Hello Jennie Elliott Families,
Go Canada Go! We kicked off the Olympics this morning with lots of red and white in the building, and a singing of O Canada over our daily announcements. Wishing our Canadian athletes great success over the next two weeks!
A reminder to all families, it is a short week next week as there will be no school on Thursday and Friday while staff attend both the Teacher and Staff Association Conventions on Thursday and Friday, and Family Day is on Monday, February 16th. As a result, the next Principal’s Weekly Update will be published on February 20th. Happy Family Day to all of you!
2026–27 Student Enrolment Survey
It’s that time of year already! To support planning and staffing for the upcoming school year, we are asking families to share their intentions for the 2026–27 school year. All families with students currently enrolled in Kindergarten through Grade 5 are asked to complete the enrollment form by February 27th. The form will ask whether your child will be returning to Jennie Elliott next year, will not be returning, or if your plans are still undecided.
Please complete one form per student in your family. Thank you for taking the time to support this very important step in our planning for next year.
Student Personal Mobile Devices Regulation
Families are reminded that, in alignment with Alberta legislation, personal mobile devices (including cell phones, smartwatches, and similar devices) are not permitted for student use during the school day. This is outlined in the CBE Administrative Regulation 6008 – Student Personal Mobile Devices. This legislation is in place to support student focus, well-being, and a positive learning environment. As a school, we are required to follow and consistently enforce this expectation.
Students who bring a personal device to school must keep it powered off and stored away for the duration of the day, unless specific accommodations have been approved by the school. We appreciate your continued support in reinforcing this expectation with your child. Working together helps ensure a calm, focused, and safe learning environment for all students.
If you have questions or require clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact the school.
Math Problem of the Week
Ms. McCallum has begun introducing math challenges to provide students with an opportunity to enrich their mathematical learning! The problems are displayed on a bulletin board in the hallway which has allowed students to work collaboratively on problem solving, encouraging use of mathematical vocabulary when communicating with others about the problem, and has naturally provided leadership opportunities for students when they are supporting others through solving the problem.
Every other week, Ms. McCallum changes the problem, and displays four different levels, which ensures every student can be successful. When students submit their answers, they are entered into a draw to win a games cart for their class for a week! This initiative has been very well received by the students. We've enjoyed watching students of all grade levels gathering in front of the math problem working on solutions collectively! Come stop by and check it out the next time you’re in the building.
Thanks and Gratitude
Over the months of December and January, Ms. Hynes visited classrooms to explore how expressing gratitude strengthens our school community. To build on our culture of being supportive, inclusive, respectful, and accepting, Division 1 students were introduced to The Grateful Book, where they discussed why giving thanks and noticing the positive in everyday life is important. Division 2 students focused on the science of happiness and how expressing gratitude not only brings happiness to others but also to the person giving thanks, as it encourages reflection on positive actions they observe.
For the past four years, students have been invited to recognize small acts of gratitude within our school community and contribute these to our daily announcements. Now they are also showcased on our bulletin board, creating a “pick-me-up” for everyone who passes by. If your child has noticed or experienced acts that have been supportive, inclusive, respectful, or accepting at school, and speak about them at home, please consider sharing these with Ms. Hynes so that they may be featured in our daily announcements and on our gratitude board for the whole school to enjoy.
Celebration of Dance
A reminder that there are two different Celebration of Dance times on February 11, depending on your child’s class. Due to limited space in the gymnasium, we kindly ask that a maximum of two audience members per family attend.
Morning classes:
AM Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4, 6, and Grade 5 (Bevilacqua & Petsinis)
- Doors open: 10:10 AM
- Celebration of Dance: 10:25–11:10 AM
Afternoon classes:
PM Kindergarten, Grades 2, 3, Grade 5 (Kirsch), and DHH classes 15B, 15A, 12, and 20
- Doors open: 2:05 PM
- Celebration of Dance: 2:20–3:05 PM
Parent Information Session #3 | Assessment & Report Cards Thurs, Feb 19
We hope you’ll join us on Thursday, February 19th from 5:00-6:00pm for our next session about Assessment & Report Cards where we’ll be exploring:
- the CBE’s assessment standards in relation to the curriculum
- how teachers gather and use assessment information to support student learning
- how assessment informs the report card
- how student learning and growth are communicated throughout the year
Please RSVP here and feel free to share the link with other JES families.
Parent Information Session #4 | Screenagers Movie: The Next Chapter Tues, Mar 10
On March 10th from 5:00-6:00pm we will be screening the movie, Screenagers: The Next Chapter. This film focuses on kids’ and teens’ mental health in the digital age – addressing stress, anxiety, and emotional well-being. It offers practical tools and hopeful stories to help families support children as they grow. You do not need to view the first film we screened earlier in the year, Elementary School Edition, prior to watching The Next Chapter. The content in one is not dependent on the other.
Please RSVP here and feel free to share the link with other JES families.
School Planning Parent Engagement
At the March School Council meeting on March 3rd at 6:30pm, we will share part II of community engagement presentation where we will share how the school budget provides funding to implement our school development plan as well as school fees and why they are necessary. Watch this short video to learn about the planning work schools do to improve and support student learning. There will be an opportunity to provide feedback after the session.
School Council (JESC) & Parent Society (JEPSA) Updates
Please see the February newsletter for further information:
Upcoming Events
Click here to see the school’s website calendar
Feb - Black History Month
Feb 2-11 - Dance PL3Y Residency
Feb 11 – JES Dance Performances
Feb 12, 13 – Teacher's Convention (no school)
Feb 14 – Valentine's Day
Feb 15 – National Flag of Canada Day
Feb 16 – Family Day (school closed)
Feb 17 – Lunar New Year
Feb 19 – Parent Info Session #3 – Assessment & Report Cards
Feb 24 – Report Cards available to parents/guardians through MyCBE PowerSchool
Feb 25 - Pink Shirt Day
Feb 27 – Non-instructional PD Day (no school)
Mar 2-5 – Grade 6’s to Outdoor School
Mar 2-13 – Netball Residency
Mar 3 – School Council Meeting 6:30pm
Mar 3 – School Planning Engagement: School Budget (At School Council meeting)
Mar 10 – Parent Info Session #3 – Screenagers Movie: The Next Chapter 5:00pm