Hello Jennie Elliott families,
This week we greeted our newest members of our Jennie Elliott school community during their visit to the school and classrooms in anticipation of their first day of school in Kindergarten and DHH next year. We look forward to the wonder and curiosity that they bring to school each day and sharing the welcoming spirit of our community with them.
We also ended our week with the last day of Family Groupings. Next year, as we look forward to making this a stronger initiative at our school, we will be involving our older students in the organizing of the Family Grouping events as a leadership opportunity and to provide students with a voice in the planning. We have already started to gather feedback from some of our students who have provided us with some creative and fun perspectives.
School Development Plan | Well-being for Learning
Over the year, our staff has collaborated on moving our students’ well-being for learning forward and supported our students’ sense of belonging at Jennie Elliott through our school-wide initiatives.
The Jennie Connects and Belongs initiative added vibrancy to our school and strengthened the bonds between students, teachers, and families. From comfy pajama day and funny teacher Jib Jab videos during Holiday Happiness Week to the spirited Twin Day or Family Groupings, Jennie Elliott students eagerly participated, creating unforgettable memories and fostering a sense of belonging. The laughter and camaraderie shared during these moments have truly brightened our school community, creating a warm and welcoming environment for all.
Events like Pink Shirt Day, Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, and Hats on for Mental Health have provided valuable opportunities for discussions on empathy, kindness, and mental well-being. These days have sparked important conversations and taught our kids about inclusivity and support for one another. To end the year, and in conjunction with Pride month, we look forward to our Colourlympics Play Day!
Through our Jennie Acknowledges initiative we made it a priority to ensure every student felt they had a space at Jennie where they saw themselves within the activities we do both in class and as a whole school. We engaged our school community to participate in the "We All Belong" survey where families had a chance to identify the languages they speak, the special days they celebrate as a family and the social groups they feel they belong and connect to. Some examples of the significant events, special days and cultural celebrations we have recognized and acknowledged this year include National Day of Truth and Reconciliation & Orange Shirt Day, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Ramadan, Asian Heritage Month, Jewish Heritage Month, and Speech-Language-Hearing Month.
Some events were whole school acknowledgements where others were recognized in various ways in the classroom. Activities may be a story shared with students, watching an informational video, engaging in a talking circle about how students connected to a specific event or a class project. Students and visitors could also view and learn about the acknowledgements and events on the "We All Belong" bulletin board display in the front entrance, next to the office.
The Jennie Gives Back initiative provided opportunities to organize events like Terry Fox Run and Remembrance Day ceremonies, collecting Jacket Racket donations and celebrating volunteers at the Volunteer Tea in June. Our students participated in events that recognized the contributions of others that support their learning and wellbeing, while also acknowledging the needs of others and how they can contribute to those needs. Our school has embraced community spirit wholeheartedly and these initiatives have significantly contributed to fostering a sense of unity and generosity within our school community.
Volunteer Appreciation
The Jennie Elliott School community is excited to invite parent volunteers from the 2023-2024 school year to attend the Volunteer Tea! From assisting with field trips, helping out in classrooms and supporting with school events, we are so grateful and ready to celebrate all of our school volunteer's hard work! Please RSVP using this link by tonight, May 31st. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Upcoming Dates
June 4 – HeARTbeat Theatre Performance
June 7 – Volunteer Tea 9:30am
June 11 – Evergreen Theatre Performance
June 25 – Grade 6 Farewell
June 26 – Playday & Fun Lunch
June 26 – Report Cards viewed online by parents
June 27 – Last Day of School for Students
Have a wonderful weekend everyone,
With much gratitude,
Lucene Tahmazian
Principal (Acting) | Jennie Elliott School