ÉRE Connection

• March Parent/Teacher Interviews - This week!
• Book Fair Mar 18-20
• Wear Unique Socks for Down Syndrome Awareness, Mar 21
• March Assembly, March 21

• April Hot Lunch Orders Due March 20

• No School Mar 24-28 for Spring Break
• Spring Photos, Apr 3 & 4
• Spring Dance, Apr 4, 6-8 pm

• Term 2 Report Cards were sent home March 14
• Parent / Teacher Interviews will be held the week of March 17-20

• Interviews are scheduled and can be held in person, by phone, or video conference

• Schedule your interview using our online scheduler: https://www.schoolinterviews.ca/code/e8fq6

• Mrs. Kirkwood and Ms. Foreman will offer interviews on March 17 & 18, 4:30 - 7:30 pm
• Mme Rose will offer interviews March 18 & 20, 4:30 - 7:30 pm
• Mrs. McLaughlin will offer interviews March 19, 4:30 - 7:30 pm
• All other teaching staff will offer interviews March 19 & 20, 4:30 - 7:30 pm
• We encourage all parents to connect with teachers during interviews. If you need availability outside of our interview dates, please connect with the teacher to arrange an alternate date.
• During interviews March 19 & 20
• There will be junior high students offering child supervision at the school during interviews. The junior high students are raising money for their Quebec Field Trip
• Parent Council is offering a FREE hot dog to all ERE Families

• Our Hot Lunch and the Milk Program is ready to go!
  • April orders are due by March 20.
  • Hot Lunch is offered on Mondays and Thursdays.
  • The Milk Program offers white or chocolate milk available to order every day.
• School Council organizes our hot lunch and milk program

• To Order Hot Lunch or Milk the first time:
• Go to ere.hotlunches.net
• Click "Click Here to Register" (A new registration is required each year.)
• Enter Access Code REHL
• Complete the rest of the registration form.
• Click "Register Now" button at the bottom
• Follow the instructions to add each child at ÉRE
• Once your child(ren) are registered, click on "Orders"

• Hot dog lunches are also sometimes offered on Fridays for cash only pre-orders

Just a few reasons why our parents are the best:

• A Grade 5 parent was in town for a few hours so dropped by the school and asked if there was anything she could help with.
• School Council has seen very steady attendance all year long. Meetings are action oriented with lots of good laughs.
• We had 3 ERE parents and 1 past ERE parent join us at our PreK/Kindergarten Open House last week. We appreciate you being available to share the parent perspective with new families.
• We had wonderful parent volunteers at our Carnaval serving up tasty treats!

Our next School Council & Society meeting will be Apr 3, 5:30 pm, at the school. ÉRE parents & caregivers are encouraged to attend. Supper provided for those that RSVP to ereparentcouncil@gmail.com

Chairperson: Vanessa Lobley

Vice Chair: Vanessa Watt (Council) & Kailey Duffin (Society)

Secretary: Tiffany Hudey & Briana Leal Nadin

Treasurer: Mark Ceelan

Hot Lunch Coordinators: Elaine Crebas, Vanessa Watt

Social Media: Elaine Crebas

• The School Council & Society are important to a healthy school. The Council & Society coordinate enhancements at the school, advise the principal, assist with hot lunches, and coordinate some fundraising.
• School Council will provide FREE Hot Dogs to ERE Families during interviews March 19 & 20
• School Council is looking at revitalizing the Peace Garden. Council is gladly accepting donations of soil, seeds, perennials, etc.
• School Council is planning a Family Dance, April 4, 6-8 pm. . . All ERE Families are invited. Confectionary and glow sticks available for purchase. Every family must have an adult staying on site.
• The School Council & Society can be reached directly at: ereparentcouncil@gmail.com

• Assurance Survey Links have been shared to grade 4 & 5 parents by letter.
• Each letter has a code that can be used to enter your survey data.
• If you have a Grade 4 or 5 student, and did not receive the Survey letter, please connect with the school office.
• If you have any specific or timely concerns, it is best to bring these directly to your child's teacher, Mr. Bowman or Mrs. Simo to be addressed.
• The survey is administered annually to Grade 4 & 5 students, their parents, and all teachers at each school in Alberta. Results will be shared with the school administration in June 2025.
• Over the past 5 years, ÉRE has demonstrated outstanding results in all metrics including 96% of parents indicating they are very satisfied with the Educational Quality at ÉRE.
• Surveys are due by March 21, 2025

Shared from Dr. Jody Carrington

Dr. Carrington is a psychologist, author, and speaker based out of Olds, Alberta. She recently wrote about Technology, Kids, and Screen Time:

How Much Screen Time is Too Much?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests the following:

• 0-2 years: Avoid screens entirely, except for video calls.
• 2-5 years: Limit to one hour of high-quality programming per day. STEM, learning, nature videos etc.
• 6+ years: Set consistent limits, ensuring screens don’t replace sleep, physical activity, or family interaction. Use the lock function of the tablet to monitor the consistent limited time so you don't have to.

But let’s be real—sticking to these guidelines can feel impossible some days. \ What matters most is balance and intention.

How to Dial It Back When It's Gotten Out of Control

If screen time has crept up to an uncomfortable level, don't panic. You can reset. Here's how:

• Start Small – Reduce screen time gradually rather than cutting it off all at once. 20 minutes reduction per day using the tablet lock function.
• Set Clear Expectations – Talk with your kids about why you're making changes and involve them in setting new limits If they notice the reduction.
• Create Tech-Free Zones – Designate areas like the dinner table as screen-free spaces and no matter what no screens at the table. This will help more than you think!
• Replace, Don't Just Remove – Have alternative activities ready: board games, outdoor play, creative projects, slime making, colouring, science projects, comic books,
• Model the Behaviour – If we're glued to our phones, our kids will be too. Lead by example. No screens at the table for anyone.

Handling the Meltdowns When You Take It Away

We all know that taking away screens can unleash a tsunami of emotions. Here's how to ride the wave:

• Validate Their Feelings – “I know it's frustrating to stop playing your game right now. But it is still time to stop."
• Stay Calm – Your child's reaction will likely be intense. Breathe. Stay firm, but kind. Drop your shoulders.
• Offer a Transition Activity – Have something engaging ready to shift their focus. Or offer them some options. They might just need to cry it out and that is ok too.
• Hold Your Ground – If you give in… it teaches them that tantrums work. Be consistent and the next tantrum will be smaller in size and so on… you can do this!

• If you have a child turning 4 or 5 in 2025, they are eligible to start school September 2025
• Registration can be made online at: https://www.wrsd.ca/parents/school-registration

For students who turn 4 in 2025.

The Pre-K program runs full day Tuesday/Thursday/scheduled Friday. The program is staffed with a certificated teacher. Program cost is $110 a month. Program subsidies are available for qualifying students. The program is currently 60% registered and capped at 18 students.

2025/2026 English & French Immersion Kindergarten

For students who turn 5 in 2025.

Our English Kindergarten program runs full day Monday/Wednesday and scheduled Fridays.

Our French Immersion Kindergarten program runs full day Tuesday/Thursday and scheduled Fridays.

• March 19 - Chaos to Calm Presented by Candice Larson from the Primary Care Network. The session will take place at Rocky Primary Care Network (4809 47 Avenue, Rocky Mountain House) at 6:00 - 7:30 pm. Please register by calling 403-845-3050 (Space is limited, please call early)
• We are recognizing Francophone Week Mar 17-21. Did you know French is the 6th most spoken language in the world? By 2050, French might become the most spoken language in the world due to huge growth in African countries. French is the official language of 29 countries with official status on every continent.
• Spring and Kinder Grad photos are coming Apr 3 & 4 in the music room. (Photo date subject to change)
• Apr 3 - Fr K, PreK, 1K, 1M, 2S, 2U, 3H
• Apr 4 - Eng K, 3F, 4K, 4S, 4/5O, 5C
• Free breakfast is served every morning in our front foyer 8:20 - 8:40 am. All students are welcome to grab a bite to eat.

• The Board of Trustees have shared that the next Superintendent of Wild Rose Schools will be Jodie Mattia. Current Superintendent, Mr. Volkman, has announced his retirement at the end of the school year.
• Lifetouch has shared a 10% off code for ordering school photos. Just enter code: F2410OFF (expires July 2025)
• If your child will be absent from school, please connect with our Student Attendance Line by phone 1-855-756-2797 or use the School Messenger App
• Please use your child's agenda for writing notes to the teacher and communicating the after school plan.
• Students are not allowed to have personal mobile devices during the school day (unless permission is granted by the principal for a medical need eg. diabetes montioring). If you need to communicate with your child during the school day, or vice versa, the school office will be able to facilitate. Thanks for your cooperation.
  

• K to 12 Métis Tutoring Services: Rupertsland Centre for Teaching and Learning (RCTL) is offering virtual tutoring services to all K to 12 Métis learners. For more details and to access these services, interested individuals are encouraged to sign up or log in to the RECC Room.

• If at all possible, when paying for items like agendas, field trips or swimming, please pay through School Cash Online located at: https://wildrose.schoolcashonline.com/ This greatly reduces the chances of lost money or discrepancies in payments made.
• Our school website is regularly updated with important dates, school newsletters, and useful links along with information about the school. https://ecolerocky.wrsd.ca/
• The school updates our Facebook account with good news stories and upcoming events. Please consider giving us a follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecolerockyelementary

• Regular communication with your child's teacher is essential. Please reach out any time you have questions or information to share.
• We were deeply saddened to hear that Sr. Margie MacDonnel passed on Feb 22. Sr. Margie had a 38 year connection to ERE, first as a teacher, then as a driving force starting our Peace Education program, and then as a volunteer until 2023 when she moved to Nova Scotia. Obituary
• A few staffing updates:
• Jess Otto has shared she is moving. Her last day as EA in 2S will be March 21. Mrs. Otto has worked at ÉRE since 2019. We wish her well in her move.
• Ms. Foreman has exciting news. . . she is expecting a baby in late June. Ms. Foreman is planning to teach PreK and Eng K as close to her due date as possible.
• Please reach out to staff anytime you have questions. Staff e-mails are firstname.lastname@wrsd.ca
  

ÉRE has a job opening. Please share with anyone who might be a good fit for our team.

• Part-Time EA - Wednesday and Friday. Start date Apr 2.

Wild Rose Public School also have other positions that may interest you:

• Caretaker- David Thompson School Part Time

• We would like to add more casual Teachers to our list. If interested, email your resume and cover letter to ApplytobeaSubTeacher@wrsd.ca

• PreK - Brice G, Daniil K, Hudson H
• Kindergarten - Theo H, Annabelle G, Ava S, Athena E, Amara M
• Grade 1 - Aurara F, Ember Rose B, Kaladin S, Piper G, Oliver T
• Grade 2 - Sebastian B, Scarlett M, Madison H, Jack P, Ember M
• Grade 3 - Hudson S, Lukas V, Claire B, Phoebe P
• Grade 4 - Kyla L, Jaxx H, Cassandra W, Fiona W, Dedan B
• Grade 5 - Laila N, Huxley F, Harlee M

• Mar 17-20 - Parent/Teacher Interviews
• Mar 18-20 - Book Fair
• Mar 21 - Wear Unique Socks for Down Syndrome Awareness
• Mar 21 - March Assembly, 2:00 pm
• Mar 24-28 - No School, Spring Break

• Apr 1 - Pizza with the Principals

• Apr 3 & 4 - Spring Photos / Kinder Photos

• Apr 3 - School Council, 5:30 pm

• Apr 4 - Spring Dance, 6-8 pm

• Apr 9 - Bus Evacuation Drills, AM

• Apr 16 - French Classes to the Movie Theatre, 1:30 pm

• Apr 18-21 - Easter Weekend

• Apr 20 - Due: May Hot Lunch Orders

• Apr 22 - No School - Non-Instructional Day

• Apr 23 - Due: Growing Smiles Fundraiser

• Apr 28 - Wacky Hair Day & April Assembly, 2:00 pm

Hello ÉRE Families!

We look forward to seeing you this week for Parent/Teacher interviews. Please do your best to connect with your child's teacher. . . even if you are quite pleased with the report card, every conversation helps to further align our work.

Some recent highlights:

• Carnaval! was our celebration of winter and French culture held on Feb 20. This year, indoor curling was a huge hit, in addition to BonHomme making an appearance and students receiving a treat of maple syrup mixed with ice.
• WestBrick Energy stopped by with one last donation of $4200 to support school initiatives! WestBrick has donated each December for several years which has been incredibly thoughtful and appreciated. WestBrick shared they were recently sold to Vermilion Energy and may have a new charitable policy in the future, but were happy to support the school one last time. THANK YOU!
• Did you hear the school sing "True Colors" at the Pink Shirt Assembly? It gave us goosebumps.
• We have several students with Perfect Attendance through the first 6 months of the school year! Nice work John (PreK), Kye (Grade 5), Livia (Grade 4), Clark (Grade 3), Everly (Grade 3), Daniel (Grade 2), Vanessa (PreK), Jayla (PreK), and Jillian (Grade 4).
• The 100 Day projects in Grade 1 are amazing! Seriously, the best we have every seen! Please take a look at our front display during Parent/Teacher Interviews.

If you are available, please consider attending our March Assembly on Friday, March 21, 2 pm with a focus on celebrating 6 months of learning.

As always, if you have questions, ideas, or accolades to share, please reach out to the school by phone or email.

With gratitude!

Tim Bowman‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Kim Simo

Principal ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Vice Principal

(403) 845-3541 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ (403) 845-3541

tim.bowman@wrsd.ca ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎kim.simo@wrsd.ca

• School Calendar 2024-2025
• PreK Calendar 2024-2025
• English Kindergarten Calendar 2024-2025
• French Immersion Kindergarten Calendar 2024-2025

If you are looking ahead, the 2025-2026 Calendar is now approved.

• ÉRE Parent Handbook - many of the most commonly asked questions
• ÉRE School Website - ecolerocky.wrsd.ca
• ÉRE Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ecolerockyelementary

Email: rockyelem@wrsd.ca
Website: https://ecolerocky.wrsd.ca/
Location: 4703 50th Avenue, Rocky Mountain House, AB, Canada
Phone: 403-845-3541
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecolerockyelementary/
Twitter: @EREPeace