Together in Learning and Faith
September 7th - Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School
September 13th at 6:00 pm
Please join us on Thursday, September 13th from 6:00 - 7:30 pm to meet your new Our Lady of the Angels staff - we look forward to seeing everyone!
We will begin our evening at 6:00 pm in the gym where Mme. Gravelle will lead us in prayer, share the journey, introduce the staff and invite parents to our new OLA PreK - 4 Parent School Council.
At approximately 6:30 pm parents are invited to visit their child's classroom where the teachers have prepared a presentation on what to expect in the coming year. For those families with more than one child in our school - not to worry! Teachers will be doing a second presentation at 7:00 pm for those who couldn't make the first.
This evening is geared for parents, with information and details for parents. It is recommended that children remain at home.
Sacrament Preparation at OLA Church
On behalf of the Sacramental Preparation Committee, we wish to welcome all those preparing for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist or Confirmation in the 2018 - 2019 school year.
We encourage and invite all families to join us for 11:00 am Mass this Sunday, September 9th. We will be hosting an Information Session immediately following fellowship (approximately 12:30 pm), which will include a variety of information regarding all three of these Sacraments, as well as a special guest speaker. There will also be a Meet and Greet for Father Kristopher, our new parish pastor, to welcome him to our Faith Community.
We encourage all families with a child who is going to be completing any of the Sacraments during the 2018 - 2019 school year to join us.
For more important dates and information please visit our school webpage.
Celebrate OLA - our first Assembly!
Buses and Parking at OLA
OLA staff and Elk Island Catholic School Transportation staff thank you for your patience as we work through the beginning of the year newness of bus routes. Taking the bus to school continues to be the safest and most convenient way to get kids to school, especially since parking is limited. If you would like more information about bussing, please contact Elk Island Catholic School’s Transportation department at 780-449-6480 or visit their website.
To drop off and pick up students at OLA school buses will be parking directly in front of the school from the crosswalk north, blocking the front parking spaces on Sherridon Drive. For student safety and to ensure no vehicles are in motion near children as they enter or exit the buses, the parking spaces directly in front of the school are reserved for staff.
Parents are welcome to park in the north-west parking spaces or behind the school in the north-west parking lot. Parking is also permitted along the west side of Sherridon Drive south of the crosswalk, or north of the crosswalk on the east side of Sherridon Drive.
For your child’s safety, please walk your child through the parking lot, or across the street using the crosswalk, and to the park to play. All children will be playing before school begins, and supervision begins on the playground at 8:30 am. Please note the school will open for children at the 8:45 am bell.
End of the Day Routines
Where do I meet my child when I pick them up at the end of the day?
If you are picking up your child after school please wait outside the school, near their regular dismissal/exit doors to meet them. If you enter the school and wait directly outside of your child’s class, you will be asked to wait outside the exit doors of the school. We thank you in advance for helping your child develop independence and have autonomy during their school day routines. This also helps us maintain a safe environment for children, and minimizes the interruptions in class.
Should your plans change throughout the day, please call the school at 780-998-3716 and we will make sure your child and their teacher know the new "getting home" plan. As a gentle reminder, our teachers have full schedules throughout the day and may not have an opportunity to read an email you send during classroom time. A quick phone call to the office is best.
When there is a known change from your child's regular routine, we ask that you take a moment to write a note in their agenda.
Lunch & Workspaces
Children are encouraged to bring a tea towel in their lunch kit to spread on their desk or table as a little picnic blanket. A tea towel helps keep your child’s workspace stay clean. At the end of lunch, your child will return the tea towel to their lunch kit for washing. Parents are also encouraged to prepare garbageless lunches by using reusable containers. Any garbage from lunch will be sent back in your child’s lunch kit. A great way to keep the garbage separate from your child’s food is to send a zip lock bag for garbage. Thank you for your help in caring for our environment.
REPORTING ABSENCES: SAFE ARRIVAL
Please click on this link for important information on the best way to let us know that your child will be late or away from school.
It is our first priority every morning to ensure that all students are accounted for. Using this new tool helps us to expedite this process to ensure the safe arrival of all of our students. We appreciate your partnership in keeping our little people safe.
WE ARE A NUT AWARE SCHOOL
Please DO NOT send NUTS of ANY variety or foods that contain nuts to school with your children. We have far too many precious little children (and staff) with life-threatening allergies. Thank you for keeping our community safe.
LEARNING AND GROWING TOGETHER: UNDER CONSTRUCTION
We are a Work in Progress - literally and figuratively. Our website, policies, procedures and programs, and even some areas of our school, will continue to be constructed, developed and communicated throughout the year. We thank you in advance for reading the weekly newsletters to keep up-to-date on the journey.
Parents are welcome to participate in creating the journey together. See information below on how to get involved!
VISITORS TO OUR SCHOOL
In the interest of student safety, and to reduce classroom interruptions, we ask that all visitors to the school come directly to the office. If you need to pick up your child during the school day we are happy to call their classroom and get them to meet you at the office. Thank you for waiting in the office for your child to arrive. We appreciate your help in keeping our little ones safe.
Establishing OLA's Parent School Council
We are in the process of finalizing a date for the OLA Parent School Council Establishment Meeting. We are aiming for Tuesday, September 25th at 7:00 pm in the OLA library - stay tuned! We will send a separate email confirming this date.
Parent School Councils are vital for the enhancement of programming for our children and bringing special events into our school. Without a PSC, programs such as hot lunch and milk programs, cultural performances and celebrations, would be sadly lacking from our learning community. Parent School Councils play a integral role in advising the schools and providing feedback - not to mention that we are stronger together! Please consider attending this meeting and being a part of building OLA’s Parent School Council - or getting involved in other ways to support the building of our OLA masterpiece.
Keen to help with this establishment meeting or specific events/programs at the school? We would love to hear from you! Please email us at ola@eics.ab.ca
BIRTHDAYS AND STUDENT WELLNESS
As a school division, EICS is moving to the practice of non-food rewards. Please refer to
To make your child’s birthday special, we will be celebrating their day as part of our Monday Morning assemblies and daily morning announcements. Celebrating birthdays does NOT need to include a gift. Should you feel the need to acknowledge your child's birthday, here are some non-food ideas:
a book for the classroom
pencils or erasers
stickers
fancy glue
a gift for the classroom
In the interest of fairness to all, we will be sending home any food treats sent to school to share with classmates. Thank you for working with us. Together we can all be part of this positive change!
At various times in the year, we will continue to celebrate and break bread together. Celebrations such as Halloween may still have parties. Food brought for these celebrations will be healthy, "choose most often" foods. Prior to these celebration times, we will gladly share creative ideas for healthy snacks. :-)
OLA Sleep Stars
This week we shared: Evening routines are very important to prepare our minds and bodies for a good night's sleep. If you work to do the same thing every night before bed, it can help you to get settled and fall asleep sooner. Some people like to read a book or take a bath before bed every night to help them relax. What is your bedtime routine?
What will my child learn this year?
Please click on the links below for an overview of what your child will be learning this year.
Family Wellness News
What is Orange Shirt Day?
Orange Shirt Day is a growing movement of reconciliation that grew out of a former student’s account of having her brand-new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school. Wearing an Orange Shirt is meant to recognize the harm done to residential school students, and show a commitment to the principle that every child matters.
Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools, and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come. To learn more about Orange Shirt Day please visit their website.
You are invited to wear an orange shirt on Friday, September 28th!
Looking Ahead . . .
Sunday, September 9
- Sacrament Preparation Meeting 12:30 pm at OLA Parish
Monday, September 10
- School-wide assembly 9:00 am - please join us!
- Kindergarten and PreKindergarten are in class today
Tuesday, September 11
- PreKindergarteners are in class today
- Kindergarten class today
- PreKindergarten students are in class today
- Meet the Staff Evening 6:00 - 7:30 pm**Please arrive at 6:00pm in the gym.
Friday September 14
- PreKindergarten and Kindergarten students are in class
Monday, September 17
- Join us for our Monday Morning Assembly at 9:00 am
- Prekindergarten & Kindergarten classes in session.
Tuesday, September 18
- PreKindergarteners are in
- Kindergarten class in session
Thursday, September 20
- To celebrate our sleep stars: Pyjama Day at OLA!
- PreKindergarteners are in class
Friday, September 21
- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - Staff Professional Development Day
Friday, September 28
- Orange Shirt Day
Monday, October 1
- Lifetouch School Picture Day
For more upcoming dates, please visit our website calendar at ola.eics.ab.ca
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
Twitter: @OLAFortSask