EE Oliver Elementary
September 2021 Newsletter
A letter from our Principal
As September comes to an end, it is so nice to see students have settled into the routine and classes are underway. It is a pleasure to see the students working and playing together.
Next week will be busy at E.E.O as we commemorate Truth and Reconciliation. Students will be spending time in their classes throughout the week learning about the history of residential schools in our country. In addition to classroom activities, our family liaison worker, Connie Kramer, will be hosting a virtual assembly for all of the students to observe Orange Shirt Day. On Friday, October 1st, we invite all staff and students to wear orange as we acknowledge that every child matters and that our actions today create our future.
As well, next week, Students will be taking part in the Terry Fox Run in their class cohorts. Thank you for the donations that you have made to our run and the encouragement that you are giving your children to become caring citizens.
A special thank you to those who attended our first Parent Council meeting and agreed to be a part of the executive. Our staff is appreciative of the support that the parents give to us and we welcome your input into decisions about your child’s education. I would like to invite everyone to join us on October 28th for our next parent council meeting either in person or via google meet. https://meet.google.com/ddy-xfbg-qji?hs=122&authuser=0 This is your chance to ask questions, find out more about your child’s school life and have a voice in the decision-making.
Once again, the school is following restrictions with the desire to prevent the spread of Covid in our school community. Thank you for screening your child each morning and encouraging them to take care of themselves and others. We look forward to the day that we can safely open our school to more parental visits and involvement. In the meantime, I encourage you to stay in touch with myself and your child’s teachers. Parents are able to volunteer at the school after screening for symptoms and while maintaining social distancing. Your children benefit, both academically and emotionally, because of the connection you have with their school experience.
“It takes a village to raise a child.”
Stay safe.
Evelyn Krol
Email: krole@prsd.ab.ca
Website: eeoliverelementary.ca
Phone: 780-835-2225
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EEOSchool
New protocols for Covid
If you are phoning the school about your child being absent, please inform office staff if the absence is due to illness.
***Masks are mandatory for all students and all staff while riding the school bus***
- Masks are strongly recommended for grades K-3 students in shared areas of the school.
- Masks are mandatory for all grades 4-12 students in shared areas of the school.
- Masks are still not required while students are seated in the classroom, but will be supported should students choose to wear a mask.
- Masks are required for all students and staff while singing.
Visitors
- Masks are mandatory for all visitors to the school.
- Visitors are only permitted in the building if they have an appointment.
Please refer to our complete Covid-19 Response by clicking below
Our Breakfast Program is up and running!
If you have any questions about our Breakfast Program or wish to donate or volunteer, please contact the office or email Mrs. Kramer kramerc@prsd.ab.ca
Visit from Superintendent Murray
Mr. Murray went to visit classes and got to talk with students.
Grade 4 Field Trip - written by 4S
On Friday September 3, 2021 both grade 4 classes went to the North Peace Regional Landfill. Our first impression of the landfill was muddy and shocking. It was shocking because there was a lot of garbage and it was not as gross as we thought it might be.
The amount of garbage we create in a year is unbelievable. There is about 6,600 tons of garbage in a year at the North Peace Regional Landfill. It covers a quarter section of land North of Fairview.
Some students liked the leachate because it was cool. There were many colours on the surface of the water. The colours were blue, pink, and green. Leachate might be cool but it is also very dangerous. It is very toxic because of the chemicals that come out of our garbage.
Recycling is a big thing to do. At the Landfill they recycle, too. Recycling helps us take care of the planet. They recycle many things like plastics, electronics, paper, tires, cardboard, metal, freezers, fridges, ovens, vending machines, paint cans, tin cans, metal pipes, grain bags, and containers. Please try to recycle more because the environment needs us to!
We really enjoyed the Field Trip. The grade 4 students learned a lot from the landfill and we are still learning.
Message from the Superintendent
Ensuring that Indigenous perspectives are infused in education is very important to the Peace River School Division (PRSD). It is crucial that First Nations, Métis and Inuit students see themselves and their cultures in the curriculum and school community, and that non-Indigenous students are taught the true history of Canada, including the, at times, painful relationship between Canada and the First Nations, Métis and Inuit.
As you may be aware, the Canadian government declared September 30th as a federal statutory holiday, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We fully support the importance of this day of observance and therefore the PRSD board of trustees voted to make September 30, 2021 a non-operational day, meaning there will be no school for students and school-based staff. The board of trustees also voted that September 27- October 1, 2021 be declared Truth and Reconciliation Week in PRSD schools. By dedicating a full week to Truth and Reconciliation, schools will have the flexibility to select a minimum of one school day within the week to recognize Orange Shirt Day while students learn about the history and legacy of residential schools. Other learning activities that support Truth and Reconciliation will also be encouraged.
As an educational organization, we have a great duty, responsibility, and opportunity to create change and we take this very seriously. Last year, the PRSD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to form an Anti-Racism Committee. The committee includes representation from the board of trustees, students, and staff, and is committed to further positive systemic change, with the goal of ending racism in all PRSD school communities.
We are very excited and humbled to share that on September 23, 2021, we will demonstrate our respect for, and solidarity with, our Indigenous communities by raising the Treaty 8 flag and the Métis flag at the Grimshaw Shared School Facility. This flag raising Ceremony has been planned in collaboration with Duncan’s First Nation, Métis Region VI, Holy Family Catholic Regional School Division, and the Town of Grimshaw. At PRSD, we will continue to demonstrate our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation by collaborating with our local Indigenous communities to plan future flag raising Ceremonies to be held at each of our schools.
In our classrooms it is emphasized that Indigenous history is Canadian history. It is very important to us that all students learn about the important traditions, cultures, and histories of the First Peoples of Canada. We seek out opportunities to have our staff learn from local Elders and knowledge keepers. For example, our school leaders learned more about the significance of smudging from a local knowledge keeper during their first Administrators Association Meeting of the year. This month, students in Peace River and Fairview will be building tobacco bundles with the guidance of a local knowledge keeper to support the local Sisters in Spirit events when our communities gather to remember missing and murdered Indigenous people.
Although pandemic restrictions have prevented large divisional events such as our Hand Games Tournament, other virtual opportunities have arisen. For example, in the coming weeks, all schools will have the opportunity to have students learn Cree songs with Sherryl Sewepagaham through Zoom sessions. Throughout the school year, opportunities are woven into the classroom whether that is a part of a specific event such as Remembrance Day, Métis Week, or Indigenous Peoples Day, or just as a part of what regularly happens day-to-day in the classroom.
This important work is supported by the vision and passion of the Board of Trustees, and through the work of PRSD’s management staff, Indigenous Education Program Coordinator, Indigenous Support Workers, school-based Indigenous Education leads, teachers, educational assistants and through the contributions of Indigenous community members and organizations. These programs and initiatives are supported by way of special funding from the Government of Alberta which is determined by self-declaration. Peace River School Division receives funding for each self-declared Indigenous student. Parents can declare their child’s ancestry on the school registration form that is completed every year.
Thank you to our students, staff, families, Elders, knowledge keepers, community members and organizations for your important contributions and support.
Adam Murray
Superintendent of Schools
Peace River School Division
We'd love to have you!!
We are hoping to start up some hot lunches for our students but need help to do it.
If you would like to put your hand up and step in, please call the office to find out all the details!!
Thanks in advance!!
AMA Patrollers are back!!
Please remember that they are students who have stepped up to help their school community. We are so thankful for them!
REMEMBER the speed limit is 30km/hr in school zones.
Please check signage to ensure you are not parking in a crosswalk zone.
We also want to encourage all students to use the crosswalk properly. Please, if you drop your child on the south side of our building, guide your child to the crosswalk where there is a crossing patroller.
Orange Shirt Day - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
During initial discussions, the PRSD board of trustees believed it would be best to have students learn about Truth and Reconciliation in school on September 30, 2021. However, upon hearing input from local Indigenous communities, the board moved to make it a non-operational day.
“Initially, the board felt that having students in school on that day was important as we didn’t want it to be taken as a ‘holiday’ or just another day off” explained Board Chair Darren Kuester. “We believed that by having students in school, we would be able to better ensure that the importance of this day is observed. But, after learning that members of our community believed we could best show our support for the national holiday by taking it as a day off school, we decided to explore this idea further.”
PRSD consulted with various local Indigenous organizations, Elders and knowledge keepers and heard that the best way forward is to observe this day in the same way as any other national holiday.
“The national holiday was created in response to one of the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada; therefore, it is vital that PRSD recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in the same way as any other national holiday” says Kuester.
During the board meeting, trustees also unanimously agreed to declare September 27 to October 1, 2021 as Truth and Reconciliation Week in PRSD schools.
“By dedicating a full week to Truth and Reconciliation, schools will have the flexibility to select a minimum of one school day within the week to recognize Orange Shirt Day while students learn about the history and legacy of residential schools. Other learning activities that support Truth and Reconciliation will also be encouraged” says Kuester.
EEO will wear their Orange Shirts on Friday, October 1
What is Orange Shirt Day? - by 4B
Orange Shirt Day is on September 30th. This day recognizes
Phyllis Webstad's experiences in residential schools when her
brand new orange shirt was taken away. It is a day when we
honour the Indigenous children who were sent away to residential
schools in Canada and learn more about the history of those
schools.
The Government of Canada has also declared September 30th as
the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is a day to
recognize and honour residential school survivors, their families
and their communities.
Each student will write a message of
hope, remembrance or acceptance
on a print out of an orange shoe to
be displayed in the school.
Classes will be participating in
discussions and activities
throughout the week on the topic
of Truth and Reconciliation and
Orange Shirt Day.
Terry Fox Run
Please make sure your child has comfortable shoes.
Due to Covid-19 Regulations being in place at this time, we are unable to invite parents to the event.
Please donate to this cause using the button below!
School hours
Please be aware that if your child is dropped off prior to 8:30am they will be waiting outside.
We do not have staff in place for supervision until 8:30am.
Due to the new COVID restrictions, students will be going to lunch at varying times.
Our last bell rings at 3:30pm.
EEO Spirit creates a sea of BLUE
Important Dates
29th - Terry Fox Run
30th - NO SCHOOL - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
October
8th - NO SCHOOL
11th - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving
22nd - School Spirit Day - Cowboy Day
25th - NO SCHOOL - PD Day
27th - Picture Retake Day
28th - Parent Council Meeting @ 7pm
29th - Halloween Celebrations