Together in Learning and Faith
January 12, 2020
Kindergarten Registration Begins Saturday, February 1st!
Kindergarten registration for EICS schools will begin ONLINE the morning of Saturday, February 1, 2020. EICS schools will be sharing information about programming and open houses over the next few weeks on their school websites.
To go to the EICS Kindergarten webpage - please click here.
To download the EICS Kindergarten Information Brochure - EICS Kindergarten February 2019
Open House February 18, 2020
Please feel free to share this with family and friends who will be attending OLA next year. We would be delighted to meet them and show off the school, our wonderful children and their great learning and growing. Our Servant Leadership Squads are eager to take you on a tour!
Share Your Passion!
We are calling on parents to offer a session to children sharing their passions in the form of Power Options. Want to teach children how to crochet as a way to be peaceful? Want to share your knowledge for engineering and how to construct safe structures? Love chemistry and mixing different liquids together? Do you love spreading joy, and want to make a small craft to deliver to the neighbourhood around OLA? These are just a few ideas of how you can share your passions, knowledge and talents to OLA children!
We are inviting parents to offer a One-Hour Power Option workshop from 1:00pm - 2:00pm on Wednesday February 5 and a repeat session on March 4 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm.
If you are interested in offering a workshop, please contact Mme Gravelle at pamgr@eics.ab.ca before January 28th. Even if you have a passion that you'd love to share, and just don't know how, please contact Mme Gravelle to discuss the possibilities!
Connect with Mme Gravelle at pamgr@eics.ab.ca to offer a workshop in February and March!
A Story for Every Child
Last year's event was a huge success, and it touched so many hearts! Those who participated were truly moved by much it would filled up their cups!
Please come and spend an hour with an OLA child sharing with them a love of reading, introducing them to your favourite book or topic, and simply sitting and talking to a child so they know they matter.
Information to let us know that you are attending will be coming out soon.
Please mark this date and time in your calendar.
Monday February 24, from 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Spread the word and we hope to see you there!
This week, temperatures are predicted to drop even more, which again means more indoor recesses. We will endeavor to provide opportunities for children to "burn off" excess energy. As you know, staying indoors for an extended period of time can have adverse affects on a child's ability to learn, as well as impact their social, emotional and physical wellbeing.
Whenever possible at home this week, thank you for encouraging your child to dress up extra warm and go outside, even for 10 minutes. They will love it if you join them! Time outside will help children sleep better, increase their concentration, keep them healthy and they will experience a greater sense of peace and wellbeing.
Should the temperatures hover around -26WC and we've experienced consecutive indoor recesses, the opportunity may be provided to play outside for up to 10 minutes for children who are properly dressed. Mme Gravelle would love to join them and their outdoor play!
EICS Message on Transportation & Cold Weather
Environment Canada is forecasting extreme cold conditions this coming week. We are asking parents to have alternate transportation arrangements in place in the event that busing is canceled due to the weather.
We will make every attempt to advise parents the night before of delays or cancellations, but in the event of a bus breakdown notification may be last minute. Notice will be sent out via the following:
- using the BUS PLANNER notification system
- School Messenger
- updates posted on the Bus Status page of our EICS website.
Many thanks for your attention to this matter and please stay safe and be prepared for this cold temperature situation.
EICS Transportation Policy on Cold Weather:
School bus service shall be suspended at a temperature of -40C as measured at the appropriate Environmental Weather Service Centre. School bus operators are responsible for the safety of your child and take poor weather and road conditions very seriously.
Parents will be advised via an email and call out system of any bus cancelations and delays. Parents are asked to:
- Ensure all contact information in PowerSchool is accurate and up to date.
- Ensure that parents of students on EICS Transportation are enrolled in the BusPlanner notification system. To find out how to register, please click on the following BusPlanner instructions.
- Go to eics.ab.ca and go to the Transportation main page for bus status.
- Call 780.449.6480 for our transportation after-hours greeting for details.
Schools are always open unless there is a specific school-related emergency.
School Council Meeting Date Change
EICS School Calendar for 2020 - 2021
Alberta Education will be conducting their annual Accountability Pillar Survey in the new year. Parents of students in grade 4, 7 and 10 should receive a mailed survey from Alberta Education.
As an annual check-up on the education system, the Accountability Pillar provides an opportunity for Alberta Education to ensure that we are equipping students for success. Please watch for your survey in the mail - and let your voice be heard. Thank you.
Rockin' Learning in our PJs!
Growing Brains, Sharing Smiles . . .
Blanket Exercise this Wednesday
Parents and Staff of EICS students are invited to take part in a Blanket Exercise to be held at Central Learning Services (310 Broadview Road) in Sherwood Park on Wednesday, January 15, beginning at 6:30 pm.
The Blanket Exercise is an active participation learning activity based on the major themes and findings of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. The goal is to build understanding about our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada by walking through pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance. Everyone is actively involved as they step onto blankets that represent the land, and into the role of First Nations, Inuit and later Métis peoples. By engaging on an emotional and intellectual level, the Blanket Exercise effectively educates and increases empathy. For further information, please view this KAIROS Blanket Exercise video.
Participants are asked to bring a blanket that can be placed on the floor and stepped on for this activity.
Please RSVP by Monday, January 13 by filling out this linked Google Form. We will also have Eva Stang join us at this event. Eva, a Métis Culture and Knowledge Keeper, has been working with EICS this year, supporting the continued growth in staff and administrator knowledge of Indigenous perspectives.
If you have any questions, please email Crystal Cholin, Learning Services Consultant, at (crystalc@eics.ab.ca).
OLA Parish News
First Eucharist Preparation
Catholic children in Grade 3 (or older) are invited to prepare for the Sacrament of the Eucharist (First Holy Communion) at Our Lady of the Angels Parish. Registration is open until January 31, 2020.
Class dates:
- February 9, 2020 OLA Church meeting room 10:00 am (Parents required to stay)
- February 15, 2020 OLA Church meeting room 10:00 am
- March 1, 2020 OLA Church 2:00 pm Celebration Mass
Registration forms are available online at www.olafortsask.caedm.ca or at the church office. There is a $25 registration fee to cover the costs of materials. Please provide a copy of your child's baptism certificate when registering. Questions can be directed to the OLA Church office at 780-998-3288.
Looking Ahead . . .
Monday, January 13
- Grade 3 Teacher's Pet: Communities of the World
- Faith in Action Assembly 12:30 pm - everyone welcome
Tuesday, January 14
Wednesday, January 15
- Wellness Servant Leadership Squad Team Meeting
- Blanket Exercise at EICS Central Learning Services 6:30 pm
Friday, January 17
- School Day for T/Th Pre-K/Kinders
and a Little Further Ahead . . .
January 23 OLA School Council Meeting at 7pm - share feedback about the calendar
January 27-31 Adoration in Chapel
January 28 Final day to share the Power Option you would like to offer OLA children
February 1 Kindergarten Registration opens online
February 5 Progress Reports for grades 1-4 available via PowerSchool Parent Portal
February 6-7 Teacher's Convention - No School for Students
February 24 MARK YOUR CALENDARS - A Story for Every Child 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Come celebrate a love of reading! Spread the word! Calling on 185 community members to read to each of our children. More details to follow!
To see what is coming even further ahead, please visit our website calendar.
You can check out our M/W Kinder calendar here,
our T/Th Pre-K/Kinder calendar here,
and our Pre-K AM calendar here.
"Worship means bending low before the Most High and to discover in His presence that life’s greatness does not consist in having, but in loving."
Pope Francis
January 10, 2020
Our Lady of the Angels School
Fort Saskatchewan, AB
T8L 1W7
Email: ola@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://ola.eics.ab.ca/
Location: 9622 Sherridon Drive, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
Phone: (780)998-3716
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/OLASchoolFtSask/photos/?ref=page_internal
Twitter: @OLAFortSask