Mustang Memo - March 7, 2025
March Book Madness is in full swing at DCE! We are truly enjoying reading some Canadian classics. So far the winning books have been:
- The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier
- Spork by Kyo Maclear
- Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
- A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker
Click on the links if you'd like to watch a read aloud of each book!
This weekend, our Mustang Track team is heading back to the Butterdome for the next round of races! We hear them running up a storm in the upstairs hallways before school each day and we are so proud of their commitment, hard work and dedication to their team. We wish them all good luck!
We hope you enjoy a great weekend!
Helene Hewitt & Jay Robertson
Principal & Assistant Principal
You belong here!
Table of Contents
Week At a Glance
Action
- Report Cards are Coming
- Daylight Savings is Back!
- It's Survey Season
Opportunity
- Upcoming School Council & DCFS Meetings
- Pre-kindergarten Programming at EIPS
Information
- Week of Inspirational Math
- Watch for Thin Ice
- Parents Make the Difference
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Sunday, March 9 - Set your clock ahead one hour!
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ACTION
Report cards are coming - Next Friday!
Term 2 report cards are almost here! Parents and guardians will continue to access report cards through PowerSchool—simply log in to your account and click on the “Report Card” button in the left-hand sidebar.
We invite you to check it out when report cards go live on Friday, March 14!
Time to Spring Forward!
It's that time of year when we set our clocks ahead an hour! Don't forget to spring forward this Sunday, March 9!
It’s Survey Season!
EIPS Annual Feedback Survey
Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) wants to hear from you. Every year, EIPS conducts a feedback survey to gauge its progress toward meeting the goals and priorities outlined in its Four-Year Education Plan. Collectively, the Division uses the survey feedback to help guide future planning, decision-making and strategies—all aimed at enhancing student learning and better serving the wider community.
Complete the 2024-25 EIPS Annual Feedback Survey: For Parents and Caregivers by March 21.
Alberta Education Assurance Survey
The Alberta Education Assurance survey gathers feedback on the quality of education provided by school authorities and their schools. Schools and school authorities use this information to understand how they are doing and plan for the future. Grade 4 parents and caregivers have received information directly from the school on how to complete the survey. Complete the Alberta Education Assurance survey by March 21—learn more. For questions or concerns, contact the school.
Kindergarten Registration is Now Open!
Is your child turning five on or before Dec. 31, 2025? If so, it’s now time to register for kindergarten. To register, simply complete the online registration form at eips.ca/kindergarten.
To help families prepare, Elk Island Public Schools has put together an online EIPS Kindergarten Tool kit to make the transition as smooth as possible. The kit includes information on registration, important dates, programming options, what to expect, eligibility, how to find your designated school, transportation and more.
Additional information regarding Davidson Creek Elementary’s kindergarten program is available at by clicking here.
OPPORTUNITY
Pre-kindergarten Programming at EIPS
Is there a preschooler in your life experiencing identified developmental delays or challenges with speech-language—big or small? If so, Elk Island Public School’s Play And Learn at School (PALS) program could help.
Early learning lays the foundation for success in primary grades and beyond. As such, EIPS offers the pre-kindergarten PALS program in five of its elementary school locations. Applications are now open for free speech-language assessments for those interested in registering in the PALS program this fall. The assessment helps determine if PALS is appropriate for your child.
If you know a preschooler, born in 2021 or 2022, who could benefit from pre-kindergarten programming or want to book an assessment, fill out the PALS Program Request Form or call 780-417-8219. For more information, visit eips.ca.
Upcoming School Council Meeting
Hey parents and guardians! We hope you can join us on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. for our school council meeting.
Parents are a huge part of making our school such an incredible place! We'd LOVE to see even more parents at our meeting!
INFORMATION
Week of Inspirational Math
March 10-14 is the Week of Inspirational Math! Students will have the opportunity to see that math is all around us through a variety of fun math activities taking place in classrooms all week! These kinds of questions are open-ended without necessarily having a correct answer.
There is also daily virtual guest reader who will share their passion for math along with a great math inspired story book. Make sure to ask your child about how they were inspired by math in the upcoming week!
Did you know?
EIPS is seeking two volunteer community members to serve on its Audit Committee. The Audit Committee reports to the Board of Trustees and is comprised of three elected trustees and two volunteers residing within EIPS boundaries. This opportunity provides valuable experience in the financial oversight of one of Alberta’s largest school divisions with an operating budget of approximately $210 million. The committee keeps EIPS accountable for every dollar spent to enhance student success. The closing date for this opportunity is March 7, 2025. For more information and to apply, visit the EIPS website.
Parents make the difference
Here is this week's article with helpful tips for families:
Physical activity is linked to better classroom performance
It’s no secret that exercise benefits children. It can reduce their risk for obesity, diabetes and even some types of cancer. But did you know that maintaining physical fitness can also help your child in school?
Studies show that, compared with their inactive peers, children who get regular exercise:
- Have better hand-eye coordination.
- Are better listeners.
- Are less fidgety during class.
- Have better handwriting.
To make physical activity a daily part of your child’s life:
- Go on regular walks. Pick a time, such as before or after dinner, to take a short walk around your neighborhood together and have a conversation. Make this a habit.
- Take the long way. When you are out running errands with your child, skip the elevators and escalators and take the stairs. Choose parking spots that will allow you to walk a bit farther.
- Play active games. From shooting hoops to tag, there’s no end to the fun your family can have.
- Have contests. When you watch TV together, challenge your child to a competition. During commercial breaks, see who can do the most jumping jacks or pushups.
- Put your child in charge. Ask your child to come up with some creative ways to keep your family moving.
Reprinted with permission from the March 2025 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2025 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: “Physically active children have improved learning and well-being, DMU researchers find,” De Montfort University.