.
- Your child’s current homeroom teacher makes placement decisions along with the teachers from the subsequent grade, the Administration Team, and our Curriculum Specialists for Music and Physical Education. We take into consideration factors such as student’s cognitive ability, gender, social skills, key relationships, second language, special needs, and learning styles.
- If you have an educational or emotional concern about your child that you would like School Administration to consider for your child’s placement next year, please write an email to Mr. Fech (jwfech@cbe.ab.ca). These will be the only two criteria that will be used for special requests. Please do not request a specific teacher. Our intent is to place students in the most appropriate learning environment in which they will meet their best personal potential and achieve academic success.
- We believe all of our teachers are exceptional and truly care about the students. Teachers, administration and support staff are committed to ensure that all students master their learning to their best potential, develop generosity and independence and work at making sure that everyone has a sense of belonging.
Friend Suggestions for Next Year
For current Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 3 students, parents may use our online form to make 5 friend suggestions for next school year. Students will loop with their current homeroom teacher in multi-age classrooms if they currently are in the lowest of the combined grades. Grade 6 students will be organized in only one homeroom class.
Our goal is to have students with at least one of their suggested friends for next year.
- We are using Microsoft Forms for this survey. You can log in with any email.
- One form per child must be submitted.
- When making suggestions, consider friends from other grades (ie. someone in the lower grade moving into your grade combination or someone who is already in the older grade combination that your child is joining).
- Also, please consider friends who are collaborative and productive classmates, not only “best” friends.
- **Forms submitted with less than 5 different students are NOT guaranteed**
- Teacher requests are not considered
- Click here to submit your child’s requests for next school year.
Due by Thursday, June 4, 11:45 PM
2 Pieces of Found Jewelry – Call Office to Claim
We have had one watch and one piece of adult jewelry found on our school field that were turned in as Lost & Found. If you have lost something or know of someone who has, please contact the office to identify and claim it.