Bruderheim School Parent Newsletter
April 26, 2024
From the Principal
Well, we’ve had another good week at school, and it’s the last full week in April! We started off with celebrating Earth Day and being reminded to take care of the earth and natural resources that we have been given! We also started the week with Jersey Day to celebrate the start of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs!
Thanks to everyone who supported our Calahoo Meats Fundraiser that was organized by our School Council. Our approximate numbers are in and together we sold almost $7,000 which resulted in approximately $1,400 for our school! The last day to RSVP for the Laugh Again with Phil Callaway event is today, April 26.
Dave Armbruster
Principal
Upcoming Key Dates
May 2024
May 3
Professional Learning Day (School Closed for Students)
May 6-10
Mental Health Week
May 7
School Council Meeting (5:30 pm in the Library)
May 8
Hats on for Mental Health Event
May 16-17
School Closure (School Closed for Staff and Students)
May 20
Victoria Day (School Closed for Staff and Students)
May 29
Kindergarten Information Night/Open House from 6:00-7:30 pm)
Get ready for Kindergarten
Do you have a child registered in kindergarten next year? If so, make sure to attend Bruderheim School's upcoming Kindergarten Information Night on May 29th.
You’ll get to:
· tour the school;
· meet the teachers;
· gain insight on play-based learning; and
· see what a typical day looks like.
Kindergarten Information Night 2024:
Date: May 29
Time: 6:00-7:30 pm)
Location: Bruderheim School Kindergarten Room
To make the transition to school as smooth as possible, Elk Island Public Schools has put together a toolkit for families. The kit includes information about registration, important dates, programming options, what to expect, eligibility, finding your designated school, transportation and more. Find it at: Welcome to EIPS Kindergarten.
Additional information about Bruderheim School’s kindergarten program is available on our https://www.bruderheimschool.ca/.
Kindergarten Registration Now OPEN!
Is your child turning five on or before Dec. 31, 2024? 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 Bruderheim School’s kindergarten program is available at
Junior High Information Nights: Running April and May
Junior high schools across EIPS are hosting information nights for all Grade 6 students and their families—taking place in April and May. Make sure to attend to learn everything you need to know about the junior high programs at your child’s school. Those who attend will also have a chance to:
· meet the teachers;
· tour the school and classrooms;
· learn about the upcoming curriculum; and
· ask questions.
For specific dates and times, see: EIPS Junior High Information Sessions 2024
Bruderheim Preschool Association Registration
Phil Callaway Night
May 1, 2024
5:00-7:00 pm
Community Blanket Exercise
Lamont Elementary School is hosting a community Blanket Exercise on Thursday, May 2, 2024.
Please register for the event using the Google Form below.
Pre-Kindergarten Programming at EIPS
Is there a preschooler in your life experiencing developmental delays or challenges with speech-language or motor-skill development—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 2020 or 2021, 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.
School Fees
Pay School Fees Online!
School fee information for the 2023-24 school year is now posted on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. All fees are due within 30 days of being posted. To access your fee information, simply log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and go to “Student Fees.” There you can view your fees and pay them online.
Don’t forget to also log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal regularly throughout the year. Fees are often added to your child’s account to cover the cost of various school activities such as field trips, class projects, extracurricular activities fees and more.
For more information about school fees visit eips.ca. Alternatively, contact Ms. Carlson at Bruderheim School at 780-796-3936.
Has your contact information recently changed?
Have you recently moved or has your contact information changed? Bruderheim School encourages families to review the information the Division has on file to ensure it’s up to date. Using the Student Information Update available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, families can review the current information on file for each student—including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, parent and guardian information, emergency contacts, medical details and other related information—and submit any updates needed.
Reviewing and updating the form ensures the school and Division have the most up-to-date information regarding your child. Your review is especially important as the Division prepares for 2024-25 registration processes beginning in the new year.
NOTE: Only submit updates for the changes that have already taken place. If you’re moving later this school year, you’ll submit the necessary updates to your information through the Student Information Update after you’ve moved.
If you have questions about the form or any trouble with your Parent Portal account, contact the school office at 780-796-3936.
School Messenger App
Download the SchoolMessenger App
Bruderheim School and the Division use the SchoolMessenger platform for communicating with families—through both phone and email. Be sure to add communications@eips.ca and general.bru@eips.ca to your safe sender list to avoid having important messages funneled into your junk mail folder.
You can directly manage your phone and email subscription preferences through SchoolMessenger. Simply log in to your account—or create one if you don’t already have one—and select the message types you’d like to receive to each phone number and email address on file.
The easiest way to stay connected is to download the SchoolMessenger app. Get the latest updates direct to your mobile device and enable push notifications to never miss a message. Families can also check back on past messages—for up to 30 days—directly in the app rather than searching to find an old message buried in your inbox. Download the SchoolMessenger app from the App Store or Google Play today.
EIPS Annual Education Results Report
Every year, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) publishes an Annual Education Results Report, which outlines the Division’s Four-Year Education Plan, opportunities for growth and how it’s supporting students to achieve the best possible outcomes. Read through this year’s EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2022-23 and discover how EIPS fosters learning environments for all students to learn, grow and thrive—and why it matters.
April Spotlight: enhancing public education through effective engagement ·
Rules of Engagement: Using a collaborative approach to improve student achievement and success · Driving change: Strengthening public education through Board advocacy
RELATED INFORMATION
Respiratory Illness Guidance
The health and safety of staff, students and visitors is a top priority. Continue to reinforce the following hygiene habits to protect staff and students from spreading respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.
· Stay home if you’re feeling sick.
· Wash or sanitize your hands often.
· Cover your coughs and sneezes.
· Avoid touching your face.
· Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces regularly.
· Wear a mask if you get sick or develop symptoms while at school or work.
As per Alberta Health guidelines, staff, students, contractors and visitors who have symptoms of respiratory Illness or test positive for COVID, should stay home until:
· symptoms have improved,
· they feel well enough to resume normal activities, and
· they have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications.
For anyone who has a respiratory illness or has tested positive for COVID, it is recommended that they wear a mask for a total of 10 days from the onset of symptoms—even if the symptoms have resolved or improved—when in indoor settings with other individuals.
Did you know?
Alberta Reserves are accumulated surplus funds that may be designated to a school, department or priority. The Board of Trustees approves the transfer of funds to and from reserves and has a yearly plan on how those reserves are used—to the benefit of students. EIPS identifies high-demand areas and uses its operating reserves for initiatives like student learning, new curriculum work, consultant support, mental health initiatives, technology upgrades, public-health best practices and other one-time projects. Operating reserves are also used to furnish and equip new schools and classrooms. With its capital reserves, EIPS replaces ageing equipment, purchases technology, modernizes and expands student learning spaces, and funds emergent capital needs.
Learn more: ·
Board Policy 2: Role of Board ·
Administrative Procedure 501: Financial Management
Caregiver Education Sessions
Alberta Health Services hosts a variety of virtual caregiver information sessions throughout the year focused on ways to support students’ mental health. The sessions are free and geared toward parents, caregivers, teachers and community members who want to learn more about challenges impacting children and adolescents. Session topics include anxiety, ADHD, depression, self-harm, technology, teens and teaching leadership skills, communication, resiliency and more. Visit Caregiver Education to see the monthly caregiver sessions.
To access the AHS Virtual Caregiver Series click here.
Dragonfly Support Group
A monthly group for parents whose children face mental health challenges. This groups is a safe and supportive place for parents and caregivers to:
- share challenges and concerns
- learn and grow as a caregiver, and
- access supports from those who are facing similar struggles.
To register, please call 780-992-6267.