Hello Jennie Elliott families!
What a fun day at Jennie Elliott! We loved seeing the creativity, imagination and variety of costumes throughout the school. It was especially wonderful to see students finding their own ways to enjoy the day, whether dressed up in full costume, wearing something festive, or simply coming as themselves. Our “You Be You, BOO!” Day was all about having fun, celebrating individuality and making sure everyone felt comfortable being part of the excitement. Thank you to our families for helping make the day such a fun celebration!
I also want to share that today was the last day with our Acting Assistant Principal, Ms. Kaine. I'd like to extend our sincere appreciation for her generosity of time with our Jennie Elliott staff, the genuine care she has shown our students, and the thoughtfulness with which she has embraced our community in such a short time. She has made a meaningful contribution in so many ways, and we wish her all the very best in her next adventure!
Ms. Hynes will be returning on Wednesday, November 4.
Lucene Tahmazian
Principal
Minimizing Interruptions to the School Day
Recently, we have seen an increase in calls to the office requesting that messages about family schedules, appointments or after-school arrangements be relayed to students. We ask for your support in minimizing these interruptions to protect instructional time and keep school operations running smoothly.
This is especially important this year, as we have reduced our school secretary allocation to half-time to prioritize classroom teacher staffing within our budget. With fewer administrative hours available, frequent calls and requests for early pick-ups place additional demands on an already limited office resource.
We kindly ask families to consider the following:
- Family Messages and Phone Calls - Whenever possible, please share scheduling details, pick-up arrangements and routine reminders with your child at home rather than calling the school. This helps reduce interruptions for office staff and keeps students focused on learning.
- Appointments - Please schedule haircuts, medical appointments and other personal appointments outside school hours whenever possible. We understand that some appointments are unavoidable.
- Early Pick-Ups - We ask that families avoid early pick-ups for convenience, such as getting ahead of traffic. Even brief absences can mean missing important instruction and shared learning experiences, making it harder for students to rejoin classroom activities with their peers. A reminder that after 3:00, all pick-ups must happen at your child's designated door, not the front office.
- Arriving on Time Each Morning - Help your child start the day on time so they don't miss important morning instructions and can establish positive morning routines. Our 8:30–8:40 a.m. soft entry provides flexibility for students to settle in and prepare for learning before instruction begins.
- Using Designated School Entrances - Help us keep arrivals safe and organized by ensuring your child uses their designated entrance rather than the front doors. This reduces congestion and helps maintain a safe and secure building for everyone.
Ultimately, our goal is to protect valuable learning time and maintain a safe environment for all students. Thank you for working with us to make these routines successful!
Photo Retakes
If your child was absent or unable to participate in our photo day Thursday, there is another opportunity on November 17th during Photo Retake Day. Please let your child's teacher know if you would like your child to get their photo taken on retake day.
Veteran's Food Bank Drive Nov 2-10
As Remembrance Day approaches, we are taking time to honour and recognize the sacrifices made by our Veterans. At Jennie Elliott School, we would also like to show our appreciation through acts of kindness and giving back to those who have given so much to our country.
In the spirit of giving back to others and feeling a sense of connectedness to our community, we invite families to support our Veterans Food Bank Drive by donating non-perishable food and household items. Donations will be collected from November 2–10 in the collection boxes located just outside the gym doors at the school entrance.
Items on the Veterans Food Bank Wish List:
Food Items
- Baking: Cake and muffin mixes, icing, Jell-O
- Prepared Meals & Sides: Hamburger Helper, instant mashed potatoes, instant hash browns, Sidekicks, Stove Top stuffing
- Soups & Sauces: Chunky soups, chili, gravy packets
- Spices: All varieties
- Condiments: Ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, relish, pickles
- Snacks: Chips and cookies
Household & Personal Care Items
- Bounce dryer sheets
- Men's deodorant
- Freezer bags and sandwich bags
- Garbage bags and kitchen catchers
- Kleenex
- Laundry detergent
- Paper towels
- Toilet paper
Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. Thank you, for helping us extend a little extra kindness and support to the Veterans in our community.
Jacket Racket Appreciation
Thank you to JES families who contributed to our Jacket Racket donation drive this year. In a short time, we had numerous large bins filled with gently used warm clothing for those in need. We appreciate the thoughtfulness and generosity of our Jennie Elliott School community.
Highlights from the Music Program & Ms. Ling
“When music hits you, you feel no pain.”
~ Bob Marley
Reggae singer
Here is what Grade 3 and 4 students have been up to lately:
- Grade 3 Music: Students are reviewing foundational note values like ta, ti-ti, rest, and too. They will continue to build their rhythmic skills by reading, composing, and writing music from dictation. Additionally, students are reinforcing their sense of rhythm through singing games and exploring musical form to understand how pieces are structured into different sections.
- Grade 4 Music: Students are expanding their rhythmic vocabulary by introducing “ticka-ticka.” Using the repertoire they have mastered so far, students will use this new rhythm as a key building block for composing their own musical pieces in the coming months.
From Your School Council (JESC) & Parent Society Update (JEPSA)
Please click here to see up-to-date JESC and JEPSA information including meeting agendas and minutes.
Book Fair Is Coming!
Upcoming Dates
November – Hindu Heritage Month
Oct 31 – Halloween
Nov 2-5 – Calgary Flames Assoc Floor Hockey residency
Nov 3 – Division 1 Lego Club begins
Nov 5-11 – Veteran's Week (food hamper collection)
Nov 8 – Indigenous Veterans Day
Nov 8 - Diwali
Nov 10 – Remembrance Day Assembly 10:30am
Nov 11-13 – Fall Break (schools closed)
Nov 14 – World Diabetes Day
Nov 15-21 – National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
Nov 15-21 – Metis Week
Nov 17 – School Photo Retakes
Nov 18 – Calgary Opera School Performance of Pied Piper
Nov 19 – Gr 5 to Leighton Art Center
Nov 23-27 – Canadian History Week
Nov 23-27 – Scholastic Book Fair in the gym
Nov 25 – Gr 1 to Theatre Calgary
Nov 26 – School Conferences (evening)
Nov 27 – School Conferences all day (no school)
Nov 30 – Fun Lunch