Hello Jennie Elliott Families, 

Another busy and joyful week of learning, activities, and community connection at Jennie Elliott School! 

Frisbee Residency

This week in Phys-Ed, Jennie Elliott students took part in an exciting frisbee residency led by Guinness World Record holder Frisbee Rob. The week began with a high-energy assembly introducing students to the skills, tricks, and possibilities of frisbee, followed by three hands-on sessions for each class. Students focused on the fundamentals of throwing and catching while building physical literacy, confidence, and resilience by embracing challenges and striving to improve each day. Many students learned frisbee skills for the first time, while others refined and extended their abilities with new techniques. We are grateful to our families for their fundraising support, which made this fun, inclusive, and skill-building experience possible for our students. 

Gingerbread House Decorating

A huge thank you to our School Council volunteers and coordinators for organizing our annual Gingerbread House Decorating evening. This much-loved tradition once again brought 121 families from our community together for a fun, festive, and creative evening. The smiles, laughter, and beautifully decorated houses were a wonderful reminder of the strong sense of community we share at Jennie Elliott. 

Indoor Recesses & Polar Bear Club

As temperatures dipped below the –20°C threshold this week, we followed CBE guidelines and held indoor recesses on several days. While we value outdoor play for the many benefits it provides—fresh air, physical activity, play, and social-emotional regulation—we also want to ensure students are safe and comfortable in cold weather. 

To better support students during colder days, we are excited to bring back the Polar Bear Club for both Division 1 and Division 2 recesses. When temperatures fall between –20°C and –25°C, students who are dressed appropriately may choose to go outside for a short outdoor recess. Once students are dressed, this typically allows for about 7–8 minutes of outdoor time, offering a brief but valuable opportunity for movement and fresh air. 

Participation in the Polar Bear Club is voluntary. We encourage families to talk with their child at home and decide whether this option is a good fit. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please email your child’s teacher by Monday, December 15. 

Students participating in the Polar Bear Club must wear: 

• Winter jacket 
• Snow pants 
• Mittens 
• Toque 
• Winter boots 

Super-Secret Staff Spirit Week

Continuing the fun we had last year, staff surprised students with a Super Secret Staff Spirit Week! From Secret Service agents keeping a serious and watchful eye on the halls to Mismatched Shoes Day where many students were genuinely concerned that their teachers hadn’t noticed they were wearing two different shoes, and a slightly more subtle Animal Print Day, students had fun trying to figure out what we’d show up in the next day. We wrapped up the week in true storybook fashion on Friday as staff ruled the school as royalty! Here’s a small glimpse: 

No Church Parking Lot Parking Dec 17 

Our neighbours at the church have asked to share a message that parking in their parking lot will not be available December 17 as they will have an event there that day. Thank you to our families for cooperating with this request so we can maintain the generosity they have extended to allow our families to park there throughout the year. 

Lost and Found 

Our Lost and Found are overflowing. Next week items will be displayed in our main hallway. Please come to see if there are any items that belong to your family as items will be packaged and donated by December 19th. 

Quilling Club 

Grades 4, 5 and 6 families please read Ms. Danchuk’s quilling club letter regarding this exciting offer for students to join this club. 

Holiday Happiness Week (Student Spirit Week)

Next week, it’s the students’ turn! We invite all students to join us for Holiday Happiness Week: 

• Monday: Holiday Hat Day – wear your favourite holiday hat or reindeer ears/antlers 
• Tuesday: Holiday Beach Wear – bring some tropical cheer to winter 
• Wednesday: Festive Wear – show off your holiday spirit with bright and cheerful outfits 
• Thursday: Winter Solstice & PJ Day – cozy up in your favourite pajamas 

School Council Meeting Next Week

Our next School Council Meeting will take place on December 16 at 6:30 pm in the Learning Commons. We hope many families can join us. During the Principal’s Report, we will share highlights from last year’s successful School Development Plan, and our Grade 2 teaching team will present a brief overview of Grade 2 curriculum and learning. 

Click here to join the meeting online if you're not able to join in person.

Upcoming Events  

Click here to see the school’s website calendar 

• Dec 15–19: Holiday Happiness Week 
• Dec 14–22: Hanukkah 
• Dec 15: Fun Lunch 
• Dec 16: School Council Meeting (Grade 2 team presenting) 
• Dec 19: Last day of classes before Winter Break 
• Jan 5: Classes resume after Winter Break 
• Jan 12: New registrations open for the 2026–27 school year (including Kindergarten)