Hello Jennie Elliott families!
We have had a very successful and full start to the new year! There were lots of high fives and summer adventures shared as we reunited again. The sun is shining again to welcome the weekend, and I’m sure our students will sleep well as they end their first week back to school.
As we do every year, we brought our students together on the first day for an assembly to introduce our staff and new students to Jennie to discuss some of our common expectations for each of us to do our part in creating a welcoming, safe and caring school community together. We also shared some of the exciting grade team and school-wide events we have planned to look forward to over the year:
- Calgary Flames Foundation Flag Football residency in September
- Gr K-6 Scientists in School in October
- Lacrosse residency in October
- Gr 6 Outdoor school in October
- Frisbee Rob residency in November
- Gr 4 Chevron Open Minds Science School in January
- Dance residency in February
- Calgary Opera visit to JES in February
- Active and Safe Routes to School (year-long)
- Bishop Pinkham and Jennie Elliott buddy class program (year-long)
- Nature Conservancy Network (year-long)
- Construction of Outdoor Peace Garden And Gathering Space (in progress)
We will also be sharing more about the Nature Conservancy Network that Jennie Elliott has joined at the September School Council meeting. The consultant from Ever Active Schools will also be at the Welcome Back event to explain more about our Active and Safe Routes program that will begin in October.
Hello From Ms. Bignell!
My name is Claire Bignell, and I am thrilled to be joining Jennie Elliott School as the new Physical Education and Wellness teacher, as well as a Learning Leader.
Originally from Ontario, I grew up immersed in sports like gymnastics, hockey, volleyball and basketball- each of which helped shape my lifelong passion for movement and well-being. I completed my Bachelor of Physical Education degree in Newfoundland before making the move to Calgary. Most recently, I was the Physical Education teacher at Woodbine School, where I had the opportunity to build an impactful Phys-Ed program and create meaningful experiences for my students.
Whether we are in the gym, on the field, or exploring wellness in the classroom, my goal is to foster a space where students feel inspired to challenge themselves, support one another, and grow in confidence.
When I’m not teaching, I like running, playing volleyball and baking. I look forward to building strong relationships with students, families and staff. Please don’t hesitate to reach out at clbignell@cbe.ab.ca - I’d love to connect!
Volunteering
Volunteer Registration forms are available on your parent account. Please complete this step first prior to obtaining a police clearance in order for your clearance fees to be covered by the school board. Police clearances are valid for 5 years once obtained, but the volunteer registration form must be completed each year. The office will follow up if anything further is required after your form has been processed, you will receive instructions from the school on how to complete the police clearance. If you receive a notification that your form has been “Approved” nothing further is required and you still have a valid police clearance with the school.
Students Who Take the Bus
Attendance is taken prior to students boarding the bus. Therefore, it is critical to notify the office prior to 2:30pm, preferably in the morning, if your child will not be riding the bus home after school. Please notify the office on the Attendance/Bussing Line at 403-777-8350 ext 1 or jennieelliott@cbe.ab.ca .
If a student is unaccounted for, we will enact our Missing Child Protocol if we are unable to reach the family to confirm the child’s whereabouts. This can also cause delays in sending the bus on its route until the child’s whereabouts are confirmed. Thank you to all families for your diligence with this important communication.
Absences, Lates and Early Pick Ups
Any changes to your child’s dismissal plan should be emailed to jennieelliott@cbe.ab.ca and the classroom teacher, prior to 2:30pm. Teachers are not watching their email throughout the instructional day, so emailing the main office is necessary.
- If your child is going to be absent from school, please notify the office on the Attendance/Bussing Line at 403-777-8350 ext 1or email jennieelliott@cbe.ab.ca the same morning or earlier.
- If your child arrives late to school after 8:41am, they must use the main doors and check in at the office before going to class.
- If your child is being picked up early from school, you must meet and sign out your child at the main office.
- We ask parents not to pick your child up from the office after 3:00pm, but to wait instead until the 3:14pm dismissal bell and meet them at their dismissal door. This helps us to have our office staff available and attentive for the safe and smooth dismissal of our students. Teachers are also busy getting students ready for dismissal, so the less interruptions to that routine the better.
Welcome Back & Meet the Teacher Event
We are looking forward to our Welcome Back and Meet the Teacher event on September 18th. The following schedule provides an opportunity for families to meet their child’s teachers, see the learning spaces, and receive a brief curriculum-based overview of some of the year’s learning. Families are also invited to tour the school if they wish.
This year, we are dividing the time families come based on the student’s last name to alleviate crowding in the classrooms. Please also see your classroom teachers’ weekly messages sent today, for further information.
Initial of Child’s Last Name | Time to Attend in the Classroom |
A-H | 3:45-4:30pm |
I-P | 4:30-5:15pm |
Q-Z | 5:15-6:00pm |
As usual, the food trucks will be on the field with food service from 3:45 – 6:45 pm, for those who would like to picnic on the field together!
Safe Parking for Drop Off and Pick Up
We are excited to see families beginning to use the colourful parking zone on 66th Ave. created by the Lakeview Community Association to encourage a safer pickup and drop-off zone! To support this, you will notice additional supervisors at the fence entrances at the south end of the school grounds to help guide students to their entry doors once they enter the field.
As the year continues, we encourage even more families to take advantage of this safe and efficient way for students to enter the schoolyard. To keep students safe and reduce congestion, we ask that families consider making 66th Avenue SW their primary “hug-and-go” location. This week, with the back-to-school rush, we have seen significant congestion and safety concerns along 30th Street SW. Please remember that school buses use this street and need sufficient space to safely load and unload students. We also remind students riding bikes to walk their bikes across the street. There have been a few near misses when students have darted between vehicles.
Thank you for your continued support in keeping our school community safe!
Family Selfie (Felfie!) Board
The Jennie Elliott “Felfie Board” is back! To further celebrate our beautiful Jennie Elliott family, we are asking staff and students to bring a selfie of their family (a felfie!) to add to our Felfie Board in the fish hallway during the Welcome Back & Meet the Teacher event on September 18th. Your child will be able to show you where the bulletin board is, so you can put it up together.
Brown Baggin it 4 Calgary Kids
Our school participates in the Brown Bagging it 4 Calgary Kids which offers a free lunch program for families. Every school day, volunteers in BB4CK Central and community kitchens across Calgary prepare and deliver lunches, making sure any kid who arrives at school without enough food receives a nutritious lunch. Each lunch includes sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and snacks to support kids’ well-being and help them focus, play, and grow.
If you are interested in accessing the program for your child, please connect with Nikki Jung in the front office to register.
Lunch Supervision Registration
Please ensure that your child is registered for Lunch Supervision in your my CBE / Parent Account. If your child stays at school for lunch, registration for the program is required.
Online Forms
An email went out Wednesday reminding parent to complete their Annual Demographic forms and Authorization forms in your my CBE / Parent Account. The deadline for these September 15.
Terry Fox School Run – Thursday, September 25th
10:35am Kick Off Assembly
10:50 – 11:10 am Run #1
2:40 – 3:00 pm Run #2
Our school is excited to take part in in the 45th Anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope. Terry Started a marathon against cancer. Together, we can help finish it.
Last year we raised over $6000 as a school community, and we look forward to beating that number this year. More information will be sent home with your student in their backpack next week.
For our event to be a success, we need parent volunteers to help with set-up of the course, keeping track of laps by recording tally marks both during the morning and afternoon run times. If you can volunteer, please click here to sign up. All volunteers need to have police clearance and have completed their volunteer registration form for the 2025/2026 school year. Please check with the office to confirm you are registered and have valid police clearance.
Lost and Found
One rack of Lost and Found is almost full after the first four days of school! Please remember to label your child’s clothing with their name so it has a chance of making it back to your child. You are welcome to come view the Lost and Found anytime.
School Council Updates
All families are invited to join the first School Council meeting on September 23rd at 6:30 pm in the school's Learning Commons, orClick here to access the School Council meetings online.
Please see the following information from our Jennie Elliott School Council (JESC) and Jennie Elliott Parent Society (JEPSA):
The Jennie Elliott School Council Casino event is on October 6 and 7, 2025 at Elbow River Casino. The Casino has raised as much as $80,000 to enhance school resources like residency programs, library books, musical instruments and gym equipment, essential learning resources to support the implementation of the new curriculum for grades K-6, and of course, the exciting new outdoor learning space in the front of the school.
We need around 31 volunteers for three shifts each day, plus alternates. No experience needed; meals and parking are free. Please see the Sign-up Genius link below to sign up to volunteer today, and to learn more about how easy each of the positions are. This is usually a lot of fun to do in groups, so consider getting your friends to sign up at the same time as you!
Click here to sign up for Casino volunteering
Upcoming Dates - click here to see our school calendar
Sept 8 – International Literacy Day
Sept 18 – Welcome Back and Meet the Teacher event (see times above)
Sept 22 – Fall Equinox
Sept 22 – Treaty 7 Day
Sept 22-24 – Rosh Hashanah
Sept 23 – International Day of Sign Languages
Sept 25 – Terry Fox Run
Sept 26 – In-school Recognition day of Orange Shirt Day
Sept 29 – Non-instructional Day (no students)
Sept 30 – National Day of Truth & Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day (no school)
Enjoy the weekend, everyone!