Lakeland Ridge Weekly Update!
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Dear LLR families,
Just a reminder that there is no school tomorrow. Classes will resume on Monday, April 4. There is a lot happening at LLR in the month of April. Handball and Badminton are underway and our cast and crew of Matilda are getting ready for a number of productions the last week of April. If you wish to get tickets for one of the shows, please do so ASAP, as tickets are selling fast. In addition, beginning April 4 families who wish to purchase more than 4 tickets for a specific show, may do so. Don't miss out!
We hope all our families have an enjoyable Spring Break.
Upcoming Dates and Events
Mar. 25: Day-in-Lieu: No School
Mar. 28- Apr. 1: Spring Break
Apr. 4: Classes Resume
Apr. 6: Early Dismissal (Wacky Hair Day)
Apr. 7: Grade 9 SAL Tour, & Gr. 6-3 Fieldtrip Aviation Museum
Apr. 8: Gr. 6-2 Fieldtrip Aviation Museum, Grade 1 Fieldtrip John Walter Museum
Apr 8: Lighting It Up Blue -Autism Awareness Month (Wear Blue today)
Apr. 11: Hot Lunch - Arby's
Apr 15: Good Friday (No School)
Apr:18: Easter Monday (No School)
Apr. 22: Gr. 6-1 Fieldtrip Aviation Museum
Apr. 25: Hot Lunch - Nitza's Pizza
Apr. 27-29: Matilda Drama Production, Back in Black & Red Event
May 4: Junior High Information Evening @ 6:30pm
May 25: Kindergarten Information Evening @ 6:30pm
Staffing Updates
- Congratulations to Ms. Stewart who accepted a teaching position at FR Haythorne Junior High. We wish her all the best at FRH. Ms. Hamel will be taking over for Ms. Stewart following Spring Break. Welcome to LLR, Ms. Hamel.
Educational Assistants
- Welcome to Mrs. Strong who will be working in Ms. Sheridan's Grade one class. She will be taking over for Mrs. Richardson for the remainder of the year.
- Welcome to Ms. King who will be providing additional support primarily in Division one.
Water Fountains
Microwaves
Changes to School Volunteer Requirements
Large-Group Gatherings and Spectator Protocols
Large-group gatherings—extracurriculars, performances, examinations, assemblies, convocations, team activities, field trips, school-based meetings—are operational and most public-health restrictions are lifted.
When these gatherings occur, all EIPS schools follow public-health best practices, such as promoting hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and strategies to avoid crowding.
Matilda: DATE CHANGE
Our cast and crew have been hard at work preparing for this year’s production of Matilda. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made it difficult to rehearse and prepare for this year’s show. Students were unable to rehearse for several weeks in January and many cast members have been ill and unable to attend rehearsals. Therefore, we have made the decision to postpone the show. The show will now take place during the last week of April. This additional time will allow Ms. Dahl and her students the opportunity to rehearse and put on a spectacular show! LLR students will view the show during the day from April 26-29. Tickets purchased for March shows can be used for the shows in April. If you need to exchange your tickets for another date and/or time, please contact the school at your earliest convenience. The evening performances will still take place at 5:30pm and 8:00pm. Doors for the show will open 30 minutes prior to the performance.
NOTE: Tickets Purchased for:
Wednesday, March 16 is valid for Wednesday, April 27 only
Thursday, March 17 is valid for Thursday, April 28 only
Friday, March 18 is valid for Friday, April 29 only
*Please contact the office if you need to make changes to the date or time of the performance you wish to attend. You can visit the school website and select the ‘Programs’ tab and then the ‘Drama’ tab to see a list of the revised dates and times, along with the cast schedule or click here.
If circumstances prevent you from attending an evening show, we will adjust your Parent Portal student account accordingly. Please return tickets you cannot use in an envelope to the office, with your child’s name and grade written on it. This credit will be first applied to any outstanding fees on the student account. In the event this creates an overpayment on your child’s student account, the overpayment will be applied to next year’s fees. If you would like to request a refund cheque, please send an email to cathy.eyben@eips.ca. Please include your child’s name, grade, Matilda tickets date change and that you would like a refund cheque issued.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Don't forget to purchase your tickets!
Matilda Tickets are now on sale on PowerSchool Parent Portal, through Optional Fees
- Maximum of 4 tickets per show per student
- $8 per ticket
- limited seating is available.
Have your say! The 2022 EIPS Parent Survey Opens March 14-27
Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) wants to hear from you. Make sure to complete the 2022 EIPS Parent Survey—open from March 14-27.
Annually, EIPS conducts a parent survey to gauge its progress toward meeting the goals and priorities outlined in its Four-Year Education Plan. Families are asked a series of questions about their experiences with EIPS and the school their child attends, the overall performance of the Division, the quality of education being provided to students and areas for improvement. The survey feedback helps the Division develop new strategies to better serve students and the wider community.
VISIT EIPS.CA TO TAKE THE SURVEY: March 14-27
NOTE: The survey is anonymous and only takes a few minutes to complete. If you want to share the experience of more than one child attending an EIPS school, simply complete the survey again.
Measuring Success: Complete this year’s Alberta Education Assurance Survey
Once again, Alberta Education is surveying teachers, students and families through its annual Alberta Education Assurance (AEA) Survey. The survey acts as an annual check-up on the province’s education system. Every year, Alberta Education conducts the survey to gather information about the quality of education provided by Alberta schools and school authorities. The survey looks at various measures such as education quality, citizenship, family involvement, engagement levels, school climate and student wellness.
Throughout March, grade 4 and 7 students and all teachers at Lakeland Ridge School are completing the survey online at the school. Student participation is voluntary and completely anonymous. Students are assigned a random username and password to ensure survey responses aren’t linked to any individual student. The survey doesn’t take long to complete and is done within the school day during regular class time.
Additionally, parents and guardians of students in grades 4, 7 and 10 are also asked to take a survey, either online or by mail. Alberta Education will send families information about the survey directly. As with the student and teacher survey, it’s anonymous and asks questions about your school experiences. If you have a child in grades 4, 7 or 10, we encourage you to participate. The survey deadline is March 25, 2022.
Results from the AEA Survey are provided to Elk Island Public Schools each spring. The Division then uses the data to inform its four-year education plan, school education plans and strategies for continuous improvement. Each fall, the results are also shared with EIPS families and school communities in the Division’s Annual Education Results Report.
RELATED INFORMATION
AEA Survey: Parent letter
AEA Survey: Methodology for rate calculation
Assurance and Accountability: Alberta’s K-12 education system
Provincially Provided Masks Available
Families who would like their child’s provincially provided masks can email Mrs. Desaulniers at amy.desaulniers@eips.ca. Please indicate how many students you have attending Lakeland Ridge School and if you prefer the adult or child size masks. The office will then prepare your request and send the masks home with your child. Information about changes to mask requirements in schools is available online at https://www.alberta.ca/k-12-learning-during-covid-19.aspx.
Indigenous News
March 2022
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
Virtual Family Gatherings
Many thanks to the families who joined us for our virtual gatherings this winter. It was a pleasure to reconnect with those who were part of the gatherings last year and to welcome new families to our virtual circle. We’re grateful for the conversation, the ideas shared and the feedback on work that’s happening throughout the Division. We look forward to seeing you all again next school year—hopefully in person at some point!
If there’s anything stemming from the gatherings you wish to discuss, please reach out to the lead teacher at your child’s school or someone from the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education team directly:
Planning for the 2022- 23 School Year
March and April are busy times for school lead teachers and the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education team as planning begins for next school year. Lead teachers and the team reflect on the successes and challenges of the past year, and the hopes for 2022-23. If you have ideas or feedback for your child’s school or the Division in general, please reach out to the lead teacher or connect with the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education team.
Treaty 6 and Métis Nation Flag Raising | June 13
If you’ve driven by EIPS Central Services recently, you may have noticed the addition of two new flag poles. As a further commitment on the path of truth telling toward reconciliation, and as an affirmation as Treaty partners, EIPS will be raising the Treaty 6 and Métis Nation flag on June 13. Each school in the Division will also display the two flags and are busy planning staff professional development and student learning experiences to understand the significance of each flag. More information on the Central Services ceremony and the specific events at each school will be shared in the near future.
Opening of Central Services Land-based Learning Space | June 21
EIPS has been working closely with Elder WIlson Bearhead to design and build a land-based learning space at EIPS Central Services. With spring on its way, construction will resume on the space. As part of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on June 21, EIPS will officially open the space, honour our ongoing relationship with Elder Wilson and affirm our commitment to deepen our relationship with the land that sustains us. We’ll share details of the opening event as the date draws closer.
EIPS 2022-23 Division Calendar: Now available!
The official 2022-23 EIPS calendar is now available. The calendar includes important dates during the 2022-23 school year, such as school-closure days, breaks, the first and last day of classes, professional learning days, early dismissal days, plus more.
Highlights from the 2022-23 EIPS calendar include:
First day of school – Aug. 30, 2022
November break – November 7-11
Christmas break – December 21 to January 3
Second semester starts – January 31
Teachers’ Convention – February 9-10
Spring break – March 24-31
Last day of classes – June 27, 2023
To view the 2022-23 calendar, visit eips.ca. You can sync the Division calendar to your personal calendar by visiting www.eips.ca/calendar and clicking on “subscribe to calendar.”