March 3 Fire Wire
Happy Monday and welcome, March!
As we step into March, we look forward to a month filled with learning, growth, and exciting school events. With spring just around the corner, we encourage everyone to stay engaged and connected with what’s happening at Fultonvale.
Parent-Teacher interviews will be held the week before spring break and bookings are now open. This is a great opportunity to check in on your child’s progress and celebrate their achievements. Be sure to visit our website to reserve your time.
Also, don't miss out on getting your FASC 50/50 ticket! By participating in the 50/50 raffle, you’ll help provide essential classroom resources while winning half of the total prize pool!
It's a great week for a great week!
Please read through the following blog post articles for important Fultonvale information.
EIPS Upcoming Dates and Events
Action
Opportunity
- It's Survey Season!
- Raising Accountable, Capable Young People - David Irvine Presentation
- Hot Lunch
- Staff Recognition
Information
- March Counsellor's Corner
- Grades 1-6 ISP Pilot
- Watch for Thin Ice
- Kindergarten Registration
- Pre-kindergarten Programming at EIPS
Photo Gallery
- Fultonvale Highlights
WEEK AT A GLANCE - March 3 - 7
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Monday DAY 2 |
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Tuesday DAY 3 |
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Wednesday DAY 4 |
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Thursday DAY 5 |
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Friday |
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Looking Ahead to Next Week |
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EIPS Upcoming events and important dates
- March: Alberta Francophonie Month
- March 5: Early dismissal
- March 7: Professional Learning Day (schools closed to students)
- March 8: International Women’s Day
- March 10-14: Substitute Appreciation Week
- March 10-14: Week of Inspirational Math
- March 14: Pi Day
- March 20: International Francophonie Day
- March 21: School closure day (schools closed to staff and students)
- March 21: World Poetry Day
- March 24-28: Spring break (schools closed to staff and students)
- March 31: National Indigenous Languages Day
ACTION
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent teacher interviews for families will be held at the following dates and times:
- Kindergarten to Grade 6 @ 3:30 - 6:30 pm on Tuesday, March 18 and 19 with the exception classes 1S and 6M, where conferences will be held from 3:30 - 6:30 on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18.
- Junior High Conferences will be held in-person from 3:30 - 6:30 on Tuesday, March 18 and virtually from 3:30 - 6:30 on Wednesday, March 19. For junior high virtual interviews, you received an email directly from your child(ren)’s teacher to book. We realize that junior high teachers' schedules fill up quickly, this is because they teach many more students than elementary teachers. Please reach out directly to your child(ren)'s teacher if you are unable to book an interview.
- Music Conferences with Mrs. Driedger drop in style on Tuesday, March 18 from 3:15 - 6:15 and Wednesday, March 19 from 3:15 - 4:45
Parents are invited to book a 10-minute conference. Please visit the Fultonvale website to choose an available time with your child’s teacher(s).
The booking system is opens today, Monday, March 3, and will close at noon on Monday, March 17 .
- Step 1: Go to https://www.fultonvale.ca/bookings
- Step 2: “Register Now” for the Class your child is in
- Step 3: Enter your details
- Step 4: Choose your class and teacher
- Step 5: Choose a time that works for you
If you have any trouble with the booking system, please contact the school at 780-922-3058.
Fultonvale 50/50 Raffle
Support Our School & Win Big!
Join us in raising funds that support Fultonvale's fundraising vision for this school year.
How It Works:
- Buy your raffle tickets - https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/ftvschool
- The more tickets you buy, the bigger your chance to win!
- Half of the proceeds go to the winner, and the other half of the funds will go to library books and Chromebooks.
Fultonvale’s Fundraising Vision for This Year!
Last year’s Hot Lunch program was an absolute triumph, and this year is shaping up to be just as fantastic—if not better! The funds raised through this program go toward so many wonderful initiatives that enrich our school community, including agendas, a provided lunch program, the Welcome Back BBQ, sporting equipment, counselor’s office resources, and even instruments for our music program.
Already this year, we’ve proudly purchased agendas, basketballs, drums, spike ball sets, and essential items for the counselor’s office—all thanks to your amazing support! But we’re not stopping there! Conversations are buzzing about restocking the Foods Room, adding a CNC machine to the construction lab, and checking off some exciting items from the teachers’ wish lists.
At FSAC, we love supporting our teachers and school to help create an enriching and successful learning environment for our children. And we’d love to hear your ideas on how these funds should be used! Share your thoughts by reaching out to Mrs. Vicic, sending a private message to S.A.C. (Fundraising) through our online contact form (at the bottom of the list), or better yet—joining one of our meetings. More voices at the table mean more great ideas!
Book Fair - Call for Volunteers
We are excited to announce that our school will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair, which will take place from March 24-26 in the FTV Learning Commons.
For students, it’s one of the most anticipated events of the school year—but we need volunteers to make it happen. We hope that you can offer your time and talents to help students experience Bookjoy Book Fair firsthand! And every purchase at the Fair directly benefits our school. So, it’s a win-win!
If you’re available to lend a hand at this upcoming event, please contact Mrs. Sargeant (candace.sargeant@eips.ca) and share which times interest you most. Opportunities to assist include:
- March 18 – Sales
- 9:45am – 11:45am (1 person)
- 11:45am – 2:30pm (1 person)
- 3:00pm – 6:30pm (1 person)
- March 19 – Sales
- 9:45am – 11:45am (1 person)
- 11:45am – 2:30pm (2 people)
- 3:00pm – 7:00pm (1 person)
OPPORTUNITY
It's Survey Season!
EIPS Annual Feedback Survey
Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) wants to hear from you. Every year, EIPS conducts a feedback survey to gauge its progress toward meeting the goals and priorities outlined in its Four-Year Education Plan. Collectively, the Division uses the survey feedback to help guide future planning, decision-making and strategies—all aimed at enhancing student learning and better serving the wider community.
Complete the 2024-25 EIPS Annual Feedback Survey: For Parents and Caregivers by March 21.
Alberta Education Assurance Survey
The Alberta Education Assurance (AEA) survey gathers feedback on the quality of education provided by school authorities and their schools. Schools and school authorities use this information to understand how they are doing and plan for the future.
Assurance survey information sheets and random access codes were sent home with all grades 4 and 7 students Monday, February 24. We encourage parents of students in grades 4 and 7 to complete the survey.
Students in Grades 4 and 7 will complete a student survey and teachers will complete a teacher survey.
The deadline to complete the Assurance Survey is March 21.
Raising Accountable, Capable Young People - David Irvine Presentation
Fultonvale School Council has joined forces with Bev Facey, Ecole Parc Elementaire, Mundare, and Rudolph Hennig to host David Irvine on March 11, 2025 at 6:30 p.m..
Raising a child to become a responsible, respectful, resilient citizen requires deliberate action, intentional focus, and a strong, supportive community. Raising kids to be accountable and capable can be challenging and it takes courage to be a parent. With over forty years of experience as a family therapist, leadership advisor, author, parent, and grandparent, David Irvine offers a unique perspective for raising capable young people in a post pandemic world. Come prepared for an inspiring and thought-provoking presentation that will support, challenge, and shift the way you parent.
Click here for more information and to RSVP for this wonderful opportunity - https://secure.smore.com/n/pr9tq
Hot Lunch
We encourage families to check their child’s field trip schedules on the Fire Wire Blog or school calendar before placing orders. This will help ensure your child doesn’t miss out on their meal.
Please also remember that once an order is placed, it cannot be canceled unless it is at least five days before the lunch date. However, if your child is away, you have options:
- Donate the lunch to a staff member, student, or volunteer
- Pick it up from the office at noon
- Have a sibling bring it home
If your child will be away on a scheduled hot lunch day, please contact Carrie at ceckersley78@gmail.com to let her know your preference.
Upcoming Hot Lunch Dates (March– April 2025) https://healthyhunger.ca
- Thursday, Mar. 6 – Wokbox & Confetti Sweets (closes Mar. 1)
- Wednesday, Mar. 12 – McDonald's & Confetti Sweets (closes Mar. 7)
- Thursday, Mar. 20 – Subway & Jugo Juice (closes Mar. 15)
- Thursday, Apr. 3 – Little Caesars & Confetti Sweets (closes Mar. 29)
- Wednesday, Apr. 9 – Mucho Burrito (closes Apr. 4)
- Thursday, Apr. 17 – Boston Pizza (closes Apr. 12)
- Wednesday, Apr. 23 – Nitzas & Confetti Sweets (closes Apr. 18)
Thank you to our amazing FTV community for your continued support of FSAC fundraising—we appreciate you!
Staff Recognition – Celebrate Our Amazing Team!
At Fultonvale, our staff go above and beyond to support students and create a positive school community. If a staff member has made a difference in your or your child’s experience, we invite you to share your appreciation!
Click this link to recognize a staff member for their dedication, kindness, and impact. Your message will be shared with the staff member, Ms. Ference, and Mrs. Vicic.
You can also find the Staff Recognition Form under Quick Links on our website, making it easy to give a shout-out anytime!
Thank you for helping us celebrate the incredible people who make Fultonvale such a great place to learn and grow!
INFORMATION
March Counsellor's Corner
Mrs. Walker has published March's Counsellor Corner. This month it includes information about Mindful Monday that will be starting up soon as well as resources for supporting co-regulation. Community resources and and programs through AHS resources and Strathcona County are also included.
https://www.fultonvale.ca/about/counsellors-corner
Grades 1-6 ISP Pilot
Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) employs the Instructional Support Plan (ISP) to aid in the educational programming for students with diverse learning needs. These ISPs are in line with Alberta Education's initiatives, ensuring all students' programming is based on the Programs of Study and utilize a strengths-based approach to foster each student's success. While teachers differentiate for all students, the Instructional Support Plan is specifically for students who have a Special Education Code.
Fultonvale is piloting a new platform for our ISPs that is being housed in Powerschool for students in Kindergarten to Grade 6. When the school is ready to share the ISP, it will be available for you to view in the Parent Portal Our vision with this new platform is to facilitate more efficient creation, updating, and communication with stakeholders
Your child’s Instructional Support Plans will still offer several features to enhance your child’s educational programming:
- The ISP highlights your child's preferred learning methods, enabling teachers to focus on their strengths and interests.
- The ISP includes both class-wide and individualized strategies to enhance learning opportunities for all students.
At the end of this school year, we will be seeking feedback from all families on our new platform.
Watch for Thin Ice
Remember, be aware of thin ice this time of year. Depending on changing temperatures, ice can form and melt to varying degrees on outdoor bodies of water. Try to remind your child about the dangers of thin ice, obey all posted signs, take proper care and remain a safe distance from the ice.
For more information about ice safety, visit the Canadian Red Cross.
Did you know?
The colour of ice may be an indication of its strength. Clear blue ice is the strongest. White opaque is half as strong as blue ice. And, grey ice is unsafe—greyness indicates the presence of water.
Kindergarten Registration
Is your child turning five on or before Dec. 31, 2025? If so, it’s now time to register for kindergarten. To register, simply complete the online registration form at eips.ca/kindergarten.
To help families prepare, Elk Island Public Schools has put together an online EIPS Kindergarten Tool kit to make the transition as smooth as possible. The kit includes information on registration, important dates, programming options, what to expect, eligibility, how to find your designated school, transportation and more.
Additional information regarding Fultonbale's kindergarten program is available at https://www.fultonvale.ca/programs/kindergarten.
Pre-kindergarten Programming at EIPS
Is there a preschooler in your life experiencing identified developmental delays or challenges with speech-language—big or small? If so, Elk Island Public School’s Play And Learn at School (PALS) program could help.
Early learning lays the foundation for success in primary grades and beyond. As such, EIPS offers the pre-kindergarten PALS program in five of its elementary school locations. Applications are now open for free speech-language assessments for those interested in registering in the PALS program this fall. The assessment helps determine if PALS is appropriate for your child.
If you know a preschooler, born in 2021 or 2022, who could benefit from pre-kindergarten programming or want to book an assessment, fill out the PALS Program Request Form or call 780-417-8219. For more information, visit eips.ca.
PHOTO GALLERY
Fultonvale Highlights
