August 30^th, 2011
Dear Parents and students:

Welcome back to another exciting year at Eston Composite School!  We would like to send an especially warm welcome to our new students and their families.  It is great to see some new faces and know that our school and our community are growing together. We look forward to getting to know all of you!  Community input is very important in our efforts to provide the best possible education for the students of this school.  Please feel free to stop in at the school if you have any thoughts, ideas, questions or concerns.   

The school has several projects currently underway including building improvements as well as celebrations of our past success.  Our school community is so proud of our rich heritage and we would appreciate the opportunity of sharing our victories with you. 

We have a few staff changes this year.  On behalf of the students and staff at ECS I would like to extend a warm welcome to Marea Olafson, who is returning from  maternity leave; Pam Mastel, our new Kindergarten teacher; and Erin Trytten, our new middle years teacher.  As well, we welcome Patti Aitken, who joined our custodial staff in June.  We look forward working and learning with all of our new staff members as each bring their own talents and opportunities for our students to ECS! 

We would like to invite all families and students to our SRC's Annual "Welcome Back BBQ" on Friday, September 2^nd beginning at 11:30 in the AU@ area.  We are celebrating the beginning of a new year and encourage you to attend all the events and activities that we have planned throughout the year. This is a good way to see what your children are doing and talk with teachers in a less formal situation. Watch for notes home and check out our coming events on the school website www.sunwestsd.ca/eston/   Attached are several information items.  If you would like to discuss something with me, please call the school at 962-4423 and we can arrange a time or drop by and we can talk.

Yours in Education,
Mr. John McPhee, Principal

 IMPORTANT POINTS OF INTEREST:

 **     PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN ANY PERTINENT FORMS TO THE SCHOOL BY NO LATER THAN FRIDAY,
 SEPTEMBER 2^nd.  THANK YOU. **

 <          School Website:   www.sunwestsd.ca/eston/

 <*****   PEANUT and NUT-FREE CLASSROOM

            The fall Grade 5 classroom has been declared PEANUT and NUT-FREE .  This class has a student with a life threatening allergy and it is extremely important that all parents and students are aware of this and do their utmost to follow this rule at all times. 

In addition, we are asking ALL PARENTS to help us to maintain a peanut and nut free atmosphere on ALL occasions in which our entire student body is taking part (ie.  Cookie Sales, Christmas banquet, etc.).  If you are bringing baking of any kind we ask you to remember that we do have students with severe nut and/or peanut allergies.  Thank you for recognizing the importance of adhering to this request. 

 <          SCHOOL REGISTRATION FORMS - only new students at Eston Composite School will be given a copy of this registration form.  Parents of current students are asked to please let the office know if there have been any changes to pertinent information on past registration forms.   (ie.  New billet information, new work or home phone numbers, Cell phone numbers, important health information, etc.)

 <          GRADE 7-12 BUS STUDENTS - PERMISSION TO LEAVE AT NOON FORMS - Bus students in grade 7 through 12 are required to return a signed copy of the parental permission form before they will be allowed to leave school property at noon hour.  A copy of this letter is attached.  Please sign and return it to the school with your child by Friday, September 2^nd.  K-6 bus students are not to leave school property at lunchtime unless we receive a phone call from his/her parent.

 <          PARENT PERMISSION FORMS (Form 410.1c-1) - All parents in the Sun West School

            Division are asked to complete and sign copy of this compulsory form and return it to the school by Friday, September 2^nd .  The form gives permission for your child to take part in:

1.         School Community Excursions within the community and surrounding vicinity (town library, museum, community complex, etc.).
 

2.         Student Internet Use - All students and parents in the Sun West School Division are required to read and sign a copy of this form, thereby agreeing to and accepting the Internet usage conditions as set forth by Sun West School Division.

3.         Permission to publish - this section is broken down into separate areas covering:

a)         publishing student projects, photos and work on the school and/or division website and/or the internet

b)         publishing pictures in the yearbook, school newsletter, local newspaper

c)         publishing student names in the yearbook, school newsletter, local newspaper or on local radios, etc.

d)         publishing a student=s home phone numbers for home room groups, school community council events, etc. 

See the Sun West Division form for more detailed information on all of the above. 

<          DRIVER AUTHORIZATION APPLICATION (Form 807.1b-1) All parents in the Sun West School Division who drive our students for any school activities or events (field trips, extra-curricular, etc.) are required to fill out and sign a copy of this form.  A separate form must be completed for each driver, each school year.  This form will be handed out by team coaches and as needed.

 <          GRADE 4-12 STUDENTS - SASKATCHEWAN HIGH SCHOOLS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (SHSAA) FORM - Students in grades 4 to 12 are to required to fill in and return this form only if they are participating in any school extra-curricular activities. A copy of the form is attached.

 <          SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR:   Paper copy attached.  (Magnetic school year calendars were sent home in June with report cards.)

<          STUDENT FEES:  Our compulsory student fees are as follows:
- Grade K to 9 students - $10.00 per student
- Grade 10-12 Students - $20.00 per student
- As per the Sun West School Division Policy, there is a total maximum charge of $50.00 per family.  Cheques can be made payable to Eston Composite School SRC.   Please have your child give their fees to their homeroom teacher, who will issue receipts.

<          PICTURE DAY:  School pictures will be taken on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5^th, by Lifetouch Photography.  Any parents wishing to have their preschoolers picture taken can phone the school and leave their child's name with Mrs. Mohan.  Preschool pictures will be taken at approximately 2:00 on picture day.

<          MILK PROGRAM:   We will be continuing with the noon milk program this year.   Grade K, and Gr 5 - 12 students can purchase a milk card (of twenty milk) from the office at a cost of $14.00.  Students keep their own milk cards and it is up to them to reorder when they choose.  The Gr 1-4 students order may milk in 2-month blocks (see note attached) and milk monitors will keep track of the milk records in the lunch room.  We will send home notes when a new milk period is beginning in order for students to renew their milk program if they choose.  Please send a separate cheque made payable to the Eston School SRC (by Wednesday, September 7^th) if you would like your child to take part in the milk program.  Our first milk day will be Monday, September 12^th.   

<        STUDENT INSURANCE FORMS: Industrial Alliance Pacific Student Accident Insurance forms were handed out on the first day of school to all students.   A reminder to parents that student accidents are not covered by school insurance and it may be worth your while to read over the insurance information provided with the form.

 <        STUDENT HANDBOOKS - A copy will be given to the youngest and only child (in grade 1 - 6) in each family and to ALL grade 7 - 12 students.  Please take a moment to read this over. 

 
 . . .  The Eston Composite S.R.C. is sponsoring a Barbecue Hotdog Lunch for students, staff and school families on Friday, September 2nd beginning at 11:30 a.m.  Younger students will be paired with senior students who will be responsible for them.  All food and drink will be supplied.  We're hoping for a beautiful day and we hope to see you there!