November 9 - 13, 2026

• November Break

• November Break

• November Break

• November Break

• November Break
• Hot lunch ordering deadline this weekend for November's hot lunch - see below for details

Whether you’re heading off on an adventure or enjoying a restful week at home, we pray you have a wonderful break filled with no lunch-making, no early morning alarms, and plenty of time to recharge!

Enjoy every minute! We look forward to seeing everyone on November 16!

Classroom learning is designed to be interactive, with discussions, group activities, and hands-on experiences that cannot be fully replicated outside the school environment. Teachers are unable to prepare work in advance for students absent due to vacations, as instructional planning is based on in-class engagement and real-time learning experiences.

To support continued learning while away, we encourage students to:

• Read daily and engage in discussions about the material

• Keep a journal documenting their trip experiences

• Apply math skills through real-world activities such as budgeting, measuring distances, or problem-solving

Upon return, students can check in with their teacher about key concepts covered during their absence.

Enjoy your getaway!

The deadline to order November's hot lunch are as follows:

KA/KC Kindergarten classes deadline is Saturday, November 14 at midnight.

KB/KD Kindergarten classes and grades 1 - 6 deadline is Sunday, November 15 at midnight.

Good news—Hot Lunch is now open for ordering for the rest of the school year!

Head over to Healthy Hunger using the link below to place your orders and get the rest of the year's lunches checked off your list.

https://healthyhunger.ca/

Happy ordering!

Do you have an hour to spare during hot lunch? We would love your help handing out lunches to our students!

If you’re available to lend a hand, please click the link below and complete the volunteer form.

Volunteer form.

Your time and willingness to help make a difference are so appreciated. Thank you for supporting our school community!

At SCA, we believe in living out the Great Commandment: loving God and loving others, and following the Golden Rule by treating others the way we want to be treated.

We’ll kick off the week on Monday, November 16, with Odd Socks Day! Students are encouraged to wear their favourite odd socks as we celebrate the unique way God made each of us.

Throughout the week, students will participate in activities and presentations focused on kindness, empathy, respect, and standing up for one another.

• Grades 1–4: Mrs. Tomkins will share ways to be kind friends and show care for others.

• Grades 5–6: The Saffron Centre will present on digital safety, healthy relationships, and bullying prevention.

Let's work together to create a school community where every student feels safe, supported, and loved!

We are excited to offer our Grade 5 and 6 students the opportunity to try out for the SCA Elementary Track Team! Students who are selected will have the opportunity to compete in the Running Room Indoor Games.

Tryout Information

· Girls' Tryouts: Monday, November 23

· Boys' Tryouts: Tuesday, November 24

Tryouts will take place during the lunch hour. On these days, students' lunch eating time and lunch recess will be switched to accommodate the tryouts.

Mrs. Erin Tomkins and Mrs. Kate Tougas will serve as the coaches. Mr. Jaden Ostapowich will also provide support periodically, particularly with the more technical aspects of running.

We will be entering two girls' and two boys' 8 × 200 m relay teams in the Running Room Indoor Games. In addition, there may be opportunities for some students to participate in individual running events.

This event has two components, and students must be available to participate in both:

· Preliminaries: During the school day on February 22 or February 24. Our preferred date is February 22 (10:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.), but final scheduling will depend on availability.

· Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Finals: Saturday, March 6. Athletes and teams who qualify at the Preliminaries will advance to this competition day.

If your child is unavailable on either February 22 or 24, or on March 6, we ask that they not participate in the tryouts.

Once teams have been selected, athletes will participate in one before-school practice each Friday at 7:45 a.m. for both the girls' and boys' teams. In addition, the girls will practice during the last recess on Mondays, while the boys will practice during the last recess on Thursdays.

Students will be required to wear a blue SCA Eddie the Eagle t-shirt, black shorts, and appropriate running shoes for practices and competitions.

The Running Room Indoor Games is a public event. Photographers/reporters will be on site for all preliminaries and the finals. Photos/footage will be taken and athletes' names will be published. If you have privacy concerns, please consider this before signing your child up for tryouts.

If your child is interested in trying out, please complete this Permission Click form.

School fees are now PAST DUE.. All fees were due within 30 days of being posted (by October 28, 2026). To access your fee information, simply log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and go to “Student Fees.” There are several payment options available to you including Visa, MasterCard or debit card—when available from your financial institution and new this year—Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments, also known as E-Cheque. EFT payments allow you to pay directly from your bank account with no added fees, giving you added flexibility beyond credit or debit card payments.

YEARBOOKS - If you would like to order a 2026-27 yearbook please make sure to choose it from the “School Items” on your student’s individual tab in Parent Portal and add it to your cart when paying your school fees. The deadline for ordering a yearbook is March 31, 2027 and they will be delivered to the students in June 2027.

SCE CLOTHING - If you would like to order either a SCA Elementary T-shirt or hoodie (OR BOTH), please choose the item(s) from the “School Items” on Parent Portal under ‘SCE Clothing Order Form’. Please note that these items can be purchased at any time throughout the school year. All clothing items purchased through the Parent Portal account will be delivered to the student’s homeroom class.

If you choose not to pay the above fees online, please print a copy of the Account Summary from your Parent Portal account and enclose with payment made directly to the school. Payment to the school can be made by cash or a cheque payable to SCA Elementary School. All SCA Elementary students can be paid for on one cheque. Please ensure that optional items (i.e. Yearbook, T-shirt) are checked off and included in your payment.

If circumstances exist where you are unable to pay your fees, you can apply to have fees waived by submitting an Application for a Waiver of Fees. The application deadline is December 15, 2026.

For more information about school fees, waivers and payment deadlines, visit eips.ca and https://www.scaelementary.ca/about/fees. Alternatively, contact the school office at 780-449-2787.

As the weather gets colder, we’d love your help keeping our students warm, dry, and comfortable throughout the school day!

Please tuck an extra pair of pants and socks into your child’s backpack, no matter their age or grade! From our youngest learners to our oldest students, anyone can end up with wet clothes after playing outside.

With puddles, wet playgrounds, and all the fun that comes with outdoor play, little ones (and not-so-little ones!) can sometimes end up with soggy clothes!

We have very limited spare clothing available in the office, so having a change of clothes on hand can be a real lifesaver.

One small favour: Please also include a plastic bag in your child’s backpack so any wet clothing can be brought home without soaking the rest of their belongings.

Thank you so much for your help and for partnering with us to keep all our students happy, warm, and dry!

The Joy of Missing Out — JOMO

This year, our school is excited to be partnering with JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) as we explore healthy, intentional ways to navigate technology and the ever-changing digital world together.

We invite all of our SCA families to join us as we embrace the Joy of Missing Out—creating space to disconnect from screens, reconnect with one another, and be present for the things that matter most.

Please see the article below for upcoming webinar opportunities and important information to help families navigate technology in today’s world.

We hope you’ll join us on this journey as we learn, laugh, unplug, and discover the joy that can be found when we occasionally choose to miss out!

Helping your kids lead with Christ-like character

Every day, your kids influence the people around them. A kind text can encourage a friend who's having a hard day. Choosing to include someone in a group chat can help them feel like they belong. Deciding not to share a rumour or embarrassing photo can protect someone's dignity. Whether they realize it or not, your kids are leading every time they interact with others online.

As parents, you have the opportunity to help your kids see that leadership isn't measured by followers, likes, or popularity. Scripture reminds us to "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). That calling extends into our digital lives, shaping how we use our words, our influence, and our technology. As we model thoughtful digital habits and have everyday conversations about kindness, truth, and respect, we help our kids become the kind of people who use technology to care for those around them.

Inside Your Kid's Digital World: Deepfakes & AI Images

AI can now create realistic photos, videos, and voices that never actually happened. While these tools can be used creatively, they can also be used to embarrass others, spread misinformation, or damage someone's reputation. We want our students to be aware of the impact they make on real human beings every time they engage in digital spaces. Through our partnership with JOMO(campus), we’re helping students think critically about technology and what it means to lead with Christ-like character online and off.

Curious how you can partner with us in this goal?

JOMO Family Practice: Truth or Trick?

This week, find an AI-generated image or video (many examples can be found through a simple online search). Show it to your kids and ask if they think it’s real or fake. Before revealing the answer, ask:

• What makes this seem real?
• How can we tell if something online is trustworthy?
• Why might someone create or share something like this?

Finish by asking, "How can our family be known for telling the truth and treating people with respect - online and off?"

Read: Common Sense Media: "Talking with Teens About AI Deepfakes and Explicit ContentWatch: AI Dilemma from the Center for Humane Technology

Go Deeper - JOMO Family Webinar

What Should I Know Before Giving My Child Their First Device?

Tuesday, Nov 3

4pm PT / 5pm MT / 6pm CT / 7pm ET

with Dr. Jacqueline Nesi

Join the upcoming JOMO Family Webinar featuring Dr. Nesi, a psychologist, professor, and expert in the role of technology in youth mental health. Dr. Nesi will help parents navigate one of the biggest technology milestones facing families: deciding when—and how—to introduce a first personal device.

REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZDZSG-lyQX-uOQj5WuK7xA

(Note: you only need to register once for the whole JOMO Family series)

Below are some links to commonly accessed pages:

Reporting student absences: https://www.scaelementary.ca/contact

Bell schedule: https://www.scaelementary.ca/download/571438

Parent portal: https://powerschool.eips.ca/public/home.html

School calendar: https://www.scaelementary.ca/about/calendar

Healthy Hunger: https://healthyhunger.ca/

SCE school Library: https://scelibrary.schoolsites.ca/

Homeroom websites: https://www.scaelementary.ca/homeroom-websites

* If entering the school, please remember to check in at the Main Office before heading to any classroom.

* Classes begin at 8:37 am. Students not in their desks at the 8:37 bell will be asked to pick up a late slip from the office before going to class and will be marked as "late". We ask parents and students to do your best to have students arrive on time so all classes can have a strong start to the day.

* We appreciate the continued support of our parents as we continue to maintain a modest dress code standard for our students. More information for grade 4 - 6 parents can be found at the front of their child's agenda book.

We are proud to be a nut aware school. Because nuts can cause severe, life threatening reactions in some of our students, we ask that you do not send food items that contain peanut butter/peanuts/all tree nuts and sesame seeds. Thank you for helping us provide a safe environment for all the students in our school community.

With the winter season almost here, the school has a few reminders for families:

• Ensure students have clothing appropriate for expected weather conditions.

• If weather conditions are bad enough to impact student transportation, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) advises families directly, and posts updates on social media and eips.ca.

• Decisions regarding bus cancellations are guided by an EIPS administrative procedure that states, “school bus service may be suspended…when there is a forecast or current temperature of -40 C, including wind chill factor, in one or more regions.” Other reasons for suspending or delaying school bus services include adverse weather and poor road conditions.

• When school bus services are suspended, schools remain open to students.

For more information, contact EIPS Student Transportation at 780-417-8151.

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.

SCA Elementary also has a Personal Mobile Device (PMD) Plan that provides additional details for our school.

We encourage families to review our PMD plan with their child to ensure students understand where and when they can and cannot access their personal mobile devices at school.

Important Information about Meta and Smart Glasses

As outlined in Ministerial Order 014/2024, the Government of Alberta has established standards for the use of personal mobile devices and social media in schools. Within Elk Island Public Schools’ Administrative Procedure 145: Use of Personal Mobile Devices further outlines acceptable and proper use of personal mobile devices by both staff and students.

Meta glasses and other smart glasses are considered personal mobile devices, and therefore their use is governed by the ministerial order and administrative procedure. While prescription glasses are and always have been permitted in schools to give students the tools they need to learn, Meta and smart glasses are not universally permitted in schools. An eyeglass prescription is not a valid medical condition to permit the use of Meta or other smart glasses. Families are encouraged to explore non-smart glasses options for their children with eyeglass prescriptions.

Did you know we have a school Facebook Group?

Find us on Facebook under:

SCA Elementary Parents

The joy of the Lord

is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10