Uncas Elementary

Welcome to Uncas Elementary School.  Uncas Elementary School is a school rich in tradition. Throughout its thirty-one years of service to the community, Uncas has consistently met and exceeded the educational needs of our student population as well as being an integral part of the community. Our greatest assets in furthering this legacy are our students, staff and parents whose commitment and dedication to Uncas continue to uphold the traditions and values of this community.

An African proverb states that it takes a community to raise a child. As a community of parents, staff, students and community members, it is my hope that we can help our students to develop the skills they need to realize their future goals.

I am looking forward to working with you and your children as we delve into the exciting opportunities and challenges that this year will present.

Kaye Schindeler

Principal

Kindergarten at Uncas Elementary

Kindergarten registration for the 2010/2011 school year is underway. Do you know a child who will be five years old on or before March 1, 2011? Discover all that Kindergarten has to offer at www.uncas.ca  or our division website, www.eips.ca.  Join us for our Kindergarten Open House on April 29, 2010 at 6:00 pm for an opportunity to meet the staff, take a school tour, and register for 2010/2011.  Feel free to then stay for our Uncas Elementary Open House at 7:00 pm.  Registration forms are available at the office or you can download a registration form in the document section under the "About Us" tab.   Please bring in the completed form, with a copy of your child's birth certificate, to the office. Please feel free to contact us at the school office if you have any questions.

On the EIPS division website, you'll find a copy of our 2010/2011 Kindergarten Guide - your complete source for everything Kindergarten in EIPS. Check it out or pick up a copy at your local convenience or grocery store, bank, library, recreation facility, or elementary school today.

New to the division site this year is a list of easy, at-home activities you can try with the child in your life to help him/her prepare for Kindergarten. Check out the link from the home page and have fun practicing simple skills to get ready for Kindergarten. You'll also find a link to our Kindergarten video - giving parents and young students a look at a regular day in the Kindergarten classroom.

We hope to see you this fall. Be part of Kindergarten at Uncas Elementary School.  Contact us today.

                780-922-4025

Policy for Review and Feedback - Policy DFDH: School Fees

Elk Island Public Schools' (EIPS) Board of Trustees is currently circulating for feedback Policy DFDH: School Fees. A link to the complete draft policy is available from our division home page at www.eips.ca. Please submit any feedback for consideration to your school principal, or to EIPS Finance through the Contact Us page of our division website by March 5, 2010. The proposed policy will be presented to the Board for approval at their regular Board Meeting on March 18, 2010.

We understand this is a short circulation timeframe, but it is necessary to complete policy approval in time for implementation as part of the 2010/11 budget discussions. Many schools will also include information from the approved policy in 2010/11 student agendas that are printed in the spring.

Thank you for your feedback.

Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) has implemented changes to the Boundary Exemption process in an attempt to increase efficiencies and ensure the process is both fair and equitable for all involved. Parents/guardians/independent students who may be considering attending a School of Choice are asked to note these important changes, paying particular attention to the revised process and application deadlines:

• The new Boundary Exemption request form is available on the EIPS' website (www.eips.ca).
• Students and parents will be asked to provide a reason for the Boundary Exemption request.
• In order to have the request considered for approval, parents/guardians/independent students must ensure the form is completed in full and submitted to the Designated School by March 15, 2010 for sign off by the principal.
• The form must then be submitted to the principal at the receiving (School of Choice) prior to April 15, 2010.

In keeping with EIPS' Policy IC - Attendance Areas, when a student attends a school outside his/her designated attendance area, transportation becomes the parent(s)/guardian(s)/ independent student's responsibility. Please contact EIPS' Student Transportation for details at (780) 417-8151 or e-mail studenttran@ei.educ.ab.ca.

Use School Locator on the EIPS' website to find your designated school.

If you have questions regarding changes to the Boundary Exemption process, please contact your school principal.

Elk Island Public Schools has a new website that has many resources for students and families.  It is at eipsvlibrary.ca.  There is something on this website for teachers, parents and students.  Look for links to Learn Alberta,COAC, Culturgram, Bookflix, All about Books  (YRCA and Rocky Mountain Book Awards)  You may need the Learn Alberta Access Code to access some areas.  This will be listed in the February Newsletter or call Mrs. Schindeler at the school for these codes.

Uncas Elementary School hosted our first annual speech competition on February 25, 2010.  The top six students from grade four, five and six presented their speeches to a panel of judges.  The top three speeches for each grade will have the opportunity to present their speeches to the rest of the school on March 11 during our assembly.  The first place winners will then be going on to the EIPS Young Speakers Invitational at Salisbury Composite High School on March 16th.  The winners for this competition are:

Grade Four

1^St Place - Bo O.

2^nd Place - Jennifer S.

3^rd Place - Piper S.

Grade Five

1^St Place - Jessica P.

2^nd Place - Jamie L.

3^rd Place - Sarah C.

Grade Six

1^St  Place - Dharma O.

2^nd Place - Billy K.

3^rd  Place Tie - Josie L. & Kassidy S.

Thanks to the many teachers who are providing extracurricular noon hour programs for the winter months!  Here is our extra curricular schedule:

• Mondays - Drama Club (Grades 5&6), Choir (Grades 3-6)
• Tuesdays - Boomerang Club, Library Club (All Grades), Running Club (Grades 3-6), Cup Stacking (Division I and II alternating weeks)
• Wednesdays - Choir
• Thursdays - Library Club, Running Club
• Fridays - Knitting Club (Grades 1-6)

Elk Island Public Schools has a new updated calendar.  The last day of school will now be on June 25th instead of June 28th. 

Would you like to know the current weather near the Uncas area? 

Current weather data from our Uncas Weather Station can now be accessed at the following website:  http://weather.uncas.ca

Our School Education Plan and School Education Results Report are ready for you to view.  This document reviews our PAT results, our SERR results as well as our goals for the 2001-2010 school year.  Our school outcomes are:

School Outcome #1 - To engage students in a technologically rich classroom where technology is used seamlessly throughout all curricula to enhance learning.

School Outcome #2 - To develop a positive math culture where students experience mathematics in a more meaningful way, with deep conceptual understanding, allowing students the opportunity to construct their own learning.

School Outcome #3 - To build individual student leadership skills and prepare students to become strong citizens within our community today and in the future.

Win Ferguson Community School is hosting a multimedia presentation on March 8, 2010 for parents that introduces practical strategies and resources to assist in preventing and responding to cyberbullying.  Please click here for more information.