Mustang Memo - October 13, 2023
Another busy week full of fun learning opportunities. This week we saw a Grade 3 classes buddying up with our kindergarten class for some fun learning. Watching our older students mentor our youngest students never fails to warm our hearts!
We saw a Grade 5 class win a class pajama party prize! They were having way too much fun! Our Grade 5 students also went on an inspirational field trip to Fort Edmonton to have a hands on experience of the fur trade.
We had our first Jeans and Jersey day to support the Oilers in their first home game of the season. Although our hearts were in the right place, it seems like the Oilers will need even more cheering from us going forward!
We finished off the week with an incredible school council and fundraising society meeting where we discussed our mission, values and school education plan for this year. You can learn all about this topic by viewing our DCE Growth Plan presentation.
Our hearts are full of gratitude and admiration for this incredible community. Each student, parent and staff member is working hard to make sure that this is a place where kids can thrive!
Enjoy your weekend!
Helene Hewitt & Jay Robertson
Principal & Assistant Principal
A place where you belong!
Table of Contents
Week At a Glance
Action
- Student Demonstration of Learning & Kindergarten Interview Booking
- Fee Waiver Deadline
Opportunity
- Alberta Education Focus Group Invitation
- DCE Swag Shop is Open
Information
- AMA Patrollers: Student Citizenship in Action
- Halloween at Davidson Creek
- Parents Make the Difference
WEEK AT A GLANCE
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ACTION
Student Demonstration of Learning Coming Soon!
Much like a parent/student/teacher interview, we will be hosting a student demonstration of learning event on October 25 and 26.
A demonstration of learning is when up to three families sign up for a 30 minute time slot. In those 30 minutes, your child will show you their progress on learning outcomes in English Language Arts and Literature, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. You will have the opportunity to see how your child is progressing by watching and listening to them engage in learning tasks related to the curriculum. The teacher is also present in the room to answer questions and provide feedback.
Kindergarten families will have traditional sit down interviews for 10 minutes at a time so that the teacher can discuss the results of the Early Years Evaluation Teacher Assessment (EYETA).
You can book your demonstration of learning or kindergarten interview by clicking here. You can also find it by clicking on the "Bookings" tab on the home page of our website.
Fee Waiver Deadline
If your family is needing a little financial relief, you can apply for a fee waiver. For the 2023-24 year, the deadline for receiving fee waiver applications is Dec. 15, 2023. The application form and more information can be found on the EIPS website. The only applications accepted after that date will be from families new to Elk Island Public Schools.
OPPORTUNITY
Alberta Education Focus Group Invitation
On October 30, Alberta Education will host a focus group to collect insight from parents about updates to the old My Child’s Learning: A Parent Resource website into a brand new space hosted on new.LearnAlberta.ca. The focus group will meet from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom.
The Alberta School Councils Association has been asked to identify 10-12 parents from metro, urban and rural school divisions, representing students from kindergarten to Grade 12 to participate in this focus group. Principals are encouraged to share this application form with their school communities. A QR code is also available.
Get Your Spirit Wear! DCE Swag Shop is Open
Do you love mustangs? Do you love Davidson Creek Elementary? Show it on your clothing!
This is your chance to get some sweet DCE spirit wear swag! The swag shop will close November 2!
INFORMATION
AMA Patrollers: Student Citizenship in Action!
You may have noticed this week that there are patrollers at the crosswalk going across Davenport Drive! AMA patrollers have begun to help students cross the street safely. Here is a little video describing what our patrollers are doing and how you can help us all be safe:
Thank you so much!
Mr. Versteegt & Mrs. Kotronis
Your Patroller Team Leaders
Halloween at Davidson Creek
Halloween is almost here and we are ready for some spooky fun! In order to make sure that this event is safe and fun for all here is what you can expect!
Halloween Parade
Our Halloween Parade will take place starting around 12:45 p.m. on October 31. Come and watch our little ghouls and goblins prance down the halls in our designated parent seating or standing areas located in the foyer and the upstairs mezzanine near the tipi. We are a large school and so our parade takes a while to make it's way around the school. Prepare to enjoy the show until around 2 p.m. when we hope to be all finished!
Halloween Costumes
Students are welcome to come dressed in their costumes for the day. Please help us out by making sure that costumes are not too scary/grotesque for our youngest students and that students leave weapons at home for their evening Trick-or-Treating! If a costume has a mask, students may wear it during the parade but then take it off during the rest of the day!
We highly recommend avoiding inflatable costumes as they pose a serious safety risk on the stairs. If students do come wearing inflatables, we will ask them to deflate during the parade for their own safety!
Halloween Treats - Staying Safe
Students will be invited to bring a personal treat on October 31 for their classroom party.
Please remember that we are a Nut Aware school and that students may not bring food items that contain nuts to school. This is make sure that all of our little mustangs are safe! Many of our students, as well as some of our staff, have severe nut allergies. Thank you for your cooperation in making sure everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!
Parents Make the Difference
Reinforce learning by having your child teach you something
Students are more motivated to learn when they feel capable, connected and in control. Having your child teach you things nurtures these feelings.
When children try to explain what they are doing, it can help them understand assignments better. It also reinforces what they know and reveals gaps in comprehension.
Try these strategies:
- Show an interest in what your child is learning in school. Ask your student to show you an assignment, teach you a concept or read a chapter from a textbook aloud.
- Ask your child to help you solve a problem or create something. What should you do first, second, next?
- Let your child quiz you about topics the class is studying. Take turns asking each other to define vocabulary words and recall math or science facts.
- Ask your child to teach you how to play a game. Then play it together.
- Ask for your child’s opinion about something and consider it before making your own decision.
Reprinted with permission from the October 2023 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2023 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.