If your child is absent from school OR something has changed in the usual end of day routine for your child, please make sure you notify the school office (elmdale@hsd.ca or 204-326-3325) in addition to the classroom teacher. If a teacher is away from the school for a day, or unable to check their email or SeeSaw notices, it is important that the office be aware of this as well.

We ask that all arrangements be made in advance as much as possible. Changes in end of day routines can be confusing for children, especially if the teacher is relaying a message from home that is different than what the parent had told the child.

While we love seeing our Elmdale families, with the additional restrictions we are currently following, we are asking the visits from parents, grandparents, guardians, etc. be minimized where possible. If you can schedule appointments, music lessons, sports activities etc. outside of the school day, this helps to minimize the traffic in the school building. We understand this isn't always possible, but we are asking for your help to work with us to minimize these as much as possible.

All guests, including when picking up or dropping off children during the school day, are asked to use Entrance A & C (centre of the school) when entering and exiting the building. We are asking that all visitors to Elmdale wear a mask when entering the school

To ensure contact tracing we require that all guests sign in at the office. Please do not proceed to your child's classroom. Our wonderful office staff can assist you at the office.

Every few years it is important to take a look at school policies and update them. We have updated our Code of Conduct. Please Click Here to familiarize yourself with it. In general our Code of Conduct is based on the belief that every student is unique, special, and an important part of our school community. We believe that building into positive behaviours plays a large role in preventing negative behaviours. Being proactive with behaviour issues, and keeping communication lines open can prevent many behaviour problems from escalating. However when the need arises, behaviour issues will be dealt with according to our Code of Conduct and Positive Behaviour Program. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Hiebert at vhiebert@hsd.ca

It is also important to highlight our Protocol for Addressing Concerns. It is inevitable that a concern or question will arise about something happening in the classroom, on the playground, or at school in general.

Generally speaking, a parent should start with the person most directly involved with the concern. For example, if you have a concern with something that took place in the classroom, you would speak first to the classroom teacher.

Understanding the line of communication in Manitoba schools is essential in working to resolve a concern in a school community. This line of communication should be followed in this order:

1. Classroom Teacher

2. Principal

3. Superintendent

4. School Board

We know that many parents like to send a class treat for their child's birthday. We want to make sure we can continue this tradition while still following provincial COVID guidelines. Please make sure to follow these instructions when sending a snack to school:

• If a student wants to bring a snack for a birthday treat or class event, it must be commercially packaged. In other words, snacks must be purchased from a store or bakery and brought to school.
• Individually wrapped snacks are preferred, but in the event non-individually packaged snacks are brought, a staff member will hand them out while wearing gloves
• Homemade goods will not be served to students at school
• As always, if you would like to send a snack with your child (such as for their birthday), please make sure to contact the teacher first!

Click HERE for this month's Nutrition Bits and Bites Newsletter from Southern Health.

Please check our website for information about school bus routes in HSD.
If your address has changed, please call transportation at 204-320-2347 to make sure that your children are riding the correct bus to and from school.