Lakeland Ridge Weekly Update!
Friday, February 12, 2021
Lakeland Ridge Weekly Update
Hello Lakeland Ridge Families,
February has brought some extremely cold temperatures. Parents are encouraged to speak with their children to ensure they are appropriately dressed for the weather. Parent/Teacher Conferences were held this week via Google Meet. If you did not book a time with your child's teacher(s), but have have questions please reach out to the teacher(s) directly. Thank you to parents who attended the School Council meeting on Tuesday. We reviewed fees for the 2021-22 school year a second time. As I mentioned at our last two meetings, we understand that finances are tight for families and therefore we will not be increasing any school fees for next year. Returning Student Registration is now open. If you have not yet competed registration for next year, please do so at your earliest convenience. Just a reminder that there is no school on Monday, February 15 as we enjoy Family Day.
Don't spend Family Day in the kitchen! Order from Baseline Panago using the code PANA15 and get 15% off your order. All sales using PANA15 code count! So help spread the word!
Upcoming Dates and Events
February 15 - Family Day Stat. Holiday (No Classes)
February 17 - Grade 6 Virtual WISEST Conference
and Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 24 - Pink Shirt Day
March 3 - Early Dismissal - Wacky Tacky Day
March 5 - PD Day (No Classes)
Registration 2021-22
Registration for the 2021-22 school year is now open!
To register for kindergarten in the 2021-22 school year, your child must be five years old on or before Dec. 31, 2021.
For full instructions and tips on filling out the form, refer to How to Register a New Student.
For more information about the EIPS kindergarten program, see the EIPS Kindergarten Toolkit or contact the school.
Returning Student Registration 2021-22
The returning student registration process for all current EIPS students who are returning in 2021-22 takes place Feb. 1-28, 2021. On February 1, at 9 a.m., all current EIPS families received an email with the link to complete the Returning Student Registration Form available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
If your child currently attends school within EIPS and is returning next year, you will go through the returning student registration process to confirm your child’s enrolment in a school for the upcoming school year using the online Returning Student Registration Form. At that time, families indicate the school their child plans to attend and apply to attend a non-designated school, if applicable.
To be considered for enrolment in a non-designated school in the upcoming school year, families must make that request during the returning student registration process. Acceptance at a requested non-designated school is based on available space. Some EIPS schools have closed boundaries because of high enrolment numbers and are not accepting registrations from non-designated students.
NOTE: All requests to attend a non-designated school or out-of-boundary program for returning students in grades 1-12 must be completed during the returning student registration process to be considered for the next school year. The only exception: students who move into the Division from outside the geographic area, or another community within the Division, following the deadline. The Division will contact all families who apply to attend a non-designated school to advise of the outcome during the week of March 8-12, 2021.
Valentine's Cards for Seniors
February is Black History Month
During Black History Month, people in Canada celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate, and prosperous nation it is today.
First Nations, Métis and Inuit Parent Engagement Sessions
The First Nations, Métis and Inuit education team has planned a three-part series— Developing Foundational Knowledge of First Nations, Metis and Inuit cultures, histories and contemporary contexts—designed for all EIPS parents and families who are curious to learn about First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures, perspectives and histories. The sessions are designed as entry points to understanding as we work toward learning our collective truth on the path of reconciliation.
Session 1: February 2; 7-7:30 p.m.
- Who we are and why this work is needed
- What reconciliation looks like in EIPS
Session 2: February 23; 7-7:30 p.m.
- Addressing common roadblocks to understanding and relationship
- Terminology; bridging the gap between what language parents may be used to hearing and what children are learning in schools
Session 3: March 16; 7-7:30 p.m.
- Language of this land: The importance of highlighting Indigenous languages; deepening understanding of relationship to land through language; what exploration of Indigenous languages can look like in schools
Family Resources
January can be a notoriously tough month for us all and January 2021 is no exception. We know the pandemic and the restrictions are taking its toll on us and some of our families may be experiencing significant hardship right now. We wanted to let our entire community know that we are here to support you and there are resources available in our community for you.
Strathcona County has a helpline that anyone in our community can call. The number is 780-464-4044. They offer support in all areas:
- Free counselling for you and your children
- When you call this number, you can be talking to a counsellor in under an hour. There is no intake or wait list. You can have help exactly when you need it.
- Parenting Support
- 1-on-1 support and free (virtual) classes are available if you are struggling with your child at home
- Financial Support
- Funding is available to help you with groceries, utility bills or emergencies if this is a tight financial season for you
- Accessing other community agencies
- The county can help you access CERB, AISH, FSCD or any other agency that may help your family
- If English is not your first language or you are new to our community, the county can help you find what you need
Please don’t hesitate to call the helpline directly: 780-464-4044.
More information can be found on the Strathcona County FCS website.
Everybody Can is a guide to affordable services published occasionally by Strathcona County.
Strathcona County has provided their January and February family programs and resources. Attached are posters that you may be interested in. The online registration information is on each poster.
AHS Parent and Caregiver Workshops
Waiver of Fees
If circumstances exist where you are unable to pay your students fees you can apply to have certain fees waived using the:
Application for Waiver of Fees (505-1) (Parents)
If parents/independent students are not eligible to have fees waived, payment options may be made with the school’s administration and/or the Director of Student Transportation.
A completed application form with supporting documents, marked CONFIDENTIAL, can be sent by:
- Scan and email PDF files to fees@eips.ca, or
- Deliver to any EIPS school office in a sealed envelope addressed to the Secretary-Treasurer, or
- Mail to Elk Island Public Schools
Attention: Secretary-Treasurer
683 Wye Road
Sherwood Park, AB T8B 1N2
Phone: 780-417-8200 for questions relating to your application.
Allow three weeks to process your application.
For the 2020-21 school year, the deadline for receipt of applications is extended to Feb. 15, 2021, or if new to EIPS, the latter of Feb. 15, 2021 or 45 days after registration.
No applications will be accepted after this date.
An extension will be granted for students transitioning from out-of-school learning to in-school classes.
Visitors in School
We want to thank all parents, students, and staff for doing their part to ensure everyone is safe and healthy. Every morning before coming to school all students must complete the daily COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire. Parents are reminded that they need to make an appointment to enter the school, as non-essential visitors and contractors are not permitted in the school or workplace without an appointment. Please call or email the school ahead of time to book an appointment. Individuals should not enter an EIPS building if feeling unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms—fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, nausea, pink-eye. Visitors must sign in at the office (after having made an appointment), practice physical distancing while here and wear mask. The Stay_at_Home_Guide_for_Parents.pdf is a good resources that provides parents with information on what to do when children exhibit COVID symptom.
Attendance
K-9
If you know your child will be absent, late, or leaving early from school, please send a note in their agenda, email or phone the school explaining the reason for that day.
Weather Conditions
Division Calendar 2021-22
School Education Plan & Results Report 2019-2022 Year 3
COVID Parent Survey Results
In November and December, we sent out a short survey to get sense of how families were doing during the pandemic. Here is a summary of what we heard. Thank you for your input.
Brightspace
Brightspace platform
All staff and students will be using the Brightspace online platform. Students will require a digital device with a camera and should have received instructions from teachers on how to log on and navigate the learning platform.
Please see the links below for both student and parent guides.
Student Brightspace page:
Username: Use the EIPS student email address
Password: Use the EIPS student password
If a student needs help with a password reset, contact the school for assistance.
Watch this video to learn how to navigate the Brightspace environment
Parent/Guardian Brightspace page: This is GREAT information to help your children.
https://eips.brightspace.com/d2l/local
Brightspace Parent/Guardian guide Click here