Dear Parents & Guardians:

In this post you will find information for the following:

·         Important Dates

·         Next Year Grade Configurations

·         Students: The Giving Club

·         Next Year Class Placement

·         EPPS Parent Society Bylaw Revision

·         AHS – Community Education Sessions

Important Dates –

·         May 9 – Grade 5-6 Scratch Coding (Minds in Motion: U of C)

·         May 16 Professional Development Day (No School)

·         May 19 - Victoria Day (No School)

·         May 21 Fun Lunch – McDonald's

·         May 23 – Teacher’s Pet Science in Kindergarten

·         May 26-29 – Frisbee Golf PE Residency

·         May 28 – Grade 6 PAT – Language Arts Pt. A

·         Subscribe to our Web Calendar (link on bottom left)

Next Year Grade Configurations

We would like to inform you of changes to our grade configurations for the 2025–26 school year. These changes were shared at our School Council meeting last night. Please click here to view the Principal’s Report on the Council webpage.

In Spring 2024, we hosted a parent workshop to help build shared understanding around the many complexities involved in school timetabling and class configuration. Grade configurations are shaped by several important considerations including the number of students registered at each grade, available classrooms, overall staffing allocations, and CBE Administrative Regulations—particularly those related to class size and instructional quality.

The goals of grade configuration are to:

·         Provide students with access to learning environments that best meet their developmental and academic needs;

·         Ensure our staffing and space are used in a financially responsible manner;

·         Support smaller class sizes in early years, where foundational learning takes place.

Current (2024–25) configuration:

·         Kindergarten: 29 students

·         Grades 1–2: three classes of 23

·         Grades 3–4: three classes of 23

·         Grades 5–6: three classes of 23

If current structure were carried into 2025–26, we would see class sizes of 21 in Grades 5–6 and 24 in Grades 1–2.

New configuration for 2025–26 will be:

·         Kindergarten: 23 students

·         Grade 1: two classes of 19 students

·         Grades 2–3: three classes of 25 students

·         Grades 4–5: three classes of 23 students

·         Grade 6: one class of 32 students

We know that changes like this may raise questions. Our School Council and Society members have asked thoughtful ones already—ranging from how class lists will be created, to friend requests, and how curriculum outcomes are met in combined-grade classrooms.

Please note:

•      Teachers will be creating new class lists next year, rather than carrying forward existing ones.

•      We will continue to consider friend requests (an online form will be shared later in May).

•      The new Alberta curriculum ensures all students receive complete instruction in their grade-level outcomes, even in combined classes.

We’re confident this updated configuration balances student needs, instructional integrity, and resource efficiency. We thank you for your continued support and for the trust you place in us as we make decisions in the best interest of our students and school community.

Students: The Giving Club

Every Thursday, students from Grade 3 - 6 have the opportunity to participate in The Giving Club run by Ms. LeGeyt and Mr. Burima. The weekly club is dedicated to giving and spreading joy, particularly to those in need. For the last two weeks, students have been creating artistic cards with inspirational messages that will be shared with people in the community. In the coming weeks, students will be gathering book donations and other items to help others.

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.

·         Your child’s current homeroom teacher makes these 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.

AHS – Community Education Sessions

The following are free online sessions offered by AHS:

-          May 14 (2:00-3:30 p.m.) Stress Management for Children and Youth. In this presentation participants will learn: signs of stress and how to recognize them, support for kids and teens in stress management, stress sources and levels, and how stress affects our body and mental health.

-          May 15 (2:00-3:30 p.m.) Helping Youth with their Futures. We will be discussing how to help refine a youth's views on the future and help them achieve their dreams/goals. We will also be discussing the importance of communication between adults and youth, as well as supports that exist for parents and youth.

-          May 22 (11:30-1:00 p.m.) Digital Dilemma: The Impact of Screens, Social Media, and Gaming on Youth. In today’s digital world, screens are everywhere—but what impact do they have on youth? This session will explore the effects of social media, video gaming, and screen time on key areas of life, including mental health, social connections, and overall well-being. We’ll discuss evidence-based insights on both the risks and benefits of digital engagement, as well as practical strategies for fostering a balanced approach. Join us for a meaningful conversation on how to support young people in developing healthy screen habits while strengthening real-world connections.