WHAT’S HAPPENING AT EARDLEY?

Return to School

We return to a regular class schedule tomorrow. Please see the attached letter from our Director General, George Singfield.

Donation Challenge

We had to adapt the donation schedule for the collection of items due to the teacher and professional strike action. Thank you for your flexibility and patience. In order to have enough time to collect the items and organize them for distribution, below is the new schedule.

Communication Survey

To provide better services to school communities and families, the Western Québec School

Board is interested in your thoughts on how we communicate with our parents/guardians and to the wider community.

This survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete. You may access the link to the survey below. The survey will be active until Thursday, December 21st at 4:00 PM.

Kindergarten Reminders

Below are reminders for our kindergarten parents/guardians.

1. Due to supervision limitations, children should arrive at school with their winter clothing on, especially snowpants. Parents/guardians will be responsible for ensuring their child is dressed for the morning adventure playground time.
2. Safety is our number 1 priority. Please drop your child into the care of an adult when arriving to school after the bell, rather than allowing them to walk to the adventure playground on their own.
3. The children are outside for an extended period of time in the morning. Please make sure they are dressed for the winter weather with winter boots and warm mitts. Please also provide extra mitts as there is not enough time for drying between recesses.

Governing Board

Our next Governing Board meeting is December 20.

Holiday Spirit Days

We will send home an events schedule for your child to take part in. All themes days are optional. I will send out the details tomorrow.

Happy Friday!

December 7, 2023

What’s Happening at Eardley?

Strike Days

December 8 through to December 14 the teacher and professional unions will be on strike. Schools and daycares are closed and transportation is cancelled.

Angel Tree

We had a late addition of a family so there are still a few angels on the tree. If your situation allows and you would like to make a donation to one of our Eardley families, please consider stopping by for an angel. If you cannot make it in but would still like to donate, please let us know by contacting vturner@wqsb.qc.ca and we can provide you an angel from the tree.

Donation Challenge

Previously, I sent the class donation challenge outlining the donation theme for each day next week. Since there is a strike is scheduled, I will adjust the days. We may have a few items being requested on the same day in order to still have enough time to sort the items. As a reminder, below are the different themes. Please go ahead and purchase your items and I will let you know when to send them in. Thank you!

What’s Happening at Eardley?

Strike Action

The teacher and professional unions have submitted notice that there will be strike action from December 8^th to December 14^th, inclusive. Therefore, all schools and daycares will be closed, and transportation will be cancelled on those days.

Lost and Found

It is the beginning of December, which means donation time. Please check out the lost and found. We will take a picture of the unlabeled items next week to send home.

Angel Tree and Angle Drive

The angels are on the tree and we have already started to receive gifts back. Thank you so much for your generosity. Previously, there was a communication sent regarding the donation competition. Due to the strike, we will have to alter the days. I don’t want to make the change, if the unions end up coming to an agreement, so can I ask that you go ahead and decide what items you intend to bring in and I will adjust the days as we go, if required?

Parking

As I’m sure you notice, the parking lot is a busy place in the mornings. There are designated drop off spots with signage. Please use those spots to drop off your children as there is not enough parking for staff. Once you have dropped off your child, please vacate the spot to allow for other parents/guardians to use the designated spots.

Hockey Sticks

We are running low on hockey sticks for recess use as the blades continue to be broken. We are going to try a new strategy. Students are allowed to bring their own stick to school, with a few guidelines.

• Sticks can be no higher than the child’s chin.
• Sticks must be labelled with your child’s name on it.
• Sticks will be stored in your child’s locker.
• Sticks cannot be transported on the bus but can be dropped off at school and be picked up at the end of the year. 

School Fees

School fees are due and are available on Mosaik, the parent portal. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Dress for the Weather

The weather has been unpredictable so far. Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather. Extra clothing is highly recommended.

Arriving on-time

The bell rings at 7:55 for start of day. Mornings can be busy for families, we understand. We also want to convey the importance of morning routines and the impact they have on the school day. They contribute to students feeling settled and prepared. Please try to arrive on-time for the start of day.

Home and School

Our amazing group of Home and School Volunteers have put a float in the Aylmer Santa Claus Parade. Tomorrow is the big day. Make sure to make some noise and let us know you’re part of the Eardley community when you see us.

Bingo-Home and School

Bingo was to take place on December 8th at Eardley. Due to the school closure for strike action, this event will have to be postponed.

Angel Tree 2023

Dear Parents and Guardians,

     Each year Eardley Elementary has an angel tree and collects donations to support families in need within our school community. Below you will find the detail for how you can help. Thank you so much in advance for your support.

Angel Tree

• Starts this week, November 27. Angels are in the foyer.
• We have put the grade and gender of a child on an angel. Please take and angel, purchase a gift that would suite that age, wrap the gift, attach the angel to the gift and return it to school. These gifts will go into the hands of the children within our school community.
• If getting into the building is hard, we can support your child in choosing an angel.
• Angel gifts should be returned to school by December 15.

Donations of Non-Perishable Foods and Personal Care Products

• Mid December, students bring in donations from home. Each day calls for a different item category. Please see daily list below.  
• Classes will be given points for items brought in. The class with the most points WIN A FREE PIZZA LUNCH that will be served by the teacher/principal on Friday December 22.

Donations of Perishable Goods

• To help families with a holiday dinner we are asking for a perishable food drop-off on December 20^th between 8:00-6:00.
• Please email Vanessa Turner at vturner@wqsb.qc.ca with the item(s) you intend to donate. This will allow us to have an inventory of items and supplement any additional items needed.
• Suggested items for donation:

Eardley Food Drive Challenge 

Every little bit helps to support our Eardley families.

Thank You,

Home and School & The Eardley staff

Please see the attached letter regarding teacher and professional strike action from Dec. 8 to Dec. 14, inclusive. Schools will be closed.

Please see the attached letter from Mr. George Singfield, Director General of WQSB, regarding the return to work of Teachers.

What’s Happening at Eardley?

Family Activity Night

Tomorrow, November 16, is Family Activity Night from 5:00pm-6:30pm. The Western Quebec Literacy Council will provide all materials needed for making greeting cards. Children will also go home with books to add to their home libraries.

Report Cards

Reports cards will be available though MOSAIK on November 17. If you require support logging into the parent portal, please contact Ashley Kelly in the front office.

Strike Days

The school will be closed on November 21-23 due to Teacher and Professional union strike action. Classes, transportation and daycare are cancelled on these days.

Mazzola

Due to the strike action next week, November 21-23, Mazzola will issue a credit to the accounts of parents/guardians who have ordered for their children.

PD Day

November 24 is a PD Day. Daycare services are available for those who registered.

Winter Market and Pancake Breakfast

Our amazing Home and School is holding a winter market on Saturday, November 18 at Eardley. Please stop by, visit our vendors and fill your belly with pancakes.

Cell Phone Plan

The Ministry of Education of Quebec issued a directive regarding the use of cell phones, headphones and other personal mobile devices by students. We are currently creating the required plan that will be presented for approval at the December Governing Board meeting. The directive changes very little for Eardley as cell phone use is already addressed in our Code of Conduct, approved by our Governing Board. Below is the clause in our Code of Conduct:

“Electronics are not permitted to be used on school property for personal use (busses are the exception). The only exception is to have a BYOD (bring your own device) at the instruction of the teacher for pedagogical purposes. In the case above, please note that all classes have a “device drop” where students can drop their devices at the beginning of the day and pick up once classes are dismissed.”

There is one further exception, being for special education purposes, determined by the needs of individual students and with the approval of the Principal.

Should you have any questions, concerns or suggestions as this plan is being developed, please contact me at jhorner@wqsb.qc.ca.

Winter Wear

Please make sure children come to school dressed for the weather with toques, mitts, boots, etc. Sending a change of clothing for our little ones is also highly recommended.  

Label, Label, Label

The lost and found fills up very quickly. All labelled items are returned to their owners. Please make sure you label your child’s items. All unclaimed clothing is donated once a month.

Grade 6 Popcorn Fundraiser

You can purchase popcorn on Friday, November 17 for your child. Each bag is $2.50. All money collected goes to end of year graduation activities.

Santa Claus Parade

Eardley School and Eardley Home and School have partnered to have a float in the Aylmer Santa Claus Parade on December 2. Keep your eyes peeled.  

Photo Retakes

November 28 is photo retake day.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations for students in grade 4 will take place November 30. Permission forms have already gone home.

National Child Day

National Child Day is intended to promote the rights of children and is celebrated on November 20. Student have voted and we will be celebrating the day with PJ’s, a movie, and a warm treat. As an added bonus, staff have decided to include an extra school wide recess, which was also one of the student requests.  

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Please see the attached memo regarding the upcoming Teacher’s strike day on November 6, 2023.