Blue Jay Bulletin

Dear James Mowat Elementary School Families,

Thank you for joining us for Meet the Teacher on Thursday afternoon! It was wonderful to see our students and families again after the summer break.

Students will begin classes on Monday, August 31. Please remember that we have new bell times this year. The warning bell will ring at 8:25 a.m., and classes will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. Our school day ends at 3:06 p.m. Please also note that Wednesday dismissal is at 2:06 p.m.

You can find the drop-off and pick-up locations mapped out in this newsletter.

Please join McDonald"s at 9401 Wilshire Boulevard on Saturday, August 29 from 12 - 6 p.m. for a Block Party in support of James Mowat Elementary! $1 from the sale of every Cloud Coffee, Crafted Soda, Refresher and Happy Meal will be donated to the school. Hope to see you there!

If you are doing some back-to-school shopping and would like to show your Jay Pride, be sure to check out the James Mowat spirit wear link below. Orders will be accepted from August 24 to September 6, with delivery to the school September 28. We are pleased to support the local Fort Saskatchewan business, Enhance It Embroidery, and 25% of sales will help support our school playground project.

We look forward to seeing you on Monday!

Ms. Krista Porter and Mrs. Lana Romanowska

First Day of School, Monday August 31st

• We will have staff at the front of the school helping families find their way to their classroom pylon and teacher.

• Teachers will be at their regular classroom ENTRANCE/EXIT doors, waiting to greet students. Please look for your child’s assigned pylon and teacher (pylon homerooms are described as: grade, then teacher last name initial, for example: 4P would be Grade 4 and Mr. Pelechosky) and have them join their classroom line up.

• At 8:25 a.m. the first morning bell will ring and teachers will bring classes into the building.

• If you arrive after 8:30 a.m. please come through the front entrance.

• Kindergarten staggered entry operates on a different schedule so please ensure you arrive on your scheduled day and time (these were shared last Spring).

• If your child is arriving by bus on the first day there will be adult supervisors to help them find their homeroom line up.

• If you are accompanying your child to the first day of school please know that parking is limited to the street only. The bus loop is for buses only.

• A friendly reminder that our bell schedule has changed. On all regular days, first bell is 8:25 and dismissal is 3:06, with each early dismissal Wednesday (every Wednesday) having a first bell of 8:25 and a pick up of 2:06. Bell Schedules can be found on our school website and at the bottom of this Blue Jay Bulletin.

• Any questions please call the office at 780-992-1272

We are excited to provide our families with the opportunity to order James Mowat Elementary clothing! Show your James Mowat Pride! Clothing is provided through Enhance It Embroidery, a Fort Saskatchewan company, and 25% of sales will be put toward our playground project!

Orders will be accepted August 24 through September 6. There are assorted T-shirts, crewnecks, hoodies and hats available in youth and adult sizes.

We are excited to welcome Saffron Centre to present to our caregivers and families! This presentation was developed by Saffron Community Educators with collaboration with the Northern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE).

This training increases parents' awareness of the current online landscape, educating participants about treds and online harms that affect children and youth. App terms and conditions, risks of oversharing through posting and streaming, the rise of artificial intelligence in online exploitation, and more will be discussed. Parents will walk away with proactive strategies to help set healthy boundaries with their children online, foster open communication, and seek help where and when they may need it.

Topics Covered: Clear vs Dark web, Online privacy, Location settings, “Sharenting,” Artificial intelligence, Livestreaming, Discord, Roblox, Chat apps/features, Child sexual Abuse/Exploitation Material, Sextortion, Online Extremism, Grooming, Luring, Exposure to sexually explicit material, Proactive steps, Setting boundaries, Resources.

August

31 First Day for Students

September

2 Early Dismissal

6 James Mowat Apparel Order Deadline

14 GOA Assessments Begin (Grades 1-5)

14 Parent Council Meeting 5 p.m.

14 Parent Presentation by Saffron - S.A.F.E.R Online 6:30pm

17 - Saffron Presentation on Internet Safety Grades 3-6

18 Little Elk Island Adventures (Track B Kindie)

18 Bus Evacuation Drill

21 Little Elk Island Adventures (Track A Kindie)

21-25 EIPS Truth and Reconciliation Week

23 James Mowat Terry Fox Run

28-29 School Photos

29 James Mowat Orange Shirt Day

30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - school closed

October

2 Professional Learning Day - no school for students