Tuesday, 4 November 2014

Weekly email Oct 25th


October 25, 2014




Dear parents,
 Assembly
 This morning we had a brief assembly for all students and staff. As with all assemblies, we sang “O Canada” led in this case by Aurora and Aidan. The content of the assembly included the following:
-Elboya School’s Canadian flag is flying at half mast to honour Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo who died this past week.
-As Remembrance Day approaches, we need to remember those who have fought and died for our freedom.
-This year we will again offer students and staff to bring in a photograph of a family member or friend who is or was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.
-As Elboya students and staff we can help our community and our country by being friendly and including others. We have many students who are new to Canada, Calgary or Elboya School. Except for a few native students, we are all immigrants to Canada.
-Our actions help to make others feel welcome and part of our community and this is important both in person and in online communications.
Space and Elboya School
 This year we have around 611 students. The maximum I have seen at Elboya is 660. We still have a leased classroom, a woodworking room that is used twice a day and other rooms that are not used every period.  We are not using the library, the stage, cafeteria or the staff room for regularly scheduled classes. 
The capacity of Elboya School is 700 according to the Calgary Board of Education. 

Provincial Achievement Tests
 Results for PATs have been published and full results will appear on Elboya’s website next week. Last June Grade 6 and 9 students wrote 16 tests. There are some very good results for both Standard of Excellence (over 80%) and Acceptable Standard (over 50%). A few examples are:
 In Grade 6 English Language Arts, 94.7% passed the examination while in French Language Arts 96.6% passed. Grade 6 Mathematics had 91.2% of students passing.
In Grade 9, 97.4% of students passed the English Language Arts test and of those 46.2% of students achieved over 80%, which is truly outstanding. In Grade 9 Mathematics 93.6% of students passed and 33.3% of students achieved over 80% on the tests. Again, an excellent result. In Grade 9 Science 89.7% of students passed the test with 24.4% of students achieving the Standard of Excellence.
Each year following the publication of test results, we undertake an analysis of the results and set goals and put actions into place in order to improve our results.
Grade 3 students have just completed the first Student Learning Assessments this week. This has been an intensive experience for students and teachers with both written and digital tests in Language Arts and Mathematics. As the Calgary Board of Education is piloting these tests for Alberta Education, we have submitted feedback about the tests and hope for future modifications which will benefit students.

Oktoberfest
 I would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents who have contributed in any way.  Special thanks are due to Rhonda Fulton who took on this event at the last minute and who has worked very hard to bring it to fruition. 
L. Davis, Principal, Elboya School
 Busing
 Bus B has had some changes to its route which will take effect October 27th. An updated route was provided to all Bus B students and the updated map is on our website as well.
 Soccer Wrap-Up – M. Haines and K. Hadder
 The girls will be playing the boys in a fun game on Monday October 27th at 3:45. Following the short game, the students will come in for pizza and some treats as a group. Everything should be finished by 5:00. Please let the coaches know if your child has any dietary restrictions. 
 Halloween Activities – I. Coward, M. Haines
 October Charity - Stuff Sock for a Sick Child
Students are being asked to bring a couple of store-bought, pre-wrapped, nut-free pieces of candy to contribute to their homeroom's Halloween sock.  Once the socks are stuffed, we will be taking them to Ronald MacDonald House to give to sick kids who are unable to go out trick-or-treating on Friday, October 31, 2014.
 K-4 Pumpkin Carving
Kindergarten through Grade 4 students will be given a pumpkin to carve on Monday, October 27th and they will have until Thursday, October 30th in the morning to complete it.  Mr. Coward's homeroom students will judge the pumpkins and pick three classes as winners. Classes will receive a pumpkin pie!
 Dress-up Day--Thursday, October 30th
Thursday, October 30th will be our Halloween Spirit Day.  All students are encouraged to wear their costumes. In Kindergarten through Grade 4, we celebrate all of the children.  There will be prizes awarded for best costume to one boy and one girl in each grade 5-9.  Parents should ensure that costumes are school appropriate, and that their children do not bring any toy or real "weapons" to school, even if they fit with the theme of their costume.
 Grade 6 and 9 PAT results -  D. Siakaluk
 Schools have received the PAT results for Grade 6 and 9 students. Parent copies will be sent home with the Grade 7 students next week. Grade 9 results are sent to the high school that the students are currently attending. Elboya School results will be shared with parents next week.
  Assessment and HomeLogic -  D. Siakaluk
  A Parent’s guide to Assessment and Reporting has recently been published and is found on the Calgary Board of Education’s website at http://www.cbe.ab.ca/Parents/assessment-and-reporting/introduction.asp
  HomeLogic, showing a student’s marks will be available to parents October 20, 2014.Parents are encouraged to login and check their access. If parents are having difficulties with logging in, please call the Main Office at 403 777-7760 ext. 0 and speak with Mrs. Jones. Instructions are found at
http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b627/pdfs/HomeLogic-FAQ-for-Parents.pdf
 Grade 9 Quebec Field Trip - Mr. D. Siakaluk
 The Grade 9 Quebec field trip will be from April 6 – 11, 2015. There was an information night on October 16 and the first cheque of $500 was due that day. If you interested, have not provided the school with a cheque made out to Elboya School, and you would like your student to attend the field trip, please contact Mr. Derek Siakaluk immediately. Please understand that a prerequisite to being accepted for the field trip is attending a parent meeting. A second meeting is going to be held on November 3rd at 7 p.m. The last day to accept students on the trip is Monday, October 27th, 2014.
 Grade 7-9 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences - D, Siakaluk
Conferences for Grades 7-9 students only will be held on:
Thursday, October 30 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm and
Friday, October 31 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Due to the high volume of parent requests for conferences, they will be 6 minutes each.
Bookings open up on October 27 at 6:30 am and can be made at https://elboya.schoolsoft.ca/login.jsf.
If you have any questions, please refer to our website. All necessary information has been posted at: http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b627/default.htm
STUDENTS MAY NOT BE AT SCHOOL ON Thursday 4:00-8:00 p.m. OR Friday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. WITHOUT PARENTS. We appreciate your cooperation in this. Thank you.
 Scholastic Bookfair  Tuesday through Friday, October 28th to 31st, 2014 -  E. Hansen & D. El-Beheiry
 Dear Families,
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school!  What better way to promote reading to our students than by supporting this important literary event.
We invite your entire family to participate by purchasing the latest and greatest in children's books and at the same time support the school by helping us obtain new books and resources for our library and classrooms.
 This weekend visit the Scholastic Book Fairs website at http://www.scholastic.ca/bookfairs to read reviews of the Featured Books.  You can also watch book trailers and author videos with your child on the  BookTube page.
A flyer containing a special Family Event Draw ballot that parents can deposit during Family Night will come home with your students on Monday for a chance to win $50 in books – $25 for your family PLUS $25 for your child’s classroom!
Classes will have the opportunity to preview the collection in the library throughout the day on Wednesday.  Junior High students are also welcome to visit at lunch.  Students old enough and responsible enough to make their own cash purchases are invited to visit the library throughout the day on Thursday to 1:00 pm.  Thursday night is Family Night.  We will accept cash, cheques, Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
 Mark these dates on your calendar:
   Class Previews – Tuesday October 28th periods 5 – 7 and  Wednesday, October  29th periods 1 - 4  
•  Student Purchases – Wednesday, October 29th student purchases period 5-7 and Thursday, October    30th from  9:00 am to 1:00 pm
    Family Night -Thursday, October 30 from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm
   Family Purchases - Friday, October 31 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
 We look forward to seeing you during our Scholastic Book Fair and thank you for supporting this special event.  Thank you for believing in books and the impact of reading on your child's future.
Sincerely,
Erin Hansen, Teacher Librarian
Deborah El-Beheiry, Library Assistant
 Calling all parents and students! – D. El-Beheiry
 I am seeking parents and students to volunteer to help out with the Scholastic Book Fair running from Wednesday, October 29th to Friday, October 31st.  Please contact me if you can spare a couple of hours on:
            Tuesday, October 28th at 9:00 am - display set up and classroom previews after lunch
            Wednesday, October 29th  from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm - tidy up while the kids are previewing the collection in the morning. Book sales in the afternoon.
            Thursday, October 30th  from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm  and 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm – book sales
            Friday, October 31st 9:00 am to 1:00 pm – books sales
            Monday, November 3rd  from 9:00 – tear down
 I look forward to having a chance to meet and work with you.  Please contact Deborah El-Beheiry at 403-777-7760 ext. 2046.
School fees - C. Carbol
 School fees are now being processed and cheques will be deposited in the bank this week and next. A receipt will be sent home with your child.  If you have yet to remit your fees, please do so. Questions? Please contact Mrs. Carbol in the main office.
 Lunchroom/Cafeteria -  D. Siakaluk
Just a reminder to parents that students in Grades 6-9 are able to use the microwaves in the cafeteria and purchase hot lunches directly from the cafeteria. Students in Grades 1-5 need to pre-order cafeteria food and bring lunches that do not require microwaving. Beginning November 3rd, students will place cafeteria orders through their homeroom or class. Students are also reminded to bring all the necessary cutlery in their lunches as cutlery is only provided for students who purchase a hot lunch.
Lost and Found - Mr. D. Siakaluk
Our Lost and Found is located near the Main Office and is getting quite full. Next time you're in the school, please take a look for any misplaced items. We will be clearing out the Lost and Found on October 31st.
Upcoming Events
Monday, October 27th                                           B   us “B” route change takes effect      
                                                                                       Jr. Boys Volleyball at AE Cross                                 
Tuesday October 28th                                         Jr. Girls Volleyball at Bishop Pinkham 
                                
Wednesday October 29th                                        Scholastic Book Fair 

                                                                                Sr. Boys Volleyball at John Ware                                            
Thursday October 30th                                       Sr. Girls Volleyball at John Ware

                                                                               Early dismissal 1:30 pm
                                                                            Conferences for Grades 7-9     4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
                                                                            
Friday October 31st                                          No School 
                                                                         Conferences for Grades 7-9      9:00 am – 1:00  pm
                                             
 Practices
 Running club Grades 1-5
Monday 12:16-12:35  Grade 3 and 4
Tuesday12:16-12:35  Grade 1 and 2
Wednesday 12:35-1:01Grade 5

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheryl Carbol

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