Hello Jennie Elliott families,
On Friday morning, our teachers participated in the second of four system-wide professional learning sessions this year centered around the key question: How does the assessment process foster hope, efficacy, and achievement for all learners? Building on the work we began in October, staff explored research-based strategies to deepen their understanding of the responsive learning cycle and enhance their ability to effectively move student learning forward through assessment feedback. In the afternoon, teachers selected discipline-specific sessions in English Language Arts and Literature, Math, and Science, focusing on refining their practice and implementing the new curriculum.
Highlights from the Music Program & Ms. Ling
“Music is the tool to express life ----
and all that makes a difference.”
~ Herbie Hancock
American jazz musician
As part of the unit entitled From Coast to Coast, Grade 5 students learn folksongs from different parts of Canada. This journey started off with a French song called J’entends le moulin (I Hear the Millwheel). Students continued to refine their instrumental techniques on barred instruments. The second series of pieces are inspired by the First Nations, their poems and their values. Using what they learned about the buffalo and its relationship with the Indigenous people, each Grade 5 class created its original drum piece representing their knowledge and understanding of “the way of the buffalo.”
Grade 6 students are working on pieces inspired by a unit entitled Anemoi: Gods of winds. Each instrumental piece introduces new skills and challenges on the barred instruments.
Division I choir: Close to 120 students have signed up for the Division I choir! Due to the overwhelming response, there may be some regrouping after the first choir practice on February 4. More details to come.
School Planning Engagement | February 4th
Further to last week’s message, a reminder that on February 4th at 6:30pm, prior to the School Council meeting, we will be sharing information about:
- how the school budget provides funding to implement our school development plan.
- school fees and why they are necessary.
This presentation will be in-person only.
On March 4th we will have our second presentation on the School Development Plan. Watch this short video to learn about the planning work schools do to improve and support student learning. Our School Improvement Results and Development Plan as well as the Report To Parents on Fees can be viewed on our school website’s Our School page.The documents are on the right side of the page.
This is your opportunity to provide your input and ask questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
The Jennie Elliott Family Literacy Week Challenge Continues!
Our Family Literacy Challenge continues! After completing a challenge with your child, take a picture of your family in action and share it with us! Photos will be featured on our school bulletin board in the front foyer of the school to inspire others to embrace the joy of family literacy. You can send your photos to your child’s teacher or come to the school to add your family’s photo to the tree yourself. Let’s celebrate together by making learning fun and memorable!
Literacy Challenges
- Read a book together for 20 minutes each night for a week.
- Write a short story as a family, each person adding one sentence at a time.
- Create a family book club and discuss a book everyone reads.
- Visit the library and let each family member choose a book.
- Make a family recipe together and read the recipe aloud.
- Play a word-based board game like Scrabble or Boggle.
- Write a letter to a family member or friend and mail it.
- Practice singing the alphabet song together and identify letters around the house.
- Create a scavenger hunt using written clues around the house or yard.
- Keep a family journal where everyone writes something each day.
- Read a poem together and talk about its meaning.
- Listen to an audiobook as a family during a car ride or at home.
- Label household items in different languages and learn their names.
- Create a comic strip with family members as characters.
- Rewrite the ending of a favorite story as a family.
- Learn a new word each day and use it in a sentence together.
- Act out a scene from a book or play.
- Have a family debate on a fun topic and research facts to support views.
- Read a simple picture book and encourage your child to describe what they see on each page.
- Create a family reading nook and spend time there together.
- Use magnetic letters or chalk to spell words or make sentences.
- Make a family timeline and write key events.
- Play "I Spy" with letters and sounds around your home or neighborhood.
- Read the lyrics to a favorite song and discuss their meaning.
- Create a homemade dictionary of words important to your family.
School Council News
A reminder, that our next school council meeting is this upcoming Tuesday February 4, 2025 at 7 pm after the school’s presentation on Budget and Fees. Join us online or in person in the learning commons/library.
Link to attend Council Meeting Via Microsoft Teams
Click Here
Upcoming events:
- Ongoing - At home bottle collection (see details on previous weekly updates)
- Scholastic Book Fair - March 17 - March 21, 2025 (For more information and to have a sneak peak, visit https://bookfairs.scholastic.ca/bf/jennieelliottschool1)
- Jennie’s Night Out Silent Auction and Gala - hosted by JEPSA - Gala April 11, 2025, Silent Auction April 1 - April 11.
- Spring Dance - coming this spring
Upcoming Dates
Feb 1 – Black History Month begins
Feb 4 – School Council Meeting 7pm (Kinder & DHH teams sharing)
Feb 5 – Winter Walk Day & World Read Aloud Day
Feb 13, 14 – Teacher's Convention (no school)
Feb 14 - Valentine’s Day
Feb 15 – National Flag of Canada Day
Feb 17 – Family Day (no school)
Feb 20 – Kindergarten Information Session (parents/guardians only)
Feb 25 – Spirit Day: Pink Shirt Day
Feb 26 – Calgary Opera school performance: The Witty Squirrel 1:30pm
Feb 28 – Non-instructional Day (no school)
Have a fantastic week everyone!
Lucene Tahmazian
Principal, Jennie Elliott School