We have arrived at our final week of the 2021-22 school year, and it's a busy one! Report cards will go home on June 28th, and we will communicate the tentative staffing organization for the coming school year as well. We are also looking forward to our year-end assembly on June 29th. Many thanks to staff leaders who have organized year-end activities and celebrations and to our outstanding student leaders for their enthusiasm and assistance in running special events.

It's a busy time for all staff at EKEES. Thank-you to our wonderful main office staff, Aimee, Lisa, and Meghan, for their tireless support of staff, students and families through the year. Thank-you also to our caretaking team for working hard to make sure our school is clean and safe for everyone. A heartfelt thank-you also, to parents who have volunteered their time on SAC and for other aspects of school life. We are grateful for your active participation.

Best wishes to our Grade six students who are off to new schools n next year. Once a Major, always a Major! . It has been a sincere privilege to teach your wonderful children and to be part of such a vibrant school community! We look forward to seeing it grow and thrive as École Maple Elementary School next year. On behalf of the staff at EKEES, we wish you a safe and happy summer!

Your Admin Team,

Anna Pacheco & Courtney Bush & Margot Panet

Creating class lists is a shared task by our team of educators who spend a significant amount of time getting to know your child, discovering their academic, social and emotional needs in educational settings both inside and outside of the classroom. Each year we want to build the best possible learning environments for all learners. Our school team considers a wide range of factors including overall number of students in each grade (if a split grade), student learning styles and personalities, academic strengths and needs, a balance of gender identities, peer relationships, learning skills and work habits, and social/ emotional strengths and needs.

All classrooms, whether a single grade or a combined grade, include students performing at a wide range of achievement levels. We meet the needs of all learners in a classroom through differentiated instruction with a focus on developing critical thinking skills, and by providing modifications and accommodations for various learning needs. In every case, educators put great thought into creating responsive classroom learning environments that will support the success of all students.

If you wish to make a request for class placement for next year, we ask parents to email the school directly and to communicate your child's needs as a learner rather than a specific teacher's name. Teacher assignments can change for many reasons (illness, transfer, leave of absence, etc.) and what does not change are your child's needs. This sharing can serve to further inform our team of educators while creating class lists but does not guarantee a particular placement.

As previously shared, we have been tentatively approved to organize with 20 French Immersion classes and 15 English classes based on projected numbers. Please also keep in mind that our school organization may change before the first day of school, based on new registrations from families moving into our catchment area and those who move out over the summer. Our staffing continues, and current educator assignments will be shared during the last week of school. Information about your child’s class placement is expected to be shared by email on Friday, September 2nd. Students with special education needs requiring transition support will be contacted earlier. The first day of school will be Tuesday, September 6th 2022.

General Info about Kindergarten Registration:

If you are registering a student for Kindergarten for a new school year (September), children must turn age four (Year 1 Kindergarten) or age five (Year 2 Kindergarten) by December 31 of that year. Those students who are already enrolled in Year 1 Kindergarten do not register again.

In accordance with Board policy, students will be enrolled in the school designated within their boundary area, based on their home address. Proof of address must be provided to finalize the registration application.

To register, the legal parent/guardian (or the student if they are older than age 18) is asked to complete a registration application. You must complete all sections and provide the school with original documentation as required.

Instructions on how to register a new student using Aspen Online Registration Process

To find the name and location of your local school, enter the student’s home address into the Locate A School tool, or call our Planning Office at 613-544-6925 ext. 305 or 1-800-267-0935 ext. 305.

As we resume in-person activities in our school, we will be welcoming volunteers, presenters, and other visitors. A reminder that if you are interested in volunteering at the school or on a field trip, you are required to provide a valid CPIC with a vulnerable screener check for the school to have on file. CPICs are good for three years with Offense Declarations completed in interim years. Please contact the main office if you have any questions.

Although pick-ups and drop offs will continue to be done outside, you may have an appointment scheduled with educators or support staff. All visitors must use the main entrance and must report to the main office where you will sign in and receive a visitor's tag. Please do not proceed into the building until you have reported to the main office for further direction.

We love going outside to play and learn! A reminder that it is the time to wear hats, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect students against sun damage. If you send your child with sun screen to apply at school, please avoid sprays and also strongly scented products. We are a scent and allergen aware school. Classroom teachers will review sun screen routines for their class. Please also see the Tick Bite prevention tips below.

Safe Arrival/Dismissal Reminders:

• School supervision begins at 9:00 am on the schoolyard and the start of the school day 9:15 am. Dismissal is at 3:35 pm. Please follow the school day schedule as much as possible to establish good routines.
• Please note, although students often take the time to greet and socialize with students from other classes, this is not a recess since all students are out at once. To ensure safety, students are encouraged to go to inner field and pavement as they arrive and should proceed to line up spots as it gets closer to 9:15 am.
• Dogs are not permitted on school property.

Early Pick-Up

• If you arrive between 3 pm and 3:35 for an unplanned pick up, please allow your child to remain in class learning until their class is dismissed and pick up at the class dismissal spot on the school yard.
• If your child would usually take the bus, and you have arrived for an unplanned pick up, please notify the main office of this change so that the office can alert the teacher that you will meet the student at their class meeting spot.
• As always, please communicate directly with your child's teacher about appointments or changes in dismissal procedures in advance.

Late Arrivals:

• When dropping off young students, please ring the main entrance doorbell for assistance so that the main office can record their arrival and provide assistance. Please let office staff know if they will require staff assistance to get to their classroom. Visitors may not proceed into the building unless they have signed in at main office and have been provided a visitor's tag.
• Older students who arrive a few minutes late are still usually able to find their classes on the school yard during staggered entry time. At all other times, they should be dropped off at main entrance.
• Please be aware and respectful of parking restrictions in the school zone and parking lots. Please do not park in the Fire Lane.

Thank-you to this year's SAC Council!

Chair: Goldie Brigden

Vice Chair: vacant

Treasurer: Allision Brehm

Secretary: Laura van Staalduinen

Volunteer Coordinator: vacant

Fundraising Coordinator: Emily Edwards

Communications Coordinator: Sonja Taylor

Indigenous Family Representative: Melanie Howard

Division representatives (up to 2 each for Kindergarten, Primary, Junior)

Kindergarten: Erin Caudle and Melissa Grant

Primary: Kayley Miller

Junior: Tammy Hardy

PIC rep: Christine Innocente

Our main office administrators, Aimee Hodder, Lisa Wright, and Meghan Uzenko will be happy to assist parents and families. If you have any questions, or need to speak to a staff member, please send us an email kees@limestone.on.ca or call or (613-650-5478) between 8:30 am-4:00 pm.