Hello Jennie Elliott Families,
On behalf of the Jennie Elliott staff, as we head into Spring Break we would like to wish all of our students and families a restful and enjoyable holiday. We hope this time provides an opportunity to relax, recharge, and spend quality time together. Whether you are staying close to home or heading out on an adventure, we wish you a safe and happy break.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back, refreshed and ready for the final stretch of the school year on March 30th!
Student-led Conferences
Thank you for taking the time to participate in our recent student-led conferences. It was wonderful to see so many families engaged in this meaningful learning experience.
These conferences are an important opportunity for students to share their growth, reflect on their learning, and take pride in their accomplishments. Your presence and encouragement made a significant difference, helping to build their confidence and reinforce the strong connection between home and school.
We truly appreciate your continued support and partnership.
FREE | Childhood Unplugged Event - April 22, 2026
Screens are everywhere – in our homes, schools, and pockets. Many parents and educators are asking the same question: How do we help children find balance in a digital world? Join the conversation inspired by Katherine Johnson Martinko’s book Childhood Unplugged: Practical Advice to Get Kids Off Screens and Find Balance, which offers practical guidance for helping children spend less time on screens and more time reading, playing, and exploring the world around them.
This event will feature a keynote presentation by the author, followed by a panel discussion with local experts who will share insights, research, and realistic strategies to help families navigate screen use in today’s digital environment.
Expert panel featuring:
- Dr. Sheri Madigan, Professor in the Department of Psychology and Tier I Canada Research Chair in Child Mental Health and Well-being at the University of Calgary.
- Dr. Mengguo Jing, Assistant Professor in Learning Sciences with the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary.
- Sara Austin, Founder and CEO of Children First Canada.
Event Moderator: Dr. Susan Graham, Director of the Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Scientific Director of the Azrieli Accelerator, and Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary.
The first 200 guests through the door receive a free copy of Katherine Johnson Martinko's book.
When: April 22, 2026
Time: 10:00-12:00pm
Where: Central Library Theatre
How: Register for free at https://childhoodunplugged.eventbrite.ca
SEL Spotlight with Ms. Hynes
Last month, we provided information to help parents work with children to identify and name different feelings. This week, we are continuing to build on those skills as students learn how to communicate their emotions in respectful and constructive ways.
Focus: Expressing Feelings Appropriately
Learning to communicate feelings clearly helps students advocate for themselves, resolve conflicts, and maintain positive relationships with others in a respectful and safe manner.
Try This at Home
For younger students (K–3):
Encourage your child to use simple “I feel…” statements, such as:
“I feel sad when my toy breaks.”
“I feel happy when I play with my friends.”
Parents can model this language during everyday moments:
“I feel proud of you for trying something new today.”
You can help them connect feelings to situations by asking:
“What happened that made you feel that way?”
For older students (Grades 4–6):
Encourage your child to express their feelings using “I feel… when… because…” statements. For example:
“I feel frustrated when I don’t understand my homework because I want to do well.”
Talk about how expressing feelings respectfully can help solve problems and prevent misunderstandings.
You might ask:
“How did you let someone know how you were feeling today?”
“Was there a time when sharing your feelings helped solve a problem?”
These conversations help students build confidence in expressing themselves while also developing empathy and understanding for others.
Thank you for supporting your child’s social-emotional growth. When we work together, we help students build the confidence, resilience, and communication skills they need to thrive both in school and beyond.
Screenagers Movies: Last chance to view
Remember to mark your calendar for April 16th! We’re hosting one final Screenagers screening before our license expires in May. We will be showing both films back-to-back.
6:00–7:00 PM – Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition
7:00–8:00 PM – Screenagers: The Next Chapter
Don’t miss this last chance to see these impactful films about kids, teens, and navigating screen time.
School Council (JESC) Update
Please click here to see our School Council webpage that includes dates for the School Council meetings, the link to the meetings to attend online if you prefer, meeting agendas and meeting minutes.
Parent Society (JEPSA) Updates
This year JEPSA’s spring fundraising goal is to raise $30,000 to help fuel learning within and beyond the classroom - supporting residencies, hands-on learning tools, and outdoor experiences that bring the curriculum to life! There are so many ways for families and supporters to be involved—please read on for more details!
Get Your Tickets for Jennie's Night Out - May 8 - Limited Quantity Available!
We are excited to announce that the tickets for our 3rd annual Jennie's Night Out went on sale Monday, and we are already 34% sold! We are at a new location this year—the Lakeview Community Centre—so only have a limited number of tickets available. Don't miss out on this super fun event, and major fundraiser for our school!
50/50 Raffle!
Can’t attend the Jennie’s Night Out Gala, but still want to participate? Check out our Denim and Diamonds online 50/50 raffle - tickets start at just $1! This raffle is open to the public. Please share the link with friends, family, and colleagues too!
Basket Auction
This year, in support of Jennie’s Night Out, we invite families to consider donating a bottle (or two) of wine to help us create wine baskets for the auction.
For everyone’s safety, please do not send wine to school with your children 😊. Instead, we kindly ask that donations be dropped off, securely wrapped, at the school office, where our wonderful office staff will safely store them for our event organizers to collect.
Silent Auction
Stay tuned for the launch of our 3rd annual online silent auction, where you will have a chance to bid on items not only for the community, but also to help fill the school with supplies our teachers are requesting! This auction will also be open to the public—please share it with your networks!
Last, but certainly not least, if you own a business, or have an item or two you would like to contribute to our online silent auction, please email Alicia at jennieelliott1962@gmail.com.
Thank you for your support as we launch our spring fundraising drive! With your help, we know it will be a massive success!
Upcoming Events
Click here to see the school’s website calendar
Mar 23-27 - Spring Break (no school)
Mar 30 - Classes resume
Mar 30 – Fun Lunch!
Apr 3 - Good Friday
Apr 7 – School Council Meeting
Apr 27 – Fun Lunch!