The Bears' Blog...August 25

Welcome Back, Pine Street Families! 🐻💚

We hope you have enjoyed a wonderful summer filled with time to relax, recharge, and create special memories with family and friends.

As we prepare to begin another exciting school year, we are thrilled to welcome our students and families back to Pine Street Elementary. We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and reconnecting as we kick off what promises to be an incredible year of learning, growth, and achievement.

At Pine Street, our focus remains on building strong relationships, fostering a sense of belonging, and creating engaging learning experiences where every student can thrive. We cannot wait to see familiar faces, welcome new families into our school community, and work together to make this year a meaningful and successful one.

Enjoy the final days of summer, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Welcome back, Pine Street Bears!
It's going to be a fantastic year ahead. 🐾💚

Warmly,

Dustine Vicic
Principal, Pine Street Elementary School

School Supply Lists for 2026-27

2026-27 School Entrance & Classroom Map (NEW!)

SCHOOL CALENDARS
2026-27 Division Calendar
2026-27 Kindergarten Calendar
2026-27 PALS & Kinder Quest Calendar

Important Dates

Thursday, August 27 - Meet the teacher! 3:30 - 5 p.m.

Monday, August 31 - First day of school!

Wednesday, September 2 - early dismissal 2:15 p.m.
Monday, September 7 - Labour Day - School closed

Wednesday, September 9 - early dismissal 2:15 p.m.

Thursday, September 10 - School Council Meeting 6 p.m.

Wednesday, September 16 - early dismissal 2:15 p.m.

Please email pneattendance@eips.ca or call 780-467-2246 x 1.

Thank you

As we welcome everyone back to another exciting year at Pine Street Elementary, student safety remains our top priority. We appreciate your partnership in helping us create a safe and positive start to each school day.

Please remember that school supervision begins at 8:15 a.m. To ensure the safety of all students, we ask that children not be dropped off before 8:15 a.m., as supervisors are not available prior to that time.

Drop-Off Options

Families have two safe options for morning drop-off:

1. Park and Walk

• Park in the designated areas across the street from the school.
• Use the marked crosswalks to safely walk your child to the school grounds.

2. Use the Front Drop-Off Zone

• Pull into the drop-off area at the front of the school.
• Have your child exit the vehicle promptly and proceed safely to the school entrance.
• Drivers should then continue through the loop to keep traffic moving efficiently.

Important Reminder About the Drop-Off Zone

The drop-off area directly in front of the school is designed for quick student drop-off only.

🚫 Parking is not permitted in the drop-off zone between 8:15 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Keeping this area clear helps maintain a safe flow of traffic and ensures students can enter and leave the school safely.

We greatly appreciate your cooperation and patience during busy arrival and dismissal times. By working together, we can provide a safe environment for all Pine Street Bears.

Thank you for helping keep our school community safe!

🐻💚

View the Pine Street Parking Map:
Click here to view the parking map

If you need assistance, please Log a Ticket and Student Transportation will help you

• Transportation fees for existing EIPS students can be paid through the Parent Portal.
• Transportation fees for 2026-27 pre-registered new students must be paid through Student Quick Pay. Instructions for paying online for all families can be found on the Transportation website.
  • Quick Pay requires a student ASN (Alberta Student Number). Please email Mrs. Leitch if you need your child's ASN.

If your child requires medication to be administered during school hours please fill out the online Student Medication form

We are thrilled to welcome Tanya Krekoski to Pine Street Elementary as our full-time School Counsellor this year!

Tanya brings more than 20 years of experience with Elk Island Public Schools and is passionate about helping students recognize their strengths, build confidence, and reach their full potential. Her commitment to fostering connection, belonging, and student well-being makes her a wonderful addition to our Pine Street community.

Tanya shares:

I've had the privilege of working with Elk Island Public Schools for over 20 years, and I'm proud to be part of a community that values connection, diversity, and the unique strengths of every child.

Outside of work, I love spending time outdoors and making memories with my two kids. I believe every child has an incredible future ahead of them, and I'm passionate about helping them discover their strengths, build confidence, and see the possibilities in front of them.

I'm excited to continue learning, connecting, and working alongside students, families, and our community to help every child feel valued, supported, and ready to shine! ✨

Tanya will be working with students, families, and staff throughout the year to promote wellness, build positive relationships, and support student success. We know her experience, compassion, and dedication will have a positive impact on our Pine Street Bears.

Please join us in giving Tanya Krekoski a warm Pine Street welcome! 💚🐻

Welcome to the Pine Street Bears family, Tanya!

This year, Pine Street School will continue our Brain Learning focus by helping students understand how their brains and bodies work together to support learning, well-being and success. Research shows that regular physical activity, movement, play and self-regulation strategies support children’s attention, memory, resilience and readiness for learning. Physical movement play a vital role in cognitive development, executive functioning, mental health and overall, well-being.

Through the 2026 / 2027 school year, students be provided with a variety of ways in which to build an awareness of their bodies signals, including, movement-based activities, mindfulness practices and regulation work. By learning how to recognize and respond to their body’s needs, students strengthen the skills necessary for success both in school and beyond.

If you would like to read more about this area, we recommend the following resources –

ParticipACTION: The Science of Physical Activity

https://www.participaction.com/the-science/explore-benefits/

Canadian Paediatric Society: Active Kids, Healthy Kids

Active Kids, Healthy Kids | Caring for kids

Parenting in Ottawa: Self-Regulation in Children

https://www.parentinginottawa.ca/en/children/self-regulation-in-children.aspx

Explore the Benefits - ParticipACTION

When we think about physical activity, weight loss often comes to mind. But staying active isn’t about looking better, it’s about living better. Learn how

Rachelle Gagnon

Assistant Principal