Win Ferguson Elementary

Our February newsletter & calendar is now available!

There are many important events and special days at "The school that SHINES", this month. You can also click on the calendar on the website to view the latest up to date information! 

Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place on Monday, February 6 and Tuesday, February 7 starting at 5:00 pm, with the last appointment starting at 7:30 pm. Unlike, last year these are not student-led conferences. We have moved away from this format for this year, to ensure parent-teacher quality time.

Parents of students in grades 1-6 are asked to phone the school to book an appointment. Parents of REACH and Kindergarten students will be contacted by their individual teacher to set up a time. Please refer to the January newsletter for more information. Looking forward to seeing you!

Just a friendly reminder that there are quite a few days in February that there is no school for students. Please check the calendar and the dates below:

• Thursday, February 9: Teachers Convention
• Friday, February 10: Teachers Convention
• Friday, February 17: Professional Learning day for teachers
• Monday, February 20: Family Day

For the entire month of February, staff will recognize students who often go unrecognized but are the everyday "Quiet Heroes" who regularly lead through action and example. These students show patience, empathy, and kindness to all students. We recognize these kids because we believe that young people have a very important leadership role to play in making our schools and communities safer, more respectful, tolerant, and more caring. WIN students have heart!

All students & staff are asked to wear a pink shirt on Wednesday, February 29th to show their support for anti-bullying. Many schools & organizations wear pink on this day to show that we do not tolerate bullying. For more information visit the Official Pink Shirt Day website.

We stand up to bullying at Win Ferguson School!

 Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) is now accepting boundary exemption requests for the 2012/2013 school year. If you would like to submit a request for your child to attend a school other than your designated school, please refer to the process, timelines, and form available at www.eips.ca/boundaries. If you are interested in a school of choice, you must submit the Boundary Exemption Request Form by February 15, 2012.

 If you have questions regarding the boundary exemption process, please contact Mr. Sorochan at 780-998-1441 or Bev Fleming, Associate Superintendent at 780-417-8227.

 Revised Elk Island Public Schools' (EIPS) elementary school boundaries will be implemented in the 2012/2013 school year. Click here for new boundary map - WFG Boundary Map

 Through a consultation process during the 2010/2011 school year, EIPS gathered input from the community on realigning the Fort Saskatchewan school boundaries. Following this process, the Board approved new school boundaries and set the guidelines regarding the grandfathering of students. Grandfathering determines which students are eligible to remain at their current school rather than being directed to their new designated school under the revised boundaries.

 Students currently attending grades 1 through 5 in Fort Saskatchewan are eligible to be grandfathered at their current school for the remainder of their elementary grades. Students currently in Kindergarten will be directed to their 2012/13 designated school for Grade 1 and are not eligible for grandfathering. Younger siblings not yet in school will also be directed to their designated school for the 2012/2013 school year.

New Kindergarten students are being directed to register in their designated school.

 A letter will be forthcoming if you qualify for grandfathering that will ask if you want to be grandfathered, or if you will be transferring to your designated school.

 Families with children not eligible for grandfathering that would like to request their children attend a non-designated school are required to follow the boundary exemption request process. The decision about whether these students will be allowed to attend their non-designated school will depend on available space and resources, and acceptance is not guaranteed.

 Information about the boundary exemption request process, including the timeline for submitting requests and the form to use, is available at www.eips.ca (look for the graphic enticer on the home page). Boundary exemption requests for the 2012/2013 school year must be submitted between January 9 and February 15, 2012. Principals will contact families regarding their decisions by March 9, 2012.

 As per Board Policy 17, Student Transportation Services, students who choose to attend a school other than their designated school (including students who are grandfathered) assume responsibility for their transportation to and from school. School of choice busing services on a yellow school bus may be available for a fee. School of choice transportation fees for the 2012/2013 school year will be determined in April. Transportation fees for the 2012/2013 school year are due June 30, 2012. Families interested in school of choice busing must contact EIPS' Student Transportation at 780-417-8151 to inquire about availability and make transportation arrangements.

Please remember that smoking is not allowed on school property. We also ask parents and visitors to refrain from throwing cigarette butts out of car windows while waiting for students in the parking lot.

While we recognize that people have the right to choose to smoke, we ask that those who smoke do so responsibly.

Thank you for your cooperation!

We ask parents to please wait for students in the front foyer when picking your child up at the end of the day. Please DO NOT proceed further into the school unless you have checked in with the secretaries and are wearing a Win Ferguson Visitor Tag. Thank you for your cooperation.

Win Ferguson Community School has a tradition of excellence in all of its programming. Our dedicated staff works diligently to ensure the needs of all students are met. This is a tradition we are extremely proud of. In addition to an exemplary staff and student body, we are fortunate to have a committed group of outstanding parents and community members who support our school programs and activities.

There are many wonderful and exciting learning opportunities that take place throughout the school year. From Opening Day to our Year-end Celebration, these activities promote lifelong learning in an environment that is both supported and nurtured by our learning community.

We believe the education of our students is best achieved by a team approach that includes the child, the home and the school. The development and maintenance of this partnership is truly vital. We look forward to working together in the best interests of each one of our students. We understand that our children are society's most precious resource.

We are very proud to be "The School that SHINES!"

Have a wonderful year!

Ralph Sorochan

Principal

Click on the following link for directions to our school: View Larger Map