September 4, 2026

SEPTEMBER

• Sept. 7 - NO SCHOOL - Labour Day
• Sept. 9 - First Day of Kindergarten
• Sept. 9 - Early Dismissal 2:16 p.m.
• Sept. 10 - Colour Your Grade Day/Welcome Back Assembly
• Sept. 15 - School Council Meeting & Elections
• Sept. 16 - Early Dismissal 2:16 p.m.
• Sept. 21 - Picture Day: Fiddle Leaf Photography
• Sept. 23 - Terry Fox Run - Wear Red & White or Canadian Attire
• Sept. 23 - Early Dismissal 2:16 p.m.
• Sept. 28 - Oct. 2 - Truth and Reconciliation Week
• Sept. 29 - Orange Shirt Day at WBF
• Sept. 30 - Wolverine Wear Orders Due
• Sept. 30 - NO SCHOOL - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

OCTOBER

• Oct. 2 - NO SCHOOL - Professional Learning Day
• Oct. 5 - World Educators Day
• Oct. 5 - Gr. 1-6 Bus Evacuation Drill
• Oct. 5 - Little Elk Island Adventure Kindergarten
• Oct. 5-9 - Read-In Week: Let Stories Soar!
• Oct. 7 - Early Dismissal - Spirit Day: Wear Letters or Words!
• Oct. 12 - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Day
• Oct. 14/21/28 - Early Dismissal 2:16 p.m.

If your child will be absent or late, please notify the school using one of the following options:

• Email: WBFattendance@eips.ca as well as your child’s classroom teacher.

• Online: Complete the Report an Absence form on the school website.

• Phone: Call the school office at 780-464-3330 and leave a message.

Here’s what to wear:

• Kindergarten – 🌟 Yellow
• Grade 1 – ❤️ Red
• Grade 2 – 🧡 Orange
• Grade 3 – 💚 Green
• Grade 4 – 💙 Blue
• Grade 5 – 💜 Purple
• Grade 6 – 🖤 Black

Our Welcome Back Student Assembly will occur on September 10 at 1:15 p.m.

EIPS has outlined rules about the use of personal mobile devices for each grade level in Administrative Procedure 145: Use of Personal Mobile Devices. Processes outlined within this AP are based on direction provided by the provincial government through Ministerial Order 014/2024: Standards for the Use of Personal Mobile Devices and Social Media in Schools. This includes the use of various electronic devices, including smartwatches and Meta glasses.

At Woodbridge Farms, students are not permitted to use personal devices such as cell phones and tablets during the school day or at school-sponsored activities (e.g., assemblies or field trips). Devices must remain stored out of sight in lockers and may not be kept in desks or on students’ person. Exceptions may be made for medical or inclusive educational needs with a plan developed by the home and school team.

Our goal is to support students in becoming responsible digital citizens. Through classroom learning, students will explore online safety and how to use technology productively and respectfully.

We encourage families to review our WBF Personal Mobile Device Policy with their child.

In 2026-27, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) is piloting a new reporting scale for communicating elementary student achievement. Most recently, kindergarten to Grade 6 student achievement has been reported using a five-point scale. This year, the Division is piloting a new three-point scale for kindergarten to Grade 2 and a four-point scale for grades 3 to 6. The goals of the pilot are to provide useful, clear communication to parents and caregivers about their child’s progress, and provide a clear, consistent framework for teachers to use for assessment of student learning.

The draft achievement scales were developed based on teacher and administrator input, assessment research and reviews of best practices across Alberta, Canada and the world. However, it’s critical parents and caregivers feel confident about the reporting structure. Throughout the fall and winter, Division and school staff will share more information to introduce the new grade scales, collect initial feedback and answer questions through school council meetings, school interviews and school newsletters. The feedback collected will help EIPS revise the grading scales as needed, and opportunities for further feedback will be available later in the school year.

In 2026-27, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) is piloting a new mechanism for families to have live, direct access to student assessment information for grades 1 to 6. Through the PowerTeacher Pro dashboard in the PowerSchool Parent Portal, parents and caregivers will be able to log in to see assessment information as it’s entered, rather than waiting for a report card. With this change, elementary schools will also shift to two formal report cards for grades 1 to 6 for the school year, rather than three.

Elementary schools will roll out the new approach in two groups. Woodbridge Farms Elementary is part of phase 2 and live access to student assessment information will be available starting in Semester 2.

Throughout Semester 1, you’ll continue receiving information about your child’s progress through existing methods of communication—including school interviews, which will still be conducted in the fall and spring, or individual teacher communication.

This new approach does not replace any existing methods of communicating student learning with families. Live access to student assessment information through the Parent Portal is just an additional way EIPS schools will communicate student learning for the coming year.

Throughout the fall, parents and caregivers are encouraged to log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal, to ensure the login process works smoothly and to get familiar with the platform if you haven’t used it in the past. If you have any issues logging into your account, reach out to the school office.

Learn more about the changes

Fiddle Leaf Photography is excited to offer Fine Art School Portraits for your child(ren) again this year!

Your child will be photographed during their regular school day on Monday, September 21.

All details, including pricing information and FAQ can be found on the website. Please note that a small number of products reflect a temporary tariff adjustment this season. Pricing for a-la-carte prints and digital images is unaffected. If the tariffs are removed before your school galleries are released, we will automatically revert to the standard 2026 pricing.

This is a fundraiser for Woodbridge Farms Elementary. 10% of total sales from all orders will be returned to your school. Win/win!

Questions? Please email us directly at hello@fiddle-leaf.com.

We are looking forward to seeing your kids again this fall!

The 2026 WBF Wolverine Wear online shop is now open with a variety of Wolverine Wear available for students and families.

Orders can be placed until September 30. After this date, the online store will close and no additional orders can be accepted.

All items are custom-made, so please review the size charts provided with each item before ordering, as returns and refunds are not available.

📦 All orders will be delivered directly to the school for distribution.

On Wednesday, September 23, our school will proudly take part in the annual Terry Fox School Run. This event is a meaningful way for students, staff, and families to come together in the spirit of Terry’s legacy—showing courage, perseverance, and hope.

We encourage families to participate by supporting our fundraising efforts. Every donation, big or small, helps fund vital cancer research and brings us one step closer to Terry’s dream of a world without cancer.

👉 Click here to make your online donation.

Thank you for your support in keeping Terry’s dream alive!

Thank you to all our families who park on the neighbouring streets when they need to walk their child into the building. You are incredible role models for the community.

For anyone who may not be familiar with how the drop-off/pick-up zones (shown in blue on the map below) are designed to work here is a quick run down.

Morning Drop-Off:

1. Pull into the farthest open spot (Don't stop at the start or the middle please!)
2. Help your children exit the car and give them a quick kiss or hug before sending them on their way.
3. Stay with you vehicle - if you walk your child to the door, park on the street!
4. Pull into the driving lane and exit the drop off area.

Afternoon Pick-Up:

1. Pull into the farthest open spot.
2. Stay in your vehicle.
3. If the car in front of you leaves, move into the empty spot ahead of you.
4. When your child arrives, help them to get in the car safely.
5. Pull into the driving lane and exit the drop off area.

Did you know each EIPS bus is equipped with video surveillance, and many school sites have video monitoring equipment?

Video surveillance and equipment help:

• ensure the safety of all students, staff, drivers and property; and
• discourage destructive acts.

As needed, EIPS school administration and Student Transportation staff review video recordings, in accordance with the Protection of Privacy Act. The recordings assist schools and the Division with monitoring student and driver conduct and may be used as evidence in a disciplinary matter.

For more information about the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, contact the EIPS Privacy Officer at 780-464-3477.

If your child requires medication to be administered during school hours (e.g., Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, Reactine, Tums, etc.), please complete the Medication Management Plan.

If your child has a medical condition that requires a medical plan or specific health care procedures, please contact the school office at 780-464-3330 or general.wbf@eips.ca and we will provide the appropriate forms.

This includes students who:

• have a condition such as severe asthma, anaphylaxis, type 1 diabetes, or epilepsy;

• are at risk of a medical emergency; or

• require specific health care procedures at school.

Students are not permitted to administer their own medication at school. All medication must be provided in its original packaging, labelled with the student’s name, and will be stored in the school office. Refer to our school website if you need to reference this information at any point during the school year.

At Woodbridge Farms Elementary, the safety of our staff and students is always a top priority. We have children in our school community with severe, life-threatening allergies to nuts and other foods. Even a small trace can cause a serious reaction.

To help keep everyone safe, our school follows nutaware protocols:

• Please do not send peanuts, tree nuts, peanutbutter, or peanut butter alternatives (like WowButter) to school.
• Always check food labels carefully for “may contain nuts” warnings.
• Remind your child not to share food, containers, or utensils with others.
• Encourage good handwashing before and after eating.

By working together, we can create a safe and inclusive environment for all students. Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school community healthy and safe!

Is your child riding the bus this year? If yes, download the My Ride, Bus Status and SchoolMessenger apps to stay in the know about your child’s bus stop location, route, pickup time and whether their bus is running on schedule.

Wondering when and how to pay for school fees? School fee information for the 2026-27 school year will be posted on the PowerSchool Parent Portal in late September. All fees are due within 30 days of being posted. NOTE: Additional fees may be added throughout the year—for example, as your child takes part in various activities.

If you’re unable to pay your school fees, you can apply to have certain fees waived. The application deadline is Dec. 15, 2026.

For more information, visit the Fees page on our school website or contact the school office at 780-464-3330.