Oct. 4-8: Read In Week
Oct. 5: World Teachers' Day

Oct. 6: Early Dismissal (dismissal 1:55 p.m.)

Oct. 10: World Mental Health Day

Oct. 11: Thanksgiving Day (schools and Central Services closed to staff and students)

Oct. 18: Election Day

Oct. 18: Professional Learning Day (schools closed to students)

Oct. 21: Grade 6 Immunizations

Oct 26: ICON Picture Retakes (Entire School)

Oct 26 & 28: Parent-Teacher Interviews

We honoured Residential School Survivors this week at Lakeland Ridge School. Orange Shirt Day is an annual Canada-wide event to acknowledge the history and legacy of residential schools. It grew out of a gathering of survivors held in Williams Lake, British Columbia in 2013, where Phyllis Webstad, who attended St. Joseph Mission residential school, shared her experience of having her new orange shirt taken on her first day. Our school participated in a variety of activities including an Outdoor Story Walk, Orange Shirt Day art on classroom windows and a Division Wide ceremony on September 29th. Many students and staff wore Orange shirts to show their commitment to reconciliation. Please ask your child how they shared in this important day.

• Maks are mandatory for all staff and students in kindergarten through Grade 12.
• Any and all visitors to EIPS schools and buildings must adhere to EIPS’ mandatory masking requirement.

The government has updated the daily health checklist. Please review the new checklist and print a copy for yourself to keep at home.

The main change relates to household contacts of COVID-19 cases.

If you are not fully immunized and are a household contact of a COVID-19 case, you should stay home for 14 days from the last day of exposure and monitor for symptoms.

A household contact is a person who lives in the same residence as the case OR who has been in frequent, long-duration, close-range interaction with a case of COVID-19. For example, someone who is a caregiver or an intimate or sexual partner of a COVID-19 case. For children, it also includes siblings, someone who slept over, or someone who provided direct physical care to the child.

If you have fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat or loss of sense of taste or smell you are required to isolate for 10 days as per the current CMOH Order OR receive a negative COVID-19 test and feel better before returning to work or activities.

All visitors, couriers, and contractors must sign in at the front main doors and check-in at the office, complete the COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklist, and be wearing a mask properly.

If any of the answers to the questions are “YES,” DO NOT enter the school or workplace.

Similarly, if feeling unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms—fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste, aches, pink-eye, nausea —DO NOT enter an EIPS-operated school or workplace.

Please be advised the requirements for proof of vaccination and testing in the EIPS Operations Guidelines have been changed, effective today:

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Proof of Vaccination:

Unvaccinated staff may be required, under occupational health and safety requirements, to take additional precautions. Additionally, all EIPS schools require proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test result, from volunteers. The negative COVID-19 test must be a privately paid COVID-19 PCR or rapid test and completed within 72 hours. No school will accept a test result from Alberta Health Services or Alberta Precision Laboratories.

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Visitors, Volunteers and Service Providers Entering EIPS:

Visitors, volunteers and contractors are permitted in the school or workplace as long as they have a specific reason for being there and follow the site-visitor protocol—appointments are recommended. As well, anyone entering an EIPS school or building must complete the COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklist, sign the visitor log and sanitize hands. Masks are mandatory in all schools, buses and EIPS-operated buildings. For deliveries, offload at the designated location.

All EIPS schools require proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test result, from volunteers. The negative COVID-19 test must be a privately paid COVID-19 PCR or rapid test and completed within 72 hours. No school will accept a test result from Alberta Health Services or Alberta Precision Laboratories.

School fee information for the 2021-22 school year is now posted on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. All fees are due within 30 days of being posted. To access your fee information, simply log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and go to “Student Fees.” There you can view your fees and pay them online using Visa, MasterCard or debit card—when available from your financial institution.

Don’t forget to also log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal regularly throughout the year. Fees are often added to your child’s account to cover the cost of various school activities such as field trips, class projects, extracurricular activities fees and more.

If circumstances exist where you are unable to pay your fees, you can apply to have fees waived by submitting an Application for a Waiver of Fees. The application deadline is Dec. 15, 2021.

For more information about school fees, waivers and payment deadlines, visit www.eips.ca/schools/fees and Lakeland Ridge Fees. Alternatively, contact Cathy Eyben at Lakeland Ridge School at 780-416-9018.

Read In Week is a division wide initiative held annually to encourage a lifelong love of reading and to enhance literacy awareness among students, staff, families and community members. This year’s theme: “To Each Their Own Story.” We each have our own story. Our own favourite stories to read and our own stories to tell.

Through various activities, students will spend the week learning ways to tell their own stories and how stories have the power to teach lessons, broaden perspectives and foster empathy. Some of the activities planned for Read In Week include:

• Virtual sessions from Strathcona County Library.
• Guess the Mystery Reader contest where students can win literacy related prizes.
• Enjoying virtual performances from our junior high drama students.
• Various online reading events including local radio stations and school staff.
• An interactive Bitmoji Classroom in Brightspace hosting virtual readers and authors.

You can post your own stories about Read In Week using the hashtag #eipsreads.

For more information visit eips.ca and readin.ca - Happy Reading!

Fieldtrip forms have been sent home for Grade 4-7 for Sunridge Ski Area. Please complete and return it by Oct. 7, 2021.

October 5 is World Teachers’ Day! Launched in 1994 by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually around the world as a way to recognize teachers and the integral role they play in providing quality education to students. On October 5, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) encourages all of its students, parents and community members to show their appreciation for their teachers and the positive impact they make on our lives.

EIPS extends its heartfelt thank you to all Division teachers for their dedication, hard work and commitment in guiding and educating students through their kindergarten to Grade 12 years

Hello Lakeland Ridge Families!

We just wanted to send an update for all of the families regarding The Local Loyalty Card Fundraiser. All sales need to be in by October 15, end of day,

----ALSO----

Queen of Hearts Presents The Local Loyalty Royal Flush! Want to have a chance of winning a $500 gift card of your choice? Queen of Hearts will do a draw for any family that sells over 10 loyalty cards!!! The top selling 5 students will also receive a lower denomination gift card of their choice for all their hard work! And remember, your child’s school will receive $15 back for each card sold to go towards their fundraising program!! It’s a win win!! You’re supporting local, saving at places you already frequent and help your child’s school fundraise for the items they need!!

The next municipal election, which includes the election of local school board trustees, takes place on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. It’s your opportunity to get involved in public education by casting your vote for a public school trustee.

EIPS Trustee Election information

EIPS Trustee Candidate List

Electors can cast their votes for municipal candidates—mayors, reeves, councillors, as applicable—and school board trustee candidates—public or separate. Voting stations are typically open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Each municipality conducts the election for its residents and establishes formal voting station hours and procedures.

To learn more about election day procedures in your area, including opportunities for advance voting and voting by special ballot, visit:

County of Minburn

Fort Saskatchewan

Lamont County

Strathcona County

Town of Bruderheim

Town of Lamont

Town of Mundare

Town of Vegreville

Village of Andrew
Village of Chipman

To enhance communication between families and schools, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) has developed a how-to guide entitled, “Communication Protocol for Schools.” Topics include appropriate channels to use, standard formats and structures, timing and sequencing for regular and ongoing home-school communication, and ways to bring forward questions or concerns. The guide also offers useful tools and resources schools and families can use to enhance face-to-face meetings, email communication and various social media efforts.

Communication Protocol for Schools

To avoid gathering in large groups due to the rising numbers of COVID-19, we decided to create a virtual Meet the Staff presentation. All staff members have created a short video introducing themselves. The videos have been collated on Google Slides and can be accessed using this link. The slideshow works best in “Present” mode. You can utilize “Present” mode by clicking “Present” on the upper right-hand corner. We hope you enjoy the videos and getting to know our staff.

School Council Executive for the 2021-22 School Year

• Chair - April Childs
• Vice-Chair - Teresa Bladon
• Secretary - Kerri Holmes

Our next School Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 12 at 6:30 pm. We will be meeting virtually using Microsoft Teams. Following our School Council meeting, we will hold our first PAS meeting of the year at 7:30 pm. We will be selecting our new PAS Executive at this time. We hope to see you there!

For the students who graduated Grade 9, their yearbooks have been forwarded on to their corresponding High School. There are still a couple of yearbooks available to purchase for $30. Please contact the office to purchase one.

The agenda is an important classroom tool in school as it helps with communication between the school and home and assists students with organization and preparation. We have a limited amount of Jr High LLR agendas. The agendas are available on a first-come, first-served basis until our supply has been depleted. A form went home with each Jr High student, if you wish to have an agenda for your Jr High student, complete and return to the office.

September 2021

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

Youth Leadership Forum on Reconciliation | Deadline to register October 3

Experiences Canada is hosting a virtual Youth Leadership Forum October 13-17. The event will bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, ages 14-25, from across the country to develop Reconciliation projects to undertake in their own communities. Registrations are being accepted until October 3. Please connect with your school’s lead teacher for details on supports for students if their registration is accepted. For youth who feel internet connectivity issues might be a barrier, please email forums@experiencescanada.ca so we can discuss ways we can support your participation. Further information and registration can be found on Experiences Canada website.

Strathcona County Family and Community Services have been reaching out to different community groups, organizations and businesses in Strathcona County with respect to understanding their experience with COVID over the past year. Some of the groups they’re looking to hear from are newcomer families/individuals, seniors, LGBTQ2+, persons with disabilities and Indigenous Peoples. Specifically, they’re looking to hear about their experiences with COVID and the impact it has had on their lives. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in sharing your experience as part of this project, contact Audra.Holm@strathcona.ca.

Direct Student Support

Métis Nation of Alberta Gear up for School Program Is your child Métis? Is your child attending preschool, kindergarten, Grade 1 or Grade 2 this school year? The MNA is once again offering free school supply kits. Click on the link to read more about the program and access the registration form.

Successful applicants for the Gear Up for School 2021 program will meet the following criteria:

• All children receiving school supplies through this program must be entering preschool, kindergarten, Grade 1 or Grade 2 in the 2021-22 school year.

• Successful applicants and their children must currently reside in Alberta and provide an Alberta mailing address on the application form.

• Either the parent/guardian applicant or the child receiving a backpack must be an MNA citizen (or citizens).

From skills courses to wellness kits, discover all the MNA Youth Services has to offer free to all Métis ages 12-29.

Jordan’s Principle Learn more about Jordan’s Principle and the funding supports available for First Nations children—visit the Assembly of First Nations and Government of Canada resources.

Resources of Interest

Edmonton Indigenous Relations Bulletin Stay up-to-date on events and initiatives in the Edmonton area—subscribe to the City of Edmonton’s Indigenous Relations Community Bulletin.

Indigenous Art Adventures Cree artist Lance Cardinal is continuing his online art and language show, Indigenous Art Adventures, for young people and their families. His latest show will be live on Saturday, September 11 at 2 p.m., when he’ll share the Cree word for fall and will lead children on a fall leaf art project. The show, as well as previous episodes, is available on the Aboriginal Congress of Alberta Association’s Facebook page.

Virtual Family Gatherings We’re grateful to Elder Wilson Bearhead and the family members who attended our virtual parent gatherings last school year. We look forward to continuing the conversation and welcoming new families to our virtual circle. We’ll share this year’s schedule in our next newsletter.

Lakeland Ridge 2021-25 School Education Plan

EIPS Division calendar 2021-22

EIPS kindergarten calendar 2021-22