Hello Jennie Elliott families,    

It has been a busy few weeks since our last update! Our classes have been celebrating friendship and kindness over the past few weeks and throughout the month of February with our daily Kindness Challenges so we can make kindness a "habit" at Jennie Elliott. Some of the challenges have included: compliment a class about their artwork on a display board outside their classroom, encourage someone with kind words if they seem nervous about an activity or presentation, compliment someone on their effort or skill, and learn the name of someone that is new to you. If students have ideas for more challenges, we'd love to hear them!

Classes have also been celebrating 100 days of school! Buddy classes and grade groups have been engaged in all kinds of math activities, stories and writing to acknowledge the number of days we've already spent in school. We're more than halfway through the year already!

Last week our grade 3’s performed at their Learning Celebration assembly to share the learning from their artist in residency with Art in Motion. They paired their English Language Arts learning about nouns and adjectives with movement and stills to animate folktales from the countries they researched in Social Studies. Then, in conjunction with Ms. Ling and their music literacy program, students also performed folktales from the same countries on Orff instruments. It was a delightful performance that demonstrated a true interdisciplinary collaboration! 

Gr 6 Outdoor School

Today our grade 6’s returned from 4 days and 3 nights at the YMCA Camp Chief Hector Outdoor School. I went out to camp last evening for a quick visit on their last night and the top two favourites of the week they shared with me were the camp food... and EVERYTHING!  It is such a great experience for our eldest Jaguars, and a fun right-of-passage that they look forward to when they get to grade 6. The reunions with families today were heartwarming and I’m sure the weekend will be filled with stories of camp songs, hikes, games in the outdoors, long naps and new friendships forged!  Many thanks, also, to our grade 6 teachers and our DHH interpreter who joined the students for the week. It wouldn’t have been possible without their hard work to plan and organize this trip for their students! 

Pink Shirt Day 

When a new Grade 9 student was bullied for wearing a pink shirt, two high school students in Nova Scotia took a stand by handing out pink shirts for all the boys in their school to wear. Their act of kindness has since evolved into a global symbol against bullying in schools. 

Promoting inclusion is something that occurs in our school every day. This upcoming week the Jennie Elliott School community will be recognizing Pink Shirt Day as another way to emphasize belonging and acceptance. On Wednesday, Feb. 26 staff and students will be engaging in special activities that highlight kindness, inclusion, empathy and understanding. We invite everyone to wear a pink shirt to help spread kindness and a sense of community! 

 School Council Updates

Next school council meeting is March 4, 2025 at 7pm. Further to communication sent to families by the CBE, due to the CUPE Local 40 labour action that begins Monday, February 24th, all School Council meetings will be moved online for the duration of the strike.  

Upcoming School Council events: 

  

News from JEPSA  

New - Jennie’s Night Out - Early Bird Tickets 85% SOLD OUT! 

Ticket Sales: Our second Jennie’s Night Out Gala and Silent Auction is coming April 11, 2025 at the Earl Grey Golf Course! Ticket sales for this event are on sale now with a limited quantity of Early Bird priced tickets! These early bird tickets are almost gone so get yours today at the discounted pricing. Visit www.JennieElliott.ca for ticket purchasing or follow our council page on Facebook for up-to-date information. 

Classroom Baskets: Keep an eye out for this flyer coming home in backpacks on Monday. We will be creating classroom themed baskets again to be a part of the online silent auction that will take place April 1 - 11, 2025. Just like last year we are asking for school participation in donating an item or two if you would like. All proceeds from this event will go to enhancing the outdoor learning spaces at Jennie for all students to enjoy. 

In case the flyer gets lost in the abyss of the backpack - here are the themes this year broken down by grade.  

Kinder & DHH - Baking 

Grade 1 - Outside Fun 

Grade 2 - Games Night 

Grade 3 - Arts & Crafts 

Grade 4 - Movie Night 

Grade 5 - Hockey 

Grade 6 - Relax 

Please note - when you send an item to school with your child, please send a quick email to the teacher to let them know the day it has been sent, and what you are sending. Thank you so much in advance for participating in this event, we are so grateful.  

If you are interested in donating larger items to the silent auction or getting more details about this event, please email jennieelliott1962@gmail.com. 

 

Upcoming Dates    

Feb 24 - Fun Lunch

Feb 26 – Spirit Day: Pink Shirt Day  

Feb 26 – Calgary Opera school performance: The Witty Squirrel 1:30pm  

Feb 28 – Non-instructional Day (no school)  

Feb 28 – Ramadan begins 

Mar – Irish Heritage Month 

Mar 4 – School Council (online only until further notice) 

Mar 8 – International Women’s Day 

Mar 10 – 14 – Substitute Appreciation Week 

Mar 14 – Holi 

Mar 14 – Pi Day 

Mar 17 – Student-led Conferences Week (more info to come) 

Mar 17 – Book Fair begins! 

Mar 17 - Fun Lunch

Mar 20 – Persian New Year 

Mar 20 – Spring Equinox 

March 20 – Last Day of School Before Spring Break 

Mar 21 – Down Syndrome Awareness Day 

Mar 21 – Non-instructional Day: no school 

Mar 31 – Eid-al-Fitr 

Mar 31 – Classes Resume After Spring Break 

 

Have a fantastic week everyone!