Eckville Elementary News - Parents

As we begin a new school year here at Eckville Elementary, I want to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to all our students and families. We are so proud to serve this community, and we’re genuinely excited to see our hallways, classrooms, and playgrounds filled with the energy of our kids once again. Whether you’re returning or joining us for the very first time, you are an important part of our school family, and we are so glad you’re here.

This is my second year as principal, and I continue to be grateful for the strong sense of community that makes our school such a special place. Last year, I saw firsthand the way our staff, families, and students support one another, and I know that spirit will carry us into another successful year together.

September is always full of excitement, new routines, and opportunities for growth. While each school year brings its own challenges, it also brings the chance to learn, to connect, and to celebrate the many successes — big and small — that happen in our classrooms and hallways each day.

Thank you for your ongoing support and trust. Together, we’ll make this a safe, positive, and memorable year for our students.

SORRY FOR THE LONG NEWSLETTER!! We have a lot to share!

-Mr. Jay Cottell

Everything you need is linked on our PARENTS webpage.

• Parent Handbook
• School Calendars
• School Fees and Supplies
• Registration
• Bell Schedule
• Parent Council

Click HERE for the updated 2025-2026 EES Parent Handbook.

Come on down to the school between 3:30 and 6:30 pm, meet the teachers, check out the school and our new library look and music room!

The Parent Portal is a one stop shop for information on student achievement, paying fees, signing consent and paying for field trips, signing up and paying for hot lunches, and the very important demographic form updates. Please make sure you know how to log into your Parent Portal and keep your log in information in a safe place. If you are not able to log into your Parent Portal please don't hesitate to contact the office so we can help you out.

School fees will be added to the Parent Portal in early September. These fees include: supply fees (K-6), technology access fee (K-6), and student agendas (Gr. K-6).

Fees for additional programming such as Options (Gr. 4-6), Field Trips, and Extra Curricular Sports are added as they arise. Fees can be paid online through the Parent Portal or in the office. Unpaid fees may result in your child not being able to participate in some non-core curriculum events/activities. If there are any issues or barriers with having school fees paid promptly, please contact the school to discuss alternate arrangements.

Demographic forms need to be reviewed and updated for each child by September 15, 2025. These forms are available on School Engage (bottom left hand corner when you are in your Parent Portal) now. These forms confirm your child's enrollment at EES, and contain important information for the school to ensure your child's safety and well-being. If you are unsure how to access your Parent Portal and/or Demographic form please call the office.

Demographic forms are easiest to access and fill out on a computer rather than a phone/tablet.

As the demographic forms include waiver documents and technology acceptable use agreements, any incomplete demographic forms after September 15th will result in your child not able to participate in Phys. Ed, Field Trips, and/or access to technology. If you need any assistance in completing these forms please contact the office.

Morning entrance bell - 8:20 am (this is a bell to let students know they can head to their doors to enter the school (Gr. 1-6).

School Starts - 8:30 am

School End/Dismissal - 3:15 pm

Students arriving before 8:30 am can enter through their respective doorways. Any students arriving after 8:30 must enter through the main office doors.

**We have supervisors on the playground starting at 8:10 am. As we don't have supervisors out before that time, we strongly encourage students to arrive after 8:10 am. After school supervision is until 3:25 pm.

Students who arrive before 8:10 am and/or are on the school grounds after 3:25 pm do so at their own risk and without any supervision by the school.

The Universal Consent for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten will remain the same as last year. WCPS contracted rehabilitation service providers will be visiting classrooms to work with assigned students and consult with school staff. If an assessment is required for their child, the school will request parental consent, and it will be assigned in School Engage.

Click the photo to link to a short video that explains the difference between speech and language.

Eckville Elementary School is officially registered for the 2025 Terry Fox School Run, scheduled for Friday, September 26th!

This year marks the 45th anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope, and we’re thrilled to join nearly 10,000 schools nationwide in celebrating his legacy.

CLICK BELOW TO DONATE!

Eckville Elementary School Fundraising Page: https://schools.terryfox.ca/EckvilleElementarySchoolEckvilleAB

For many years, Eckville Elementary School has provided a Chromebook for each student in Grades 4-6. This has allowed us to offer a wide variety of teaching styles that meet the needs of your child and engage them in 21st century learning.

Due to our Chromebooks having an “end of life” date, we are set to lose a large number over the next two school years. This has made it a necessity to encourage parents to consider purchasing a Chromebook for their child in Grades 4-6.

As a school, we really want to be able to provide one to one Chromebooks but financially this is becoming more and more difficult. If you are able to purchase a Chromebook that could be used for school, that would ensure your child has access all the time, at home and school. If your child already has a Chromebook and is able to bring it to school, please send it and let your child’s teacher know. The Chromebooks from home can either go back and forth with the student each day or they can stay at the school, with the charger, to be charged and ready for the next day.

Chromebooks sync perfectly at school as we use Google for all of our school technology. They are cheaper than a traditional laptop and do not get viruses. With a Chromebook, students can access their online school work anywhere that they have a wifi connection, which is very beneficial for sick days or completing homework.

Connecting Chromebooks that come from home is very simple. As long as they know how to log on, they just have to be connected to the wifi at school and they are good to go!

Thank you for considering purchasing and/or sending your existing device with your child for the school year.

• Staggered Entry Letter
• WCPS Fair Notice Letter

• Monday, September 1 - STAT - Labour Day
• Tuesday, September 2 - Grade K-6 Staggered Entry Surnames A-L - Students First Day
• Wednesday, September 3 - Grade 1-6 Staggered Entry Surnames M-Z - Students First Day
• PreK Staggered A-L First Day
• Thursday, September 4 - Grade 1-6 All Students Attend
• Kindergarten Staggered Entry Surnames M-Z First Day
• Friday, September 5 - PreK Staggered M-Z First Day
• Friday, September 12 - Canteen Day
• Sunday, September 14 - National Terry Fox Day
• Wednesday, September 17 - School Council Meeting - 7:00 pm
• Thursday, September 18 - OPEN HOUSE! - 3:30 - 6:30 pm
• Friday, September 19 - PD Day - No School
• Saturday, September 20 - Educational Support Workers Day
• Tuesday, September 23 - School Picture Day
• Friday, September 26 - Terry Fox Run - 2:00 pm start with EJSH
• Monday, September 29 - Orange Shirt Day
• September Assembly - 1:00 pm
• Tuesday, September 30 - STAT - National Day for Truth & Reconciliation

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On September 4th the Sylvan Lake Detachment will once again be partnering with the Town of Sylvan Lake information evening, and will be on site at the NexSource centre to gather criminal record checks.

The Sylvan Lake RCMP attempt to assist the schools in having their parents complete their criminal record checks early in the year so that when volunteer opportunities arise the schools have the necessary documents they require.

This is a once a year event that is completed outside of regular business hours to further assist parents who work during the day. (4:30 PM-7:30 PM)

Parkland Regional Library System has introduced a new, free resource for patrons.

Transparent Language Online provides an effective and engaging experience for language learners looking to build their vocabulary, practice their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, and maintain what they learn. With courses and supplemental resources in 110+ languages, Transparent Language Online can be accessed anytime, anywhere, on almost any device.

https://www.transparent.com/

Library cards are free! For minors we do require a guardian to be with them to acquire a card. Just wanted to pass this resource along incase there are any students needing help or wanting to learn another language. To register patrons must come to the library first and set up their online account. If you would like any more information please let me know.

Contact the library for details!

All our EE Parent Newsletters are posted on our website under the PARENTS tab. It is emailed to you as well but might end up in your spam/junk folder. Wolf Creek has a new mass email program called BRIGHT ARROW. If you don't receive our newsletter, check these folders and mark us as 'not junk/spam'.