GISH GLIMPSE
October 2022
Note from the Principal's Desk - October 2022
Happy October! The start of the 2022-2023 school year seems sooooooooooooo long ago. We’ve been very busy! E. S. Gish students and staff have already renewed friendships and made new ones. We’re off to aTREMENDOUS start! Gish School is officially “home” to 862 students, and a few new staff members. Welcome to Mrs. Johnston (Gr.4), Mrs. Hauptman (French & Art), Ms. Magyar (Gr. 2), Mrs. Mullen, (Gr. 2/3), Mr.Harrison (AP), Mr. Paziuk (Gr. 7) and Mr. Mein (Phys. Ed.) (Gr. 1).
Quite honestly, we are glad that COVID-19 is over (for the most part). Some schools are still experiencing absences due to “respiratory infections.” All Gish citizens may wear personal masks if they choose to; nobody has to wear masks. Please continue to practice kindness!
Congratulations to our senior volleyball teams for their success in the SAPEC tournament. At Gish School, we continue to be proud of our global awareness as we develop honorable citizenship skills. Gish School’s Terry Fox Run raised nearly $600.00 for cancer research. Congratulations Gish School!
Numerous parent groups have already been busy at Gish School. Thanks to all who attended the Gish School Council Meeting (third Tuesday of every month) and the Parents’ Association (GPA) Meeting (next one is Oct. 26 @ 6:00pm). We could always use more volunteers! Thanks to the GPA for sponsoring an entertaining “improv assembly” on Monday, Oct. 3. Students and staff enjoyed the “mental health break!”
On behalf of Gish School staff, we offer a sincere welcome to all our families. We are proud to be part of St. Albert Public Schools and appreciate everyone’s trust and support. We recognize that we could not enjoy our success without the strong support of our stakeholders!
Yours in partnership,
John Strembitsky,
Principal
Sue Werner,
Assistant Principal
Derek Harrison,
Assistant Principal
💡 For Your Information 💡
Student Arrival and Departure:
-Please continue to drop off students no sooner than 8:30am and pick up students no later than 3:30pm, as dismissal is 3:15pm. There will be NO supervision of students before 8:30am and after 3:15pm. The only supervision outside after school will be for the students taking the bus.
-Students will be expected to enjoy outdoor time prior to 8:40am and after 3:20pm. We sincerely appreciate parents dropping off in the double “private vehicle lane” in the morning, and not entering Gish property at all in the afternoon, until all buses have departed near 3:40pm.
-Thanks for your continued cooperation.
Eating Utensils for Students:
Plastic disposable utensils will soon be unavailable in Canada. We will NOT be replacing them with wood or cardboard. Please ensure that your child has the necessary utensils to consume their lunch. Please also provide water bottles for them to have a drink; we cannot provide disposable cups.
Parents & Driving Laws:
Bylaw Enforcement, Sheriffs, Peace Officers, and RCMP have committed to making Gish School and community safer, in the best interests of student safety! Parents & Guardians are asked to PLEASE pay attention to traffic laws.
-No left turn from Parent Drop Off Lanes. Right turn only from 8:00am-4:00pm
-No parking in the crosswalk. Drivers may not let passengers out, nor load passengers while in the crosswalk.
-Do NOT drop off students from the roadway on Akins Drive, while stopped in traffic. Instead, pull off to the curb or drive into the parent drop off lanes.
Our student phone is back up and running! If your student needs to phone home they might choose to use the student phone that is located next to the gym. That phone line is NOT monitored by staff, so call back at your own discretion. Any calls coming from that line will be the phone number 780-459-7090 and might display as "Brd of Trustees."
Picture Re-takes:
Icon will be coming to Gish for picture retakes on October 14. If you would like to have your child retake their picture please have them bring back the form that they received from the photographer. If they where not here on the original photo date the homeroom teacher should still have the from for them to use.
Lunch drop off:
If you are dropping of a lunch for your student please have it labeled clearly so the office staff can make sure it gets to your child. The office is a VERY busy place at lunch time and sometimes we forget who's lunch was dropped off. Thank you for making our job easier!
Gish Grab N' Go:
Our Grab N' Go Snack Program is up and running! The school will use its NUTRITION GRANT to fund the program that aims to help our students focus and relieve that hunger pain that so many feel during class time. Each day at morning break the fridge will be filled with a limited amount of snacks and fruit. Students who have gone without breakfast or need a little extra lunch are invited to grab an item.
The fridge will be working on the honor system, we cannot accommodate students taking multiple items so please help us to encourage your student to use it appropriately. Two satellite "GRAB n' GO" baskets will be set up in both Two satellite “GRAB n GO” baskets will be set up in both Div1 and Div2 hallways. Again, they will be filled with fruit and small snacks once, daily.
We've had some parents express interest in donating to the program, if you'd like to drop off individually packaged items for Gish Grab n' Go please do so at the front office.
🍎 Gish Staff Showcase 🍎
Kinder Team
The Gish kinder teachers have been working hard with our newest students to help them get their education started off on the right foot.
Thank you Mrs. Soprovich, Ms. Cook and Mrs. Leppington
Kinder & Grade 1 EAs
The EAs at Gish have the most patience and show our little ones endless kindness everyday.
Thank you Melissa, Yen, Huda, Jackie, Jaqueline, Sherrill and Autumn
Grade 1 Team
Our Grade one teachers are doing a wonderful job helping their students transition into the new demands of grade one.
Thank you Mrs. Ternovatsky, Ms. Worthington, Mrs. Dewji and Mrs. Machney
🏐 Sports Report 🏐
Dodgeball:
Congratulations to the Grade 6 Dodgeball team "The Sniper Squad" who won our double elimination tournament during intramurals this month!
Volleyball:
~The Jr. Boys and Girls volleyball teams have been practicing hard through September, regular league games will continue through October.
~The Sr. Boys and Girls have both been off to a great start competing in the Morinville Tournament and in the SAPEC Tournament. Both teams will be continuing league play through October and will be attending the St. Thomas Aquinas “Monster Smash” tournament from October 27th-29th. The Sr. Girls and Boys play on Tuesdays and Thursdays, alternating home and away games. Check out the school calendar for when you can come out and support your Warriors volleyball teams!
Jr. High Districts:
Congratulations to all of our Jr.High runners for making it to the District Cross Country this year! What a great day for a trail run!
Let's give these students who finished in the top 20 a round of applause.👏
Grade 9 Boys
Yusuf A - 3rd place medal
Kena S - 16th place ribbon
Khalil H - 20th place ribbon
Grade 8 Boys
Labeeb A - 11th place ribbon
Grade 7 Boys
Kenzo H - 5th place ribbon
Moshen M-17th place ribbon
Grade 8 Girls
Story P - 11th Place ribbon
🥕 Clubs @ Gish 🎨
Garden Club with Mrs. Leppington
Lego Club with Mrs.Zawaduk
Lego club for grade 3s starts next week! It will run on Tuesdays and Fridays in Mrs. Zawaduk's classroom (room 150) from 12:30-12:55 (after the students have eaten their lunches). There is room for 32 students at a time. Students who don't make it in for the round they sign up for will be put into another round.
Please fill in the attached Google Form if you would like your child to participate.
Theater Games with Mrs. Hauptman
Yoga Club with Miss. LaRiviere
Coding Club with Mrs. Zawaduk
More information will be coming soon!
🎃 October Calendar 🎃
📃 GPA Update 📃
Our next meeting is....
Chair: Heather Hansen Vice Chair: Nicole Semple
Treasurer: Mehroon Cassaday
Secretary: Alexandra David
Please welcome our newest board member Nicole Semple, she’s taking the Vice Chair position on Gish Parent’s Association!
Role: To enhance the educational, social, cultural, and recreational benefits for the students and/or school community at Elmer S Gish Elementary and Junior High School.
By attending monthly meetings, parents can support the school in its work with students, receive valuable information, and represent the view of parents.
How: With the help of parents and community partners, we raise funds to help facilitate events at the school benefitting all students. Whole school opportunities such as technology, recess equipment, landscaping, hot lunch programs and more! Volunteers also contribute to a vibrant school community.
Why: Being a partner in your child's education helps them to develop pride in their school and community, allows you to meet other parents, and be a part of the school community.
What’s next? Our very first fundraiser is in full swing! Please take a moment to read about the Little Caesar’s Pizza Kit FUNdraiser when the flyer comes home. This is your opportunity to support your child’s school with sales of authentic Little Caesars Pizza Kits, yummy! Also, we are moving forward with the very highly anticipated HOT DOG DAYS! This is the adult’s chance to get out of making lunch! Woohoo! Hot dog forms will be coming home soon! Our first HOT DOG DAY will happen on Tuesday October 25th.
Please contact us if you would like more information about joining your GPA:
Wednesday, Oct 26, 2022, 06:00 PM
Elmer S. Gish School, Akins Drive, St. Albert, AB, Canada
🔗 Community Links 🔗
Elmer S. Gish School
Email: esg@spschools.org
Website: https://esgish.spschools.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=970059&pageId=12037863#page
Location: 75 Akins Drive, St. Albert, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-459-7766
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElmerSGishSchool/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARBsk-ZhqD_tyEPuCBCEkKBKOTXg_NJu1B9P7KnPimYa8yYQT6DOxnwErtRKsMhMqaVgej4sgTISzn12
Twitter: @GishEnergy