Hello Jennie Elliott families
The weather held out just long enough for our Welcome Back & Meet the Teacher event. What a fantastic evening we had with our Jennie Elliott families, visiting classrooms, touring different spaces and having dinner at school! We truly enjoy these opportunities that build our community connections and that help everyone to start the year with a better understanding of what “school” looks like at Jennie Elliott. Now, when you are having conversations at pick-up, around the dinner table, or at bedtime with your children about school, we hope their answers will have more relevance. If you would still like to send in your family selfie we would love to add you to the board!
Evacuation Drills and Lockdowns
The safety of all students and staff is of great importance in any school. Evacuation drills are a long-standing practice in schools, and we are required to have a minimum of six each school year. Our students and staff are expected to carry out an evacuation drill as though it is real so that students are well-rehearsed in the event of a real need for evacuation. Teachers keep class lists with them during all drills and attendance is always taken. Parents or other visitors are expected to evacuate the building when the alarm is sounded.
We also practice a drill known as a “lockdown” twice a year to review procedures for securing students in the school should an emergency occur within the building. Our lockdowns are always supported by the Calgary Police Service on site. The teachers will be instructing students regarding their role during a drill of this kind. In addition, no visitors are allowed to enter or leave the building during a lockdown procedure.
We announce our evacuation and lockdown drills to students and staff prior to the start, so they know it is a practice.
Other safety precautions we have in place include, but are not limited to:
- Locking all doors – external and internal
- A fan out procedure – to ensure clear and swift communication with parents in the event of an emergency.
- Visitors – are expected to register at the office
- Volunteers – must complete a security clearance and wear nametags at all times in the building
- Substitute Teachers – are provided with emergency information upon entering the school.
We appreciate your support in explaining the need for these important drills and procedures to your children, so they understand the importance of following our processes responsibly for the safety of our staff, students and visitors.
Walking Field Trips
Please read our annual Jennie Elliott Walking Field Trips information letter for families. Some of our classes be taking advantage of our close proximity to Glenmore Park and the Weaselhead for land-based learning activities as early as next week! Please watch for more information to come from each teacher about when and where their trips will take place, in their weekly messages.
Terry Fox Run Volunteers Needed – Oct 3
We are looking for volunteers to help pass out popsicle sticks for the run. If you are able to help out, please complete this Terry Fox Volunteer Form. Thank you for your support. We hope to see as many families out as possible to join us for the run in support of Terry’s dream and raising funds for cancer research! Donations can be made through our Jennie Elliott School Run in Support of the Terry Fox Foundation page.
Run Club
As we prepare for the upcoming Terry Fox school run (Oct 3) there will be a morning Running Club each morning rain or shine, starting Monday, Sept 23 @8:40 hosted by our AP (Acting) Mrs. Caldwell (aka Mrs. C). We encourage students and adults to join us in a fabulous start to the day! Walk, jog, or run – just come on out!
Courtyard Volunteers
Our courtyard had a partial makeover thanks to our dedicated teachers who donned their gardening gloves after our staff meeting on Wednesday to “spruce” up this beautiful learning space. We filled our dumpster!
We also had some parent volunteers who came by to put the finishing touches on the seating area and made it even more inviting for families to enjoy at our Welcome Back event. Thank you!
The only part left is the weeding, and in particular the thistles. We have a group of students who would like to start a Gardening Club, but the thistles and deep-rooted grass will be too difficult for them to remove. If gardening is a passion of yours, or you would just like to help out with this one-time project, please complete this Courtyard Volunteer Form to help with the weeding next week. Thank you for helping us to make this an even more amazing space for our students to enjoy!
Annual Demographic Forms
Families are required each year to complete a Demographic Verification Form. This annual update is required to ensure the school has accurate student contact information and medical updates for students. Families will have already received emails from CBE to complete these. Due to some technical issues, the CBE has extended the deadline to complete the forms by the end of day Friday, September 20. Thank you for your attention to this very important information.
Division II Choir
Our grades 4-6 will be receiving an invitation to join the Division II choir next week. This choir will run for half of the year and the Division I choir (grade 1-3) will run the second half of the year. If students are interested in joining the choir, they will bring home a hard copy letter with further information and a permission slip for parents and students to sign and return. Please watch for this if your child has expressed interest in joining the choir.
School Apparel Sales Reminder
We have extended the deadline in response to requests from families who would still like to order school spirit wear. The deadline is now October 4. Please go to our Merchandise Page for further information.
Cavalry Football Club Student Game & School Fundraiser Day
The Cavalry Football Club is hosting a School Fundraiser Day!
Details:
- Saturday, October 12, 2024
- ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows
- $30.00 tickets (10% donated back to Jennie Elliott)
- FREE hotdog for all CBE students
- Kids Zone (face painters, bouncy castles, mini soccer field)
- Meet the players post-game for an autograph session
Please see the Cavalry Football Club Poster for more information.
School Council Meeting
A reminder that the School Council will be meeting on Tuesday, September 24 at 7:00pm in the Learning Commons. All families are welcome and encouraged to attend. For anyone that cannot attend in person, a web-link to attend virtually can be found at: http://www.jennieelliott.ca/meetings.html
Fall Equinox
We are so fortunate in Calgary to experience all four seasons, each one bringing signs of transition, rejuvenation and balance. September 22nd marks the beginning of the Fall Equinox, and over the next few months, we will be exploring land-based learning experiences with our students including the Indigenous practice of sit spots to make both scientific and personal reflections. If you have the opportunity when you are in the school, check out our seasonal documentation board in the front foyer where we will be recording some examples of how each grade group is recognizing the seasons throughout the year.
National Truth & Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
This year, our school will be recognizing National Day of Truth & Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on September 26th in lieu of the actual day of recognition on September 30th that is a holiday. Orange Shirt Day is a day to commemorate and raise awareness of the inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to honour the thousands of survivors. We encourage all of our students to wear orange on September 26 and teachers will be sharing through their Weekly Updates, how they have engaged in important learning about truth and reconciliation with their classes.
International Walk to School Day
International Walk to School Day is an annual observance that started as a way of creating awareness for walkable communities. It has since grown to become a series of international events taking place in more than 40 countries. Thousands of students in schools across the globe take to the streets and participate in IWTSD events in their local communities each year. Jennie Elliott School is excited to celebrate International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 2nd. The purpose of the day is to encourage students and families to embrace active transportation.
The link below provides information and resources that promote the benefits of walking, including fostering a sense of community, reducing traffic congestion, and supporting a healthy, active lifestyle.
International Walk to School Day
Everyone in the JES community is encouraged to participate. If your child normally walks, that's fantastic! If you drop-off, see if you can leave early and walk with them, or park farther away and have a walk and talk before dropping off your child for school. Let's work together to make the day both fun and meaningful!
Upcoming Dates
Sept 22 Fall Equinox
Sept 23 International Day of Sign Language
Sept 24 School Council Meeting (7:00pm)
Sept 26 Orange Shirt Day (in lieu of Sept 30)
Sept 27 Non-instructional Day (no students)
Sept 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (no school)
Oct 2 International Walk to School Day
Oct 3 Terry Fox Run
Oct 9 School Photos
Oct 12 Thanksgiving Day (no school)
Oct 25 Non-instructional Day (no students)
Enjoy the weekend everyone, and Happy Fall Equinox!
Lucene Tahmazian
Principal (Acting), Jennie Elliott School