EJPS Week at a Glance (Feb 6 -10)
EJPS Week at a Glance (Feb 6 – 10)
Chers parents,
I hope you are all staying warm through these frigid February temperatures. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for these very cold days. In the event of extreme cold warnings, we adjust our schedule and duration or location for recess to ensure our students are safe from the risks of frostbite. For instance, this morning before school started we let all of our students into the school before the bell to keep everyone warm. We monitor the temperature through the day to determine if we can go outside at all for recess. The one advantage of this cold weather is that students have been enjoying playing and building with the mountains of snow on our school yard on the warmer days.
Speaking of fun, the whole school has been enjoying participating in our Feel the Beat Bucket Drumming initiative with professional drummer, Adam Bowman, and I to support hands-on learning as well as mental health and well being. Students are feeling energized and uplifted! I apologize if your children are taking over the home by drumming on pots and pans. Please don’t discourage the racket but rather try to encourage their passion for percussion and self expression! Thanks to you, parents, and our School Council for financially supporting this initiative.
As term 1 comes to an end, report cards will be coming home in about two weeks (February 16th). I have advised teachers that as this date approaches that they should reach out in the upcoming days and weeks to any parents whose child’s progress is of concern. Seeing C level grades on the report card means that the overall current assessment data (products, observations, conversations) falls below the provincial standard (the provincial standard is B- to B+) and that according to the teacher’s professional judgment they believe the student has not met the provincial standard by the end of the first school term. All children learn at different rates and this is not cause for alarm. Seeing a C on the report card does not necessarily mean your child is failing in a specific subject area. The term 1 report card provides an opportunity for feedback, goal setting and timely interventions that can be implemented throughout term 2. Your child’s teacher will reach out to you if there is a concern.
In other news, we have many extracurriculars going on. For example, the Forest of Reading program has started! See the information from our school librarian, Mme Mizutani, in the letter attached to this email. Mme Dawn Smith is starting a Grade 6 Debate Club. Mme Motto has been working with the Eagles Equity Alliance on creating announcements, slideshows, and resources to share information and learning around Black Heritage, Brilliance, Futures Month. Also, the EJ Junior Basketball season has started. Practices will occur before school, Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30 – 8:15 am. Families need to provide their own transportation for their child to the school. First practice is Monday, February 6th at 7:30am at the school. We will be holding try-outs for the first few morning practices, and then switch to practices. Selection will be based on attendance, skill and effort. Decisions are final and we appreciate your understanding. We are tentatively planning a half-day tournament with a few other schools to occur in March. Should your child not be successful in making the team, or if morning practices are difficult for your family, intramural Basketball (Basketeers) will be starting in the spring. It will be held at lunch and will be purely recreational with inner-school squads. Thank you, to teachers, Mme Shirton-Smith and Mme Prilesnik, and volunteer coach, Mr. Waterfield, for their contributions to basketball at EJPS!
Below are some important dates:
- Feb 16 – Term 1 Report Cards available online
- Feb 20 – Family Day
- Feb 21 – EJPS School Council 6:30 – 7:30
- Feb 22 – Pink Shirt Day (UGDSB wide)
- March 2 – Dance-a-thon (pledge forms coming shortly)
- March 3 – PA Day
- March 13-17 – MARCH BREAK
Keep warm and stay safe!
Sincerely,
Olivier Cutz (Principal)
Categories: Newsletter